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

Llywydd, I’ve clarified the title of the education Secretary’s statement on the national strategy for small and rural schools this afternoon, and I’ve added an oral statement on employability to today’s agenda. Business for the next three weeks is as set out on the business statement and announcement found among the meeting papers available to Members electronically.

There are two statements I’ll be asking for. Firstly, I attended two public meetings in Butetown on Friday and there’s a lot of anger in the community because, a stone’s throw away from this Assembly, people are injecting, there are hundreds of discarded needles lying around, in some cases children playing with them, and there are class A drugs being dealt openly. So, can the Government make a statement of support, ideally? As part of the solution, really, will you support indoor, medically supervised, safe injection zones so that we can take these most unfortunate people away from the street environment, so they can inject safely, and reduce the number of needles on the streets as well?

Thank you for that question. In fact, this was raised a few weeks ago at a business statement looking at the experience in Glasgow of setting up such a unit. I did assure Members then that we would look at the results of that and take into account the experiences that neighbourhoods and communities, and indeed vulnerable children and young people, experience in terms of that situation.

Paul Davies.

Neil McEvoy rose—

Sorry, you’ve had your statement. [Interruption.] Nice try. Paul Davies.

Diolch, Lywydd. Leader of the house, I’d be grateful if you could please ask the Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children to bring forward a statement regarding the planned closure of Lloyds Bank branches throughout Wales. Llywydd, I should declare an interest as a former employee of the Lloyds Banking Group. Now, I know that I’m not the first Assembly Member to raise bank closures in the Chamber, and I suspect I won’t be the last, but this recent announcement for Pembrokeshire is wholly disproportionate to the number of nationwide closures that Lloyds Bank are proposing, given that three of the 49 planned branch closures happen to be in my constituency. Of course, these banks are a lifeline for many people living in and around those communities and their closure will have a devastating impact. Therefore, can you please encourage the Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children to bring forward a statement on this issue so that people living in the affected communities can understand exactly what the Welsh Government is doing to mitigate against negative effects of these closures on communities in my constituency, and indeed across Wales?

Paul Davies does raise a very important issue, and indeed, as you have said, these closures, which are commercial decisions made by banks, do have a very negative impact on the communities that we serve. I understand that the three Lloyds Bank closures that you’re referring to in your constituency in Pembrokeshire are not due to take place until next spring, so I’m sure that you are engaging, as others will be, in opportunities to raise your concerns with the bank. Also, there will be opportunities to raise questions with Cabinet Secretaries on the issue. Of course, this is something, again, where we look at the impact not just in rural areas like Preseli Pembrokeshire, but also across Wales and in more urban communities, which are also now losing those vital services like the banks.

We’ve heard a lot about proposed transport changes in the Cardiff bay city region. I’m asking for a Government statement on transport proposals within the Swansea bay city region, specifically proposals such as reopening railway stations, further dualling of the A40, creating bus and train links and improving cycle path provision.

Mike Hedges raises an important point where we do need to look to the national transport finance plan in terms of measures to ensure that the Swansea bay region is connected, as you say, in terms of openings of railway stations where appropriate, ensuring that, mainly, we do have a reliable, modern and integrated transport network. Of course, this is something that I know the city region board is looking at, in terms of identifying priorities for growth and jobs, looking particularly at the region’s digital and transport infrastructure.

May I ask for two statements from Government, first of all on how the Government is deciding to use the apprenticeships levy? I understand that the Westminster Government has now announced how much funding will be distributed to the Welsh Government in the first and second years under the levy, but of course, as has just been mentioned by the First Minister, that includes funding paid by companies and public services in Wales towards the levy in the first place. But we do need to understand how the Government intends to use this levy, particularly, for example, for people such as North Wales Police, who have raised with me the fact that they as a public body are paying an apprenticeships levy, but traditionally the police do not use apprentices—they use other means of training new recruits. So, we do need to understand how the Government is to use that levy and respond to the concerns of people such as North Wales Police.

The second statement I’d like from Government is whether or not the Government intends to respond at all to the recommendation of the coroner in a very unfortunate case in Pembrokeshire of the death of crew members on the Harvester fishing boat. Two men from Carew died at sea because of misadventure, and one of the factors that was identified in the inquest was the fact that they weren’t, as fishermen, wearing life jackets. The coroner had said that there was a ‘culture’, as he described it, of not wearing life jackets among fishermen. He is going to contact the Maritime and Coastguard Agency directly in order to make it mandatory that fishermen from British ports should wear life jackets. As fisheries, if not the health and safety issues surrounding it, are devolved, is it the Government’s intention also to make a statement on this issue and also to contact the coroner and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in order to understand what could be done now in Wales in order to safeguard and enhance safety on our seas?

Diolch, Simon Thomas. On your first question, in terms of the apprenticeship levy funding, you will know, and it has been reported back in questions that have been raised with the Minister for Skills and Science, about extensive discussions between the Welsh Government, devolved administrations and the UK Government since the apprenticeship levy was announced. I think we need to look carefully at these figures by the UK Government, because they don’t mean significant new money coming to Wales as a result of the apprenticeship levy. You raise a very valid point about who is paying this across the private and public sector, but let’s look at what this money means—it’s really mainly relating to funds that already form part of our spending review settlement and are included within the draft budget. So, we must be realistic, and those discussions I know will continue in terms of the impact on the public sector as well as on the private sector, in terms of employers and what it then means for them, in terms of the Barnett formula.

Your second point is very important to us, because safety at sea is a key tenet of the Welsh Government’s fisheries management policy. You’ve referred to one tragic death already, and in 2016, we’ve suffered three tragic deaths of Welsh fishermen—completely unacceptable fatalities. So, we’ve prioritised access to funding though the current European maritime and fisheries fund, and this is also reflected in the Wales seafood strategy that Lesley Griffiths announced on 13 October, which I’m sure you’re aware of: a commitment to improve fishermen’s safety, minimise risks, working with them—with the fishing industry and other marine regulators. There are active discussions between Welsh Government, the fishing industry, the MCA and Seafish on fishermen’s safety, and I have to say that, again, this is looking at the significance of the European Union for us, because significant funding was directed to fishing industry safety equipment through the previous European fisheries fund.

I call for two statements, the first in relation to the role of local authorities in supporting women with multiple needs. This follows a report of that name, entitled ‘Leading Change’, sent to me by the North Wales Women’s Centre last week. They say that, although it’s from an England perspective, it has much useful information applicable to our aims and joint working and commissioning here in Wales. It identifies—a very small reference—that half to two thirds of women prisoners have depression, almost half have attempted suicide, and it calls on local authorities to review their joint strategic needs assessments, joint health and well-being strategy and suicide prevention strategy to ensure the needs of women are met accordingly. It also called to ensure that women with multiple needs are involved as equal partners in developing new and improved responses, working with women to design and deliver services that meet their needs.

Secondly, and finally, could I call for an oral statement on the very important matter of future support for former recipients of the independent living fund? The UK Government devolved responsibility to the Welsh Government for this from 30 June last year. Scotland appointed a full-time independent living fund business manager and embedded a project assistant within Inclusion Scotland, Disability Wales’s sister body, months beforehand; and Northern Ireland appointed ILF Scotland to administer the ILF for Northern Ireland. The cross-party group on disability, which I co-chaired in the last Assembly and which I’ve been asked to chair in this Assembly, had taken evidence on the implementation of the Welsh independent living grant from 1 July last year, and having identified widespread concerns, wrote to the then Minister, received a response, and he then issued a written statement on this in February, stating he had asked his officials to work with stakeholder representatives on options including a potential arrangement with the body set up in Scotland to provide payments for former ILF recipients to do the same for Welsh recipients. And at that stage, I can confirm that the membership of the Wales disability reference group favoured this approach. Despite this, we’ve now had, this month, a written statement only from the now Minister for Social Services and Public Health, stating she’s concluded future support to former ILF recipients will go through normal social care provision from local authorities, this being the most effective approach, and she recognises some recipients would have preferred a different decision. This failure, apparently, in this statement to co-produce, co-design, co-deliver and work with citizens and communities doesn’t meet the requirements of the social services and well-being Act, the well-being of future generations Act 2015 or the directives from the Wales Audit Office on the future direction of services. This affects too many of the lives of too many disabled people, so it merits an oral statement, or even a full debate, and I call for that accordingly.

Well, Mark Isherwood does raise an important point, representing his constituents in north Wales, particularly regarding the North Wales Women’s Centre and its expertise. I, myself have met people when I had ministerial responsibility, to ensure that their voices, their experience and the needs of women who they represent and support are heard and influence not only Welsh Government policy, but local and regional policy as well, particularly those most vulnerable. You raise important issues, where they can assist us in terms of not only responding, but also devising appropriate policy. I’m grateful that you’ve raised that on behalf of women in north Wales.

But, on your second point, I do find it extraordinary—. I mean, so often, Mark Isherwood, you start to talk and often raise pertinent questions about something—the independent living fund, which your Conservative Government got rid of—for some of the most vulnerable disabled people in Wales. We’ve rescued it over the years. We rescued it by allocating precious resources, to make sure that we could continue with the independent living fund. And also, that has been welcomed by those groups that actually represent disabled people in Wales, and working in partnership with local government as well, and making sure that we’ve got allocations for social services in our draft budget for next year. Year on year, as a Welsh Labour Government, we’re seeking to protect disabled people in very much the ways in which we can respond to some of the points that were made earlier on this afternoon, about how disabled people are affected by welfare reform cuts and changes by your UK Tory Government.

So, yes, a written statement has been delivered. Of course, clarifications and updates on that will be forthcoming.

Can I request a statement from the Cabinet Secretary for health on the work programme of the All Wales Medicines Strategy Group? While I very much welcome the introduction of the new treatment fund, and the review of the individual patient funding requests system in Wales, which, in my view, is long overdue, I am concerned that access to new drugs will continue to be constrained by the timescales set out by the AWMSG. I’m currently trying to help a constituent access Avastin, for cervical cancer. It is available on the NHS in England, and in Scotland, for advanced cervical cancer, which is putting my constituents at a disadvantage, because the AWMSG are only just beginning to evaluate it here.

Lynne Neagle raises a very important point, an opportunity for me to update on the All Wales Medicines Strategy Group consideration. They’re finalising, I understand, the scope and timelines for appraising Avastin. And, of course, this is a situation where we know that there is opportunity to make applications through the individual patient funding requests process, on patients’ behalf. But I think the overall appraisal, of course, is what is sought, and that will be very shortly forthcoming.

Can I call for two statements, please—one from the Minister responsible for lifelong learning and the Welsh language, on support for people with learning disabilities who are accessing further education? He’ll be aware of the concerns that were raised this week in the media regarding the system of support that is available to learners in post-16 further education with learning disabilities. Of course, there are statements available, which can be agreed with local authorities, in respect of people who attend schools, but the same system does not apply to those in further education. Rather, Careers Wales is given the opportunity to determine whether a system of support should be available. And there is no right to appeal against that system if those learners don’t get the support that they need.

I would be grateful if the Minister could clarify whether he’s prepared to look at this situation, to see whether there might be an opportunity to address the inequity that there is currently in that system, and, hopefully, also to ensure that Careers Wales can extend the offer of support, from beyond the current two-year cap to three years, or more, where necessary, because, of course, some of the individuals involved may need to be in post-16 education and further education colleges for a longer period of time than regular learners, because of their disabilities.

Can I also support the calls from Simon Thomas for a statement from the Minister for Skills and Science on the apprenticeship levy? There is clearly a lot of confusion out there amongst employers, and, indeed, training providers, especially with regard to individuals who might be employed by Welsh businesses but actually live over the border, and whether they may or may not be entitled to support, under the levy. I was very surprised to hear you say that there’s not a lot of money coming to Wales as a result of the levy. The reality is that, over the next three years, there’s going to be £400 million. So, I suggest that you speak to your finance Minister, and determine exactly how that money is going to be spent. I want to see that money spent on supporting apprenticeships across Wales. That clearly isn’t—we don’t get the impression that that’s the intention of the Government at the moment. We need some clarity on this—training providers, employers and employees do, too.

I think the point you make about adults particularly with learning difficulties is important. We’re committed, and this is an opportunity to restate—as a Welsh Government, we’re committed to ensuring everyone in Wales has an opportunity to access our education system. Of course, where specialist provision is identified, Ministers do consider applications and make every effort to respond in a timely fashion. We always try to fund provision that runs over a comparable time to provision in mainstream FE sector, and we continue to consider applications for longer provision, depending on individual need. But I think we also need to look to our additional learning needs transformation programme, and those plans for revised legislation, of course, to provide a smoother transition. The guidance is currently being revised to make it more clear what Welsh Government can fund through those routes. So, that’s a very important point to come back on.

On your second point, I think the Minister will want to clarify certainly what this actually will mean for employers in terms of the apprenticeship levy. I’ve said that the figures provided by the UK Government don’t mean significant new money is coming to Wales as a result of the apprenticeship levy. So, I think we need to straighten that out and make it clear what that actually means, because, you know, you’ve got to recognise that this will form part of our settlement, and so it’s going to be a question of, again, the allocation that we get through our block grant. It’s not going to be what you’re making it out to be, I don’t believe, today.

I thank the Minister.