Llyr Gruffydd: I want to ask for a statement on the future of the food processing sector more broadly in Wales. We’ve heard about the difficulties of Tomlinsons, of course, and the implications of that, and that comes barely 18 months after the loss of Arla in Llandyrnog too. There are issues, therefore, in terms of milk processing. But we heard last week, of course, about Randall Parker Foods in...
Llyr Gruffydd: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Of course, the context of this question has changed slightly since it was tabled, but it remains valid.
Llyr Gruffydd: 1. In light of the uncertainty regarding the Tomlinsons Dairy milk processing plant, and the fact that 70 dairy farms and hundreds of jobs are dependent upon it, what steps is the Welsh Government taking to support the company and the workforce? 351
Llyr Gruffydd: Thank you for that response. Of course, there are a number of questions emerging from what has happened. First of all, people are scratching their heads and asking themselves, 'What went wrong?' Because, just in 2017, the company was given £22 million in investment—£5 million of that from the Welsh Government, a further £2 million from Finance Wales—and then, months later, at the end...
Llyr Gruffydd: I welcome and support this legislative proposal. In listing many of the steps that could be taken, it started to sound like the Plaid Cymru manifesto back in 2016, but certainly I am very pleased to see that the ambition of seeing Wales being a world leader in this area is one that's included within the motion. Because, I have to say, we haven’t seen enough done by the Welsh Government on...
Llyr Gruffydd: We are aware now that there are over 24,000 second homes in Wales, with almost 5,000 of them in Gwynedd, and over 4,000 are in Pembrokeshire. In 2017-18, almost 40 per cent of the homes sold in Gwynedd and a third of the homes sold on Anglesey had been sold as second homes. So, essentially, we are talking about a broader economic problem here, aren't we? Large parts of Wales, particularly...
Llyr Gruffydd: Regulations in London since the 1970s have been different to the rest of England in relation to the management of the use of open-market housing as second homes. The regulations in London used to prevent the use of residential properties in the 32 boroughs of London as temporary holiday lets, and this was done through regulations that required planning permission to change the use. The main...
Llyr Gruffydd: 8. Will the Minister make a statement on the use of external consultants by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board? OAQ54597
Llyr Gruffydd: Well, one of those people is Philip Burns, who has been employed by the board, it would seem, to be part of the process of identifying opportunities to save money. Now, apparently, he is paid £2,000 per day, along with travel costs back and forth from Marbella. I’ve asked the health board to confirm whether this is true for over a month, and I’ve not received a response, and therefore...
Llyr Gruffydd: Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd. Now, last week, of course, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board decided that they would force nurses, midwives and healthcare support workers to extend their shifts for no extra pay. The plan was to enforce an extra 30-minute unpaid break per shift, even though many nurses, of course, don't have time to take their breaks as it is. And by the health board's own...
Llyr Gruffydd: Well, I didn't in any way there hear any regret or remorse about the fact that we got to where we got to on this issue. An apology might have been nice, yes, or at least some acknowledgement that it shouldn't have come to this—a second debate in this Chamber asking for that principle to establish that these proposals should not go forward. The Minister tells us it's an operational matter,...
Llyr Gruffydd: We won’t be supporting the Labour amendment today because what it does essentially is to delete our motion in its entirety and present something that talks about the importance of engagement. That is important of course, but the very reason we’re bringing this motion forward today is to establish the principle that what is being proposed here is wrong in the first instance. We will be...
Llyr Gruffydd: 1. Will the First Minister make a statement on the practical steps the Welsh Government is taking in North Wales to respond to the climate emergency? OAQ54687
Llyr Gruffydd: The hydro energy sector has been in touch with me, expressing concern about non-domestic business rates. You will know that a grant has been given by the Welsh Government over the past few years in order to assist with paying those rates and safeguarding those projects from the possible substantial increase in non-domestic rates. It’s over a year now since the Government commissioned and...
Llyr Gruffydd: May I thank the Minister for her statement this afternoon? Clearly, we will need some time to digest the substantial document before coming to a final conclusion on my views on it. But, certainly, there are a few points arising that I need to ask some questions on. I’m pleased that you’ve acknowledged the impacts that we’re already seeing in terms of the climate emergency, and the...
Llyr Gruffydd: Thank you very much, Llywydd.
Llyr Gruffydd: Minister, the national development framework clearly is primarily the responsibility of the Minister for Housing and Local Government. But you've explained to us here previously how you've worked closely with her in developing many aspects relevant to your portfolio, and it will clearly have a huge bearing on your and the Government's ability to deliver on your aspirations in relation to...
Llyr Gruffydd: Well, I am a bit concerned that you're not concerned and, clearly, it needs to be addressed, because it will have a huge impact on your ability to fulfil what I presume are your aspirations in terms of decarbonisation and energy or renewable energy production. Now, the strategic search areas in TAN 8, of course, had a target in terms of proposed energy generation. There's no indication of...
Llyr Gruffydd: Well, I'm afraid that you're hiding behind the consultation a little bit, because what I'm asking is what assessment has your Government made in terms of the demand that will be required in terms of energy generation over the next 20 years, because surely you will have to have done that piece of work before, then, you can put forward a national development framework that is supposedly there...
Llyr Gruffydd: One of the issues that faces many residents in rural Wales is that because their land isn't considered an area for permitted housing development they find it very difficult to obtain planning permission for housing on their land, when the purpose of that housing, of course, is to accommodate a family member to remain in the local community. So, would you examine the possibility of relaxing...
