The next item, therefore, is the business statement and announcement, and I call on the leader of the house, Jane Hutt.

Llywydd, I have several changes to report to this week’s business. The Business Committee has agreed to reschedule last Wednesday’s debate on the External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee’s report on the implications for Wales of leaving the European Union to later this afternoon. I’ve also reduced the time allocated to the Stage 3 debate on the Land Transaction Tax and Anti-avoidance of Devolved Taxes (Wales) Bill. Tomorrow, the First Minister will make an oral statement in response to the triggering of article 50. Finally, the Business Committee has agreed to reschedule last week’s short debate on credit unions, and this will take place after voting tomorrow. 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, I’ve raised on several occasions the state and condition of the A48 and, in particular, the stretch between Culverhouse Cross and Bridgend, sadly to no avail. I don’t seem to get much of a response back from the Welsh Government as to what their maintenance arrangements are going to be, but, today, we’ve also had a very timely reminder of the need to make sure that our roads are repaired in good order because of the potential risk to people and, obviously, damage to vehicles as well. Is it possible to have a statement from the Welsh Government as to what actions they take to support local authorities and the trunk road agency to support the maintenance of the fabric of the highways in Wales, but in particular in the South Wales Central area, and what financial support they make available to local authorities and the trunk road agency to make sure that repairs are carried out in a timely manner?

I thank the Member for his question. You will be aware of the written statement by Ken Skates, the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure, last week on local transport grant allocations to local authorities 2017-18, when he announced that he was allocating a total of over £31.4 million in transport grants to local authorities across Wales, particularly for schemes improving safety, creating economic growth and promoting active travel. The local transport fund of £20 million will allow 47 schemes across 20 local authorities to commence schemes or continue to work on multi-year projects, and, of course, those issues particularly in terms of improving safety. It also links to nearly £4 million in road safety capital grant funding, 31 schemes contributing to road casualty reductions in 16 local authorities, and £5.5 million for the Safe Routes in Communities grant, focusing on 32 schemes available to improve walking and cycling routes to schools in 19 local authorities.

I’d like a statement on the biomass project, or the incinerator, as local residents refer to it. I’d like to enquire why the voices of local people have been ignored. There’s a lot of concern about the possibility of fire and there’s massive concern about the quality of air that people will be breathing. I really cannot think of a more unsuitable place for a development like this—smack in the middle of a residential area—so I would appreciate some kind of statement and to know whether or not you think that Natural Resources Wales should in fact grant the licence, because I certainly don’t think that they should.

I presume the Member is referring to the Barry incinerator. Planning permission has been granted for the construction of a biomass energy plant within the Barry docks regeneration area. Natural Resources Wales is currently considering whether to issue an environmental permit, and extensive consultation is taking place. Obviously, I have, as an Assembly Member, engaged with that, but, of course, issues relating to planning permission are a matter for the local planning authority and it’s not appropriate for the Welsh Government to comment.

I wanted to raise two issues. Refugees who come to Wales and to the UK are keen to work and want to do their bit for society, but they’re hindered by being unable to get a driving licence, because the theory test is only done in English or in Welsh. I understand that, up to 2013, you could do it in languages like Bengali or Arabic. As transport is such a big issue for people getting to work, could the Welsh Government consider entering into a dialogue with the UK Government to find out what the reason was for this change of policy and whether anything could be done about it?

The second issue was that a number of my constituents are calling for an initiative called Operation Close Pass that is taking place in north Wales and in cities in England, where plain-clothed police on bikes stop drivers who pass too close to cyclists and educate them about safe passing distances. So, would it be possible to have a debate about safety for cyclists, as they do make up 1 per cent of the traffic, yet I believe are 16 per cent of all casualties? So, I wondered if we could have a debate on that.

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

I thank the Member for those questions. Julie Morgan has drawn our attention to a change, which we perhaps may not have been aware of, back in April 2014, because driver licensing is a reserved matter, and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency prescribes the content and delivery of the theory test in Wales. The loss of that use of foreign language voiceovers and interpreters on theory tests was removed in April 2014, apparently following a public consultation. But, certainly, this is an issue where we would want to ensure our views, particularly now as we are focusing on our Welsh Government refugee and asylum seeker delivery plan, which is being refreshed during this year—. It is about co-ordination between agencies under our responsibility in the Welsh Government, but, clearly, with UK Government as well. So, this is an issue, particularly, that we would want to discuss with the Welsh Refugee Council, but, most importantly, with the UK Government in terms of those opportunities, and hopefully find new ways in which we can address this issue.

On your second point, I’ve just mentioned the local road safety allocations that have been announced recently by the Cabinet Secretary. The road safety framework for Wales sets out the action the Welsh Government and our partners will take to meet our casualty reduction targets. If you look at the statistics for motorcyclists and cyclists, the statistics for cyclists alone were 7 per cent of casualties, 10 per cent of those killed or seriously injured. We publish the statistical bulletin on pedal cycles on 5 April, so that will provide an update. We have got a safety steering group to support work towards meeting a target to particularly reduce the numbers killed or seriously injured by 25 per cent. That’s relating to motorcyclists, but I think the national standards cycle training in all local authorities is crucially important. Yesterday, the Cabinet Secretary supported the launch of Operation Darwen, a Wales-wide police enforcement and engagement campaign, and I think this example is something that clearly we would want to look at.

Leader of the house, I wondered whether we could have a statement from the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure on the trunk road maintenance programme in north Wales. Many of my constituents and visitors to north Wales were massively inconvenienced over the weekend as a result of some of the roadworks on the A55 in the Conwy tunnels and, indeed, in Old Colwyn, in my own constituency, and that led to 13-mile tailbacks on Mothering Sunday, with people being cooped up in their cars for up to an hour and a half simply to travel the short distance of just three miles. Clearly, that’s unacceptable. The problem was further compounded because, of course, Network Rail was also doing work on the north Wales railway line, so there was more traffic on the roads, and I think it is imperative that there’s better planning between the road maintenance teams and the Network Rail teams in order to avoid that sort of coming together of these sorts of maintenance works. So, it would be useful to have a statement from the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure on how he intends to change the discussions and communications, particularly between Network Rail and his teams in the future.

In response to the Member’s question, this is an issue, and the Member knows well that this is part of wider improvements to the A55 to ensure that it does serve the people of north Wales better. So, actually managing those improvements, as you say, has to involve all those who have a key part to play so that delays are kept to an absolute minimum. I’m advised that work is taking place 24/7 in order to ensure it’s completed before the busy Easter period. I think also, just in terms of engagement, as I said, with appropriate authorities, officers from Conwy council have been consulted on these improvements, they’re being kept informed of progress, appropriate signs have been located along the A55, and it is important that the travelling public are made aware of traffic restrictions. The Traffic Wales website is updated whenever required.

Can I raise two issues, please, with the business manager, first of all to welcome the fact that the debate for today, later on, on landscapes has been withdrawn? Had it not been withdrawn, I would have certainly have argued that it was out of order, as our Standing Orders say very clearly that any debate that relates to a report should have the report with that debate, and the constituents who have been contacting me over the last two or three days were clear in their minds that this debate related to the report that the Lord Elis-Thomas is preparing on future landscapes on behalf of the Welsh Government. Of course, we haven’t seen that report, it’s not been published, though my constituents have been very keen to send me draft copies of the report, together with their criticism of the report, which would have meant for a very interesting, but, I don’t think, a very constructive debate in this Chamber. Can I ask for an assurance, therefore, that there won’t be an attempt by the Welsh Government to treat us in this way again and that we won’t debate this issue until we have seen the report, fully published, and have had a decent amount of time to study the report and, of course, to contact and listen to our constituents’ concerns on the elements of that report?

The second issue I’d like to raise with the business manager is to ask for a statement from the Welsh Government, in the fullness of time, in response to the decision of the UK Government and the UK Nuclear Decommissioning Authority to change the contract around the decommissioning of the old Magnox nuclear reactors in Wales and throughout the United Kingdom. It affects, particularly, of course, Trawsfynydd in my region, and also Wylfa. These are huge contracts for which the UK Government has been found to have gone through a false and faulty procurement process, has had to pay out taxpayers’ money to American companies to get out of legal challenge, and looks like now, with changing the contract with the company that did win the contract within the next couple of years, all told, it is costing about £100 million, which I think is a figure to bear in mind when UK Government tells us that renewable energy is expensive. We may have an opportunity here to review what’s needed in terms of decommissioning in Trawsfynydd and Wylfa, and there may indeed be different changes to what happens there, but I’d like to know whether Welsh Government is yet in a position to tell us what that might be. It could be that there’s more intensive work needed, it could be there’s less work needed—we don’t know. But a statement from the Welsh Government saying that they’ve been in discussion with the authority and the UK Government and these are the implications for employment, going forward, around the two old Magnox sites would, I think, be valuable to the Assembly.

I thank Simon Thomas for his questions. I was content, further to a discussion this morning at the Business Committee, to postpone this afternoon’s debate on the review of national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty, and I can assure the Member and the Assembly that we’ll reschedule the debate on the Cabinet Secretary’s return, which is also appropriate, and has had an impact on timing for this, but when the final report has been published. On that basis, I hope that gives you the appropriate assurances.

On your second point, no, we’re not in a position in terms of our understanding of the impact of the announcement in terms of the changes as a result of procurement for the decommissioning of the old Magnox nuclear reactors, but this is something, clearly, that we would want to be fully engaged with, and ensure that Members are appropriately informed about. But UK Government obviously, clearly, have that responsibility, as well.

Thank you. And finally, Eluned Morgan.

Would the business Secretary make a statement on the recent appointment process for the Bishop of Llandaff in the light of reports that Jeffrey John, the current Dean of St Albans, was rejected from the post on the basis of his sexual orientation, despite the backing of the majority of the electoral college and the unanimous support of the Llandaff electors? Whilst I, of course, understand that there is a process of spiritual discernment in the selection of a bishop, this is also a matter that relates to employment. So, would the Cabinet Secretary, in that statement, state whether she thinks it would be appropriate to refer the Church of Wales to the Equality and Human Rights Commission in order to investigate whether the Church in Wales is in breach of the Equality Act 2010, relating to its employment recruitment processes, which the Church in Wales itself claims to adhere to on its own website?

I thank Eluned Morgan for that question. I’m aware of the concerns that have been raised by reports that a candidate for appointment as the Bishop of Llandaff has been excluded from the appointment process on the grounds of his sexual orientation. It’s very clear, of course, in terms of the Church in Wales, disestablished, that the process, as the Member has said, for the appointment of its bishops is a matter for the Church in Wales electoral college and church constituents. The Church in Wales, I also understand, is not covered by the public sector equality duty under the Equality Act 2010, but I’m glad to have the opportunity to respond to the Member’s question this afternoon, and to say that the Welsh Government is opposed to discrimination on the basis of sexuality, and our position in this regard has been consistent and remains very clear.

Thank you very much, leader of the house.