Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you. Following a request by the Welsh Government, the Business Committee agreed not to refer the Bill to a responsible committee for Stage 1 scrutiny. According to the Business Committee report, one of the reasons why you requested an expedited timetable for Senedd scrutiny was, and I quote, 'due to its intention to use the Bill as a practical example to support its case in relation to...
Janet Finch-Saunders: I would really like to thank our colleague Rhun ap Iorwerth for bringing forward this legislative proposal today, and I'm very pleased to be giving it my support. Of course, as our party's shadow Minister for climate change, we think that it's vital that we do embrace new technologies for the way that they can enhance our emission reduction systems, and this is something that Wales can take...
Janet Finch-Saunders: 2. What assessment has the First Minister made of the safety of buildings owned by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board? OQ59098
Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you, Trefnydd. Now, shockingly, some 74 per cent of the buildings owned by this board comply with statutory health and safety requirements, only 64 per cent comply with relevant statutory fire safety requirements, and only 62 per cent are operationally safe. And that's a very worrying concern for my constituents and also patients across north Wales. At Ysbyty Gwynedd, the design and...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Okay. So, what steps are you taking to ensure that my constituents, and patients across north Wales, can actually receive their medical treatment in safe facilities? Diolch.
Janet Finch-Saunders: Obviously, I'd like to actually address my budget concerns regarding the portfolio. If we just take Natural Resources Wales, for instance, Welsh Government have completely ignored many warnings that we've seen in committee reports and inquiries that Natural Resources Wales is underfunded, and yet, they've chosen to maintain its current level of funding. So, it's continued to be allocated...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Yes.
Janet Finch-Saunders: Well, I disagree that there's a complete lack of this funding. At the end of the day, we've had devolution here in Wales for 25 years. We have just over 3 million of population. The billions that come into Wales—is it £18 billion? It's you that's out of order even asking a question like that. So, the Welsh Government needs to explain how this has been reduced, despite the target to meet...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Yes. Twenty-five million pounds in capital funding towards the costs of remedial works to make a property habitable. The Welsh Government needs to outline how it seeks to promote empty homes. Too often, we're seeing the wrong priorities being afforded money. Anyway, that's my take on it. I think this budget is very poor. I think it's not ambitious at all. We know that there are challenges,...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Will the Member take an intervention?
Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you, Mabon. Thank you, Mabon, very much. There's some irony here, isn't there? The reasons that the homeless numbers are increasing are, in fact, as a result of many private landlords—and I declare an interest—actually now serving section 21s. You've supported all those extra regulatory burdens that have been placed on private landlords that are now forcing people out of comfortable...
Janet Finch-Saunders: 2. What support is the Welsh Government providing for coastal communities facing the threat of flooding? OQ59079
Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you, Minister. I'm sure you're aware that, in 2014, our lovely sandy beach, north shore, Llandudno, received, without any notice, the dumping of some 50,000 tonnes of freshly and dirty quarried rock. At the time, it was described as 'shingle'. The town was in uproar, with residents, visitors and business owners still angry to this day. I can recall our sea washing up a white, milky...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Okay. What steps, Minister, can you take? How do we move forward on this? What steps will you take to ensure that we have the right sea defences we need, but that, at some stage, we can see our sandy beach restored in Llandudno? Diolch.
Janet Finch-Saunders: Diolch, Llywydd, and thank you, Minister, Now, there is no denying that the UK Government is taking decisive action to tackle unsafe buildings. The Rt Hon Michael Gove MP has sent all developers legally binding contracts that will commit them to pay to repair these unsafe buildings. This contract will see developers commit an estimated £2 billion or more for repairs to buildings that they've...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you for that comprehensive answer, Minister, it's really appreciated. I'm sure you would agree with me that the longer it takes to resolve this crisis, the greater the mental and financial pressure for these vulnerable residents. I'm sure you'd agree with me too that we shouldn't be allowing other people to get on the back of this and actually benefit financially. The reason I'm...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you, again, Minister. I can't argue with that response at all. Now, my final point: in the budget for 2023-24, building safety funding is set to receive a 37 per cent reduction in resource. Despite the indicative budget setting aside £9.5 million for 2023-24, the draft budget allocation has dropped to £6 million. I'm just a little baffled and maybe you could explain better. So, how...
Janet Finch-Saunders: 7. What steps is the First Minister taking to support public transport in Aberconwy? OQ59113
Janet Finch-Saunders: If only. Trefnydd, in the Welsh Labour and Plaid Cymru co-operation agreement, you make a clear promise to ask Transport for Wales to work with local authorities in north-west Wales and the Welsh Government to develop plans for an integrated transport system. Now, rather than seeing progress, Conwy County Borough Council, Gwynedd and Welsh Government have failed to deliver for my communities...
Janet Finch-Saunders: I would like to say that the one thing I would say about you, Minister, Lee, is that your heart is in this, and it has been for quite some time, and no-one is denying that we need more active travel. But I think the point that Alun Davies, my colleague, has made is the fact that you get your infrastructure in place, then you can decide not to do what we've always done and keep building roads....
