The next item is the business statement and announcement. I call on the Trefnydd to make a statement—Rebecca Evans.

Thank you. There are no changes to this week's business. Draft business for the next three weeks is set out in the business statement and announcement, which can be found amongst the meeting papers available to Members electronically.

Organiser, could we have a statement or response to the Minister's commitment to do an environmental impact assessment on the Barry incinerator? This commitment was given by the Government back last February. We are in February of 2019 now—that's 12 months, believe it or not—and we still haven't had a response from the Minister as to whether she is going to carry out this assessment or insist that Natural Resources Wales carry out this assessment. Many residents, not unreasonably, are very concerned about this, and they see that the Government has turned their back on them. In particular, the previous First Minister indicated that such a decision would have been made by November of last year. It cannot be still sitting on someone's desk waiting for a decision to be taken. Surely, the decision has been taken. Can we now have that decision communicated so we know whether an environmental impact assessment will be undertaken?

Thank you for raising this issue. I know that this matter is clearly a very complex matter that is requiring some detailed consideration. I will ensure that you receive a more comprehensive and complete idea of when a decision will be made.

Trefnydd, you'll be clearly aware of the announcement last week of plans by the UK Government to develop a west Wales parkway rail station on land at Felindre, Swansea, within your Gower constituency. Now, the proposal, as you know, which would make use of the Swansea district line, will bring about improvements to passengers in west Wales by delivering shorter journey times to Cardiff and London—being as electrification has gone—reducing the journey by up to a quarter of an hour, with scope for greater journey savings if line speeds are increased. It could also help with congestion issues on the M4 around Swansea and Port Talbot, and the main commuter arteries into Swansea.

Clearly, though, these east-west rail improvements cannot be looked at in isolation. You'll be aware that the Welsh Government has previously commissioned a feasibility for a Swansea bay and western Valleys metro. South-west Wales is crying out for improved public transport, and rail needs to play a key part in that. As well as seeing services to Swansea and Neath stations protected, we also need to see other routes being brought back into use—the Amman and Swansea Valley rail route, for example—and ensuring quality transport links to the Neath, Dulais and Afan valleys. The Welsh Government has been quiet on the UK Government's west Wales parkway proposal, and I would therefore be grateful if the Minister for transport would bring forward a statement on what discussions he is having with the UK Government, and how he sees the west Wales parkway interlinking with the wider challenge of developing further rail and tram infrastructure within the region, as part of the Swansea bay metro.

Thank you very much for raising this issue. I know that the economy Minister has responded to those proposals by the UK Government, but he'd be more than happy to recirculate his response to that, whilst also providing an update on the feasibility study with regard to the west Wales metro proposals.

Trefnydd, I would like to request three statements today. First of all, I'd welcome a statement from the education Minister on the next steps that the Welsh Government will take to tackle bullying in schools. The 'Respecting others' consultation is due to close later this week, but after many years in the classroom, I am still concerned that we do all we can to deal with this issue. In particular, I'm concerned about our approach to tackling LGBT+ bullying, as we know, for example, a higher rate of Welsh LGBT+ young people experience bullying than anywhere else in the UK, according to recent statistics. As February is LGBT History Month, I hope that this is something that we can make real progress on.

Secondly, Rhondda Cynon Taf cabinet has approved a policy of setting fixed-penalty notices for up to £400 to tackle fly-tipping. To my constituents, like to people throughout Wales, fly-tipping is a real concern, so it would be good to see the council using these powers that have just been made available to them by Welsh Government. Could we have a statement setting out how Ministers are prioritising action against fly-tipping, in particular assessing the efficacy of changes in terms of fixed-penalty notices?

Finally, it was really positive to read the statement that over 150 employers have now signed up to the groundbreaking code of practice on ethical employment in supply chains. This is a welcome step, but could we have an update in the Siambr from the Minister for economy on other interventions the Welsh Government could take to promote good employment practices? I am thinking in particular here of the ways in which the economic contract can be used to encourage more businesses in Wales to sign up.

Thank you very much for raising those three issues. On the first, regarding bullying, as you say, the recent consultation is just coming to an end, and I know that the Minister will have more to say on that in due course. But it is worth reflecting at this point that our new curriculum will lead the way on LGBT+ issues, and will provide teachers with the opportunity to teach Welsh LGBT+ history. The first draft of the new curriculum will be published in April, and there will be a full-scale consultation within the education community and the wider public on that. 

You quite rightly raise the issue of transparency in supply chains, and the Minister was listening to your comments and he has indicated that he would be happy to bring forward a statement exploring the work that's being done, particularly through the economic contract. I can tell you also that you know that we've launched the ethical employment in supply chains code of practice, aimed at making those supply chains more transparent and preventing exploitation of workers by ensuring that they are treated fairly at every stage in the supply chain. And this is very much a first for Wales and a first for the UK, and I'm very pleased that we now have 159 organisations signed up to the code so far, and we obviously would expect all organisations, businesses and third sector organisations who are in receipt of public sector funding to sign up to that code. 

And, finally, you raised the issue of how Welsh Government is seeking to ensure that the correct penalties are paid for fly-tipping. Well, it is a criminal offence, punishable by a fine of up to £50,000 or 12 months imprisonment if convicted in a magistrates' court. And this can attract an unlimited fine and up to five years of imprisonment if convicted at a Crown Court. The Welsh Government is proposing to introduce new fixed penalties to help local authorities deal with household waste duty of care offences, and this additional enforcement tool will aim to reduce the amount of domestic waste being passed to unauthorised waste carriers. 

Minister, may I ask for a statement from the Welsh Government on the eligibility criteria for social housing in Wales? My constituents, Mr and Mrs Harradine, and their four children, rent a house from Newport City Homes. For the last three and a half years, the house has been suffering from damp and mould growing all over the property. This is affecting their health and their children's, who have developed asthma and bronchitis. Health visitors and a doctor at the Royal Gwent Hospital have written to the housing authority, stressing that the condition of this house is causing health problems in the children, but all in vain. No action has been taken by the local council or city council, you can call it. They desperately need to move out, but because both parents are in employment, they are not considered as a priority by the city council. Please can we have a statement from the Minister on what guidance can be given on the eligibility criteria for social housing, since it appears that threats to people's health are not considered serious enough to warrant being rehoused as a priority? 

Thank you for raising this case with us in the Chamber. I'm sure that you've taken up the specific case with the appropriate residential social landlord and/or the local authority. And I'd certainly recommend that you write with further details of that case to the housing Minister, who will be able to provide some further background on the detail of social housing eligibility criteria. 

Trefnydd, I just wanted to ask for a debate on the Welsh Government's definition of 'local' in relation to housing development. I know you can't comment on local cases, but I'm sure you're aware of the issue with regard to housing development in Pennard, and Swansea Council has defined 'local' as Mumbles. Now, I know of an instance of a young woman who moved home because she'd lost a child to a heart condition. She now wants to reapply for the council house that she lost because of the fact that she moved home, but she may not be able to move into the surrounding area because of this definition of 'local'. This planning permission is one of many where people are debating and not understanding the definition of 'local and affordable', so that people can utilise that to the best of their ability so that they can stay in the area where they want to stay. So, I'd like a debate in Government time so that we can have these definitions thrashed out here, so people locally can also engage in a more positive way with the planning process.

My second request for a statement would be for an update on the legislative programme of the Welsh Government, be it in a written or an oral form. We heard from the Welsh language Minister last week that she was dropping the Bill in relation to establishing a commission. I heard through social media the former Minister said there was a timetable for that legislation, but it's not something the committee that I chair were aware of. So, if there's one thing that the Government Minister knows and something else that the Assembly doesn't know, then I think we should all be made aware of the clear timetable that your Government has, so that we can all engage as positively as we can in scrutinising that programme and knowing where in the timetable that will happen.

Thank you very much for raising both of these issues. I would suggest that, on the specific issue that you refer to in Pennard, in the first instance it would probably be most appropriate to raise the issue regarding the definition of 'local' and the definition of 'affordable' with the housing Minister, in order to have the full information in front of you, in order to be able to share that with constituents.

I'm sure that the First Minister answered some questions today with regard to the legislative timetable, and the impact that Brexit might be having on our considerations there, and, of course, the First Minister does make an annual statement on the legislative programme. But if you have specific questions regarding Bills, I'm sure that the appropriate Minister would be able to respond to those concerns.

I have two questions. One is, firstly, in relation to Superfast Cymru and the previous roll-out scheme. I've been made aware of a very concerning issue relating to this. The delivery of superfast broadband, as part of the Superfast Cymru scheme, has been achieved, of course, through the handing of the contract to Openreach. However, I'm given to believe that Openreach then sub-contracted to Telent, who have then sub-contracted to Wavetec Limited, which has ended up employing individual contractors, including a constituent of mine, working freelance, and is still doing so, to help build the fibre network. Having been shown a copy of an aged creditors' breakdown by my constituent, I understand that he is now owed thousands of pounds and has not been paid for services rendered to Wavetec since the end of November. Trefnydd, would you be able to liaise with the responsible Minister and explain to me why Superfast Cymru has resulted in such a protected contract, which has seen several subcontractors in the chain, which is now resulting in my constituent facing financial hardship? That's No. 1.

And then, No. 2: will the Trefnydd explain why the Welsh Government does not deem it necessary for the Planning Inspectorate to consult with all the interested parties when new material or planning policy updates come forward during the course of the Planning Inspectorate process? Now, the reason I ask this is that, last week, the Planning Inspectorate approved a residential development, comprising of 110 dwellings, in Llandudno Junction. This, in my opinion, and others', was despite breaching a number of planning policies, and over 1,300 objections submitted. Due to the delayed process following the inquiry in September, where the actual decision breached its own ministerial target deadlines, the introduction of 'Planning Policy Wales', edition 10, had to be considered. Whilst the local authority and the appellant were consulted, all other interested parties, including myself, as the democratically elected Assembly Member, were not allowed to give further information forward, based on the interpretation of 'Planning Policy Wales'.

Now, subsection 47(7) of the Town and Country Planning (Referred Applications and Appeals Procedure) (Wales) Regulations 2017 states an appointed person needs to notify those involved in the inquiry about new material to allow them to make representations about new evidence, or to ask to reopen the inquiry before making their decision. However, the new material excludes Welsh Ministers' policy. This is wrong and undemocratic. So, would you agree with me that Welsh Ministers' policy should be subjected to the notification representations request to reopen provisions in the same way as any other type of new material? And, if so, would you be prepared to consider my proposal to change this flawed legislation, and the regulations, so that all interested parties are allowed to be part of the actual planning inspectorate process and regime?

Thank you very much for raising those questions with me today. On the issue of broadband, if you would share with me the details of your constituent's specific circumstance, I'd be happy to explore that with the Minister and let you have the outcome of that. 

Your questions regarding 'Planning Policy Wales' and how it intersects with existing planning applications, and so forth, is probably best directed to the Minister with responsibility for planning. 

Trefnydd, I wonder if I can have perhaps updates on statements from the Welsh Government on two areas. One is obviously steel. Last week, we had a wonderful debate here in the Chamber on steel making in Wales, and the implications of the future for steel making and the challenge it still faces. Yesterday, we heard that Swansea University was going to be the lead university in a £35 million-project to look into the steel process to ensure that steel can become sustainable in Wales and the UK. Could we have a statement and an update from the Welsh Government as to what actions the Welsh Government is taking to work with the university sector on the steel research and development agenda to ensure that the money that's already invested in things like the Steel Institute in Swansea University continues to develop steel making and the processes so that steel making in Wales, particularly in my constituency in Port Talbot, is going to be something that is sustainable for the future? [Interruption.] I'll wait until the answer comes back. 

On the second one, we know about the Banksy issue in Port Talbot. I visited it on the very first day it was identified, before it became known as a Banksy. But we've also since then had the Ame72—three different pieces of street art: two on the back of Taibach rugby club on doors, and one on the door of a garage in a lane a few houses down from the rugby club. It's clearly becoming an issue—street art and the culture of street art. The individual I spoke to, and the previous owner of the Banksy, highlighted the need to ensure that we had somewhere to keep this street art. But there's also a concern that we don't become an area for graffiti, rather than street art, and so we actually create a culture of street art. Can we have a statement? I thank the deputy Minister for his response earlier, last week, on the previous requests, but we need to look at what is the Welsh Government's position on street art. What does it see as street art and the future of street art? How will you work with councils to ensure that street art can take place whilst not becoming over-intrusive in people's lives? Some people may think that street art is wonderful, others will consider it graffiti, and there are some that are graffiti—there's no doubt about that. But we need to ensure a culture of street art within our areas to ensure that it survives. So, can we have a statement on what the Welsh Government sees as the future of street art, and, also, how we can ensure that when it is there it is preserved and secured and not allowed to be vandalised?

Thank you very much for raising those issues. Certainly, Welsh Government very much welcomes yesterday's announcement of that additional £10 million of funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council for a £35 million research network aimed at reducing carbon emissions from the UK iron and steel industries. It really is excellent news, and I would like to congratulate Swansea University on the work that it's done to bring that funding to Wales, and it certainly builds on the investment that Welsh Government has made in the establishment of the Steel and Metals Institute in Swansea, which was opened in February of last year. The Minister for Economy and Transport has indicated that he'd be happy to bring forward a joint statement with the Minister for Education to respond to the points you raised in your contribution. 

On the matter of the Banksy artwork and street art more widely, Welsh Government, of course, channels its investment in the arts through the Arts Council of Wales, which is there to support a wide variety of art forms, including all forms of visual art, so that would include street art. It's also able to provide funding for individuals and it does so extensively, mainly through the funds it receives from the National Lottery.

On the specific issue of the Banksy artwork, as you know, we're meeting the security costs prior to  the removal and relocation of that to another site in Port Talbot. Talks are continuing between Welsh Government, the new owner and the local authority to ensure that a suitable new location is found as soon as possible. Indeed, I understand that there some discussions just this week on that, and the new owner has committed to ensuring that the new art will be displayed in Port Talbot for a minimum of two years, which I think is very welcome, and I know that the Minister is giving thought more widely to the future for the celebration of contemporary art here in Wales

Finally, this week the UK Government has admitted that the huge rise in the numbers of people reliant upon food banks is partly, at least, due to the roll-out of the disastrous universal credit. We also know that welfare reform is partly responsible for the steep rise in street homelessness as well. So, surely, after admitting this, the UK Government cannot carry on with it. So, will you agree to write the UK Government to make the case that their benefits reform is causing great harm, and will you tell them in the strongest possible terms to scrap universal credit now?

Figures recently released show that less than one in five complaints of sexual harassment in Wales's public sector have led to a dismissal. Non-disclosure agreements are also being used to silence complainants in sexual harassment and domestic abuse cases. These figures show exactly why we need the new Time's Up network that I've been involved in setting up. The new network aims to give voice to those experiencing sexual harassment and abuse in Wales and aims to change the situation. So, how can these unfair dismissals be stopped? Can the Welsh Government give a statement on what it's doing to curb the corrosive culture that persists in our society, and, specifically, can you tell us what can be done to prevent complainants from losing their jobs?

I've been contacted by two separate people complaining about the difficulties trans people face accessing healthcare in Wales: one whose personal experience dates back to the period 2008-12, but another who has a more recent experience confirms that matters have not changed in the intervening seven years. It's not acceptable, is it, for someone to have to go to Scotland to self-refer themselves to a gender identity clinic because of such a long delay in getting a referral from Wales—a delay that saw this person attempting suicide because of the toll it took on their mental health. It's not clear why people can't self-refer in Wales or why they have to go through community mental health teams when that provision doesn't exist elsewhere. On moving back to Wales, the man who contacted me was refused a repeat prescription of HRT and told they would have to start the process from scratch, despite being on HRT for two years and having had a mastectomy whilst in Scotland. Clearly, this was unacceptable then and it's unacceptable now. Now, I understand that there are proposals to bring Wales in line with Scotland's more progressive approach to trans people. So, can the Welsh Government please give an update to this Senedd on the progress with the new gender identity service for Wales and how the specific inequalities that I've talked about can be ended?

And, finally, the former leader of UKIP in the Assembly over the weekend described his former party as an 'anti-Muslim party'. Now, we have, for a long time, recognised this truth in Plaid Cymru, including when that former AM was the leader of the party in Wales. So, will you join me in condemning any hate-based party that singles out or treats people differently on the basis of their religion, their language, or because they belong to a minority? And will you agree with me that this politics has no place in Wales and anyone pushing a dangerous or discriminatory agenda ought to be ashamed of themselves?

Thank you very much for raising those issues. I will refer to them in the order in which you raised them. The first was universal credit, and Welsh Government has consistently and regularly raised the issue of universal credit and our multitude of concerns about it with UK Ministers. I know that the Minister for housing has recently written to the UK Government again on this issue and she would be happy to provide a—

The response came in the summer.

She'd be happy to provide a copy of that to you and put a copy in the Library alongside the response that the Minister has received.

On the issue of sexual harassment in the workplace, clearly, this is of huge concern. So, it would be remiss of me not to mention that this week is Trade Union Week, and membership of a trade union can provide individuals with huge emotional support but also the legal support that they might need in order to take forward complaints of this kind. But, clearly, this kind of behaviour has no place in the workplace or anywhere else more widely I would suggest as well.

Your question about accessing services for trans people—the Minister has indicated that he will be bringing forward a statement when the new team comes into place around April of this year. I would completely agree with you on the issue of any hate-based party being extremely dangerous. Politics that is centred around discrimination and hatred towards people because of their religion, their language or their minority status of any kind clearly has no place in Wales.

Trefnydd, this morning alone, I've received over 40 complaints by e-mail and social media about traffic congestion on the A467 leading to junction 28 of the M4. The Welsh Government said junction 28 road improvement works have been completed for a number of months now, but the situation is worse than ever before. Commuters are facing significant delays in all directions and I've raised this on many occasions with the Minister, officials and Costain, and unfortunately this is not an isolated incident. In fact, it occurs daily and can't simply be attributed to teething problems.

My constituents and people travelling down from the Valleys and east of Newport are being seriously affected, making them late for work, school, exams, appointments and extending journeys home in the evenings. The tailback at peak times reaches the slip road and inside lane of the M4. Commuters and local residents have been incredibly patient while the works have been carried out, but it doesn't appear to be an improvement by any stretch of the imagination and it's already adding to high air pollution and congestion in the area.

One of my constituents, who lives in Rogerstone, told me that he works in the Orb steelworks and what should be a 15-minute journey to work is taking him well over an hour. Another managing director of business told me that it's causing stress to his workforce and customers have told them that they've given up on getting there. Another has just told me that they have to leave an hour and 10 minutes earlier than their shift in a company in Tredegar Park, and that's for a 20-minute journey.

So, please can we have an urgent statement from the Minister for Economy and Transport on what is being done to resolve this issue as well as details of what markers are being used to measure how the project is delivering against its intended objectives?

Thank you very much for raising this issue. I know that you've already had a meeting with the Minister for Economy and Transport to discuss the congestion issue and to provide the Minister with some of those very detailed personal experiences that your constituents are experiencing on this stretch of road. I'm aware that you were provided with an update on a proposed way forward from Welsh Government, outlining the action that the project team are taking in order to try and resolve issues that you described. The Minister has indicated that he'd be happy to provide an update to all Members. 

I thank the Trefnydd.