Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:21 pm on 1 November 2016.
Cabinet Secretary, I don’t know whether it’s your birthday today but you’ve certainly had a great deal of praise, both in the last debate and in this one. I am unashamedly—[Interruption.] I am unashamedly going to carry on in the same vein. I thank the Cabinet Secretary for his statement on the long-awaited construction of the SCCC at Llanfrechfa, and I’m sure that the news will be well-received by the peoples of south-east Wales and the regions thereabouts. I also congratulate him on such prompt action, at least on his part, particularly as this is so early in his tenure as Cabinet Secretary for health. I would also like to make note of the considerable input over some number of years by the AM for Torfaen, Lynne Neagle, which has helped secure this project. I know that it has been a project very close to her heart. Obviously, I’d like to mention Nick Ramsay’s input into this project as well.
As indicated in his statement, the Aneurin Bevan Local Health Board are now free to implement this project and proceed with the construction at the earliest possible convenience. It, of course, also frees up the board to produce a complete strategy for services across the whole of the board’s region. I look forward to it transforming the entire healthcare experience throughout south-east Wales, but I would ask the Cabinet Secretary, as has been mentioned by Lynne Neagle earlier on, that you keep an eye on what’s going on and make sure that the board does deliver on these promises. Thank you.