Rhun ap Iorwerth: As with last week, we will abstain on one of the regulations today, for the same reason as we did last week. Last week, we were discussing restrictions across a number of counties in south Wales. I said, as did many other Members, including the Chair of the legislation committee, that the situation is unacceptable, where we're asked to approve regulations that place restrictions without...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: 8. Will the Minister provide an update on energy projects in Ynys Môn? OQ55697
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Will the Minister make a statement on measures to help people to afford homes in their communities?
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you. I have no doubt about the potential of Môn in the low-carbon field. The Morlais scheme is very exciting, and I'm looking forward to that receiving permission very soon. We need to drive the Minesto project ahead. The expertise to support these projects is available within Bangor University in Menai Bridge. We have the ability to develop innovation in M-SParc. There are...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Just to be clear: Plaid Cymru supports this firebreak, because it's been apparent for some time, I think, that the route we were on hadn't been working. We've been asking for a reset, and the data that the Government has shared with us over the past few days has confirmed that we were right in saying that, and I'm grateful for that data, which has been shared with us. But, even then, our...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: We can't view these restrictions in isolation. And Plaid Cymru's call for a national firebreak was made because we could see that we need a reset, but it can't be a resetting of a circuit where you then end up going back round and round again. We can't commit to a cyclical process, which makes similar lockdowns inevitable in the future, and that's the basis for our amendment 4. What happens...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: What discussions has the Minister had with the Minister for Housing and Local Government about the funding allocation to Ynys Môn County Council for 2021-22?
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you very much, Llywydd, and may I thank the Minister for the supplementary budget published last night? I look forward to the scrutiny in the Finance Committee over the next few weeks. There are substantial sums that have been vired within this financial year, as we would expect, because of the exceptional circumstances, and that includes to local government. But there is great...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you for that response and, of course, I agree with the Minister in terms of the decision not to proceed with a comprehensive spending review at the UK level. It is proof yet again, for me, that Westminster and Whitehall aren't working for Wales—they work for Westminster and Whitehall. Now, staying with local government, one element that's hit local authorities is loss of income. It...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: That's the point I'm making here: this isn't something that's going to be over soon. We need to look at this as part of proposals for next year too. One final question, again on local government, but also looking to the longer term. I welcome the funds that have been put in place to assist businesses directly. I'm still pushing for greater support, particularly to some sectors that have been...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you very much, Llywydd. I'm very pleased to support this legislative proposal today. We heard Alun Davies saying that he considers himself very fortunate to be here. Only 3 per cent who suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survive, and research shows that CPR is only attempted in some 20 to 30 per cent of cases. So, generally speaking, there is work to be done to ensure that everyone...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Sorry, I was waiting for the signal. Diolch yn fawr iawn, Llywydd. Thank you for the statement, First Minister. Thank you in particular for recognition of well-being issues, be that allowing gyms to reopen, which is so important for physical and mental health, and in particular, as well, I think, allowing single people to get together in very controlled circumstances. A number of...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thanks to the Minister for this statement today. The first thing I will say is I'm very pleased when I hear of any improvements that are being made in the performance of health boards, wherever that might be in Wales. But I must say, this does read largely like any one of the statements that we have heard over the past five and a half years since the board was put into special measures. I...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: We have by now discussed and voted on a number of regulations, and this is one of the most significant. We are talking here about very far-reaching regulations—national restrictions that are severe and that have an impact on everyone. We will be voting in favour of these regulations today, which have now been in force for more than 11 days. I and Plaid Cymru argued that such restrictions...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: 7. Will the Minister make a statement on transparency within Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board? OQ55791
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Diolch yn fawr iawn. In the written statement today, Minister, you say that asymptomatic testing of care home staff will now be undertaken through the UK organisations portal and the lighthouse laboratories, rather than testing being allowed through Public Health Wales laboratories. Given the problems with lighthouse, many people will find that a disappointing and a rather strange decision....
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Improving, you say, and moving to a situation where they can deliver a decent service, you say, but I'd rather wait until they can prove that they can deliver that service that we need. And I'm not saying, don't use lighthouse at all—I think lighthouse can be hugely important and will be hugely important—but surely, we should be having as much control over what is, possibly, within Welsh...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: I admire your trust in the UK Government. My fear, just like with testing and various other elements of what we've experienced over the past seven or eight months, including PPE and so on, is that you're afraid of taking as much control as you possibly could. I've praised you in the past, and I'll do it again, saying the Welsh Government has, in many ways, been at its best when it has...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you very much. The board at present, as the Minister knows, is appealing against the Information Commissioner's decision that the Holden report into problems at the Hergest ward at Ysbyty Gwynedd should be released. I think that reflects poorly on the board, and this isn't an historical issue. Other reports have suggested that problems are ongoing—a report on psychological therapies...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I’ve already had an opportunity at health committee this morning to congratulate the Minister on her appointment. That role within the Cabinet is certainly an opportunity to increase the profile of mental health within Government. If I could start with mental health stigma, tackling that should be a priority across the board. In England, however, we hear...
