Janet Finch-Saunders: Yes, sorry, Jack.
Janet Finch-Saunders: At the end of the day, Jack, we had a massive emergency on our hands. We had to protect—[Interruption.] Jack, we had to protect—. It's fair to say that the UK Government just wanted to protect the most vulnerable in dealing with the pandemic. How would you have done it any differently? [Interruption.] Yes, but you didn't—[Interruption.] You did not—[Interruption.]
Janet Finch-Saunders: Because I'm going to be talking about properties, I'll declare my own interest in terms of property ownership. I think it's probably one of the most difficult budgets for us all that we, as Members here, have faced. I've not heard too much about the awful two years plus that we went through of the pandemic. When everybody's slating the UK Government, we cannot forget that I think it was about...
Janet Finch-Saunders: —and we want to see a strong Wales in a strong United Kingdom. First Minister, will you make clear to your governing comrades over in Plaid Cymru that people have had enough of their divisive push for independence and that they want us to focus on the issues that really matter to the people of Wales?
Janet Finch-Saunders: Will you stand up for our United Kingdom? [Interruption.]
Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you. Now, according to the latest census results we've seen, 55.2 per cent of people selected a Welsh-only identity in Wales in 2021, and that's a decrease from 57.5 per cent in 2011. Meanwhile, 18.5 per cent of people selected a British-only identity, which saw an increase from 16.9 per cent in 2011. However, the number of people selecting both Welsh and British identities also rose to...
Janet Finch-Saunders: 2. How will the Welsh Government make use of the results of the 2021 census? OQ58867
Janet Finch-Saunders: I tell you what, I will say this. The Christmas season is almost upon us, but what I will say is that, this year, I have been mightily surprised and rather disappointed by the anti-visitor, anti-tourism rhetoric. And I tell you now, I am receiving e-mails from all over Wales, from all your constituents, saying that we're right, and you're wrong.
Janet Finch-Saunders: I wasn't actually down to speak, but—[Laughter.]
Janet Finch-Saunders: No, I'll take every opportunity, actually. So, basically, this is a mess, Minister. I've been approached by so many now. I'm sorry, I can't see where the confusion is on the motion tabled by my colleague, and to be fair, Sam Rowlands eloquently laid out the foundations of what the concern is here. This is unfair, it's unjust, and you cannot retrospectively apply charges for a period of time...
Janet Finch-Saunders: I'm sure you know the word 'retrospective' and that's the point that my colleague Sam Rowlands is making. The approaches I've had to me by business owners—distraught business owners—is that the year that they are going forward, they're looking back and taking into account business that was affected during COVID. And so it is unjust that they're now—. They technically are in breach of...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Will you take a small intervention?
Janet Finch-Saunders: Will the Member take an intervention?
Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you. Could you just tell this Chamber whether you've had any approaches from constituents running this kind of business on this matter?
Janet Finch-Saunders: In summary, this Welsh Government still has a long way to go in providing reassurance to the environmental sector with the leadership, the direction and certainty that they need. For the sake of future generations, we urgently need a proper framework in place. Diolch.
Janet Finch-Saunders: I take my hat off to our Chairman, Llyr Gruffydd, for saying what needed to be said—that the interim assessor does not fulfil the role at all of the kind of environmental governance that we need here in Wales. I'm pleased that the Welsh Government has chosen to accept all eight recommendations contained within the report—I guess I'd have been surprised if you hadn't. I do note that the...
Janet Finch-Saunders: I've had complaints of delays on 111, I should say.
Janet Finch-Saunders: I'd like to thank my colleague Laura Anne Jones for bringing this forward. Yesterday, I tried to bring forward an emergency question simply because of the fact that I was receiving so many enquiries. It's been touched upon, the availability of antibiotics. My concerns are it's not long now before the holiday period, and I know that parents and grandparents and carers are very concerned that...
Janet Finch-Saunders: As I say, there are a lot of positives as to what everybody's doing here. What we say, though—as well as these measures being introduced, it's down to all of us as building users to play our part in assisting with energy-saving measures. I take the point that you said about January and February, because they are, I think, for everyone who budgets for a household, the critical times. Members...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd, and thank you again to my colleague Jenny Rathbone, because this is not the first time—it's fair to say that you are very proactive on making sure that we do reduce our energy on this estate. I’m pleased to confirm that the Commission has agreed to implement a range of additional energy saving measures on the Senedd estate to support its 2030 carbon neutral...
