Samuel Kurtz: Thank you, Llywydd, and happy St David's Day to you, to the Minister and to the whole of the Chamber. I'd like to start by thanking the Minister for bringing forward this statement today, and I refer Members to my register of interests. I would also like to associate myself with the Minister's heartfelt words on the death of Aled Roberts. Let's hope that one of the gifts that Aled leaves us...
Samuel Kurtz: I'm grateful to the Member for Alyn and Deeside for tabling this topical question. Putin's Russia is a bully, and all bullies must be stood up to. Ukrainian sovereignty has been violated and innocent civilians are being killed by Putin's desire for conflict. This is a dark period in Europe's history. We must all work to preserve the freedom, democracy and sovereignty of Ukraine, and we stand...
Samuel Kurtz: So, if we cast our minds back to 2010, I was still at school, Corona was just but a beer, and the people of Carmarthen welcomed Debenhams to their town centre at St Catherine's Walk. However, only 11 short years later, in May of last year, it shut, leaving a 6000 sq m hole in the town centre. But thankfully, due to £18.5 million-worth of investment—£15 million from the UK Government—the...
Samuel Kurtz: I'll happily take an intervention.
Samuel Kurtz: Well, this is the point that I was going to come on to. One suggestion that has been offered to me by local police officers in Dyfed-Powys Police is that the rural crime commissioners themselves, or the police and crime commissioners themselves, are able to contribute to the funding of this position to secure its long-term future. And that's something that I would like to explore—seeing the...
Samuel Kurtz: I would very much like to welcome this afternoon's debate, particularly as it gives us an opportunity to recognise the steps that the UK Government has taken to protect our communities and make our neighbourhoods safer. Indeed, in my own constituency of Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, I have seen first hand how important this funding is to our local communities. The UK Government has...
Samuel Kurtz: Thank you to the Member for Dwyfor Meirionnydd for the opportunity to contribute.
Samuel Kurtz: As someone who's played a whole host of sports throughout their life, from football, golf, tennis, rugby, cricket and everything else in between, this debate got me thinking back to what it was like growing up in rural west Wales. And it was often more jumpers for goalposts than Millennium Stadium—Principality Stadium, forgive me—or Celtic Manor or Lord's cricket ground. And one thing...
Samuel Kurtz: Well, absolutely, and we've talked in this Chamber a lot with regard to Glastir woodland creation funds going across the border to other countries that are buying up—other companies that are buying up— prime Welsh agricultural land for tree afforestation being agreeable and acceptable to this Government in receiving grant funding through Glastir woodland. So, there is finance available....
Samuel Kurtz: I wish to refer Members to my register of interests, as I am a member of both Pembrokeshire County Council and Wales YFC. I would like to begin by thanking the Minister for bringing this debate forward, and by echoing the words of colleague, the MS for Monmouth: the devil certainly lies within the detail. And it is evident from this afternoon's debate that, following a record funding boost...
Samuel Kurtz: Diolch, Brif Weinidog. A fortnight ago, Hywel Dda University Health Board signed off a programme business case for the reorganisation of healthcare services in west Wales, which, if approved and signed off by your Government, will see the creation of a new hospital at a location not yet decided somewhere between Narberth and St Clears. This business case also sees both Glangwili and Withybush...
Samuel Kurtz: 4. What are the Welsh Government's priorities for healthcare provision in west Wales? OQ57607
Samuel Kurtz: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to close today's debate, following some very detailed and informative contributions from across the Chamber. And can I say how wonderful it is to be back in the Siambr, doing what our constituents have voted us to do? What has been made clear this afternoon is that obesity is a chronic disease caused by health inequalities, genetic...
Samuel Kurtz: Thank you, Minister. Velfrey Vineyard, a small, independent and family-run vineyard near Whitland in my constituency, produces excellent quality wine, and I was fortunate enough to visit and sample some of their finest last year. Concerns have been raised, however, that applications to the Government's decarbonisation and COVID challenge fund are being seen more favourably if they are from...
Samuel Kurtz: 10. Will the Minister outline the criteria for receiving funding under the Welsh Government’s decarbonisation and COVID challenge fund? OQ57555
Samuel Kurtz: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I'll start by declaring an interest as a Member of Pembrokeshire County Council and I'd like to thank the Member for Brecon and Radnorshire for granting me the opportunity to speak in this afternoon's debate, as I know it will be of great interest to many of my constituents. Like many growing up in rural Wales, I was dependent on either infrequent and seasonable public...
Samuel Kurtz: Ahead of my final question, I'd just like to declare an interest as a member of Pembrokeshire County Council, and it's an issue that I've raised before within the Chamber. It's regarding Cosheston VC School in my own constituency of Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, which has faced ongoing difficulties relating to lack of space, which have worsened due to COVID-19. Following an issue I...
Samuel Kurtz: Thank you, Minister.
Samuel Kurtz: The Member went on to mention the Government's commitment to the Welsh language through 'Cymraeg 2050' by echoing the concerns of the former First Minister, Carwyn Jones. The comments made by Alun Davies are a cause for concern, particularly when linked to the commissioner's call for substantial intervention and a change of mindset in warning that the 'Cymraeg 2050' strategy will not be...
Samuel Kurtz: Thank you, Minister. In his annual report, the Welsh Language Commissioner has identified a great frustration with the increase in rules around Welsh language standards and the sluggish change in Welsh-medium education. Indeed, the Labour Member for Blaenau Gwent in the committee said:
