Llyr Gruffydd: But the truth is that we have around 3,000 empty homes in north Wales, and some of them have been vacant for a decade and more. This is a huge waste of resources, isn't it? Because we are crying out for affordable homes, but we have thousands of empty homes in north Wales, and then we're seeing houses built on greenfield sites and on flood plains in north Wales. So, certainly, it remains a...
Llyr Gruffydd: We've just heard that the recently departed chief executive was in post for a little too long; you could probably say that about the three chief executives who've served during the period that the board has been in special measures and under the direct control of Welsh Government. Now, I know that you're reticent to direct the board to do anything, but, as Minister, I'm sure you can convey a...
Llyr Gruffydd: 2. What discussions has the Minister had with the Minister for Housing and Local Government in relation to how the Welsh Government can help fund plans to reduce the number of empty houses in North Wales? OAQ55227
Llyr Gruffydd: I just wanted to endorse briefly some of the comments Rhun made. Rhun referred to the excellent work that the north Wales community health council has done, particularly on vascular services, but that’s one of very many cases. I can tell you that the CHC has played a crucial role in the work around the newborn intensive care units. You remember that campaign that was ultimately won and the...
Llyr Gruffydd: I'm pleased that the Minister for agriculture is in her seat, just to note what I intend to raise. The Minister has stated that the new regulations on water quality will be laid within the next few weeks. I don't see in the business statement any reference to an oral statement to run along with the laying of those regulations over the next three weeks' business. You will know, of course, that...
Llyr Gruffydd: Whilst, of course, there are good news stories such as the ones you’ve mentioned in terms of some of the care, we are aware that one of the reasons that the health board was placed in special measures was because of failings when it comes to mental health services. Now, it was disappointing to read a report last year that was a review of psychiatric therapies in north Wales, which listed a...
Llyr Gruffydd: 4. Will the First Minister provide an update on the provision of mental health services in North Wales? OAQ55222
Llyr Gruffydd: I will, yes, although I'm already over time.
Llyr Gruffydd: Thank you for that. And, also, of course, it reminds me of another point, in that why is it always one-way traffic? When we want to access services, we have to go to England. Why don't we have the aspiration to actually develop some of those specialisms here in Wales, so that people in England come to us? It doesn't have to be a one-way street. Now, I appreciate sometimes it may need to be,...
Llyr Gruffydd: Two care homes in particular—Cygnet Health Care's Wyke in Bradford, and Partnerships in Care's Kneesworth site—were listed as inadequate by the CQC after its inspection. A further three were found to require improvement. And these are serious failings. Wyke was deemed to be inadequate when it came to safety, effectiveness, caring and being well-led. And in terms of safety, that meant...
Llyr Gruffydd: Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer, and thank you to everyone who has contributed to this valuable debate and raised very valid and important issues, and particularly the referrals to some of the appalling examples that I fear we're becoming far too used to. I'll just add one further element to this debate too, in concluding, because last year I asked Betsi Cadwaladr how many...
Llyr Gruffydd: A question has arisen as to how many councils in Wales are going to be able to take advantage of opportunities in this area, because they've lost their council house stock since they transferred those to social landlords over a decade ago. Other things have changed, and there is an emphasis on councils building their own homes once again. The question is: how do councils that don't hold stock...
Llyr Gruffydd: Dust from the Kronospan works has been visible on people's cars and windows in Chirk for many, many years, and local residents are hugely concerned about the impact that breathing in that dust over the longer term has on their health. Monitoring by Wrexham County Borough Council only measures the larger particulates, the PM10s, while there's nothing in place to measure the smaller PM2.5s,...
Llyr Gruffydd: Yesterday I attended a meeting of the cross-party group on woodlands, forestry and timber, and attention was drawn to the fact that one of the trees that has the biggest role in tackling flooding was the particular strain of tree that is used to capture floodwaters. Now, we know very well that very many of these trees are dying because of ash tree disease. But I now know that the project...
Llyr Gruffydd: Well, you haven't answered my question because I asked whether you were comfortable with the principle that people were receiving different levels of support based on where they were in Wales, and what you were doing to work with local authorities to see if you could bring their level of commitment up to where it should be. You didn't address that, but there we are, maybe you'll do so in a...
Llyr Gruffydd: It is disappointing that there are vacant posts, because, of course, they have been shown up at a moment when all that workforce was required—and I join with you in paying tribute to those who were working—but at that time when they needed to be at their very best, unfortunately they didn't have a full complement of staff. Now, I've consistently raised with you—and you will be aware of...
Llyr Gruffydd: Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer. Minister, you told this Assembly, in light of the recent flooding a few weeks ago, that you had organised a meeting with the chair and chief executive of NRW, and that the resources available—be they human or financial resources—would be at the top of the agenda for that meeting. Can you give us an update on the discussion that you had and...
Llyr Gruffydd: 8. What has the Welsh Government done to protect the people of Wales from the side-effects of dust escaping into the atmosphere? OAQ55180
Llyr Gruffydd: 6. Will the Minister make a statement on the building of council homes in Wales? OAQ55181
Llyr Gruffydd: Thank you very much, Dirprwy Lywydd. I am very pleased to speak in this debate today on behalf of the Finance Committee. The committee met to consider the Welsh Government’s second supplementary budget for 2019-20 on 12 February. Our report makes a number of recommendations, and I will briefly cover some of those today. As mentioned during our earlier debate on the final budget for...
