Carolyn Thomas: What advice has the Counsel General provided to the Welsh Government on the legal status of the Barnett formula in respect of the funding of railway infrastructure in Wales?
Carolyn Thomas: Diolch, Llywydd. I omitted to declare I'm a Flintshire councillor in reference to the draft budget debate, agenda item No. 3. I apologise, and please could I do so retrospectively?
Carolyn Thomas: I would like to welcome this draft budget, which outlines continued support for local authorities as they continue to provide services at the forefront of the pandemic. I understand that it's more generous than what has been allocated for English councils by UK Government, and the fact that it is free from hypothecation, as in Scotland, is most welcome. However, I'd like to outline some...
Carolyn Thomas: Can I just say to my colleague Jack Sargeant I'd be very interested in joining that cross-party group? Minister, going back about 10 years I recall Cadwyn Clwyd, a regional development agency, secured £14 million of EU funding to boost the rural economy in Flintshire and Denbighshire. Other funding came in to agencies across north Wales such as Northern Marches Cymru, Menter a Busnes and...
Carolyn Thomas: Minister, during 10 years of Tory austerity cutting public services funding, local authorities have reorganised, restructured and made all efficiencies they could possibly make. They've become so lean that any new pressures, for example because of adverse weather, pay awards or new legislation, put them at risk of not being able to provide front-line services. Some legislation, such as taking...
Carolyn Thomas: Thank you to the Petitions Committee for bringing forward this important petition today, and thank you to Jack Sargeant for opening the debate. The petition has highlighted an important opportunity for us here in Wales to progress action to protect our wildlife. We are facing a nature crisis as well as a climate emergency, and we must take seriously the loss of biodiversity that will occur if...
Carolyn Thomas: Will the Minister make a statement on the pay and conditions of those working in higher education?
Carolyn Thomas: Diolch, First Minister. Much of north Wales is rural, unlike large city areas such as Cardiff. It is a complicated web of transport hubs consisting of many isolated rural communities, a large amount of historical town centres, health facilities, railway stations, and it's intrinsically linked with education to make it viable. How will Welsh Government ensure that the vast knowledge of local...
Carolyn Thomas: 7. What plans does the Welsh Government have to improve bus services in North Wales? OQ57332
Carolyn Thomas: Music services and tuition in Wales delivered by authorities have been severely impacted by year upon year of austerity measures and cuts to public service funding. I saw this as a Flintshire councillor and parent whose son took part in a music service. After attending a concert, I asked my then young children if they would learn an instrument through school. It was free and I thought it...
Carolyn Thomas: Diolch, Deputy Minister. I recently visited Plas y Brenin, which is a great facility for adventure sport and training in the heart of Snowdonia, and it's run by a Welsh charity, the Mountain Training Trust. They are looking for funding to bring their building and outdoor facilities up to full disability access to widen inclusiveness and expand the offer. What is Welsh Government doing to...
Carolyn Thomas: 2. What steps is the Welsh Government taking to support the active recreation sector in north Wales? OQ57289
Carolyn Thomas: Animal welfare establishments in Wales are providing a critical and necessary service, as we can see by just how busy they are. However, their credibility has been damaged by some awful establishments. I'd like to bring some examples to light of just why we need to regulate animal welfare establishments. Since 2016, I've been watching the actions against a local charity in my region,...
Carolyn Thomas: Thank you for your statement, Minister, and I welcome the action being taken by the Welsh Government. The lack of affordable housing across the UK is an issue acutely felt by younger generations. Many are unable to get a mortgage and feel trapped within the private rented sector, paying off the landlord's mortgage instead of being allowed to pay off their own. Often, tenants can be paying far...
Carolyn Thomas: As you know, First Minister, Dolgarrog pipe bridge, connecting the local community to the train station, has been closed to walkers and local users due to significant safety concerns, including the deterioration of the timber deck boards and the need for additional measures to safeguard the water mains supply to over 3,000 homes in north Wales. Thanks to Welsh Government funding, the popular...
Carolyn Thomas: What steps is the Welsh Government taking to tackle the nature emergency in Wales?
Carolyn Thomas: Can I thank Jack Sargeant for tabling this topical question on such an important issue? Like Jack, I am a proud member of Unite the Union, and also attended the picket line on Sunday to stand in solidarity with drivers, who fulfil such an important role in our local communities across north Wales. It simply cannot be fair that workers in Wales are paid less and made to work longer hours than...
Carolyn Thomas: I've had a response regarding that as well and been told that it's being followed up, with officers meeting with Wrexham officials as well. Diolch. Improvements along the A55 in Gwynedd received 50 per cent EU funding to do the work. This is just one example of how north Wales's infrastructure gained from being a net beneficiary of European funding. We were promised we would be no worse off...
Carolyn Thomas: Diolch. During the first week of COP26, I was invited to a conference with presentations by schools across north Wales, and the students had a real understanding that we all have a part to play in tackling climate change. Their suggestions that they came up with included cutting food miles, meat-free Mondays, using renewable energy, reuse and saving water by turning off the tap while brushing...
Carolyn Thomas: I'm sure all Members will agree that elections should be fair, open and accessible. We should be encouraging as many members of the electorate to participate in our democracy as possible, and feel empowered to have their voices heard beyond voting time. I welcome the six principles laid out by the Counsel General, which are to be used as a benchmark for the electoral reform agenda. It is...
