Mark Drakeford: Well, Llywydd, I thank Sam Kurtz for that question, and congratulate him on hosting the future energy cluster event today; I think it's a great event to have here in the Senedd. And I agree with everything that the Member said about the immense possibilities that renewable energy, including floating offshore wind and other projects in the Celtic sea, hold out for his part of Wales, but for...
Mark Drakeford: Llywydd, investment in physical infrastructure, and a workforce skilled for the future, are amongst the actions taken by the Welsh Government to support energy technologies in the Celtic sea.
Mark Drakeford: In the six months following publication of the planned care recovery programme, long waits in the Welsh NHS have fallen by 23 per cent. That is the result of significant additional investment, expanded facilities, service reform and, most of all, the enormous effort of NHS staff themselves.
Mark Drakeford: Public transport connects people to one another, binds communities together and enables businesses to grow and expand. Llwybr Newydd – the Wales Transport Strategy, sets our plans for an accessible, sustainable and efficient transport system; not just in South-East Wales, but across the nation.
Mark Drakeford: People are experiencing the biggest fall in living standards since records began and the economy is in recession as a result of the UK Government’s mishandling of our economy. Our ongoing analysis of the crisis is helping to prioritise spending and target action to support the most vulnerable households.
Mark Drakeford: Tackling child poverty is a key priority for the Welsh Government. We fund a range of programmes which support better outcomes, such as financial help with the cost of the school day, our childcare offer and initiatives helping young people across Wales reach their potential including our Young Person’s Guarantee.
Mark Drakeford: There are important things that need to be done in the north of Wales. I don’t disagree with that. I don’t disagree that that might involve greater responsibilities being discharged at the different locality levels within the north. But the idea that a wholesale reorganisation is what health services in the north of Wales require, and that that would lead to a solution to the problems...
Mark Drakeford: Well, I hear what the Member says, of course. The only point that I have to make is the point that I have made when I have responded to the suggestion last year. To reconsider everything in north Wales, to put north Wales into a situation where there is uncertainty in everything that lies behind the health service—I don't think that that is going to help anyone who drives an ambulance or...
Mark Drakeford: On 19 December, an internal critical incident was declared at the board in the face of rising COVID pressures, rising flu numbers, public concern about strep A, a nurses strike on 20 December and an ambulance strike on 21 December. Declaring an incident of this kind triggers actions designed to reduce the pressures on the system, as seen elsewhere in Wales and across the United Kingdom.
Mark Drakeford: Well, Llywydd, first of all, I congratulate Mike Hedges on the success of his lobbying efforts on behalf of his constituents in Llansamlet. I know that Transport for Wales, who are responsible for the rail service, of course, that he mentioned, are working hard to try to make sure that there is an increased range and availability of integrated tickets to make it easier for people to make...
Mark Drakeford: I thank Mike Hedges, Llywydd. The creation of the South West Wales Corporate Joint Committee is key to improving public transport connectivity between Swansea and its partner authorities. That committee has met regularly in 2022, and Welsh Government officials will meet leaders of the CJC next week to take forward development of a regional transport plan.
Mark Drakeford: Llywydd, can I begin by welcoming the reports that have been seen today of progress in discussions between the UK Government and the European Commission on the Northern Ireland protocol matter? At the heart of that will be the issue of regulatory alignment, to which Joyce Watson has referred. In order to be able to make sure that Welsh exports get unfettered access to the European Union...
Mark Drakeford: I thank Joyce Watson, Llywydd. Global trading conditions remain unpredictable as we enter 2023. In addition to the turbulence created by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Welsh exporters face new barriers to trade with our nearest and most important market. We offer practical assistance to partners to adapt to new trading environments and find new opportunities for the future.
Mark Drakeford: I've already set out this afternoon a series of things that the Welsh Government is doing to make sure that the health service is in a position to treat people in a timely way. That is our ambition, and I'm sure it's the ambition of Members across the Chamber. As I've said, two-year waits in the Swansea Bay health board were 26 per cent lower at the end of October than they were at the end of...
Mark Drakeford: We are committed to reducing waiting times across the whole of Wales, investing £170 million recurrently to support improvement, and £15 million to support transformation of services. October data demonstrates that waits over two years have reduced by 26 per cent since March 2022 at the Swansea Bay health board.
Mark Drakeford: I entirely agree with what Ken Skates has said. This has been a deeply polarising debate. The proper role for elected politicians, I believe, is to promote dialogue, rather than to seek to deepen conflict. I was surprised by the UK Government's reaction. They are threatening to use a power that has never been used in the whole history of devolution. They appear to say that they will not...
Mark Drakeford: Well, I'll certainly not rule out any such legislation, Llywydd, nor do I accept that the Scottish Bill was rushed through the Scottish Parliament. I have indeed had an opportunity to hear directly from the Scottish First Minister about the passage of that Bill, and it was very thoroughly and very carefully debated through the Scottish Parliament's own procedures. It was supported, in the...
Mark Drakeford: The powers available in Scotland are not currently devolved to Wales. We will seek those powers, as set out in the programme for government. Legislative use of any new competence will, of course, be for the Senedd itself to determine.
Mark Drakeford: I thank Joyce Watson for that important point, Llywydd. We are committed, alongside our partners, to making more information available to residents in Wales so that, if people are anxious about the state of the rivers or the risk of flooding, they know where to go to get that information. Lots of it, inevitably, these days, Llywydd, is online information and we know that that is not equally...
Mark Drakeford: Llywydd, I thank Russell George for the number of important questions that he has raised. He is right to draw attention to the fact that, across Wales today, with the amount of rain that we've had in recent weeks and with the volume of rain that is forecast for today and for Thursday and into the weekend as well, there will be communities anxious about what this will mean for them. There is...
