Item 4 on our agenda this afternoon is 90-second statements, and the first one this afternoon is by Dawn Bowden.

Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. The fine Gothic former synagogue in Merthyr Tydfil had served the Jewish community there since the 1870s. The Jewish community at Merthyr reached its peak in the 1930s, but having now largely disappeared from the town, there are still signs of their presence, including the Jewish cemetery in Cefn Coed.

In 1955, there was held, and I quote, 

'an impressive service in which the Chief Rabbi re-consecrated the 80 year old Synagogue.... In his address...the Chief Rabbi referred to the persecution which made Jews leave the lands of their birth and how they had found', to quote, 'freedom of worship in Merthyr.'

It's therefore sad to note, which you'll see from the picture, the current condition of the former synagogue. The UK-based Foundation for Jewish Heritage recently mapped all the historic synagogues right across Europe, which they categorised according to their significance and condition. The Merthyr Tydfil synagogue is one of only two in the UK highlighted by this work and shown to be in the most danger. Thankfully, the foundation has already found the funds to undertake a preliminary study of the building that could lead to its restoration. The synagogue is an important part of our collective history, not just for Merthyr Tydfil and for Wales, but beyond that as well. So, I wish the foundation well in their work; it deserves to succeed and for this important building to be saved.

The Llywydd took the Chair.

In 1994, 10 years after the miners' strike, the UK Government turned their attention to the last deep pit in south Wales. The target of their economic vandalism was Tower Colliery. Tower in Hirwaun was profitable—it had been commended by John Redwood, of all people, for its productivity. But Westminster still decided to strike its final blow against the once-mighty miners. The NUM Tower workforce and local community rose to the challenge.

Cynon Valley MP Ann Clwyd joined the miners in a sit-in deep underground to highlight the valiant campaign. The response from the UK Government and the NCB was further betrayal and backsliding. The miners had no choice but to vote for closure. But their story did not end there. Led by branch secretary Tyrone O'Sullivan, 239 miners each contributed £8,000 of their redundancy to buy the mine. It was resurrected as a workers' co-operative; the first mine in the world to be owned by its workforce. January 2018 marks 23 years since Tower reopened—a brave and bold new chapter in its history. 

Tower is now closed, but there are exciting plans for the future of the site; plans that will ensure Tower and its story of struggle live on. To paraphrase from the narrative boldly owned by the miners of Tower: they were ordinary men, they want their jobs, they bought a pit.

Last year, Llŷn Coastal Bus ran two buses regularly between Llanbedrog, Abersoch, Porth Neigwl, Aberdaron, Porthor and Nefyn between May and the autumn. It's supported by a community transport group, providing a door-to-door service. Llŷn Coastal Bus follows a route that complements the public transport service, allowing people to walk the coastal path, leaving their cars. It opens the door to an area of outstanding natural beauty and an area where the Welsh language is the language of daily conversation.

The bus is also used regularly by local people. A group of friends went from Abersoch to Aberdaron and visited Porth y Swnt and had a meal before going home. The bus is used by young and old, by mothers and their children during the summer holidays. It's of assistance in tackling health problems by encouraging people to keep fit by walking, and also tackles loneliness by providing transport to various events and heritage attractions.

I had an opportunity prior to Christmas to meet a number of people who were involved with the success of the scheme in Nefyn and heard from businesses and local individuals how the Llŷn Coastal Bus brought environmental, social and economic benefits to the Llŷn peninsula. I'd like to thank the drivers, the volunteers, and all those who maintain this service, and in the face of uncertainty in terms of funding for this year, I would encourage the Government to support this important link in all ways possible.