Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you, Minister. The UK Government has committed to investing £20 million per year in tidal stream energy—electricity—and the First Minister has informed this Senedd that the Welsh Government is committed to developing a tidal lagoon challenge. However, it seems that tidal range options have been left out at sea. TPGen24 has been designed to operate both in sync with the rise and...
Janet Finch-Saunders: 8. Will the Minister make a statement on financial support for tidal energy projects in Wales? OQ58061
Janet Finch-Saunders: I thank the Minister again for her statement. We know that communities across Wales from the Conwy valley to Rhondda Cynon Taf have made abundantly clear, over the times that they've seen shocking flooding incidents, that they want to see independent inquiries undertaken. Indeed, a petition raised in 2020 called for an independent inquiry into the flooding in Rhondda Cynon Taf, and despite...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Thanks, Minister. It is good that we are welcoming this new renewable energy impetus that's coming, but do you think it's enough that the renewable energy deep dive only commits to work with Natural Resources Wales and key stakeholders to identify marine strategic resource areas by 2023, and to provide guidance to signpost appropriate and inappropriate areas for development? Now, you know our...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you, Minister, for your statement. In 2017, local authorities warned at that time that they expected an increase in demand for housing with care over the next five years. In fact, your own Welsh Labour Government published a report on the evaluation of extra-care housing in Wales which noted, and I quote: 'The vast majority of local authorities' —and that was 18 out of 22— 'expect...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Someone needs to.
Janet Finch-Saunders: —but I'm not allowed, but this is a really serious subject, and I thank my own group and Darren Millar and Russell George for bringing this. We will bring these debates week after week, month after month—I hope not year after year. Please listen to us, Minister, but please improve the health service in Wales.
Janet Finch-Saunders: Gosh, right. [Laughter.] We have at least 100 consultants across Wales—of shortages. There has been no increase to the advertised 309 medical school places at Cardiff University. I could go on—
Janet Finch-Saunders: Let's not beat about the bush: COVID-19 has not caused this waiting list crisis. Yes, it has exacerbated problems, but those were issues already present within the Welsh NHS under the remit of this Welsh Labour Government. As of January 2020—2020—12,428 treatment pathways were waiting over 36 weeks for treatment in north Wales. That already horrific figure has now reached 58,988 in...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you.
Janet Finch-Saunders: So, if you are unwilling to listen to all those voices in the tourism sector, would you consider the findings of the chair of the Wales Tourism Alliance, chair of the Professional Association of Self Caterers UK and executive director for Wales of UKHospitality Cymru? The change to 182 days is expected to drive very many legitimate small businesses to close. For example, one genuine business...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Diolch, Llywydd. And I refer Members to my declaration of interest form in terms of property ownership.
Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you, Minister. And I can advise I have participated in the consultation on the Draft Non-Domestic Rating (Definition of Domestic Property) (Wales) Order 2022. But I am deeply concerned that this Welsh Labour Government, but, let's be honest, propped up by Plaid Cymru, is ignoring all reasonable objections to this Order. Now, if you are unwilling to listen to Members here and, indeed,...
Janet Finch-Saunders: 3. What discussions has the Minister had with the Minister for Finance and Local Government about the potential impact of the Draft Non-Domestic Rating (Definition of Domestic Property) (Wales) Order 2022 on the tourism sector in Wales? OQ58006
Janet Finch-Saunders: Now, I agree with the core principle that houses owned by associations and local authorities have to be in a good, presentable and habitable condition, but I think some might question whether the Welsh housing quality standard has worked to its best ability. The results of the tenants' survey speak volumes: only 53.6 per cent of respondents agreed that their home is in a good condition; only...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you for the statement, and, Minister, can I just say how nice it is to see you back in this Chamber and how you've been in our thoughts in recent weeks?
Janet Finch-Saunders: On 29 March, the Minister for Climate Change stated, and I quote: 'Once the Building Safety Bill receives royal assent the task will be to bring forward the necessary regulations'. Well, last month, the Bill received Royal Assent, so I'm sure that you as First Minister are as eager as we are to see these regulations laid as quickly as possible. However, we also want justice for residents...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Will the First Minister make a statement on funding for care homes in North Wales?
Janet Finch-Saunders: Fact: poor stewardship of the economy by Welsh Labour has led to Wales having the highest business rates in the United Kingdom, the lowest weekly wages, and the lowest amount of disposable household income in the United Kingdom. The Welsh Conservatives believe that the current Welsh Government have facilitated an anti-business stance, causing poor investment and growth opportunities for two...
Janet Finch-Saunders: I take your point, and actually, I agree with it, to a point. I have to say, when I had a north-facing office during last term, with the new mechanisms that came in to save energy, we were having problems with our office lights, and we had to move around a lot to get the office lights to come on. I'm now in a south-facing office, where we get lots of sun, and I've got to be honest, I don't...
