The next item on the agenda is the business statement and announcement. I have a number of Members who wish to ask questions to the business Minister, so keep your questions brief and to the point. I ask the business Minister to make her statement.

I’ve several changes to make to today’s agenda. In addition to the First Minister’s statement on EU transition, the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport will make a statement on the specialist critical care centre at Llanfrechfa, and the Minister for Lifelong Learning and Welsh Language will make a statement updating the Assembly on the ministerial taskforce for the Valleys. As a result, I’ve postponed the statement on winter preparedness until 15 November and the statement on focus on exports until 22 November. Tomorrow, I’ve reduced the time allocated to Counsel General questions. Business for the next three weeks is as shown on the business statement and announcement found among the meeting papers and available to Members electronically.

Leader of the house, could I ask for three statements, if possible, please? The first is: you and I were on Cowbridge High Street on Saturday, where many businesses highlighted the revaluation exercise that has been undertaken and the huge increases that many of those businesses will be facing in the coming financial year that, basically, put a real question mark over their viability. I heard the comments from the First Minister in FMQs today, where he alluded to the £10 million transition fund that has been established. It was my understanding that this transition money was already available there and will offer little recompense for the mighty uplift that many of the businesses will be facing in the next financial year. So, I’d be grateful, from the Welsh Government, for a statement to actually point out what assistance is there, but, secondly, what other measures might be forthcoming from the Welsh Government in light of the increasing evidence that is coming forward from businesses, not just in the Vale of Glamorgan, but the length and breadth of Wales, that does pose a huge, huge question mark over the future of many small and medium-sized businesses on high streets and in communities the length and breadth of Wales.

The second statement I’d like to seek, if possible, please, is from the Minister for transport in relation to transport arrangements on the international weekend that’s coming up in Cardiff, when football and rugby are going to be played on the same weekend, with the potential of 100,000 fans of one sort or other coming to our great capital city. That, in one respect, is to be celebrated. It’s a huge commercial opportunity and, indeed, it’s a great cultural event to celebrate both the rugby and the football teams playing in the same city. Regrettably, past experiences have shown that the transport opportunities, especially when the final whistle has gone on events held in Cardiff, have proven to be—shall we say—problematic on certain occasions. It would be good to hear from the Minister what action the Welsh Government has taken with the various authorities to make sure that any potential problems and lessons learned exercises from previous events held in the capital city have been put in place, so that we are not here on the Tuesday after the weekend reflecting on traffic chaos, and we are hopefully celebrating two very strong Welsh wins instead, with complimentary comments coming from the many fans that have come into our capital city.

The final statement, if possible, please, is from the Minister for the economy in relation to expansion at Cardiff Airport. I’d be most grateful to find out exactly what plans and what money has been made available to Cardiff Airport for expansion plans. It’s my understanding that, within the gift of the airport, there are some 400-odd acres of land already in its ownership, and one would assume that that would be a sizeable block of development land available to it. It has been brought to my attention by constituents in the area that agents acting on behalf of the Welsh Government have been in discussions about acquiring additional land from people who own land in the immediate area of the airport, and I’d be grateful to understand why this expansion, considering the 400 acres that the airport already owns in the area, is being considered, and what type of expansion and development is being considered for this new land if it were to be purchased by the Welsh Government on behalf of Cardiff Airport.

Thank you, Andrew R.T. Davies, for your questions. I was also pleased to meet with businesses and traders in Cowbridge on Saturday. Indeed, it was an opportunity to talk to them about their very different needs. Some of them also talked to me about some of the other sources of help, for example, such as ReAct, that are supporting businesses. So, I think it’s important, as you say, that we look at all means to support businesses in the high street. But in terms of your particular question, of course, in terms of revaluation, it’s not under our control itself. It will affect many businesses’ eligibility. Our £10 million transitional relief scheme, which you do refer to—available from next April, on 1 April, when that revaluation comes into effect—will be fully funded by the Welsh Government. In fact, that’s different from the scheme in England, which simply takes money from one business to give to another. Many of those small businesses, such as the ones we met in Cowbridge, will directly benefit from this support, but also Business Wales and the Cabinet Secretary’s officials are very willing to help, support and discuss these issues further. I think it’s also important to put on the record that these draft valuations are published six months in advance. That does allow ratepayers to check their property and valuation details, and if ratepayers think that their valuations are incorrect, then, of course, they must notify the Valuation Office Agency as soon as possible.

On your second point, of course we will be anticipating, I’m sure, next Tuesday, celebrating Welsh wins in our great capital city. In terms of the visitors who have been drawn into the city, of course these events have been managed very well in the past. It is a matter of everyone working together. Of course, the Cabinet Secretary will be aware of the arrangements for the local authority, for the police and for all those agencies that work together to ensure that this can be a great weekend for Wales.

I’m not aware of the issues you raised in terms of the expansion possibilities at Cardiff Airport, but I’m sure that the Cabinet Secretary will want to clarify those points.

The leader of the house will be aware perhaps of a petition calling for justice in relation to the surplus in the mineworkers’ pension scheme. The petition has over 7,000 signatures and the surplus in the pension scheme has contributed billions to the Treasury. Can we have a statement from the Government urgently in order to secure a review of the miners’ pension surplus so that it is no longer an endless cash cow for the British state? I think that, in light of yesterday’s disgraceful decision on the battle of Orgreave, former miners in this country need the Welsh Government firmly on their side.

Well, I hope, and from the responses by the Cabinet Secretary and the Welsh Government, that the miners and their families will see the Welsh Government—indeed, with your support as well—very firmly on the side of our miners. And, of course, in terms of pensions, as Carl Sargeant said, in terms of our competencies and powers, we are limited in what we can do, but it is very important that we make clear our support and certainly look at ways in which we could influence that outcome.

On the weekend, I attended the launch of the latest food bank in my constituency, in Pencoed, and my thanks go to the volunteers of Bridgend food bank who provide food distribution now on every day to every single part of my constituency. They will understand and agree with me that, in an ideal world, we would not need food banks at all. Could I call for a debate on the impact of changes, therefore, to the universal benefits system on families and communities in Wales and the principle of making work pay following the damning report from the Iain Duncan Smith-linked Centre of Social Justice, showing that those in work could be up to £1,000 worse off in work? Would she agree that when someone like the former Secretary of State, Iain Duncan Smith, whose reputation goes before him, says that it’s going to punish poor, working households, we should be very worried?

We should indeed be very worried, and it's very unfortunate that Iain Duncan Smith brought into implementation—some of which, of course, we're talking about today—many changes and cuts in terms of welfare reform that are having a directly adverse impact on families. On the point of universal credit and how it's being rolled out in Wales, it’s only been rolled out to new single jobseeker claimants in Wales so far—I mean, that's with the exception of new claims from couples and families in Shotton. But, let's just look at what has been anticipated, not just by the Centre of Social Justice: cuts to work allowances in universal credit are estimated by the Institute for Fiscal Studies to affect around 3 million families in Great Britain who will lose just over £1,000 a year on average. And, of course, those families are the ones—many of whom we represent—who are turning to those food banks that are in every community in Wales.

Could I call for two statements, please? The first is on support for credit unions in Wales. This is, in fact, the first Plenary we've had since International Credit Union Day on 20 October, reflecting on the movement's history, promoting its achievements and raising awareness about the great work that credit unions are doing around the world, and giving members the opportunity to get involved. The reason particularly I ask for a statement is, in March, I asked the then-Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty in this Chamber about Welsh Government funding, which was due to end then in 2017. In two thirds of loan transactions, people would save by using a credit union, but only 2.5 per cent of people in Wales currently do so. I asked the Minister then,

‘how do you respond to the call by credit unions in Wales for the next Welsh Government to provide capacity-building support for the transition beyond 2017?’

She replied:

‘that would be a matter for the next Government. I think we’ve supported credit unions very well over the past few years.’

Well, I call for statement in the context of the next few years, given the Minister's response on that occasion and, of course, the importance of International Credit Union Day.

Secondly, and finally, I call for a statement on the implications for devolved services and devolved matters of the conviction of a retired North Wales Police superintendent at Mold Crown Court, related to historic child abuse charges—again, since the Assembly last met in this Chamber. We know that Lady Justice Macur, the deputy presiding judge of the Court of Appeal, recently re-examined that particular case as part of her work on the north Wales child abuse tribunal of 1997-98, and she stated that that officer had lied when first questioned under caution about the offence, and she said that the tribunal knew about the case in 1997, but did not obtain the file because North Wales Police considered it not relevant. We know that the solicitor who represented one of the victims when evidence was given against him by Flintshire's then senior legal officer in court, successfully defending that young man against false allegations brought in the way that I described, said he'd been threatened personally because of his inquiries defending that victim. We know that when Flintshire’s internal audit manager—

You do need to come to your question.

[Continues.]—blew the whistle regarding Flintshire—

You do need to come to your question now, please, Mark Isherwood.

[Continues.]—including matters relating to Waterhouse, and I raised that here, your colleagues and the Government you then represented accused me of bringing the Assembly into disrepute. Well, matters have been raised regarding the conduct of council officers and council members at the time in public, in evidence to tribunal, in evidence in courts, and statements in newspapers, which are now brought open to question by this conviction. I hope the Welsh Government now will be somewhat more transparent and accountable, as it’s called on the UK Government to be in the context of Yorkshire, given the findings of this court case.

Well, I certainly will want to ensure that we put the record straight, because I know this has been raised over the years, Mark Isherwood, and I will want to ensure that the Cabinet Secretary can put the record straight. I suggest he does that in a letter to the Member.

I wondered if we could have some explanation from you as to how the Welsh Government issue statements, because you may have noticed—obviously you will have noticed—that the Cabinet Secretary for the economy announced that junction 41 in Port Talbot would remain open, which of course I welcome, but we only received a written statement after people like myself took to social media to complain about the fact that only Labour politicians were informed of this particular development. I would appreciate it, if the Welsh Government has something that is within the interests of all Assembly Members and all communities, that we are well informed so that, when people come to us, we are aware of those particular developments.

My second request is for a debate in Government time on the importance of industrial and former mining communities. I think we need to have such a debate because there are some Assembly Members within this Chamber who do not appreciate how important they are, and they might do well to have an element of that education before they make inappropriate comments about situations such as Orgreave, where people did not die, but they do warrant having an investigation. Many people did not die in the child abuse saga in Wales and across the UK, but that does not mean that it does not warrant an investigation, and one that will hold people to account. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Bethan Jenkins. I’m glad that you agree with the decision that was made and I do understand that Assembly Members were invited to participate in discussions about that with the Cabinet Secretary. It’s very important, of course, that we do get the information out in a timely way so that you, as an Assembly Member, are aware of the decision as and when it’s made. So, obviously, you’ve made that point, Bethan Jenkins, today.

I thank you for making your second, very powerful point, and I think you have done that in order to hold people to account for what they say here in this Chamber.

I was pleased to see that, last week, the independent inquiry into child sex abuse opened an office in Cardiff, and Professor Alexis Jay, who is the UK lead for this inquiry, said the aim was to generate knowledge, interest and awareness amongst victims and survivors of the truth project, and to encourage them to come forward. Bearing in mind the fact that this inquiry is actually on its fourth chairperson, and has got off to a slow start, what could the Welsh Government do, either by statements in this place or by any other means, to encourage victims and survivors of historical abuse in Wales to come forward and to share their experiences?

Thank you, Julie Morgan, for raising that very important question, because I am sure we all welcome the fact that the inquiry has launched an office in Wales, as you say. I think when you just look at the way that the UK commissioned the inquiry—it covers England and Wales, and we must ensure that people in Wales, living in Wales, have the opportunity to come forward, tell their stories and feel confident in this inquiry. Indeed, when that announcement was made, there was some publicity and people did come forward, and I think that was a powerful and very, very brave way in which some victims and survivors came forward. What we have to ensure now is that those people in Wales are supported.

Now, we have got Welsh Government officials and members of the inquiry team who are now working to support the needs of the inquiry in Wales. We have to have an inquiry and relationships that are transparent. Obviously, it’s an independent inquiry, and I think the fact that Welsh Government, and what part can we play—. As you say, as the Member says, it is about how we can then work together, through the Welsh Government supporting, not just attending the launch, meeting with the inquiry that is taking place—I think they’re meeting in the next couple of days—and also making clear, publicly, how people can come forward and what kind of support they can have and expect to receive and be empowered about how they present their evidence and subsequently feel strengthened by the opportunity that this inquiry will provide.

May I ask for a statement from the Cabinet Secretary for health on the Welsh Government policy towards setting up fix rooms for drug addicts in Wales? Concerns have been expressed to me, and I have personally witnessed discarded needles in school playing areas, parks and other places where people walk around a lot. Only last week, I went to a house that was burgled, and the burglar very conveniently used that building for the use of drugs. Last year, pre-elections, when we were just cleaning, some of us, in Newport’s Pill area, there were some needles behind the primary school, in a park. Minister, that is not acceptable in this modern Wales.

A plan to set up the UK’s first fix room to allow drug addicts to inject safely under supervision is likely to get the go-ahead in Glasgow, Scotland. This move is designed to address the problems caused by the estimated 500 addicts injecting on Glasgow’s streets. Could we have a statement, please, on whether the Welsh Government intends to introduce a similar project in Wales? Secondly, can we have, as soon as possible, a debate in this Chamber on an illegal drugs-free Wales? Thank you very much.

The Member does raise a very important issue. Clearly, we have to learn lessons from other parts of the UK. I think we will have read about that development in Glasgow. Clearly, this is something that officials and the Cabinet Secretaries—because it’s not just one Cabinet Secretary, it’s very much a cross-Government responsibility—. I’m sure that this will lead to a statement coming forth to clarify where we are in terms of the situation.

In accordance with your request that we should be brief and to the point, can I ask for two debates in Government time? The first relates to a statement made by the Cabinet Secretary for health the week before last, following the last Plenary session, on new funding to attract young doctors to become GPs in those areas where it’s difficult to attract GPs. Now, whilst I clearly welcome that part of the statement, there is nothing in that statement that provides anything for GPs working in practices now, where these GPs are under huge pressures and are being overworked. The challenge now is to retain the current GPs in post. The previous week’s announcement does nothing to resolve that problem, so I would like a debate on that, and I’d hope you’d agree with the idea of having a debate on that point.

The second debate that I’d like to see in Government time is on Historic Wales. I have asked in the past, and I won’t rehearse the arguments again because time is against us, but I would welcome an affirmative response to that request to have a debate in Government time on Historic Wales. Thank you.

Diolch yn fawr, Dai Lloyd. Your first point: of course, we have launched—the First Minister has launched—a major new campaign to promote Wales as an excellent place for doctors, including general practitioners and their families, to train, work and live. That clear commitment’s in our programme for government. Your point is well made in terms of those who are already practising as well as the new opportunities to attract young doctors into general practice.

Your second point: of course, we do have a statement on Historic Wales next week being made by the Cabinet Secretary.

I’m concerned about the impact of the re-writing of the immigration rules by the UK Government and the impact it’s having on the well-being of my constituents. In particular Bashir Naderi, a 19-year-old Afghani who’s lived in this country since he was 10 years old is being threatened with deportation back to Afghanistan, even though he speaks with a Welsh accent and he is, to all intents and purposes, Welsh and is hugely at risk if he is deported. Fortunately, the outpouring of support for him has led to a stay of execution for a further two weeks to review his case, but, just when he was about to be able to make a positive contribution to our society, as he was doing a construction course at Cardiff and Vale College, it seems totally inappropriate that, having received this individual as a refugee, we then send him back to the country from whence he fled, following the murder of his father, some nine years ago.

In addition to that, I’m particularly concerned about the impact of the UK Government’s threatened clamping down on the number of foreign students who are able to come to study here in the UK, because that will have a major impact on the successful businesses of Cardiff University and other universities that find being able to offer excellent education to people from abroad is something that enables us to improve our balance of payments situation. In both cases, although immigration is not devolved, I feel that there needs to be much further discussion on what the UK Government is currently doing and the impact it’s having on people in Wales, and I wondered if we can have a sensible and considered debate on this matter.

I’m grateful to Jenny Rathbone for bringing those points to our attention in the business statement today. Thank you for drawing our attention to the case, which I’m sure many of us have read about, of Bashir Naderi, and it’s heartening to see the support in the community and that’s expressed in the local media for Bashir Naderi and the support he’s had from his foster mother and partner and the community in which he’s lived for the last 10 years. So, obviously, although we have no influence in terms of our powers on immigration policy, it is important that we hear the points that you make today, Jenny Rathbone, and hope that his review will be successful in terms of his position.

Your second point, of course, is a point that’s been well aired across the UK, not just in Cardiff and here in Wales, in terms of the important role that foreign students play, not just in terms of our universities, but our research base and, indeed, many of the contributions they make in terms of cutting-edge research and then leading to jobs and prospects in this country.

I just wanted to ask the leader of the house why we get embargoed statements, as are a matter of routine, which are not delivered until just before the start of Plenary sessions. I wondered what the reason was behind that. Thanks.

We do have a practice, which has worked for many years, where we supply the oral statements ahead of them being made. I think that’s a courtesy that our business managers welcome. And if there is a delay, then obviously that’s regrettable, and I would obviously want to hear of any such delay. But all oral statements are made available through the business managers, and I hope that this will continue in the way that it’s been adopted.

Thank you, leader of the house, and can I first of all welcome the tabling of today’s statement on the specialist and critical care centre in Cwmbran? I was pleased to receive the embargoed statement earlier today in pretty good time for that. We’ve been calling for a long time now—AMs—in this Chamber for an update on the critical care centre, so I’m looking forward to questioning the Cabinet Secretary on that later, and it is an issue of vital importance for the people of south-east Wales and, indeed, south Wales in general.

Secondly, can I reiterate my earlier calls on the First Minister for action to support businesses in advance and in the wake of next year’s revaluation of business rates across Wales? I do appreciate that this is not a direct cause of the Welsh Government. However, it is going to have an impact. I don’t think that there’s yet a full appreciation of the impact that this could potentially have on businesses across Wales, particularly in rural Wales. I think we need to look at providing far greater support for those businesses, because they are calling out for help, both to me and to other Assembly Member colleagues as well.

Finally, leader of the house, last week saw the reopening of the Severn tunnel. I suppose you could now say that the first new piece of electrified infrastructure, albeit without electricity running though it yet, has now reached Wales. This is a fantastic development. This is going to be massively beneficial to the Welsh economy in years to come. However, we do need to see the UK investment complemented by the Welsh Government, and a number of AMs have been calling for complementary investment for some time. So, could we have an update from the Minister—the Cabinet Secretary for infrastructure—on how the Welsh Government is planning to support this electrification and specifically with regard to the metro scheme? I know towns such as Monmouth have, over the last several months, fallen off the metro map. What are you doing to make sure that all parts of Wales are well connected to the new infrastructure that is being funded by the UK Government?

On your first point, Nick Ramsay, thank you for welcoming the embargoed statement on the specialist critical care centre and I’m sure you’ll be asking a question of the Cabinet Secretary in only a few minutes. Your second point—just a bit more about our small business rates relief. It will save small businesses in Wales from having to pay £100 million in tax, it will benefit a greater proportion of smaller businesses than England’s equivalent scheme, and, in Wales, more than half of all eligible businesses will pay no rates compared to just a third in England—and that’s because there is a higher proportion of small businesses in Wales. Of course, your third point is important, but only two weeks ago the Cabinet Secretary for finance announced our draft budget, which of course is now being scrutinised through committee, and there’s a considerable allocation of capital for next year towards the metro in south Wales, which, of course will all contribute to the transport opportunities and connectivity linked to electrification. I’m sure that Monmouthshire is included in that.

And finally, Neil McEvoy.

Diolch, Lywydd. I’d like to echo the sentiments made earlier about Bashir Naderi. I realise that the Assembly doesn’t have responsibility for immigration, but we do have responsibility for communities. So, I’m therefore asking that the Government make a statement of support for Bashir, his family, his friends. Bashir came to Wales and lived in Ely very happily for years, integrated very well, went to Mary Immaculate Roman Catholic high school, and I really would like the Welsh Government to stand up for this person who is a Welshman. That should be recognised and we should make the Home Office listen and, I’d say, keep their hands off Bashir and let him stay. Diolch. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Neil McEvoy. I think my response to Jenny Rathbone very clearly showed our support as a Welsh Government, but again, it’s very heartening to see that we have Members in our Assembly who can make these points. Although, of course, we haven’t got that responsibility for immigration, we have our responsibility to say what we think about the impact of immigration policy and how we can support people in the community who are affected by it.