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

Diolch, Llywydd. I’ve no changes to make to this week’s business, and business for the next three weeks is shown in the business statement and announcement found among meeting papers and available to Members electronically.

Leader of the house, could I have two statements if possible, please? One in relation to the Welsh Government’s proposals about extending the eastern bay link, which is the missing part of the road network around Rover Way and joining on to the old A48 and M4. I’d be grateful if the Minister for transport or Cabinet Secretary for transport would consider issuing a statement to indicate what progress has been made to work up the proposals, and in particular who was involved in those proposals, and whether there is a Government timeline for delivery of this important part of the transport infrastructure to fill in the missing link that exists around the city of Cardiff.

The second statement I’d request, if possible, please, leader of the house, is from the Cabinet Secretary for the environment in relation to the incinerator in Barry. I know this is an issue that you as a constituency Member are very familiar with, but I’d be very grateful if the Cabinet Secretary could issue a statement to outline precisely the role that Natural Resources Wales will be playing in determining the permit in relation to the incinerator down in Barry docks. Importantly, are NRW able to insist on an environmental impact assessment, which wasn’t requested at the start of the planning process? If that is the case, can the application be put on hold until that environmental impact assessment has been undertaken by the applicant? But what is more important is that clear timeline and understanding of the guidance that NRW work to on this important application, which obviously has considerable interest in the locality.

Thank you, Andrew R.T. Davies. Of course, in terms of the extending the eastern bay link road, I think we should welcome the connection now we have got with the eastern bay link. It’s having a huge impact, as we knew it would, in terms of that investment. Of course, all transport plans are subject to the national transport plan, and, of course, also to the availability of funding—the all-important funding—which, of course, as I’m sure you would recognise, requires support. Will you be making this request to Philip Hammond, I wonder, in terms of his forthcoming statement? Because we certainly need more money for transport infrastructure here in Wales. It’s your chance, Andrew R.T. Davies, as leader of the opposition.

On your second point, obviously it is a matter for the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs to consider whether a statement is appropriate. I am very involved, as Assembly Member, with the incinerator action group, and in fact I’m chairing a meeting this week with the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, with members of the incinerator action group, and we have a number of forthcoming meetings. Indeed, I chaired a meeting with Natural Resources Wales and the action group in September, and I think that’s probably as much as I’m allowed to give as an Assembly Member and as leader of the house. But it is clear that it’s Natural Resources Wales that is currently determining an application for environmental permit.

I’m sure you’re aware, leader of the house, that many of us who represent Pembrokeshire have been enthusiastic supporters of Elly’s ward 10 flag appeal. This is a wonderful fundraising effort led by a seven-year-old girl, possibly eight-year-old now, who’s raised over £120,000 for ward 10 and cancer patients in Withybush hospital. It’s a magnificent community effort as well supporting her. I understand now that the formal business case for the use of these funds and other capital funds from the Welsh Government has been agreed by Hywel Dda university health board, and then passed on to the Welsh Government for formal approval. I’m not expecting an announcement today on that, but I would like a commitment from the Government either to a written statement or to write to Members who represent Pembrokeshire and who have an interest in Withybush hospital, telling us the outcome of this process, and certainly to urge the Government to fully consider this business case now and, I very much hope, give their approval so that this fundraising effort locally, led by this wonderful young school pupil, is really rewarded, and we see that progress in Withybush.

Well, I think we would all join you, Simon Thomas, in congratulating this wonderful example of a young person taking this campaign forward—Elly’s flag appeal for ward 10 at Withybush hospital. It is obviously making progress in terms of the business case, and I think the Cabinet Secretary for health, who’s here, has heard your request for an update, and I’m sure that will be forthcoming.

I’m asking for a statement by the Welsh Government on transport within the Swansea bay city region. This statement should include bus-rail interchanges, which we desperately need; the reopening of closed railway stations such as Landore station and the opening of new railway stations such as Cockett; improved road links, especially the dualling of the A40; and improved cycleways, so that some of the gaps in the cycleway network can be made up.

Mike Hedges raises important points about transport connectivity. I’ve just mentioned the national transport finance plan. In fact, any measure for improving our transport infrastructure across the whole of Wales—. Clearly, Swansea city region are in that national transport finance plan. And, of course, the fact that already funding has been made available via the local transport fund to the City and County of Swansea is important for the Morfa distributor road, the A483 Fabian Way corridor, and £115,000 for this financial year to develop the outlying concept for a south-west Wales metro, and indeed funding for the Kingsbridge link scheme. And we’ve recently launched our new local transport network fund, which includes £1 million for strategic bus corridors and public transport hubs in Swansea.

Leader of the house, I’d like to ask for two statements, if possible. I’d like to ask for a statement to be brought forward by the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport on reports that Wales’s biggest health board, Betsi Cadwaladr, which is in Government special measures, is set to overspend by some £50 million this year. I think this is a matter of great concern and has an enormous impact on the rest of the Welsh NHS. If we were to add up all of the deficits that are forecast, we’re going to have a shortfall in the Welsh NHS of £137 million, give or take £1 million here or there. The possible impact it could have on the public could be devastating. We are coming up into winter with winter pressures, and I think that this is an area that would be of great benefit to us, if we could just have some discourse on this, to find out what the Welsh Government intends to do, both from their angle and what they would like to see happen from the health boards, and how we can mitigate the devastating impact that this funding crisis would have.

The second statement that I would like to ask for is a statement from the Minister for Social Services and Public Health on the report into children’s services at Powys County Council. I know we are all shocked by that report and I am very grateful to the Minister for her briefing on it today. Again, I believe it’s in the public interest for there to be a statement so that some of the questions that some of the other Assembly Members here have raised so pertinently this morning can be properly explored. I would like to point out to you, leader of the house, that there is a precedent for bringing forward statements when a local council is put into some kind of distress by the Welsh Government. There was a precedent set when Gwenda Thomas, the then Minister, put Swansea into special measures. This is the first warning under the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 and it would be timely for us to be able to see how that Act is being able to work, and, again, I think it would aid public discourse on yet another very, very sensitive matter that is in the public interest.

I thank Angela Burns for both those questions. Perhaps in response to the first one I could take the opportunity to clarify that Betsi Cadwaladr is not set to overspend by £50 million this year, but the board have identified a significant risk that they may not achieve their planned £26 million deficit. But they are properly using their bond governance to address this. The health board has recognised the risk and are finalising a financial recovery plan to ensure that they achieve the £26 million deficit, which represents a control total. These actions will materially improve their forecast. Also, if I could add to this point, in response to your question, as part of the special measures arrangements, officials, since August, raised concerns on the financial performance to date and the potential impact on the forecast deficit. They’ve had additional escalation meetings with health board executives on performance and finance and an independent financial governance review has been commissioned, and that will cover the development, adoption and performance of the 2017-18 financial plan, and the Cabinet Secretary, along with the NHS Wales chief executive, has met with the chair and chief executive of Betsi Cadwaladr. So, I hope that gives you a robust response to your question.

On your second question, which Simon Thomas also raised with the First Minister, it is important that we share and air what the Government is doing in response to the Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales’s report on safeguarding children in Powys. You know that the Minister has issued a written statement. I think it’s probably gone out by now, and that statement has outlined the action being taken by the Welsh Government in relation to part A of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014, which has resulted in a warning notice being issued to Powys County Council today. That sets out what the Welsh Government expects from Powys County Council, in terms of addressing the serious concerns raised in the CSSIW inspection report. The note has been laid before the National Assembly for Wales today. Powys must submit an improvement plan within 20 days, and the Minister will report back to the National Assembly for Wales in 90 days.

I’m also going to ask for two statements. And the first one, leader of the house, that I would like is a statement from the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs on whether or not she will consider looking at increasing the maximum jail term for animal abuse from six months to five years. The UK Government have recently announced their intention to increase the maximum prison sentence available to magistrates to five years, and it’s thought that the Animal Welfare Act 2006 will be used as a mandate for change for increasing sentences.

In the last year, there have been two successful prosecutions in my constituency, where puppy farm breeders have been found guilty of cruelty and neglect. Those animals were kept in the most horrific conditions without being given even the most basic care, and they did suffer terribly. But what struck me was that despite the horrendous suffering that was caused, the longest sentence that was given was only five months. The only other sentence that was given was a nine-week sentence suspended for two years. I believe those sentences to be far too lenient, and I think that we need to urgently address this issue if we are going to be serious about becoming a country that protects animals.

The second statement that I would ask for is a statement on human trafficking or anti-human slavery. I’m chair of the cross-party group on human trafficking in the Assembly, and we did convene the very first meeting of the term this morning, which was hugely well attended by experts from across Wales. They are providing both the expertise to try and end the heinous crime of modern-day slavery or trafficking, and they also actually provide victim support, which helps to support those victims, but also to help those victims tell their stories, so that we end up with the perpetrators of this heinous crime actually being prosecuted.

We were, and we still are—. We were the first, and we are still the only country in the UK that has a national anti-slavery co-ordinator, and I don’t think that people realise that that is still the case. And, in the meeting this morning, the Wales anti-slavery co-ordinator made clear that Wales is now seeing more reporting of modern slavery than ever before, and it has the most successful number of prosecutions. We think that that was due to the increase in reporting of those as a consequence of the greater awareness that this issue has across Wales, alongside the comprehensive training sessions being delivered to first responders and non-government organisations on what they need to look at, and what they need to consider in first identifying a potential victim of slavery, or how to respond to them. And, again, it was the case that those victims are more likely to share their stories with the non-government organisations, and not the authorities, when they come forward, since they definitely do not trust the authorities from whence they came.

But the other issue, and the other crossover that was clearly identified this morning, is the need to cross-reference where we have refugees seeking refuge, particularly if they’re unaccompanied minors, with the likelihood of them falling prey—if they haven’t already fallen prey before they arrive—to the slave traders. And we all know that we supported the Dubs agreement here in Wales, and yet it is the case that we have brought through very few children safely to the UK, and yet Wales remains open to that request.

Thank you, Joyce Watson. And can I just say, in terms of responding to your first question, that animal welfare is a priority for the Welsh Government, and the Wales animal health and welfare framework group, obviously, indicates that commitment? We have noted the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs announcement in terms of the increased maximum sentence for animal cruelty in England from six months to five years. We’re aware of the Scottish Government as well, in terms of their commitment.

But, again, back to our commitment as a Welsh Government, the way we treat animals is an important reflection of the values of our society. Animals should be protected from pain, injury, fear and distress, and those who commit the worst acts of animal cruelty should face tough punishment. So, the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs is giving consideration to all options for Wales, to ensure clarity for enforcement agencies, the courts, and the people of Wales.

I’m very glad also that you’ve brought a question for business statement about the fact that tomorrow is Anti-slavery Day. I think we are wearing the badges today, those of us who perhaps have engaged. I think we should pay tribute to Joyce Watson for her role, back in 2010, as she produced a report on trafficking, which actually did lead directly to the Welsh Government becoming the first, and sadly only country in the UK to appoint an anti-slavery co-ordinator. And it’s good to hear there was such an excellent turnout at your meeting this morning, receiving yet another updated report, which I referred to on Friday, at the Bawso annual lecture, which was on human trafficking and human rights issues, which of course was well attended. Our anti-slavery co-ordinator attended that meeting and answered questions. We have a Wales anti-slavery leadership group, providing strategic leadership and guidance on how we tackle slavery in Wales, also to provide the best possible support for survivors. The role of the third sector was very clear there, in terms of Bawso’s leadership role, and Women’s Aid, and the other organisations that were there.

But also we are sharing and learning with other partners, including UK Government departments, the UK independent anti-slavery commissioner, and looking at—. We provide training as well—three-day joint training provision for law enforcement senior investigating officers, and Crown prosecutors and Crown advocates. And also you mentioned refugees. We’re working with partners to provide support for refugees coming to Wales, which will help mitigate the risk of exploitation. So, this is about us leading to an increase in the number of reported cases, which you’ve reflected on. And it is through improved reporting that we can help ensure that victims receive the support they need, and that perpetrators can be brought to justice.

Thank you, leader of the house.