Carl Sargeant: Thank you, Llywydd. A really interesting debate, with the contributions raised by many today. Thank you for the opportunity to respond. I’ll consider all of the points made in charting our way forward, and I know that the Minister’s officials will be watching closely, not just about what I say but about what you’ve said in terms of the opportunities that will present in the future....
Carl Sargeant: Yes, I will; I’m more than happy to.
Carl Sargeant: So, not just ethnic minorities, but others as well. I think the Member would have been better using that contribution to apologise to the people in Cardiff, rather than make opportunities there. And the issue that Michelle Brown raised as well, I listened very carefully to that. She belittles the issue around carrier bag charges. Long gone are the days, I hope, where we saw trees covered in...
Carl Sargeant: So how can they keep their waste recycling centres open when you’re taking the money away for them to do that? Let me just also remind the Members—[Interruption.] I will take an intervention. I’d love it. Let me just also remind the Members opposite. [Interruption.] Llywydd, let me remind the Members opposite: they talked about what we’re doing for the environment and what we can do...
Carl Sargeant: Diolch, Lywydd. I wish to update Members on my plans for addressing ongoing concerns about the park homes industry in Wales, following publication last autumn of the research into the economics of the sector. You will recall that we commissioned public and corporate economic consultants to undertake this review. I’m grateful to them for completing the largest and most comprehensive review...
Carl Sargeant: It clearly identified a need to raise current residents’ awareness of contractual obligations and to ensure that future residents are clear on the matters before entering into contracts. It also recommended that we consider how poor practice could be identified and addressed. I accept both of these recommendations in principle, and will be inviting colleagues and key stakeholders to work...
Carl Sargeant: I thank the Member for her observations and questions. First of all, what we have to understand fully, and I think I’ve articulated that through the statement today, is the economics of the park. The financial viability of the report was questionable in terms of the detail we received back and that’s why I’ve been unable to make a decision. But, I do understand that some parks will...
Carl Sargeant: I thank the Member for his contribution. I think the Member, in broad principle, is supportive of the statement today. Of course, the other recommendations other than the commission, my team have already started work on that and we’ll be hoping to issue some guidance towards the autumn. In terms of the commission rate specifically, I expect the full process of engagement and consultation to...
Carl Sargeant: The Member raises a very important point, and thanks for his contribution. I think what’s important is that we do fully understand the nature of the businesses and how they operate here in Wales. You’re right to say that there are a lot more smaller operators than larger ones in Wales, and what does the consequence of that mean—I wouldn’t want to remove the commission rate if we knew,...
Carl Sargeant: The Member raises some interesting points. I think the Member should engage in the consultation exercise on behalf of his party if that’s what he wishes to do. I have met with the park home residents and park home site owners in the past and it is unfortunate that I—as Cabinet Secretaries and Ministers we get lots of requests by individuals to meet them; we just physically can’t do that...
Carl Sargeant: I thank the Member for his question. I have had direct discussions with the UK prisons Minister regarding the proposed site for the development of the new prison at Port Talbot. This proposal has the potential to offer south Wales a modern, fit-for-purpose facility that concentrates on rehabilitation, making our communities safer.
Carl Sargeant: I thank the Member for his question and his interest on that, representing his constituents. Of course, many of the questions he has rightly raised require Ministry of Justice responses, but they are at very early stages. The statement that was issued by the Ministry of Justice was about the indication to consider building a prison in Neath Port Talbot, and those fundamental questions about...
Carl Sargeant: I thank the Member for her observations. There are many issues. She raises again, as the local Member Dai Rees raised, the issue with regard to Ministry of Justice responses. Can I just say from my experience of HMP Berwyn that around 60 per cent of the employment in the development and construction was of local area personnel, so it was a big industrial boost for that particular area? In...
Carl Sargeant: The Member raises some very important issues, but can I say that these are very modern facilities? The issue of education and rehabilitation is an important one. Wrexham prison and Bridgend, actually, have got some very good processes where reintegration into the community is an important one. If you lock people up and treat them like wild animals in cages, they will come back out as wild...
Carl Sargeant: I think there are important points raised by all Members today. The issue of the application is one for the Ministry of Justice, and they will take that forward. We do have a role in terms of the indirect consequences of building such an institution in Wales, in terms of educational pressures and other local pressures, but it does provide opportunities as well for employment and the...
Carl Sargeant: Well, I thank Dr Lloyd for his questions—very animated he was too. I think—a couple of points, if we break them down. He starts to present the argument of being opposed to this on a constitutional issue. I think that’s unfortunate, because, actually, this is about making sure that our prisoners, our Welsh people who live in Wales, have a facility that can help them with the issue...
Carl Sargeant: The issue here, Llywydd, is my team—it’s not unusual to engage with any prospective developer on an area that is owned by Welsh Government, with the private or public sector, which I said to Bethan Jenkins before. My team have been engaged with the MOJ on the basis of this facility potentially coming forward. Today’s announcement was about that potential coming to light. Now, it...
Carl Sargeant: Really good questions by the Member, but I hope that his visits to the prison were the same as mine, through the visitors’ entrance, so he could exit. But an important process. I haven’t got that detail, and I had a conversation with Sam Gyimah MP yesterday that was light on detail, because these things still have to be worked out, but what I would suggest is that the model, while...
Carl Sargeant: I thank the Member for her question. I strongly condemn those who start grass fires. They devastate our community, our environment, and put our communities in fear, endangering our firefighters. And we have had reduced grass fires significantly, but I hope to see the situation sustained this year.
Carl Sargeant: Well, the Member is right to raise the issue of these fires—several outbreaks over the weekend. We have worked with the fire service, the police, local authorities, Natural Resources Wales and others to establish a coherent and strategic approach to preventing and responding to grass fires. Initial figures show that this approach, working with partners, has been highly effective. The...
