3. Business Statement and Announcement

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:03 pm on 14 November 2017.

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Photo of Darren Millar Darren Millar Conservative 3:03, 14 November 2017

Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Can I also welcome you to your new role and pay tribute to your predecessor? Can I call for two statements, please? The first is a request for an update on special measures at the Betsi Cadwaladr university health board. The Cabinet Secretary and leader of the house will be aware of the fact that an update report was published last week on the situation following the Tawel Fan scandal at the board, and unfortunately it would appear that there have been further delays to the follow-up work that has been conducted at the health board at the moment, and that reports will not now be published until next March, some three and a half years after the publication of the first report that was made available to that health board. Clearly families are looking to try to get some closure on the problems that they have experienced, and of course staff need some closure as well in relation to their positions. Indeed, some staff have moved on and potentially may have escaped some natural justice. So, I wonder whether we can have an update on that particular issue.

Can I also call for a statement from the Cabinet Secretary for environment and rural affairs on the single environment grant? Concerns have been raised with me, by both Conwy and Denbighshire local authorities, regarding the top slicing of this grant and the reduction in its value this year and the impact that that might have on their refuse and waste collection services in particular. I understand that the reductions are around three times the reduction compared to last year's grant and that that is causing them some significant concern. So, it would be good just to have a discussion on that and an opportunity to question the Cabinet Secretary about the rationale for it.