Rebecca Evans: I thank Mike Hedges for raising this issue and the concern that he's shown for some time about the workers at both Virgin and Dawnus. With regard to Virgin, I can say that, since the announcement of the closure, the employees at Virgin Media have been supported by Careers Wales, the Department for Work and Pensions, the Welsh Contact Centre Forum and the ReAct programme. The support has...
Rebecca Evans: Thank you very much. I do recognise that there's huge interest in terms of Transport for Wales, and I will ask the Minister with responsibility for the economy and transport to consider when would be the best time to update Members. I would point to a statement that Ken Skates is making this afternoon, on the Global Centre of Rail Excellence in Wales, which will certainly give an opportunity...
Rebecca Evans: Thank you for raising both of these issues. Certainly, setting rates of VAT is not a matter for the Welsh Government, but we were as concerned as you were when it was brought to our attention that whilst there was a VAT exemption in place for English as a foreign language courses that are provided on a commercial basis, the same exemption is not available for Welsh language courses, and...
Rebecca Evans: Thank you very much for giving us the opportunity to compliment and thank the Open University for the work that it's undertaken over the last 50 years, and the important work that it's done in terms of opening up learning and qualification opportunities to people. The Minister for Education is here, so she will have heard your request in terms of an opportunity to debate the importance of...
Rebecca Evans: Thank you very much. I am pleased to confirm that there will be a statement on clean air before the summer recess. I know the Minister for the environment will be making that statement. I hear that your particular concern is in relation to what contribution Public Health Wales and the health agenda can make to that, so I'll be sure that the statement does, obviously, have full input from...
Rebecca Evans: The Minister with responsibility for culture and heritage is here in the Chamber to hear your contribution, and you're absolutely right that the Norwegian church is a very central and important part of life here in Cardiff Bay. I'll ask the Minister to provide you with an update on Welsh Government and Cadw's approach to protecting buildings of particular Welsh religious heritage and interest.
Rebecca Evans: Again, the Minister for environment has been here to hear your contribution and the description of the challenges and the problems that your constituents and others have faced regarding cavity insulation work. Can I ask you to write directly to the Minister with information about particular cases you're concerned about? I'm sure that she will respond.
Rebecca Evans: In relation to your first question, which sought Welsh Government recognition of the work that Care after Combat does with individuals who have served in the armed forces, I know Welsh Government has had a long-standing relationship with the organisation. I met with them in my previous role when I was responsible for housing, to talk about how we can best prevent people who have previously...
Rebecca Evans: Thank you very much for raising the issue of grass-roots rugby and, of course, the Minister with responsibility for community sport will have heard your request for that debate. I know that our colleague Jayne Bryant has a question specifically on the importance of community sport and active recreation in the Chamber tomorrow, and I know it's something that both of you champion very...
Rebecca Evans: Thank you very much. Relating to your first query, which was on the status of the vacant land tax work, we are currently negotiating the devolution of competence with HM Treasury, and the timescales of this process are not entirely within the gift of the Welsh Government or the National Assembly. However, we do hope that powers will be devolved this year and a timetable agreed as part of the...
Rebecca Evans: Thank you for raising this particular issue, which is, obviously, concerning. I will ask the Minister for health to write to you to provide the reassurances and the peace of mind that you are seeking in terms of the Welsh Government's approach to supporting children and the mental health of young people. We do take a broad approach to improving the mental health of young people, from...
Rebecca Evans: Thank you for raising what is an incredibly important issue. The internet can be a wonderful place, but at the same time there are dark corners where serious dangers do lurk for children and young people. It's important that we work to protect children and young people online, but also help them to develop the kind of resilience that actually young people do need to face the kinds of...
Rebecca Evans: Thank you for raising this issue and, of course, I'd be more than delighted to congratulate Jess Fishlock on her significant achievements, and the role that she is carving out for herself in terms of being a real inspiration to young people, and young women and young girls particularly. Football is one of the fastest growing sports for young girls, and I think that's something really to be...
Rebecca Evans: We have worked closely with local authorities to improve the administration of non-domestic rates and rate relief and will continue to do so. The Minister for local government and I discussed this with local government leaders at the finance sub-group meeting this morning.
Rebecca Evans: Thank you for raising the important issue of non-domestic rates this afternoon. In total, over £210 million of relief is being provided in 2019-20 to support businesses across Wales with their bills, and these reliefs are available to all eligible ratepayers, including those on the high street who meet the criteria. But, as you say, we have introduced an extra £23.6 million of support to...
Rebecca Evans: So, as I say, we had a meeting of the finance sub-group this morning, where I was able to thank local authorities for the work that they have done in terms of introducing the new schemes. As you say, you've given some examples where you believe that good work is happening. Swansea is one of those. I'll certainly take up the issue with the leader of Bridgend council to understand what the...
Rebecca Evans: Welsh Government will always take decisions in terms of what’s best for people in Wales and for businesses in Wales, but we have a generous approach to rates relief in Wales. Our average rateable value is different to that in England and it will be different to that in Scotland. So, it’s important that we take the decisions in terms of rate relief that are right for Wales and that do...
Rebecca Evans: It absolutely is, and I thank Rhianon Passmore for that contribution. Of course, our work on non-domestic rates is just part of a package of ways in which we support our regeneration of town centres and support our high streets in Wales. Of course, we have our targeted regeneration investment programme, in which we’re investing capital funding of up to £100 million over a three-year...
Rebecca Evans: As outlined in our tax policy work plan, officials are working with local authority colleagues to review the use of their discretionary powers to apply council tax premiums and ensure the legislation is operating as intended.
Rebecca Evans: I've had exactly this conversation with local authority leaders in our finance sub-group this morning, where we were discussing this specific issue of concerns relating to individuals who decide to change the status of their property to move themselves out of council tax into non-domestic rates, where they could then potentially benefit from our rate relief schemes. So, as you know, because...
