Rhun ap Iorwerth: 4. Will the First Minister make a statement on the implications of EU withdrawal for the port of Holyhead? OAQ51781
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thanks for that response. It’s worth reminding people that trade through the port of Holyhead increased by almost 700 per cent since the inception of the single market. We cannot afford to see Wales and the port of Holyhead being excluded from the customs union and not part of the single market. I am concerned about the implications of tariffs for trade. New routes would be developed,...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: I'll keep my comments fairly brief. I haven't been here all that long, but already there's a feeling of groundhog when it comes to discussing winter pressures. There's no doubt that there have been some extraordinary episodes of increased pressure over this winter, and I would like to pay tribute to the astoundingly dedicated members of staff right across our health and care services in Wales...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: —but being a statement, I'm sure you can make your point in questions to the Cabinet Secretary later. So again: when are we going to see that fundamental shift towards a sustainable health and care system in Wales that can deal with the winter of 2018-19, and the winter of 2019-20 and beyond? That's all Welsh patients are asking for.
Rhun ap Iorwerth: 3. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the role of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 in developing electricity infrastructure in Ynys Môn? OAQ51763
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you for that response. You refer to public bodies in Wales and the duties placed upon them, but, of course, there are other bodies that are public, or quasi-public, or have links to the public sector and operate in Wales and have a real impact on us. The National Grid intends to build a new electricity connection across Anglesey with the cost beingthe main, if not the only, factor in...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Will you take an intervention?
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Just to share an experience in my constituency where one developer said, 'If you go to your Assembly Member, I will make damn sure that I will never do the work that needs to be done on your street'.
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Just a very brief intervention—thank you very much. In the case of Llys Tegeirian in Llangristiolus on Anglesey that I mentioned earlier, different property holders have taken out different insurance schemes against possible losses or the defaulting of the developer down the line. Would what you're proposing, a uniform plan, get around that issue of different householders, due to the...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: I'm pleased to have the opportunity to contribute to this debate. Very rarely in my life, I think, have I truly felt alone. I'm very lucky in that respect, and I do hope that most people in this place would have similar experiences, although having many people around you doesn't necessarily mean that you can't also feel lonely and isolated. That is something that we learnt during our inquiry,...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer. I move the amendment tabled in my name, which endeavours to add to and strengthen the original motion. We can’t overemphasise the need to have effective mental health provision for young people, and we can’t overemphasise the need to deal with the health problems of young people at an early stage, because we do know that, in the most extreme...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: We’ve recently heard a great deal of talk, and questions asked of the Government in this Chamber, about mental health care for young people. Waiting lists and waiting times are one important measure of the performance. To remind you, between 2013 and 2015 there was a huge increase in waiting times, particularly for those waiting over 16 weeks or four months. We were in a situation where...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Diolch yn fawr iawn, Llywydd. A few moments ago, leader of the house, you said that the First Minister had been very clear on the customs union issue. I beg to differ, so I'll keep my first question very simple: does your Government favour staying in the EU customs union or a customs union?
Rhun ap Iorwerth: I'm afraid to say that's a regression from the position taken by this Government some months ago. The joint White Paper 'Securing Wales' Future' concludes that Wales and the UK should remain in the EU customs union, and I quote: 'we'— that's you and us— 'are unconvinced that the possible benefits of withdrawing from the EU Customs Union outweigh the costs.' In fact, every single reference...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: But what I don't understand is if you were happy as a Government to set out with us what our position was when this document was published, why is that still not the case now? I want to work together on this. I'm really proud that through the work that's been done by Steffan Lewis more than anybody on our side—it's good to see Steffan with us today—we have been able to bring Government...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: 4. What is the Welsh Government doing to reduce the use of plastic in Wales? OAQ51811
Rhun ap Iorwerth: It's written down.
Rhun ap Iorwerth: What is the Welsh Government doing to reduce the use of plastic in Wales?
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you very much for that response. I was very pleased to attend an event at Rhosneigr last Friday evening where a new campaign was launched to turn Anglesey into a plastic-free island. What that does is appeal to people—individuals, businesses and councils—to cease the use of plastics in many areas. There is a motion about to go before Anglesey County Council so that the whole council...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: I thank the Cabinet Secretary for the statement today. I am trying to assess how much recognition that there is in truth of the concern that has been raised in the wake of the publication of this White Paper. There is a description by you, as Cabinet Secretary, of the broad-ranging nature of the responses, and we have to remind ourselves how short the consultation period was over last summer,...
