Jane Hutt: Formally.
Jane Hutt: Well, I’d like to start by thanking Plaid Cymru for tabling this motion for debate in the Chamber today and returning the Welsh Government’s good wishes for a happy St David’s Day. It does provide us with the opportunity to talk about our performance across these three key areas of the economy, education and health, and I welcome that opportunity. I also think it’s apt. As Rhun ap...
Jane Hutt: [Continues.]—has fallen by 1.4 per cent over the last year and I would say Wales should be rightly proud of its place in the world. Some of our most significant achievements are centred around an equal society. From Hywel Dda’s laws to Aneurin Bevan’s vision, our education system is founded on these same principles—a good, comprehensive system for all, no matter their background. This...
Jane Hutt: Diolch, Lywydd. I’ve no changes to report to this week’s business. Business for the next three weeks is as shown on the business statement and announcement found among the meeting papers available to Members electronically.
Jane Hutt: Diolch yn fawr, Llyr Gruffydd. It is very important that we do get the evidence to substantiate these concerns underpinning this question today. My understanding is that, in terms of psychology, it’s being ceased in both English and Welsh in 2018—English and Welsh—therefore, that obviously drives that decision, and, also, that the GCSE biology book was available last October. So, we...
Jane Hutt: Thank you to R.T. Davies for those questions—very much constituency questions that I’m engaged in as the Vale of Glamorgan Assembly Member. But I think, just on to the first two-part question, I understand—and I have been very involved, indeed, in encouraging the Welsh Government to consult with all of the town and community councils affected in terms of the proposal for the northern...
Jane Hutt: These are crucial in terms of the opportunities that the Swansea city region is taking forward, particularly in relation to the city deal opportunities as well. We did announce, as Mike Hedges knows, nearly £29 million funding for transport schemes across Wales, to improve safety and help in terms of levers for economic growth and promoting active travel. And the city regions have been able...
Jane Hutt: Well, thanks, Steffan Lewis, for this question. I believe questions on this have been raised with the Cabinet Secretary many times from the floor. Certainly, the Cabinet Secretary will be very happy to update Members in the course of business. So, thank you for the question today.
Jane Hutt: Thank you very much, Suzy Davies. In fact, I have been very involved in the impact and outcome of a fourth fire at Llandow industrial estate, which happened on Thursday night—visiting on Friday morning and again yesterday as well, meeting with NRW, who then issued a suspension order, working with local businesses like the Llandow caravan park and, indeed, the circuit there. Those who live...
Jane Hutt: I’m glad Huw Irranca-Davies has raised this question. The Welsh Government, of course, wants to see more people taking part in sport and to be able to enjoy the experience both off and on the field, and condemns any violence during matches and outside, as you’ve described. We will consult with colleagues in the Government over the opportunities we have to respond fully to this in terms of...
Jane Hutt: Simon Thomas draws attention to one particularly important location where there have been these frustrations. In fact, Nick Ramsay drew attention earlier on to the delight of the people of Tintern, while drawing attention to surrounding areas. So, I think that we have to recognise that there are still issues, but, to date, over 621,000 premises across Wales are able to receive superfast...
Jane Hutt: Well, I think, in terms of your first question, as far as the Welsh Government’s concerned, we’re only too delighted to celebrate National Apprenticeship Week, considering we as a Welsh Labour Government have committed to developing 100,000 apprenticeships, even at this tough time. That is about us choosing priorities that we know will have the kind of impact that you describe so well,...
Jane Hutt: Julie Morgan raises a very vital question that is of great concern to her constituents and the people we represent here in Wales. Welsh Government officials have, I can confirm, spoken today to their counterparts in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. They’ve confirmed that Somaliland is normally treated by the international community as an integral part of Somalia, so the Foreign and...
Jane Hutt: Well, I do sometimes wonder where Mohammad Asghar thinks that we’re going to find our funding, you know, with a £1.8 billion cut and more austerity to come. But, I think we need to look at this serious question, and important question, carefully. We were aware of Careers Wales’s decision to initiate consultation on a voluntary release scheme, and we do hope and expect that Careers Wales...
Jane Hutt: I thank Dawn Bowden for that important question. The Adjudication Panel for Wales is an independent tribunal. Its function is to determine alleged breaches by elected and co-opted members of Welsh county, county borough and community councils, fire and national park authorities, against their authority’s statutory code of conduct. Members of the tribunal are appointed by the Welsh Ministers...
Jane Hutt: The Welsh Government has announced an extra £20 million to support businesses affected by the rates revaluation—£10 million through our transitional relief scheme and £10 million for high-street rates relief. This is in addition to our £100 million small business rates relief. We’ve acted to provide certainty and security to ratepayers in Wales affected by revaluation.
Jane Hutt: Our £10 million transitional rates relief scheme will assist businesses whose entitlement to small business rates relief would be adversely affected by revaluation. Our £10 million high-street rates relief specifically targets businesses in your constituency. I know there are high-street ratepayers, including shops, pubs and cafes, and, of course, we listened to the concerns and responded...
Jane Hutt: Well, of course, the statistics that were published by the valuation authority show that total rateable value will fall in all of the Valleys authorities. That does mean that the majority of ratepayers in these areas will benefit from a reduction in their bills, and we’ve acted to provide that additional support to businesses through an extension of £100 million small business rates relief...
Jane Hutt: Clearly, this is an issue where we have worked over a period of time, as a very pro-business Government, to take action to help new and existing businesses, and to indeed look at the impact not just in terms of revaluation, but our business support scheme. We are looking at a new permanent scheme in terms of small business rates relief from 2018, and it’s important to target support in ways...
Jane Hutt: Can I just make it clear that we’re doing more than the UK Government? If you look at the funding for the rates relief measures that the Chancellor announced last week, it would amount to just over £12 million. If we’d relied on that, it would have meant £8 million less support for small businesses in Wales. We’ve got two fully funded bespoke schemes. I’m sure many of the businesses...
