Rebecca Evans: Whilst modest costs have been incurred to complete the statutory decision-making process, no funding has yet been allocated from reserves in the 2019-20 budget for construction of the M4 project. Funds are held in reserves pending the decision on whether to make the orders necessary for the project to proceed.
Rebecca Evans: I'm afraid I really can't be drawn into speculation on what the First Minister's response might be to the decision that he has to make regarding the M4 relief road and what may or may not happen to funding beyond that. The First Minister has set out that he will make the decision shortly. I know that he issued a written statement that set out his timescale for that, so further discussions, I...
Rebecca Evans: With respect, I am not going to get drawn into any speculation on what the decision might be from the First Minister with regard to the M4 relief road.
Rebecca Evans: Within the Minister for Economy and Transport’s portfolio alone, more than £600 million is being invested in transport infrastructure improvements, including the £135 million Caernarfon to Bontnewydd bypass and improvements to the A55 and A494.
Rebecca Evans: All funds from the Welsh Government should be used in a way that recognises local need. So, it would be, I think, worth while looking back over the local transport fund and looking at funding that has been allocated over recent years. I'm sure that you will see significant funding to north Wales there. Obviously, we don't know which projects were submitted to that scheme as well, so I think...
Rebecca Evans: We're certainly keen to work with local authorities to highlight what funding is available to them. Again, we had discussions at the finance sub-group this morning about the importance of grants. Also, there was a strong message to Welsh Government from local government about the importance of getting those grants out of the door as early as possible within the financial year. Clearly, local...
Rebecca Evans: In the course of our budget preparations, I meet all Ministers to discuss spending priorities including infrastructure priorities based on achieving the best value for the investment we make across the whole of Wales.
Rebecca Evans: Since taking an overarching responsibility I have had productive individual discussions with Cabinet colleagues on digital strategy, and the digital work already underway in their portfolios, and look forward to the meeting of the Digital Ministerial Strategy Board next month.
Rebecca Evans: Within the health and social services portfolio, the Minister and Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services are investing £1.66m over four years through the Sustainable Social Services Third Sector Grant Scheme to support sight and hearing loss organisations.
Rebecca Evans: Diolch, Llywydd. There are a few changes to this week's business. The First Minister will make a statement shortly on the M4 corridor around Newport, after which the Counsel General and Brexit Minister will provide an update on Brexit. As a result, the statement providing an update on advancing equality and human rights in Wales has been postponed until next week. Draft business for the next...
Rebecca Evans: Thank you very much for bringing forward that request for a statement today. I agree with you that we do have some excellent provision here in Wales. But it is important that we do understand whether or not there is unmet demand for palliative care for children and young people in Wales, so I will ask the health Minister, in the first instance, to explore that in the context of the report to...
Rebecca Evans: Thank you for raising this issue. Of course, you remember that I was able to take the opportunity in a previous business statement to express regret at what was mindless and senseless vandalism to the original memorial. The Minister with responsibility for planning has indicated to me that she'd be grateful if you would write to her with details of this particular case so that she can explore...
Rebecca Evans: Thank you for your request for two statements. The first was about teacher recruitment and, of course, your leader did ask the First Minister several questions about teacher recruitment during the Plenary session earlier today. But the education Minister has also indicated that she'd be happy to have questions on that topic during her question time, which will be taking place tomorrow. ...
Rebecca Evans: Thank you for raising both of these issues. The first was reflecting the concerns of your constituents regarding their experience with bus services in the Rhondda, particularly in terms of the frequency and the quality of the service. You'll be aware, of course, that Welsh Government has recently concluded a consultation on some quite radical plans for the future of bus services in Wales, and...
Rebecca Evans: The Deputy Minister and Chief Whip has responsibility for both the support that we are able to offer asylum seekers and refugees in Wales, and also the issue of tackling domestic violence. So, I think she'll be very well placed to provide you with an update in terms of how those two pieces of work can mesh seamlessly together, so that we don't put people such as the woman you describe in such...
Rebecca Evans: I can give a clear statement now that we're fundamentally opposed to any privatisation of the health service here in Wales, and we're fundamentally opposed to any suggestion, for example, that there should be an agreement made with the United States of America that might sell off parts of our NHS here in Wales, and we continue to make those points. On the issue of votes for EU citizens, we'll...
Rebecca Evans: Well, the inspector's report is very long and very detailed, as is the decision letter, and it is really important that Members do have the opportunity to read both of those documents and to consider them fully before we schedule a debate in Government time. But we will bring forward a debate in Government time during the forthcoming weeks, once Members have had the opportunity to consider...
Rebecca Evans: Diolch, Llywydd. There are no changes to this week's business. The draft business for the next three weeks is set out in the business statement and announcement, which can be found amongst the meeting papers available to Members electronically.
Rebecca Evans: Well, Llywydd, it's quite staggering that having already tried to raise the issue of poverty with the First Minister, the Member tries to raise it again with me this afternoon. We've made it more than clear that, of course, there's something that the Member's own party could do in order to help prevent poverty, and that would be to back Welsh Government's calls to halt universal credit...
Rebecca Evans: I thank the Member for raising this issue, and I completely agree with his assessment of the situation. Of course, Dai Lloyd did refer to the announcement made on 30 April by the then Prime Minister, and that was a completely unexpected statement. The Welsh Government was unsighted on the details despite previous UK Government Ministers' agreements to a four-nation approach. The uplift...
