Janet Finch-Saunders: Development plans, and, indeed, our national development plan, are the backbone when we're looking at future planning on land. We've asked, for many reasons, why there isn't the same detailed approach out at sea. This is a point we've spoken about for several years. I was proud to see a majority in this Welsh Parliament back our legislative proposal to create a national marine development...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Diolch, Llywydd. Tonight's debate is 'Developing the hydro energy sector in Wales', and I have agreed to give a minute each to Samuel Kurtz MS, James Evans MS, Huw Irranca-Davies MS, Rhun ap Iorwerth MS and Sam Rowlands MS. So, a popular debate.
Janet Finch-Saunders: Reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 is a very significant challenge. It requires urgent action across the economy. The International Energy Agency has said 'an unprecedented clean technology push to 2030' is required. Hydrogen, we all know, has a very key role to play. As the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee have noted, 'it has unique features as a clean...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Will the Member take an intervention?
Janet Finch-Saunders: I say this in all honesty and sincerity, do you not think, after 25 years of a Welsh Labour Government handling the health service here in Wales and, at times, propped up by Plaid Cymru—in fact, you've been in Government yourself here—do you not think that now is the time for a Welsh Conservative Government in Cardiff Bay?
Janet Finch-Saunders: I'm really delighted that rights have been granted for the Erebus project, which could create subsequent projects of approximately 300 MW in the Celtic sea. The project will initially focus on a 100 MW demonstration project, which is predicted to power over 93,000 homes per year, and this would save 151,000 tonnes of carbon emissions per year. Of course, I'm also pleased that the proposed...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd, and I'm very proud as a Welsh Conservative to be opening this debate on offshore renewable energy. Electricity consumption in Wales is expected to surge by up to 300 per cent by 2050, due to increased demand by the transport and heat sectors. The Welsh Government has to take accountability to ensure that we have sufficient capacity to meet this demand. It is vital that...
Janet Finch-Saunders: —all need to improve if we are to return to public transport, as per recommendation 7. Diolch.
Janet Finch-Saunders: First off, I'd like to thank the Chairman, my fellow committee members, as well as all the panelists and staff who supported us in our work on this report. Now, between the pandemic, strike action and the cost-of-living crisis, public transport in Wales and across the UK is facing a wide variety of challenges. This means it's even more important than ever for the Welsh Government to deliver a...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Given that the over-65 population is likely to significantly increase over the next five years, it is essential that our local authorities receive adequate funding to support our older population, and we know that our social care in Wales is in a mess. We've heard the concerns about the hypothecation and how money is afforded to local authorities. We've heard our colleague Llyr Gruffydd...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Can I just say we're really on the same page here, Minister? I would like to say from the outset that the Shark Fins Bill has the full support of our group. Shark finning is one of the biggest threats to shark conservation. The annual number of sharks killed globally by the practice is estimated to be around 97 million. And it was with surprise, even to me, that I learned the volume of shark...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Diolch, Llywydd, and a happy new year. Wales, of course, is not alone in being hit very hard as climate change continues to worsen, and that, in effect, causes a lot of the problems that you've mentioned in terms of flooding. Last week alone, on just one evening, a total of 27 flood warnings and 43 flood alerts were issued as downpours flooded fields and closed many of our roads. As Dr Paul...
Janet Finch-Saunders: I would like to put on record also my thanks, on behalf of the constituents also of Aberconwy—our thanks and our appreciation for the vital contribution of our air ambulance service. Now, the Welsh Air Ambulance Charitable Trust, and every single team member, provide an essential life-saving emergency medical service for the critically ill and injured across Wales. Only in the last 12...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Diolch, Llywydd, and wishing you a happy new year and the Minister. So, thank you, Minister. It sounds as though you had a fantastic and rewarding time in Montreal, and I'm sure, like other Members of the Senedd, I would be pleased to hear more about the Parks Canada methodology in due course. Now, as you know, COP15 saw the adoption of the global biodiversity framework on the last day of...
Janet Finch-Saunders: There were almost 50,000 knife-enabled crimes recorded in the year ending June 2022. Sadly, one of those victims was my constituent Jake Pickstock, who, on 21 August 2021, and through no fault of his own, found himself with his head and neck slashed open and left fighting for his life at a nightclub in Llandudno. He required 62 stitches and he almost died twice. Jake is a lovely young man of...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you, Minister. On Saturday, more than 2,000 emergency 999 calls were presented, this being a 17 per cent increase on last week. The trust responded to more than 200 immediately life-threatening red calls, and also 111 received over 10,000 calls—the busiest day ever for the service. In the face of the tsunami of calls, on Sunday, the trust declared a business continuity incident. Some...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Luke Fletcher is quite right to say the UK Government has announced that, if it is unable to associate with Horizon, then it will continue to support the research and innovation sector through transitional arrangements. This includes the UK guarantee scheme, which then provides funding to researchers and innovators unable to reach their Horizon Europe funding while the UK is in the process of...
Janet Finch-Saunders: 4. Will the Minister make a statement on support for the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust in combating waiting times? OQ58866
Janet Finch-Saunders: What assessment has the Minister made of the impact of strikes on the Welsh economy?
Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you, Llywydd. I know it's Christmas nearly, and I know it's pantomime season, but this budget is actually a very serious issue. Now, if we want to be encouraging renewable energy production in Wales, we should be empowering local businesses to achieve it. The Welsh Government could do this by reintroducing the business rate relief that you took away from our privately owned hydro power...
