Jane Hutt: I thank Simon Thomas for his questions. I was content, further to a discussion this morning at the Business Committee, to postpone this afternoon’s debate on the review of national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty, and I can assure the Member and the Assembly that we’ll reschedule the debate on the Cabinet Secretary’s return, which is also appropriate, and has had an impact...
Jane Hutt: In response to the Member’s question, this is an issue, and the Member knows well that this is part of wider improvements to the A55 to ensure that it does serve the people of north Wales better. So, actually managing those improvements, as you say, has to involve all those who have a key part to play so that delays are kept to an absolute minimum. I’m advised that work is taking place...
Jane Hutt: I thank the Member for those questions. Julie Morgan has drawn our attention to a change, which we perhaps may not have been aware of, back in April 2014, because driver licensing is a reserved matter, and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency prescribes the content and delivery of the theory test in Wales. The loss of that use of foreign language voiceovers and interpreters on theory tests...
Jane Hutt: I presume the Member is referring to the Barry incinerator. Planning permission has been granted for the construction of a biomass energy plant within the Barry docks regeneration area. Natural Resources Wales is currently considering whether to issue an environmental permit, and extensive consultation is taking place. Obviously, I have, as an Assembly Member, engaged with that, but, of...
Jane Hutt: I thank the Member for his question. You will be aware of the written statement by Ken Skates, the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure, last week on local transport grant allocations to local authorities 2017-18, when he announced that he was allocating a total of over £31.4 million in transport grants to local authorities across Wales, particularly for schemes improving safety,...
Jane Hutt: Llywydd, I have several changes to report to this week’s business. The Business Committee has agreed to reschedule last Wednesday’s debate on the External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee’s report on the implications for Wales of leaving the European Union to later this afternoon. I’ve also reduced the time allocated to the Stage 3 debate on the Land Transaction Tax and...
Jane Hutt: The regulations that I’m introducing today will provide a consistent basis for planning committees in Wales to maximise efficiency and reinforce effective decision making. The regulations take forward recommendations from the independent Royal Town Planning Institute Cymru report into the operation of planning committees in Wales. Specifically, the regulations require planning committees to...
Jane Hutt: Well, of course, we would all wish for that to happen. Part of this is about awareness raising with the public and those who use our roads. I think we will all experience the situation where you drive along a road and you see people chucking rubbish out of their window, so there has to be a public awareness programme, as well as who then deals with the impact of that littering, as you say,...
Jane Hutt: Well, I’m glad that the Member for Cardiff Central has drawn attention to Designed to Smile. It has been mentioned on the media over the last 24 hours, recognising that England falls behind Wales in terms of our initiative. I think it’s worth just looking at that reduction as a result of Designed to Smile, which is what we have taken forward: the 2014-15 dental survey of five-year-olds...
Jane Hutt: I thank Jeremy Miles for that question. The Welsh Government commissioned Public Heath Wales to examine the latest evidence. Of course, that will help to inform the appraisal to be undertaken by the All-Wales Strategy Medicines Group, our independent expert body that provides advice to Ministers in Wales on new medications not yet considered by NICE, the National Institute for Health and Care...
Jane Hutt: I think the Member knows that many parts of Wales wouldn’t have had access to superfast broadband without the intervention of Superfast Cymru. As a result of that programme, 194,199 premises across north Wales, and I’m focusing on your region, now have access to fast fibre broadband and, of course, households are gaining access every day as the roll-out continues. Of course, our aim is to...
Jane Hutt: I thank Julie Morgan for that question. This issue has been discussed and brought forward, in fact, to cross-party groups over the years. We did establish, as a result, indeed, of a petition from the public and disability groups in particular, a framework for action on independent living—it was mentioned earlier on in response to a question to the First Minister—and it is about ensuring...
Jane Hutt: I’m intrigued—we suddenly leap from Cardiff Airport, indeed in my constituency, up to your constituency, in terms of what seems to be a very genuine question, Russell George, about provision of rural bus services, which, of course, the Cabinet Secretary for economy and transport is also extremely concerned about, which is why he spearheaded and led a bus summit, which I’m sure you would...
Jane Hutt: Well, that's very helpful, Huw Irranca-Davies, to hear from a cross-party select committee, the Work and Pensions Select Committee in Westminster, for responsibilities of the UK Government, and that scrutiny and monitoring. Of the impacts of those changes that come into being on 1 April, we remain deeply concerned about the changes for employment support allowance claimants assigned to the...
Jane Hutt: Andrew R.T. Davies raises an important point. Of course, the fact that we have now got a children's hospital here in Wales, which, of course, is taking forward innovative treatments and care pathways—and I think that what we need to look at very carefully now is, in terms of paediatric rheumatology, what care pathway is available, and, of course, the Cabinet Secretary has heard the point...
Jane Hutt: Diolch, Lywydd. I have a few changes to report to this week’s business. The statement on the future of youth work delivery has been postponed to 4 April. In its place, the Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children will make an oral statement on park homes commission rates—next steps. Finally, the time allocated to the Counsel General’s oral Assembly questions tomorrow has been...
Jane Hutt: Well, I think that the people who are in housing need, and who do benefit and whom I’ve met—not just in terms of affordable and social housing, but in terms of those who have access to help to buy as first-time buyers—would, I think, disagree with your disputing of figures, which, of course, are very clear in terms of the 20,000 affordable homes that we have committed ourselves to, in...
Jane Hutt: Just hold on one second. By 2021, we will have done more, as we will build a further 20,000 affordable homes.
Jane Hutt: ONS figures, of course, show now 4.4 per cent unemployment in Wales, compared with 4.7 per cent across the whole of the UK. ONS figures speak for themselves. But, also, we’re continuing to drive forward improvements in health and social care. Let’s put the record straight again: we spend 6 per cent more on health and social care here in Wales than in England, and people are being treated...
Jane Hutt: Dirprwy Lywydd, I’m very pleased to have the opportunity to respond to this debate, and I do intend to speak on our record and be positive about what this Welsh Labour Government is achieving in Wales, because it is a record of a Welsh Labour Government delivering for the people of Wales. So, let’s start with the economy: fewer people out of work in Wales and close to record numbers in...
