May I welcome this statement? We are talking here about two elements of weaknesses in health provision, which at the moment do lead to frustration among patients and their families, and where there is a real feeling that there is some unfairness in the system. I will first of all cover the announcement of the independent review of the IPFR. We in Plaid Cymru certainly felt strongly that it was time to review this area, that it was an area where a solution was required, a sustainable solution was required. I was pleased that we had been able to include the pledge to go ahead with this review in our post-election agreements, and I’ve been pleased to be able to work with the Cabinet Secretary to ensure that we do make progress in this area.

It is not fair that consent can be given in one geographical area of Wales whilst it is not given for treatment in another part of Wales. The process of exceptionality isn’t fair. Too many seriously-ill people have had to fight bureaucratic battles when clinical issues and the individual’s well-being should have been the priority in taking any decision. Now, of course, I don’t need to continue to make this case, because we do now have this independent review.

I was very pleased to have an opportunity to meet with Andrew Blakeman. I was certainly convinced that he would be entirely independent in undertaking this work. I wish him well. He will have to do this work in a very brief period of time, and I know that will be a challenge. I do wish the other members of the panel well also. May I particularly welcome the involvement of Mr Irfon Williams, who is going to be a member of this panel? I was very eager to see that happen. He brings professional experience within the health service, of course, but he will also ensure that there is a patient voice in this process, as someone who has been through the process and has felt these frustrations himself.

Now, in terms of the new treatment fund, we and the party of Government here have had some sort of fund as an objective in our manifestos, and I’m pleased that we’ve been able to move towards a statement in this area. There are few references in this statement today from the Cabinet Secretary to that new fund, and I think that reflects the fact that there is some work still to be done in deciding on a few practical elements of how this is to be implemented. The Cabinet Secretary admits that in his statement, but he does set out a tight timetable.

So, the few questions that I have relate to the decision that will need to be taken in terms of this new treatment fund over the next few months. Will there be a brief consultation during that window, as we work on the details? Can we be given an assurance that data will be released in full in terms of how the new system would be used? What process will be in place to ensure that local health boards do actually adhere to what is expected of them, according to the Act, to fund treatments that have been approved by NICE, once they cease to be new treatments? That is an important point. Also, NICE, these days, not only can approve or reject treatments; they can say ‘maybe’. What will the Welsh Government’s attitude be towards NICE’s decisions that are in that ‘maybe’ category?