Sam Rowlands: Thank you very much for your response, Minister. As you'll be aware, at the start of July, the leaders of Wales's 22 local authorities called on Welsh Government to review the powers and remit of the public body responsible for looking after the environment here in Wales—Natural Resources Wales. And as you'll be aware, my colleague Janet Finch-Saunders raised this issue with the Minister...
Sam Rowlands: Diolch, Llywydd, and good afternoon, Minister. How would you describe the current relationship that councils have with Natural Resources Wales?
Sam Rowlands: Thank you, Minister, for bringing today's statement. I think many of the points I was probably going to raise with you, you've already covered off this afternoon, but I'd like to recognise the exceptional work that's been carried out by our servicemen and women in supporting those fleeing persecution in Afghanistan, alongside Government agencies and those in Afghanistan to ensure those people...
Sam Rowlands: Thank you, First Minister, for your answer. We all know how important the north Wales growth deal is to the region. I'd like to welcome the work across Governments, with local authorities and other bodies, in seeing this progress that we all seek for the region. One of the projects, and an important project amongst many, is a project to further develop the port at Holyhead. And you'll know...
Sam Rowlands: 7. What assessment has the First Minister made of the progress of the North Wales growth deal? OQ56839
Sam Rowlands: Thank you, Minister, for your response, and as you will be aware, Minister, an important part of education provision is outdoor learning, which can be fantastic for learners of all abilities and ages, and which can benefit them in so many different ways and indeed of course, north Wales has some of the best outdoor education centres in the country. However, throughout COVID-19, the access to...
Sam Rowlands: Thank you, Minister, for your response. As you will be aware, your assessment of need for housing in north Wales states that there should be around 1,600 homes built every year in the region for the next 20 years. Currently, that development number is around 1,200 homes a year. So, there's quite a significant gap between what is needed and what's being built. As you'll also appreciate,...
Sam Rowlands: 7. Will the Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government's housing priorities for North Wales? OQ56779
Sam Rowlands: 2. Will the Minister make a statement on the provision of education in North Wales? OQ56780
Sam Rowlands: Thank you for the opportunity to debate on budget preparations for the next financial year or so. This is a timely debate, and obviously an extremely important one as we come out from the COVID-19 pandemic, and I would like to turn my contribution to local government, and the role and opportunity of properly supporting councils. But at this point, I remind Members of my interest as an elected...
Sam Rowlands: Thank you, First Minister. I certainly welcome that investment in the medical school in Bangor. I'm sure you'd also agree that having the right facilities throughout the region and the country is an important factor in ensuring that quality healthcare is provided. And if we were to look at the investment in facilities over the past five years, there is a significant gap between what is being...
Sam Rowlands: 8. What action is the First Minister taking to improve health services in North Wales? OQ56795
Sam Rowlands: Thank you, Mr Hefin David, for submitting today's debate. As we all know, and has been outlined already, the tourism industry is vital to Wales's economic prosperity. For me in north Wales and for the region I represent, it employs around 40,000 people, contributes around £3.5 billion a year to the local economy and, as such, it's really welcome, the cross-party focus and support for the...
Sam Rowlands: Thank you, Deputy Minister, for your comments so far. May I add my support to the learned Member for South Wales Central in regard to care home visits as well? It's certainly a frustrating experience for many individuals at the moment. Minister, during the pandemic, we have seen the importance and the incredible work of many care workers, who have gone above and beyond to provide an...
Sam Rowlands: Thank you, Minister, for your response to questions from the Member for Alyn and Deeside. As you will know, Alyn and Deeside is a strategic location in north Wales, with its border and important transport links into the north-west of England. Many businesses in Mr Sargeant's constituency, and across north Wales, do rely heavily on strong cross-border collaboration, which needs the UK and...
Sam Rowlands: Thank you, Deputy Minister, for your statement this evening, now. I think some of my comments probably come off the back of and are similar to what the Member for Cardiff Central was referencing there in terms of the national approach to some of this. Of course, your statement is off the back of the consultation on the White Paper, and in the summary of responses that was published, I just...
Sam Rowlands: Will the First Minister make a statement on the provision of dental services in North Wales?
Sam Rowlands: Thank you, Presiding Officer. Just reflecting, as a new Member into the Senedd on this intake, there seemed to me to be a bit of disconnect between some of the new proposals, which the Commission were bringing forward in rules and rule changes in our working, and what Members were actually seeking. So, just wondering, with that meeting arrangement and timetable in place, how will you be using...
Sam Rowlands: Thank you for your responses so far to these points, Minister. Clearly, some communities are seeking community banks in their areas. I was wondering how you prioritise which towns and communities would have a community bank in them.
Sam Rowlands: 6. Will the Commission confirm its meeting arrangements for the forthcoming term? OQ56705
