Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer, and I thank the Business Committee for allowing me to bring forward this debate today. I also thank the 13 Assembly Members who were my co-submitters of this motion, or supporters of the motion. I think that number does demonstrate that this is an issue that has struck a chord with the membership of this Senedd more generally. We are noting in...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: But it's not just access to the internet that is a barrier for people, but the fact that many older people simply don't feel comfortable using the internet, even those who do feel comfortable with e-mail or Facebook. Perhaps they are still nervous when it comes to making an application for something official such as a bus pass or dealing with financial services online. Yes, some work has been...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: 'Our letters currently no longer provide telephone numbers and do direct customers to our online booking system. However, the telephone numbers for customers to contact us on are always provided on our terms and conditions, which are reviewed approximately every 18 months and sent out to all customers.'
Rhun ap Iorwerth: But it feels very inadequate for me to expect people to keep hold of those terms and conditions when it's a small matter to continue to provide those contact numbers on all letters. Because that telephone service does exist. So, I call on the Government to discuss with banks, businesses and services and other institutions to ensure that people don't feel that they are being excluded if online...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you for taking the intervention. Thank you very much. Isn't the fact that you're reminding us again that doing it on paper is slower and more problematic again symptomatic of the message that's going out to people? Rather than telling people, 'Listen, we believe online works very well, but please feel free to use paper if you feel more comfortable in doing so.'
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer. I thank everyone who has taken part in this debate this afternoon, and there is agreement, isn't there, that there is an issue here that is genuinely something that needs to be taken seriously?
Rhun ap Iorwerth: I like the point that Mike Hedges made: some people just like talking to someone. And it's true. We were in this Chamber yesterday talking about loneliness and isolation. Having that access to people is very, very important. Also, I said that I'm very, very comfortable with online banking. I still don't think I'd arrange a mortgage online. To me, that's something a little bit too far; I'd...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: 9. Will the First Minister make a statement on Welsh Government support for educational establishments affected by steps to prevent the spread of coronavirus? OAQ55114
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you for that response. Coronavirus, of course, is already a threat to the mobility of people across the world, and the benefit that that mobility provides. My local university, Bangor University, is one of those that has become more and more reliant on their ability to recruit students from abroad. Students from China come to Bangor in significant numbers. So, can I ask you what...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: 3. What discussions has the Minister had with the UK Government regarding the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency's decision to close the driving test centre in Caernarfon? OAQ55113
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you very much for that response, but we do need to go further than that. We need to ensure that this decision is overturned, because we can’t afford to lose this centre. I’m talking about a centre that is in the constituency of my colleague Siân Gwenllian, but, of course, it’s a centre that serves a vast area of north Wales. In August of last year, following concerns raised with...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer. We are at a turning point as a society, and this debate today is one of the ones that we have to have as we transfer from the old world to the new world ahead of us: a world that has to realise how fragile it is, in terms of the environment, and is uncompromising in its willingness to innovate in the face of that particular situation.
Rhun ap Iorwerth: I'm presenting and moving this motion today on the same day as a new organisation is officially launched, an organisation whose aims and objectives I'm very pleased to endorse. The launch of the Wales Hydrogen Trade Association reflects the fact that the world has woken up, I think, to the huge potential of hydrogen as a weapon against climate change. Developments linked to hydrogen will help...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: We know about Morlais, the community initiative that's part of Menter Môn, which is developing a marine energy project in the demonstration testbed off the western Anglesey coast. But Menter Môn has also been leading a piece of work looking at the potential of the hydrogen industry on Ynys Môn: taking action locally for the benefit of the community and for the benefit of the environment....
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you very much. Only a minute or so remains to me. I won't summarise everything that's been said, but thank you for the contributions that we have heard. Andrew R.T. Davies noted that he, too, hopes that today, with the launch of the new Welsh group and this debate, is the start of a new period of intensity, if you will, of discussion with regard to hydrogen. Llyr Gruffydd spoke about...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Will you take an intervention?
Rhun ap Iorwerth: I'll try to make a few points. These are very much the early days of devolution. We're in the process of settling down, if you like. And if we look at the relationship between the countries in this union—this is one area perhaps on which we'll agree—I believe that, just as you think the UK will be stronger from having left the European Union, we could be stronger as nations in these...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Just a few questions—I'm grateful for the latest guidance that was issued by Welsh Government today, and I'm just asking you to clarify even clearer for individuals who are contacting us as their elected Members on a few issues. On self-isolation, people are being asked to self-isolate on return from named countries or regions. Will you confirm that self-isolation means (a) isolating...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, and may I also thank you for the statement and thank you for the briefing sessions that have been provided for us as opposition parties, both on Sunday and earlier today? I look forward to seeing that kind of dialogue continuing, because I do think that it's important that the public has confidence that the steps that the Government is taking are...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Just a few comments from me. We too will be supporting the motion before us today. These are very early days, of course, following the devolution of a portion of the income tax rates last year, and it's important that confidence is being engendered amongst taxpayers and the public in these new devolved arrangements that are in place. We will have to, in the years to come, as political...
