Sam Rowlands: As the Member will be aware, there is a need to make sure our public services are properly supported. And when it comes to businesses, employing businesses are creating jobs, which is a fundamental part of our economy; these business rates, we hear from businesses across Wales, are hitting them the hardest. And an example of this is that, in Wales, we see the worst footfall in the United...
Sam Rowlands: Can I apologise for being a few moments late? I hadn't clocked the move-around in this afternoon's agenda. Apologies, Minister. Can I thank you, Minister, also, for bringing forward today's constructive statement on the local government elections, which took place last week? I'd like to join you in thanking all of those who were involved in the smooth operation of last week's election, right...
Sam Rowlands: Minister, I'd like to welcome your comments today in terms of some of the additional investment taking place to see waiting times reduce, and you referred to your planned care recovery plan as well, which I would hope would be beneficial to some of my residents in north Wales. Certainly, this is very timely, because we do continue to see an administration presiding over some of the worst...
Sam Rowlands: I'd like to put on record also, and agree with lots of what the Member for Ynys Môn has said, in terms of the importance of the former Anglesey Aluminium site not only to Anglesey, but also to the north Wales region as a whole. It can make a huge amount of difference if that site is properly developed, and I've mentioned that a few times in this Chamber before, and it is regretful that we...
Sam Rowlands: I too would like to thank Darren Millar for submitting today's vitally important debate and, of course, Russell George for opening today's debate on NHS waiting lists. I'd like to start today by firstly putting on record my gratitude and thanks to all those wonderful and dedicated people who work in our health service, who go above and beyond in the work that they carry out. As someone who...
Sam Rowlands: Certainly.
Sam Rowlands: Well, you make a point in terms of the budget allocation here in Wales, the responsibility of the Government of Wales, but you have to ask the question: pressures across the United Kingdom in terms of budgets and dealing with debts that Government has to deal with, but we still see the worst waiting times in Wales than anywhere else in the United Kingdom—. Darren Millar wants to intervene.
Sam Rowlands: I appreciate the Member's intervention and I took that to come to me directly there.
Sam Rowlands: Thank you very much. So, in my contribution, if I may continue, Deputy Presiding Officer, I'd like to focus on emergency waiting times initially and how, quite frankly, we see this area continuing to fail. The statistics are shocking. As already outlined today, we see one in five on a waiting list; one in four in Wales waiting over 52 weeks for an appointment; and, in addition to this, since...
Sam Rowlands: I will wrap up, Deputy Presiding Officer. Now, of course, is a time for Welsh Government to take these issues seriously. People's lives are on the line, which I know we're all aware of. I believe that Welsh Government needs to urgently rebuild the trust of residents across Wales by improving our health service, hitting the targets that it sets, and improving our health service for all. In...
Sam Rowlands: Can I join Members in welcoming today's statement on the launch of the Welsh Government's National Music Service? I declare that my sister-in-law is a peripatetic music teacher in north Wales. But, Minister, you referred a couple of times to your visits yesterday, and I did enjoy the video of yourself and the First Minister, but it did highlight to me the importance of a national plan for...
Sam Rowlands: Minister, I certainly welcome your continued commitment to work closely with local authorities, particularly in this area of climate and nature emergency. As previously stated, I believe local authorities can play a crucial part in supporting and delivering the ambition for a greener and stronger economy here in Wales, and a prime example of this in my part of the Wales, in north Wales, has...
Sam Rowlands: The Member for Arfon raised a really important point, because we know that around 10 per cent of our population here in Wales is dyslexic. And I know, personally, that if it is not dealt with or supported properly at a young age, it can cause some difficulties for people later on in life. In addition to this, the signs and symptoms of dyslexia differ from person to person, so it's really...
Sam Rowlands: Good afternoon, Minister. I'd like to ask for a Welsh Government statement on maximising the potential of Wrexham's newly announced city status. I'm sure, Minister, you were as delighted as I was to hear the announcement that Wrexham will now be a city following Her Majesty the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations. Of course, Minister, there are lots of fantastic things happening throughout...
Sam Rowlands: Of course, levelling-up funding is crucial to how we will work in the future here in Wales, because there's so much that can be done to help regenerate our high streets, our town centres, tackling crime, antisocial behaviour, and this money can make a real difference in those communities. And of course, one of the aspects, actually, we on these benches do support, and actually local...
Sam Rowlands: Thank you to my colleague Tom Giffard for submitting a really important question this afternoon. And it is disappointing, as Tom Giffard mentioned, that this did come through a written statement and not through a proper statement here in the Chamber. As you'll be aware, Minister—. You talk about the visitor economy providing a proper contribution; you will know full well it employs around...
Sam Rowlands: Diolch, Deputy Presiding Officer, and thank you, Minister, for bringing forward today's statement. Before I get into the thrust of my comments, I would like some clarity from the Minister around the statement that bringing in Improvement Cymru was only possible because it's only been around since 2019. I understood that the 1000 Lives campaign, which was the predecessor name, has been around...
Sam Rowlands: What action will the Welsh Government take to maximise the benefits of Wrexham's city status?
Sam Rowlands: 6. What action is the Welsh Government taking to support veterans in North Wales? OQ58143
Sam Rowlands: Thank you, Deputy Minister, for your response. I must say it was a pleasure to see you also at the gun salute here in Cardiff Bay last week, and your support for veterans, I know, is appreciated. But recently I also had the pleasure of meeting the Royal British Legion, and they raised an area with me, which was they're looking to extend housing priority need to cover five years for those...
