Rhun ap Iorwerth: Can I—?
Rhun ap Iorwerth: I just want to ask a rather tangential but relevant question. We have variable speed limits already on motorways depending on the type of vehicle—different speed limits for vans and lorries to cars. Could electric vehicles travel at faster speeds considering that they don't pollute the atmosphere?
Rhun ap Iorwerth: And if you give way, you would recognise that I used the term 'priority' in relation to Newport and addressing the problems there.
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you very much for giving way. I don't think I was suggesting that we turn what we had before into a Wales-wide programme. It's a matter of developing an answer to the Newport problem as a priority, as I made clear, alongside now, and as part of, a new, innovative Wales-wide transport strategy.
Rhun ap Iorwerth: So, what are the solutions? I don't have the advantage of being in Government. The Government has missed the opportunity of the last eight years. They are in the privileged position of being able to plan from now on. But as the Government's commission starts its work, we in Plaid Cymru will be doing our own work, speaking to stakeholders locally, speaking to transport experts and other...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Diolch. Let me tell you two contrasting stories. One is actual, one is a portrayal of what might have been. First, then, in 2011, Welsh Government commits to pursuing the so-called black route to the south of Newport. In 2019, eight years later, eight years of putting all eggs in one unsustainable basket, and Welsh Government is forced to admit the project is unsustainable financially and...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: I'm also very concerned about the workers at Allied Bakeries, where there has been, as we've heard, a very long tradition of baking on and near that site in that part of Cardiff, and I'm pleased to hear the Deputy Minister talking about the need to focus on the skills that the workers have there. While it would be positive if jobs are kept there in a distribution centre, that's not the same...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you very much. We know, on Anglesey, that, within the next five to 10 years, there's going to be an increase of around 30 per cent in the number of older people—that's people over the age of 60. We already know that there’s a shortage of appropriate housing for older people with mobility needs and other health needs. We need to build new houses, of course, which are appropriate, and...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you. The Farmers Union of Wales contacted me on behalf of one of their members a few weeks ago because an application from a constituent for a grant had failed because he'd failed to provide a letter from his accountant to confirm that the turnover of his business was below £1 million. Now, I should say that his turnover is way below £1 million, and I should add that virtually every...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: 8. Will the Minister make a statement on the farm business grant? OAQ54071
Rhun ap Iorwerth: 4. Will the Minister make a statement on the funding available to renovate houses for older people? OAQ54072
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you for that response. The most recent Chwarae Teg report on the state of the nation demonstrates that Anglesey has the greatest gap between the salaries of men and women. The gap in Anglesey is 25.5 per cent, which is staggeringly high, particularly given that this is to be a priority, as you’ve just said, for the Government. I’ll be chairing a special meeting in Anglesey in...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: 5. What assessment has the Deputy Minister made of women's wages in Anglesey? OAQ54073
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Yes, and it's a fair point to make, but we also have to be aware and remember that we were willing to consider spending a significant amount of money on a single scheme, otherwise it would have been killed dead a long, long time ago. We have to now be brave and look at ways that we can use, again, significant investment in looking at the issues in the south-east of Wales plus more wide...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Indeed, this is very much a speech by committee and I'm glad that everybody's on the same page in terms of looking at all these innovations and solutions that are already out there.
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Car shares have been listed, and, obviously, investing in public transport in a much deeper way than is currently planned, looking at how we investigate free public transport in order to use that incentive—the financial incentive to get people out of their cars. We've heard Professor Mark Barry recently talking about changing working times in different parts of the south-east Wales economy,...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you for the intervention. I shall be launching a leak inquiry immediately after this debate to find out who passed my speech on to you—[Laughter.]—because I was also going to be talking about that as an innovation, because it certainly is an innovation. We heard suggestions about moving light freight onto heavier freight road vehicles. That's a way of doing it. Another potentially...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer, and thank you to those who have participated.
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thanks to everybody who's taken part in the debate this afternoon. I've sensed real frustration this afternoon and, in fact, over the past week or so, and I share much of that frustration. I've heard frustration from a local Member that the pulling of the black route leaves an unresolved issue for her community. We've heard frustration about money wasted, about time wasted, indecision and...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Could we also put on the record that there is no mention in our motion of supporting a blue route? I've long been of the opinion that there might have been something based around the blue route, but not the blue route itself, perhaps that would be worthy of investigation. To me, that still stands in terms of strengthening and building resilience into the road network. Not the blue route as—
