Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you, Minister. As you know, the disadvantage gap in Wales is far worse than in England, with the worst disadvantage gap in England still ranking higher than much of Wales. So, the question has to be asked: why, after two decades, are you only just thinking of this now? What quick wins are you hoping to achieve with these champions, as well as a long-term plan to turn around these...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Diolch yn fawr, Minister, for your statement today. Of course, we all want to see the Welsh language properly supported, especially after what can only be considered disastrous census results. Whilst we in the Welsh Conservatives are supportive of Adnodd being set up, don't you think it could be considered short sighted to have the company that is set to take the reigns of the crucial...
Janet Finch-Saunders: As a party, we're very happy to be supporting the consent motion for the sake of both tenants and the vast majority of responsible landlords. It's important that we have a framework that will crack down on poor standards, when needed. The Bill seeks to establish a new proactive approach to regulating social housing. Such issues include safety and tenant engagement, as well as creating new...
Janet Finch-Saunders: I'm delighted to be supporting you, Tom Giffard, with your first legislative proposal, and what a really good call it is, and that's for a Wales tourism Bill. The lack of joined-up thinking across the tourism industry and policy is clear for all to see, and this doesn't come from those operators. The whole remit of Visit Wales is actually meant to be about driving trade in tourism. After all,...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Oh, yes, we have to have sensitive tourism, Rhun, and we don't want people—. We know with Snowdon that overtourism can actually make it where we may end up losing visitors because of—. So, there has to be a fair balance, I would agree with you on that. I think this proposal and a new Wales tourism board would go a long way towards fixing these problems, and I can also assure you that...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you, Minister. You’ve heard me, in the last couple of weeks, mention Go North Wales and Jim Jones. He’s very well known—he’s like a superstar in north Wales. Have you heard of Go North Wales, and would you agree with me that they run a very effective support industry and marketing exercise for tourism in north Wales? Personally, I’d like to see it replicated across the whole...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Will you—
Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you. I appreciate it, Llyr. You will remember, in the last 10 years, the UK Government gave enough funds to the Welsh Government to freeze council tax for three years and yet, this was never passed on to the local authorities to do that—
Janet Finch-Saunders: Yes. But would not you agree—
Janet Finch-Saunders: All right, all right. Calm down.
Janet Finch-Saunders: It's called ambition. Ambition.
Janet Finch-Saunders: I am saying that all—
Janet Finch-Saunders: I'm really happy to be supporting this motion, along with my Welsh Conservative colleagues. In England, local authorities, fire authorities, police and crime commissioners are required to determine whether the amount of council tax they plan to raise is excessive. Our Secretary of State sets thresholds of excessiveness, known as 'referendum principles' for different classes of authority....
Janet Finch-Saunders: Yes, I will.
Janet Finch-Saunders: No, what I am saying—. What I have heard very loud and clear to me is that they want the kind of council tax increase that my colleague Sam Rowlands—. Less than 3 per cent. That was the council tax—[Interruption.] Well, yes. But, as a Member, you represent Conwy. You should not be condoning 9.9 per cent.
Janet Finch-Saunders: Based on this new rate, that means—
Janet Finch-Saunders: Oh. This means that council tax in the Conwy local authority will have increased by an astonishing 224.16 per cent, and my colleague Sam Rowlands, is very—. You know, very small proportion of that. The rest was Labour-Plaid Cymru. This represents the largest percentage increase—oh, and some independents—of any local authority in Wales. Growth in regular pay among employees in Great...
