The next item on our agenda is the business statement and announcement, and I call on Jane Hutt.

Llywydd, I’ve added oral statements this afternoon on ‘Article 50 Intervention’ and ‘Superfast Broadband—The Next Steps’. Timings allocated to other agenda items have been amended accordingly, and, finally, the Business Committee has agreed to postpone tomorrow’s short debate. Business for the next three weeks is as shown on the business statement and announcement found among the meeting papers available to Members electronically.

Leader of the house, could we have a statement from the planning Minister, please, in relation to permitted development rights? Some years ago, when the Member for Newport East was the Minister responsible for planning, there was a statement put out by the Government that said that the then Government was going to try and make these more adaptable and easier to use for developers and people seeking planning permissions and development, especially in rural locations. As we saw in the debate last week, it does seem as if the current Government doesn’t have any proposals to take up the words of the then planning Minister, and actually make a more flexible system around permitted development rights for use in Wales to help create economic opportunities in the building and regeneration business. So, I’d be grateful for clarification as to exactly what the current Government’s thinking is about making far better use for developers of permitted development rights, which would greatly enhance the planning system here in Wales.

Of course, Andrew R.T. Davies knows, and has participated in, taking through very progressive legislation in terms of planning, but, of course, I note his point, and I’m sure that the Cabinet Secretary would want to respond if asked a question at the appropriate time.

I was wondering if we could have a statement in Government time in relation to your Government’s response to the fact that Theresa May will not be meeting with Tata leaders in India when she visits there. She said that it wasn’t possible for her to schedule a meeting, and I’m very, very concerned about this, considering the fact that the UK operations are vastly important to our economy, as we all know in this Chamber. With a change of leadership at Tata, we need to make sure that we have this as a main focus of discussion in relation to our future economic development with India. So, as part of that statement, could I also ask if you could tell me whether the First Minister, or another Government Minister from the Welsh Government, would see fit to go instead of Theresa May? If she does not deem this to be important enough for her to do, would you as a Government send somebody instead?

Bethan Jenkins raises an important point. It was raised, I know, yesterday in the external affairs committee. I know that the First Minister responded to the point that was made about the fact that Theresa May has failed in her visit to India to make this all-important meeting contact with Tata Steel. It’s certainly been raised by David Rees as well. The First Minister said that this was unfortunate—unfortunate I would say for the Prime Minister, not taking her responsibility, but it’s certainly unfortunate and concerning in terms of the workforce in Port Talbot. But I think you can be assured, as I know you will be, about the action that we’re taking, not only in terms of constant engagement with Tata—and visits have indeed been made by the First Minister, as well as other Ministers—but in making sure that the steel industry has got a sustainable long-term future. Of course, the Cabinet Secretary did write to all AMs on 20 October to update them on activities relating to Tata Steel, and there is a range of potential support that’s being considered to ensure the business is put on a firmer footing. And I know that the Cabinet Secretary will want to update accordingly.

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Ann Jones) took the Chair.

First, there was an excellent launch of Peas Please in Cardiff city centre yesterday, launched by the Food Foundation, to try and get more people eating more vegetables, and to highlight the fact that, despite the five-a-day campaign, people are not eating more fruit and vegetables, and up to 20,000 people in the UK are dying as a result. About 30 organisations were involved, including farmers, community gardeners, supermarkets, and IT specialists, representing everyone from the local grower to the supply chain specialist. So, it would be fantastic if we could have a debate on this and the Welsh Government’s response as to how we can get more fruit and veg grown in Wales, given that vegetables are likely to go up in price as a result of the fact that most of our vegetables are now imported, and, with the decline in the value of the pound, clearly, vegetables are going to increase. That’s one thing.

The other thing is, further to the issue of Bashir Naderi, which I raised with you last week, I’m hoping to organise a blue ribbon campaign tomorrow, on the steps of the Senedd at one o’clock, so that we can all show our support, as well as signing the statement of opinion to insist that Bashir Naderi is not removed from Wales, where he’s making a valuable contribution, and there’s absolutely no reason why he should be sent back to Afghanistan.

The Member for Cardiff Central raises two very important points. The first one, of course, is about the ways in which we can encourage increases in both supply and consumption of vegetables and fruit. This is all part of the integrated supply chain approach the Welsh Government is taking with producers, working with producers, retailers, and the food service sector. But also this links to our rural development programme as well, and links to our sustainable land management agenda. And, of course, this is crucial in terms of our children and young people, and the nutrition that they need and require, and can gain. And Peas Please, of course, is one way towards achieving that.

I think your second point, of course, is very well made, in terms of the support that’s been expressed across this Chamber for Bashir, and the work that you have done, and, indeed, Jo Stevens MP. Fleeing Afghanistan when he was 10, as you say, after his father was killed. It is a matter where it is important that we express our views in this Assembly, and I know people want to know what steps are being taken to express that support more meaningfully. I very much hope, as I’m sure we all do, that the position will be resolved satisfactorily in due course.

Can we have a statement from the Cabinet Secretary for local government on commitment to public sector apprenticeship schemes? Caerphilly council have withdrawn funding from a scheme that offered training and apprenticeship opportunities for young people, to help them into work. The scheme had successfully created 18 permanent jobs, but the council withdrew funding in 2015-16, and have not financed any apprenticeships this year. I am concerned this might be part of a wider pattern of the loss of local authority apprenticeship schemes, and might even be contrary to your expressed policy ambitions in terms of apprenticeships as a Government. So, can we have a statement from the Cabinet Secretary on this very important issue?

This is a very important issue, and, indeed, you have demonstrated how successful it has been in terms of those public sector apprenticeships in one local authority, but, of course, this can be reflected across Wales. It is a matter for Caerphilly County Borough Council in terms of how they are managing what are very difficult times in terms of austerity, but, of course, as we go forward with the draft budget for 2017-18, we see a better settlement than was anticipated by local government, due to careful financial management. So, one would hope that that would enable the authority to look at this in terms of the positive outcomes of that apprenticeship scheme.

Can I give my support to Jenny Rathbone’s comments about Bashir Naderi? I know that she raised this in the Chamber last week as well. And I’ve been contacted by constituents in Cardiff North who are friends of Bashir, asking me to also speak in the Assembly, giving my support to him, and also by his foster mother, who gave him a home here in Cardiff from the age of 10 and is desperate to help her boy from being deported. And I think it is a desperately sad situation that somebody who has so much to contribute and who has benefitted from the services we’ve been able to offer in Wales is now treated in this absolutely inhumane way, and has been taken to a detention centre suddenly and cruelly and now has only got two weeks to make a case to be able to stay in the place that has been in his home. So, really, I’m in support of Jenny Rathbone and also asking if there’s anything that the Government can do.

I thank Julie Morgan for that question, adding her support to Bashir Nadir and also recognising this was raised last week in the Chamber. I was able to express our concerns. This is a non-devolved matter, but we are responsible for and we care about the people who live in our communities and have a very welcoming approach to asylum seekers and refugees in Wales, and use the powers that we have got to support those who are vulnerable and those who we know have already, as has been described so clearly, lived in our communities supported by so many. I think again it’s very heartening to hear Members express their support for Bashir in Plenary again today.

Finally, David Rees.

Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Minister, can I echo the comments from Bethan Jenkins in that 15 years ago today the horrific accident at No. 5 blast furnace occurred in which we saw the loss of the lives of three workers, two from my constituency and one from Maesteg, and many injured? Yesterday’s comments from the Prime Minister, or the reflection on the Prime Minister that actually she didn’t even find time in her schedule to make the effort to go and see Tata—I think it’s disgraceful and I think it’s important that the Welsh Ministers express the views clearly to the UK Government of our feelings on this and how, basically, she is letting down communities and the workforce of those industries. It’s critical that we ensure their survival. It’s critical therefore the UK Government plays its major part, because it has many levers at its control that it should be implementing and not sitting back, and it’s important therefore that Welsh Ministers make those representations on our behalf.

On a second point, can I also ask a question on the relationship between and the guidance to NHS and private partnerships? At the moment, I understand there are discussions between Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Local Health Board and HMT Sancta Maria hospital in relation to the possibility of land being purchased for development, and it would be important to have clear guidance on the Government’s position in relation to the partnership between private providers and NHS providers, and the working relationship that exists between them, to ensure that we can deliver safe care for our communities, but also care, as much as possible, within the NHS sector itself.

I think David Rees again raises a very important point for memory today, and the fact that it was on 8 November 2001 Corus UK Limited’s Port Talbot blast furnace No. 5 exploded with tragic consequences and three Corus employees lost their lives. It’s the impact of those tragic events that I think we will all want to remember today. Again, the Prime Minister did not—she made no connection. It is this week of all weeks where she could have made that connection. So, you have said, and I’m sure, again, this view is shared across this Chamber, that this is disgraceful, that lack of response—that lack of respect as well, because of, also, the uncertainties, as you say, in your constituency as regards the future for the workforce. The Cabinet Secretary is here in the Chamber with me today. He has heard those points. He’s made that connection again and, of course, heard from Bethan Jenkins earlier on. So, I think this is a point where we will want to make our views very clear.

Thank you very much, leader of the house. Thank you.