Rebecca Evans: So, in relation to the Barry biomass plant, the Member will be aware that, back in May, we announced our intention to consult on an environmental statement that the developer was offering to prepare. The developer has now provided an environmental statement, and we've just appointed WSP to undertake independent scrutiny of the materials submitted. If the environmental statement is found to be...
Rebecca Evans: Well, there has been a great deal of change in terms of the way in which supply teachers are procured in Wales. So, the new National Procurement Service framework for supply teachers became operational in September of this year for the start of the academic year, and there are 27 agencies on that framework, so schools are now offered a choice of provider. Framework agencies must comply with...
Rebecca Evans: Well, just to be clear, Llywydd, this Welsh Government is very clear that there is a climate emergency. Welsh Government is very clear that climate change exists, and we're very much focused on tackling that climate emergency. And the Member will be aware of the low-carbon delivery plan, which sets out a detailed and ambitious programme across Government in terms of what we will seek to do to...
Rebecca Evans: Thank you to Siân Gwenllian for bringing forward both of those issues this afternoon. I can certainly give you that commitment that I will liaise with both the Minister for environment and rural affairs and the Minister for economy to ensure that a response is forthcoming on the issue of the international earth—I can't read my writing—on the centre that you've described in your...
Rebecca Evans: I'd be grateful if Mohammad Asghar would send me a copy of that report in relation to the cardiovascular risks for cancer patients, and I will be sure to ask the health Minister to look at that report if he's not already familiar with it, and to write to you with his thoughts on that report.FootnoteLink
Rebecca Evans: Diolch, Llywydd. There are no changes to this week's business. Draft business for the next three sitting weeks is set out on the business statement and announcement, which can be found amongst the meeting papers available to Members electronically.
Rebecca Evans: The £130 million second tranche of the capital investment package will deliver further confidence in Wales and support businesses in the face of Brexit. We are also investing in the future through initial measures to respond to the climate emergency and protect Wales's environment.
Rebecca Evans: Yes. So, decarbonisation is one of those areas that we're really keen to make some real progress on now, in terms of the budget that we'll be laying shortly. But the things we were able to announce during the capital investment package recently I think did give us the opportunity to just take the first step in that regard. So, as Vikki Howells mentions, there was £7 million to support the...
Rebecca Evans: So, as a general rule, MIM schemes are expected to be more expensive than traditional capital investment. However, the actual cost for the MIM scheme will be a factor of that specific project and the procurement exercise that goes on ahead of it. And there'll be many factors that play a part. So, borrowing costs, capital costs, operating costs, and the risk transfer being some of those...
Rebecca Evans: Two mutual investment model schemes are currently in procurement: the dualling of the A465, and a delivery partner procurement for the twenty-first century schools and colleges programme. I expect each of these procurements to conclude in 2020. A third MIM scheme—redevelopment of the Velindre Cancer Centre—is currently in development.
Rebecca Evans: I can say the Welsh Government and Costain are reviewing the project, with a view to completing the project at the end of 2020 now. And the Minister for Economy and Transport did make that statement in April to the Assembly, and the situation that he outlined in April remains the position today. He did say in that statement that it would now be 2020 before the dualling of the section would be...
Rebecca Evans: Throughout the year I meet regularly with ministerial colleagues to discuss a range of financial matters, including the Minister for Economy and Transport in respect of priorities for investment within his portfolio. I recently announced an additional £87 million for the economy and transport portfolio as part of our capital investment.
Rebecca Evans: Well, if there are new opportunities for Welsh businesses in terms of Brexit, I'm sure they're well overshadowed by the disadvantages that Brexit will bring for Welsh businesses. But, we will take any opportunity to ensure that if there are new opportunities that are opened up to us, then we will certainly take them. But, in the round, I think it's fair to say, as most commentators and most...
Rebecca Evans: The National Procurement Service promotes Welsh public sector procurement collaboration to deliver a good deal for Wales. It saves time and money, supports the Welsh economy and embraces the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.
Rebecca Evans: I think that there's always an important balance to be achieved in terms of the preventative agenda and then actually dealing with the health issues that are presenting themselves to the health service today. I know that Angela Burns recognises that, actually, the preventative agenda is very much a longer term kind of agenda, and it takes a long time to turn the ship that we've already got at...
Rebecca Evans: Yes, I recognise the points that Lynne Neagle has made, and that's one of the reasons why Welsh Government was so happy to acknowledge, recognise and accept all of the recommendations in the recent report that looked at school funding and is already starting to take forward some of that work in terms of the work that the leading education economist Luke Sibieta is doing in terms of the...
Rebecca Evans: We fully recognise the importance of preventative spend, and it's been considered by all Ministers in their budget planning and will be reflected in our 2020-21 budget. In terms of last year, we invested, for example, £15 million in mental health services, including the new whole-school approach to mental health and well-being.
Rebecca Evans: Welsh Government is really keen to support the idea of the Swansea bay metro, which I think is something that the Member is particularly interested in, in terms of how it can provide a more integrated response to the transport needs of people living in the Swansea bay and wider areas. So, Welsh Government has provided some funding to undertake a scoping exercise to see what would be possible....
Rebecca Evans: The Welsh Government is working across Welsh Government to deliver the aims of the Valleys taskforce, so you'll see actions within that taskforce plan that relate to housing, you'll see actions that relate to transport, and other items as well. But what I can say in terms of the specifics of the plan is that the Deputy Minister for Economy and Transport has undertaken a stocktake of the...
Rebecca Evans: The changes to the free swimming scheme across Wales came about as a result of the work that Welsh Government asked Sport Wales to do in terms of commissioning an independent review to look at how well the free swimming scheme was meeting its objectives, particularly in terms of offering older people opportunities to swim, but also in terms of ensuring that young people, particularly in more...
