Janet Finch-Saunders: I take my hat off to our Chairman, Llyr Gruffydd, for saying what needed to be said—that the interim assessor does not fulfil the role at all of the kind of environmental governance that we need here in Wales. I'm pleased that the Welsh Government has chosen to accept all eight recommendations contained within the report—I guess I'd have been surprised if you hadn't. I do note that the...
Janet Finch-Saunders: In summary, this Welsh Government still has a long way to go in providing reassurance to the environmental sector with the leadership, the direction and certainty that they need. For the sake of future generations, we urgently need a proper framework in place. Diolch.
Janet Finch-Saunders: Will the Member take an intervention?
Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you. Could you just tell this Chamber whether you've had any approaches from constituents running this kind of business on this matter?
Janet Finch-Saunders: Will you take a small intervention?
Janet Finch-Saunders: I'm sure you know the word 'retrospective' and that's the point that my colleague Sam Rowlands is making. The approaches I've had to me by business owners—distraught business owners—is that the year that they are going forward, they're looking back and taking into account business that was affected during COVID. And so it is unjust that they're now—. They technically are in breach of...
Janet Finch-Saunders: I wasn't actually down to speak, but—[Laughter.]
Janet Finch-Saunders: No, I'll take every opportunity, actually. So, basically, this is a mess, Minister. I've been approached by so many now. I'm sorry, I can't see where the confusion is on the motion tabled by my colleague, and to be fair, Sam Rowlands eloquently laid out the foundations of what the concern is here. This is unfair, it's unjust, and you cannot retrospectively apply charges for a period of time...
Janet Finch-Saunders: I tell you what, I will say this. The Christmas season is almost upon us, but what I will say is that, this year, I have been mightily surprised and rather disappointed by the anti-visitor, anti-tourism rhetoric. And I tell you now, I am receiving e-mails from all over Wales, from all your constituents, saying that we're right, and you're wrong.
Janet Finch-Saunders: What legal advice has the Counsel General provided to the Welsh Government regarding the legal and constitutional status of designated Members?
Janet Finch-Saunders: 2. How will the Welsh Government make use of the results of the 2021 census? OQ58867
Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you. Now, according to the latest census results we've seen, 55.2 per cent of people selected a Welsh-only identity in Wales in 2021, and that's a decrease from 57.5 per cent in 2011. Meanwhile, 18.5 per cent of people selected a British-only identity, which saw an increase from 16.9 per cent in 2011. However, the number of people selecting both Welsh and British identities also rose to...
Janet Finch-Saunders: —and we want to see a strong Wales in a strong United Kingdom. First Minister, will you make clear to your governing comrades over in Plaid Cymru that people have had enough of their divisive push for independence and that they want us to focus on the issues that really matter to the people of Wales?
Janet Finch-Saunders: Will you stand up for our United Kingdom? [Interruption.]
Janet Finch-Saunders: Because I'm going to be talking about properties, I'll declare my own interest in terms of property ownership. I think it's probably one of the most difficult budgets for us all that we, as Members here, have faced. I've not heard too much about the awful two years plus that we went through of the pandemic. When everybody's slating the UK Government, we cannot forget that I think it was about...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Yes, sorry, Jack.
Janet Finch-Saunders: At the end of the day, Jack, we had a massive emergency on our hands. We had to protect—[Interruption.] Jack, we had to protect—. It's fair to say that the UK Government just wanted to protect the most vulnerable in dealing with the pandemic. How would you have done it any differently? [Interruption.] Yes, but you didn't—[Interruption.] You did not—[Interruption.]
Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you, Llywydd. I know it's Christmas nearly, and I know it's pantomime season, but this budget is actually a very serious issue. Now, if we want to be encouraging renewable energy production in Wales, we should be empowering local businesses to achieve it. The Welsh Government could do this by reintroducing the business rate relief that you took away from our privately owned hydro power...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Luke Fletcher is quite right to say the UK Government has announced that, if it is unable to associate with Horizon, then it will continue to support the research and innovation sector through transitional arrangements. This includes the UK guarantee scheme, which then provides funding to researchers and innovators unable to reach their Horizon Europe funding while the UK is in the process of...
Janet Finch-Saunders: 4. Will the Minister make a statement on support for the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust in combating waiting times? OQ58866
