Tom Giffard: According to statistics from the Office for National Statistics thankfully inflation rates for food are actually lower in the UK than in both the euro area and the EU, but that doesn't mean farmers aren't seeing considerable increases in their costs in this country too, and, over the last few months, we've seen increases in prices of fuel, food and fertiliser, resulting in huge additional...
Tom Giffard: 1. Will the Minister outline the Welsh Government's plans to increase the classification of self-catering accommodation for local tax purposes? TQ630
Tom Giffard: I thank the Minister for the answer. Can I just start by saying how disappointing it is that such a significant change was announced by Welsh Government in a written statement, and it has instead had to take a topical question to drag you here to the floor of the Senedd to explain—
Tom Giffard: —these changes instead? As my colleague Peter Fox said earlier, this change has sent shock waves through the self-catering holiday industry in Wales. I don't know how to put it any clearer than this, Minister: businesses across Wales will have to close as a result of these changes. The sector itself was even open to changing the criteria. They asked you to raise the threshold to 105...
Tom Giffard: Can I thank the Deputy Minister for her statement this afternoon in highlighting how important it is that our cultural sector and our heritage sector is as welcoming as possible for as many people as possible? It's important that the work the Minister for Social Justice mentioned and that review is carried out, and I'm pleased to see it happening in your portfolio too, because as the Minister...
Tom Giffard: Will the First Minister set out the Government's plans regarding frontline NHS staff numbers?
Tom Giffard: 2. What discussions has the Minister had with the UK Government regarding the establishment of a residential women's centre in Swansea? OQ58122
Tom Giffard: Thank you, Minister. Obviously, you mentioned that residential women's centre in Swansea, which is set to open, hopefully, in 2024. And while I welcome the pioneering new initiative to tackle the root causes of low-level female offending, and the collaboration between Welsh and UK Governments bringing the centre to Swansea, we need to make sure that it's done in tandem with the local...
Tom Giffard: One in five on a waiting list in Wales; more than 10,000 people waiting 12 hours in A&E; our education system failing children, with Programme for International Student Assessment rankings at the bottom of the UK league table; a tourism tax on the horizon, penalising businesses after they've suffered tremendous losses over the last four years; the latest Office for National Statistics's...
Tom Giffard: Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd, and I'd like to formally move the amendment in the name of my colleague and friend Darren Millar. [Interruption.] Any time. What we're seeing here today, Llywydd, is yet another commission being set up by the Welsh Government to look at an issue that it's already made its mind up on. Last week it was more MSs, and this week it's another commission. The Cardiff Bay...
Tom Giffard: Of course.
Tom Giffard: It's interesting you say that. I'm not sure that a Welsh Parliament would deliver that, and we've not seen any of that evidence today. I know you've got an extensive background in the BBC, but we've not seen that today. All we've seen today is the setting up of a commission that has already decided what it's going to report before it's started. The UK Government's White Paper on broadcasting...
Tom Giffard: Sorry, I just wanted to make clear, in my contribution Alun Davies seemed to suggest that the devolution of broadcasting would be a vehicle to reverse the privatisation of Channel 4 and keep Channel 4 in public ownership in Wales. I just wanted to clarify whether that was your position as well.
Tom Giffard: 8. What discussions has the Minister had with stakeholders regarding the night-time economy in South Wales West? OQ58169
Tom Giffard: Thank you, Minister, for your answer. While I appreciate that matters related to crime are not devolved, one issue that's raised frequently with me is the issue of business crime in and around Swansea city centre. Swansea business improvement district have been working on a project to combat crime within the city to make the centre a more attractive and prosperous proposition to potential...
Tom Giffard: Do you share with me my disappointment, actually, that we listened to the Minister for five and a half minutes not take a single shred of responsibility for the amount of powers that they've had to sort out the transport infrastructure here in Wales, and instead spent that time blaming the UK Government? They have been responsible for transport here in Wales for a long time, and there has...
Tom Giffard: Diolch, Llywydd. Trefnydd, can I ask for a statement from either the Minister for Climate Change or the Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport as to how sporting facilities are protected during the planning process? As the Wimbledon tennis tournament begins, it's the time of year that people often start to pick up their rackets and get involved in tennis. However, in Porthcawl, a new planning...
Tom Giffard: Minister, you will be aware that my Welsh Conservative colleagues and I have raised on many occasions our opposition to these changes. One of the reasons why is because of the unintended consequences that might come out as a result of it. I've since been in contact with a number of businesses who have raised serious concerns about some of those unintended consequences of the change. So, can I...
Tom Giffard: Minister, on that point about unregulated or poorly regulated sales, you might recall, back in October, I raised with you the issue of a graded or scoring system to be implemented for dog breeders within Wales, and you responded at the time saying that was certainly something you were considering. Now, new figures released this week by the RSPCA and Hope Rescue show that local authorities...
Tom Giffard: Diolch yn fawr iawn i chi, Dirprwy Lywydd, and I'd like to formally move the debate tabled in the name of my colleague Darren Millar, who's had a lot of praise today. Can I begin the debate by placing on record my sadness and deep regret, and that of my group, that the Eurovision Song Contest cannot be held in Ukraine? As ever, our thoughts are with all those impacted by Russia's invasion of...
