Rhun ap Iorwerth: There is nothing contentious, of course, in calling for an increase in the level of training. Where there is disagreement between ourselves and the Government is on how we provide that new capacity. There is an ambition for us to develop Bangor University as a centre—or there is a general ambition, if truth be told, to develop Bangor University as a centre of excellence in the area of...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: 'There is a risk that the Health Board is unable to meet its statutory responsibilities to provide a primary care service to the population of North Wales.... There is a risk that the Health Board will have difficulty recruiting and retaining high quality staff in certain areas'. I'm concerned about that. We really need to see this Government, which is in charge of Betsi Cadwaladr, start...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Will you take an intervention from me as well? Just on the public sector pay cap, our point in Plaid Cymru really is quite simple: you made a pledge in your election manifesto earlier this year to get rid of the public sector pay cap. You are in a position in Welsh Government here to get rid of it. Whether you think it's possible or affordable or not is neither here nor there. You said you...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: What's that got to do with it?
Rhun ap Iorwerth: You can do it.
Rhun ap Iorwerth: What discussions has the Cabinet Secretary had with organisations in Anglesey prior to the introduction of universal credit in March 2018?
Rhun ap Iorwerth: We've seen over the past 24 hours the prospect of one part of the UK getting a unique deal, and I reiterate that we in Plaid Cymru want Wales too to be able to benefit from any kind of distinct or special arrangements that would allow us also to be in the single market and the customs union. And nobody in their right minds would want to see a hard border on Ireland—I know the First Minister...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: There are very grave implications for my own constituency, and the 1,000 people working either directly or indirectly in the port of Holyhead, in seeing a hard border at Holyhead. Holyhead is the second most busy port in Britain, in terms of ferries transporting goods. Now, trade is entirely reliant on the free flow of goods, and trade will seek simpler and easier routes. There is already...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: 3. Will the First Minister provide an update on Welsh Government round-table discussions on leaving the European Union? OAQ51414
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you. It's important, of course, in the context of what we’ve been discussing this afternoon, that the Government at every level is involved in all ways possible in terms of defending Wales’s interest. I know that in the External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee of the Assembly on 20 November, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance mentioned the round-table arrangements for...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: 3. What additional funding will the Cabinet Secretary allocate to the local government portfolio to tackle the recent floods on Anglesey? OAQ51411
Rhun ap Iorwerth: I’m grateful for that response, and I’m pleased that those discussions are ongoing. I’m also grateful for the positive indications given by the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport a week ago on the possibility of assistance on the A545 between Menai Bridge and Beaumaris. There will be financial implications beyond road maintenance, of course, and I would appreciate any support...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: 12. Will the Leader of the House make a statement on the development of 5G technology? OAQ51413
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Absolutely, and I wouldn't disagree there. Others have congratulated you on your appointment to Cabinet today. We've already been working together in my role as business manager and you as leader of the house. I congratulate you on bringing digital connectivity from the ministerial benches to the frontbench. I have a kind offer to make to you to mark your new role in the Cabinet, and that is...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Will you take an intervention?
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you for taking the intervention. Reference has been made a number of times today to the UK allowing a vote in Scotland on secession. It is important to remember, of course, that the democratically elected Scottish Government did put forward plans for a second referendum that were halted by the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. It was not up to the people of Scotland at that point...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: I am convinced that it’s through the education system that we can get young people on the right track towards physical activity in order to improve their health. There’s an opportunity here to draw attention to the beginning of the health committee inquiry into physical activity among children and young people. Now, Ireland has just introduced physical activity as an examination—for a...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: I'm certainly looking forward to seeing a Wales-wide transformative strategy for transport that will not only revolutionise how we move around our country, but change attitudes towards how we want to move around our country. But I think we all have also in our constituencies particular elements of transport planning that we might want to focus on today. I see in your statement—or I heard in...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Will the First Minister make a statement on the provision of mental health care through the medium of Welsh?
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you very much. Cabinet Secretary, last week, you made a statement on funding training places for health professionals over the next year, and I certainly welcome much of what was said in that statement: a 10 per cent increase in the number of training places for nurses, physiotherapists and occupational therapists, and an increase in the number of training places for health visitors and...
