Rhun ap Iorwerth: Instead of asking how much measures to address homelessness cost, we should be asking how much does homelessness itself cost. All the research, all the financial modelling that’s been done on this, comes up with pretty stark conclusions. It is always cheaper to prevent homelessness than to let it happen. It is always cheaper to rapidly resolve homelessness than to let it persist. The longer...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: We all in this Chamber are involved in the work of developing policy. Perhaps there is an ambition, perhaps there is a problem that we are trying to solve, perhaps we'll find a solution sometimes, but the question, 'Yes, but how much does it cost?', is an inevitable question to be asked and, often, I'm afraid it's asked as a way to prevent the implementation of new policy perhaps. But, yes,...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: This Welsh Labour Government tells us that the pressure over the 2017-18 winter so far has been down entirely to unprecedented peaks in demand. Now, I have no doubt whatsoever that peaks exist. They exist around winter, as they do at other times of the year as well, and we've heard that there have been some particularly big spikes. But you cannot keep fobbing people off with the...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you. In the debate yesterday on the marine plan, I emphasised to your colleague, the Cabinet Secretary for the environment, the need to ensure that an electrical connection is developed urgently to develop the exciting Morlais scheme—the test zone for marine energy on the west coast of Anglesey. It’s important that we make the best of any opportunities with regard to renewable...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: 2. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the economic benefits of infrastructure developments on Ynys Môn? OAQ51522
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you, Llywydd, for the opportunity to say a few words. I feel that I have to say a few words as the only one who represents an island here at the National Assembly—as a constituency. I certainly welcome the fact that we now have a draft of a national marine plan. I remember in the last Assembly, when I was a member of the economy committee, some impact was had on me by the document...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: It's very relevant.
Rhun ap Iorwerth: I'm glad you're engaging on the issue of doctors today. It seemed, quite often recently, that you've wanted to direct me away from talking about doctors to talk about other parts of the health service, but we know that all health professionals within the health service are dependent on each other, and doctors are very important too. I cannot emphasise too much, though, the need to come...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: There are other parts of the announcement I certainly agree with: maintaining the 40 per cent increase in midwifery training places that happened this year, maintaining investment in training places for other key parts of the workforce— healthcare, scientists, paramedics, dental hygienists, therapists and radiographers—all very good news. I was unable, though, to find the bit about...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you very much. Cabinet Secretary, last week, you made a statement on funding training places for health professionals over the next year, and I certainly welcome much of what was said in that statement: a 10 per cent increase in the number of training places for nurses, physiotherapists and occupational therapists, and an increase in the number of training places for health visitors and...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: I'm certainly looking forward to seeing a Wales-wide transformative strategy for transport that will not only revolutionise how we move around our country, but change attitudes towards how we want to move around our country. But I think we all have also in our constituencies particular elements of transport planning that we might want to focus on today. I see in your statement—or I heard in...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: I am convinced that it’s through the education system that we can get young people on the right track towards physical activity in order to improve their health. There’s an opportunity here to draw attention to the beginning of the health committee inquiry into physical activity among children and young people. Now, Ireland has just introduced physical activity as an examination—for a...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Will the First Minister make a statement on the provision of mental health care through the medium of Welsh?
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Will you take an intervention?
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you for taking the intervention. Reference has been made a number of times today to the UK allowing a vote in Scotland on secession. It is important to remember, of course, that the democratically elected Scottish Government did put forward plans for a second referendum that were halted by the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. It was not up to the people of Scotland at that point...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Absolutely, and I wouldn't disagree there. Others have congratulated you on your appointment to Cabinet today. We've already been working together in my role as business manager and you as leader of the house. I congratulate you on bringing digital connectivity from the ministerial benches to the frontbench. I have a kind offer to make to you to mark your new role in the Cabinet, and that is...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: I’m grateful for that response, and I’m pleased that those discussions are ongoing. I’m also grateful for the positive indications given by the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport a week ago on the possibility of assistance on the A545 between Menai Bridge and Beaumaris. There will be financial implications beyond road maintenance, of course, and I would appreciate any support...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: 3. What additional funding will the Cabinet Secretary allocate to the local government portfolio to tackle the recent floods on Anglesey? OAQ51411
Rhun ap Iorwerth: 12. Will the Leader of the House make a statement on the development of 5G technology? OAQ51413
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you. It's important, of course, in the context of what we’ve been discussing this afternoon, that the Government at every level is involved in all ways possible in terms of defending Wales’s interest. I know that in the External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee of the Assembly on 20 November, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance mentioned the round-table arrangements for...
