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

There are two changes to this week's business. The First Minister will make a statement shortly on latest developments in the UK Government's Brexit negotiations, and the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs will make a statement later this afternoon on the warm homes programme. Draft business for the next three weeks is set out on the business statement and announcement, which can be found amongst the meeting papers available to Members electronically. 

Trefnydd, can I call for two statements, please? The first is from the Minister for Health and Social Services in relation to the delivery of the diabetes delivery plan in north Wales. I received a copy of an e-mail today from Dai Williams, the national director of Diabetes UK Cymru, which was sent to Gary Doherty, the chief executive of the health board in north Wales. According to that e-mail, there are 42,605 individuals in north Wales, in the Betsi Cadwaladr area, who suffer from diabetes, and £136 million is the price tag that is attached to that in terms of dealing with the consequences of the health outcomes for those individuals. And the e-mail suggests that 80 per cent of those costs are largely avoidable.

But what’s of great concern to me is that Dai Williams refers to a recent meeting of the diabetes planning and delivery group, at which the chair didn’t know who the executive lead was at the health board in respect of the diabetes delivery plan. He then goes on to say that he has been attending the meetings for 10 years and has only ever seen the executive lead on one single occasion. Nobody knows who that is at present, and this clearly shouts out of a huge gap between clinicians and senior managers at the board. He describes stakeholders saying that it’s embarrassing and that they are amazed at this lack of clarity.

He concludes by saying that the time for excuses is over and that we need some real leadership on that board to be able to tackle this problem. Now, of course, this is a health board that is in special measures—the Welsh Government is intervening in this health board for all sorts of different reasons. I think that this is another issue that clearly needs some attention. I know that the system is much better in some other health boards, and I think we do need a statement to give some confidence to people in north Wales that appropriate action is being taken by the Government to address it.

Can I also call for a statement on GP training in north Wales? I was very alarmed to see that 50 per cent of eligible applicants for GP training in north Wales were actually turned away in the past two years, according to the local medical committee in north Wales. Of course, this is at a time when there is a GP shortage in the region. We’ve seen a number of GP practices close. In fact, we’ve seen three GP practices close, four are deemed to be at risk, four are deemed to be at risk according to informal criteria, and 14 are currently being managed by the health board directly in that region. And yet, in spite of this, in spite of people being eligible to access the training if extra places were made available, no extra places were actually put on. In Bangor, 24 individuals applied, 16 met the criteria, but only 12 individuals were actually offered a training place. In Wrexham, a place that has seen GP services close and surgeries close, there were 11 who met the eligibility criteria, but only seven were offered a place, and this is a pattern that has been repeated over a couple of years. I can see that the health Minister is concerned about this. I wonder what you can do to actually address this so that we can meet this shortfall in the number of GPs, so that people aren't having to travel miles to surgeries and aren’t having the sorts of difficulties that they're having at the moment in terms of accessing a GP appointment. We need a statement on this as soon as possible, please.

Thank you very much for raising those two issues. They were both detailed questions that I think do warrant detailed answers. So, on the first, it would be helpful if you would share with us a copy of the letter that you received regarding the diabetes delivery plan, and we’ll certainly make inquiries and ensure that you have a substantive response.

And on the second, the Minister will be bringing forward a statement on GP recruitment in April of this year.

Trefnydd, on 4 October last year, I wrote to the then Cabinet Secretary for planning requesting that the Welsh Government call in a planned waste incinerator in the Llansamlet area of Swansea. The application to develop a waste incinerator in Llansamlet is, understandably, causing significant concern locally, given that it would be a few hundred metres only from a residential estate and close to Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Lôn Las and its 600 pupils. There are clear concerns with regard to the proposed 24-hour burning at the site and the impact on air quality locally, particularly to nearby residential properties and schoolchildren. The application, I believe, flies in the face of the Welsh Government’s Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 and air quality policies, and raises issues of national importance in terms of proximity of incinerators to schools and residential dwellings. This is why Plaid Cymru is calling on the Welsh Government to call in this application.

Now, as well as the clear concerns with regard to air quality impacts on residents and schoolchildren in Llansamlet—and you will recall my short debate last week on air pollution—it simply does not make sense to build yet another carbon-emitting power station along the M4 corridor, which is an area that already suffers from high pollution levels. We need to be developing non-polluting power sources in Wales, and it is important that the Welsh Government steps in, provides national direction and ensures that the principles contained within its well-being of future generations legislation and air quality policies are strongly adhered to. However, what is particularly disappointing is that, four months on from my original request, the Welsh Government has still not made a decision on the call-in. Will the Welsh Government now commit to making a decision on this important matter and provide the direction that local people in Llansamlet are calling out for? 

Thank you for raising this issue. You'll appreciate that it would be impossible today to make a statement on the call-in request. However, it will be under consideration by Welsh Government and a decision will be with you as soon as possible. 

I also call for the Llansamlet incinerator to be called in, as I believe Suzy Davies also did. There's no political argument over the fact that we're all opposed to this incinerator being built there.

I've got two questions apart from that. On the first one, I'd like to ask for a statement. As school budgets are being set, the increased cost of employers' contribution to teachers' pensions is causing concern. I am asking for a Welsh Government statement on the funding of the increased cost of teachers' pensions and what discussions with the Westminster Treasury are taking place regarding additional funding to meet this increase.

The other statement I'm asking for is on the Government's plan to support the building of council houses. We know that the only time since the second world war that sufficient housing was built to meet housing demand was when large-scale council house building was undertaken by Labour and Conservative Governments in the 1950s and 1960s. I'd like to return to that in terms of getting people into adequate houses, rather than sleeping on the streets or in inadequate accommodation. So, can I ask for a statement on how we're going to get more council houses, or council houses built at scale in the near future?   

Thank you very much for raising this. The issue of school budgets has been one that has been well rehearsed in this Chamber, as has been our frustration with the lack of information forthcoming from the Treasury. Earlier this month, the First Minister wrote jointly with local government leaders to escalate the issue of the increased cost of teachers' pensions directly to the Chancellor, and we have only now had a response to our request for clarity around the UK Government's pension changes and funding for these costs in Wales, following requests that actually date back to last October. 

So, the UK Government's response is very late in the day, just as public sector bodies are trying to set their budgets for 2019-20, and I had the opportunity to raise this directly with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury when I met her last Friday. In my discussions with her, she did agree to provide me with some further detail. I am awaiting this, but expect it shortly. When we have that final detail, we'll be able to work through what it means for our public sector bodies, and I hope to provide them with as much clarity as possible as soon as possible. But I would confirm that, as previously indicated, my intention to passport on any funding we receive for this purpose to public sector bodies in Wales to assist them with these costs remains. 

I share your ambition for local authorities to be building council houses at scale and at pace, and you'll be aware that, as part of our housing pact with Community Housing Cymru, and as part of our efforts to meet the 20,000 affordable homes target, local authorities are expected to deliver around 1,000 of those new homes. I look forward very much to hearing about the outcomes of the affordable housing review, which will also look at how we can support local authorities to start building at scale and pace. 

I know Mike Hedges has raised the issue of the borrowing cap several times in the Chamber, and I'm pleased to confirm that officials have been in contact with our local authorities, and all 11 local authorities who were subsequently subject to the voluntary agreements that enabled them to exit the former housing revenue account subsidy system have now agreed that they would like those voluntary agreements to be terminated. So, I'm very much looking forward to local authorities starting to build at scale and pace.   

Minister, may I ask for a statement from the Minister for Economy and Transport on the implications for Welsh suppliers of the announcement of Honda that they are to close their factory in Swindon? According to the Welsh Automotive Forum, there are about 12 companies in Wales that could potentially be affected, including Kasai in Merthyr Tydfil, my region. Although the plant is not due to be closed until 2021, please can we have a statement from the Minister on what measures he will consider implementing to support Welsh car industry suppliers adversely impacted by this announcement? Thank you.    

Thank you very much for raising this. You will have heard the First Minister's response to the concerns regarding Honda's plans to close its Swindon factory, with the loss of 3,500 jobs by 2021, during First Minister's questions earlier this afternoon, and, obviously, this is devastating news to the workers and their families, but also we know that there will be Wales-based suppliers to that Swindon facility who will, of course, be impacted by the news. Together with the Welsh Automotive Forum and the UK Government's business, enterprise and industrial strategy department, Ken Skates's officials will be working with these companies, utilising all available resources to identify and facilitate mitigating strategies where possible. And you will have heard the First Minister say that Welsh Government officials are in London today having those discussions to explore how we can best support the businesses involved. 

I recently received a letter from headteachers in the Rhondda outlining the impact of this year's budget cuts on schools. Now, I've heard Ministers deny that schools are facing cuts. Well, they are facing cuts, and the situation is justifiably described as a crisis that is already having a detrimental effect on pupils. The letter lays out that schools have no choice in some cases other than to set deficit budgets, and that means larger class sizes, fewer support staff and the cutting of extra-curricular activities. They tell me that the most vulnerable pupils are being put at risk. Can we expect continued denial about this crisis in our education system, affecting the life chances of so many? Or can we instead have an action plan from the Government that includes demonstrating how the almost £0.5 billion—almost a fifth of all spending that has been allocated to schools—gets nowhere near the front line because it's retained by local authorities and consortia? Can we have the Government Minister to provide some answers to Members on this at the earliest opportunity, please?

I recently asked you to provide a Government strategy on the future of care and care homes, and you told me to raise it in questions with the health Minister. I will do that, but the care situation in my constituency, and in many other places, has now reached a point of urgency. New regulations to improve care home accommodation are providing a challenge for many care home providers, not least local authorities. As a result, many local authorities are looking to outsource this provision to the private sector. I'm sure the Minister will agree with me about the desirability of a mixed economy of care—it's vital that this is a service that local councils continue to provide, and many of my constituents affected by this are deeply concerned about how many care home beds and day centre places will be available for them to access in the future. The provision of care is as important as the provision of health, yet the two are not given parity. Will the health Minister bring before the Senedd a comprehensive care strategy outlining how we can ensure all need is met in the future and that we don't lose more care beds?

The collapse of three private community rehabilitation companies last week put the tin hat on the disastrous ideological privatisation of the probation service by the Tories. Given that, within two years' time, much of the community rehabilitation company operation is to be brought back into the public sector, why not take action now to reunify the probation service in the public sector now, today? Let's not wait. To put another private provider in charge in the interim would serve no purpose whatsoever. So, can we see urgent Government action on this, please?

And I would like to give some well-earned congratulations and respect to the young people in Wales who went on strike and took to the streets to protest about the climate crisis last Friday. Climate change is one of the biggest challenges, if not the biggest challenge faced by countries across the globe, and not enough is being done to tackle it. And your Government is no exception, with your own 10-year target on cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 set to be missed. Unlike many of the Westminster critics, I applaud the energy, determination and proactiveness of every single member of the youth climate change strike last Friday, and I would like to see more of this activity in the future. So, will you agree with me that political activity by young people should be encouraged? And will you also agree with me and them that now is the time to declare a climate emergency, but also that words are not enough; you need to act accordingly, too? So, will you?

I'll begin with your first point, which was on the school budgets, and, of course, UK Government's sustained austerity agenda has led to a cut of nearly £1 billion in Wales's overall budgets, but we will continue to call for additional funding to be spent on our public services, including our schools. I will say, with regard to the Association of School and College Leaders Cymru open letter on school funding, that we simply do not recognise the figure of £450 million referred to in the letter. Officials will be meeting with ASCL later this week to discuss the points that they have made with regard to local authorities and consortia.

Insofar as care home provision is concerned, of course we already have a joint health and care strategy in 'A Healthier Wales', which was our response to the parliamentary review. But, as you say, you will be raising your further questions directly with the health Minister in due course. The Minister will have heard your comments on the probation service, and I perhaps will ask for a written response to come forward to you on that.

Certainly, we are very keen to hear the voices of children and young people insofar as the challenge of climate change is concerned, because we know that young people clearly will be very, very much at the forefront of the impacts of climate change, and young people can certainly participate in shaping this dialogue with schools, Welsh Government and others in order to bring about the actions that strengthen our response to climate change. We support many activities that provide opportunities for young people to contribute to tackling climate change, including our eco-schools programme, which operates in 95 per cent of schools in Wales. That's one of the highest participation rates in similar projects in the world, and ultimately of course we want all of our young people to be ethical, informed, valued members of society, and these are the very same principles that are guiding our development of the new school curriculum.

Trefnydd, I had hoped to raise with the First Minister earlier the progress of the Well-Being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 and how the Welsh Government has embedded it in its various departments. In terms of legislation, I believe the Act to be one of Welsh Government's proudest achievements, because it challenges you to think and do differently.

We are now reaching three years since the Act became law, and there are lots of organisations across Wales that are doing some fantastic work, including Coleg Cambria in my own constituency. They have created their own future generations plan even though they don't have to. I think they clearly recognise the importance of the Act and the opportunities it presents. So, firstly, Trefnydd, would you welcome the developments made by Coleg Cambria and others? And, secondly, I'd like to request that all Ministers give oral updates within this Chamber on what each department is doing to implement the Act as part of their work.

Finally, on a slightly different topic, I think it's only right that I do bring up the results on Saturday of Connah's Quay Nomads, where they progressed to the final of the Irn Bru Cup. So, will you join me in saying 'da iawn' to the club, 'congratulations' and wishing them the best of luck in the final in Scotland, where they will represent the whole of Wales in March? Diolch.

Thank you very much for raising those issues. With regard to the first question on the well-being of future generations Act, clearly this is something that we are all immensely proud of achieving here in Wales. And I am really delighted that Coleg Cambria and others have very much taken on board the spirit of that Act. Even though they're not subject necessarily to the Act themselves, they are taking steps to work within the ways of working of that Act to ensure that what they do has a positive impact for the generations that will follow.

In my portfolio, I'm certainly keen to work very closely with the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales. I'm meeting her shortly to discuss the setting of budgets within Welsh Government. After the second supplementary budget, we intend to have a round-table event, a kind of stock-take, really, to look at what lessons might be learned about the budget-setting process across the year.

I would certainly join you in saying 'Da iawn a phob lwc i Connah's Quay Nomads' for their upcoming match.

I have to say that my taxi driver who lives in Connah's Quay actually raised the match as well with me, so I was keeping an eager eye on it. I was actually in Coleg Cambria yesterday for a community event—a Vision Support Flintshire sight-loss event—and some of your colleagues and friends were there as well, so I support your comments in that respect.

I call for a single statement on local authority reserves. The councillor's workbook on local government finance states that earmarked reserves

'are restricted by local agreement to fund certain types of expenditure but can be reconsidered or released if the council's future plans and priorities change.'

In the Welsh Government's local government settlement, Cardiff, with total usable reserves of £109.6 million, is having a 0.9 per cent rise; Rhondda Cynon Taf, with reserves of £152.1 million, is having a 0.8 per cent rise; Newport, with reserves of £102.3 million, is having a 0.6 per cent rise; Swansea, with reserves of £95.1 million, is having a 0.5 per cent rise. But councils with the largest cuts of -0.3 per cent include Flintshire with reserves of £49.4 million, Conwy with just £22.7 million, and Anglesey with £24.1 million.

Now, as you're aware, in Anglesey, economic output per person, prosperity, is just under half of that in Cardiff, at just £13,935 per person—the lowest in Wales. Anglesey and Conwy are amongst five Welsh local authorities only where 30 per cent or more of workers are paid less than the voluntary living wage. Yesterday, the finance chief on Anglesey council was reported in the Daily Post as warning that if the council didn't put more cash into its reserves, the authority could go the same way as Northamptonshire, which was unable to balance its books and became effectively insolvent last year. Given these points, I hope we can have a Welsh Government statement with minimum blame laying and maximum focus on how we've got to this position within the available cake in Wales, and how on earth we're going to get out of it so that councils like Anglesey don't have to consider going the same way as Northamptonshire.

Thank you very much for raising this issue. Clearly, Welsh Government has strived to give local authorities the best possible settlement that we could, but we are under no illusion that it is a very difficult period for local authorities, nine years in, as it is, to the Conservative Government's austerity agenda. I recall that the previous Minister did make a written statement on local government reserves recently, but I will explore with the current Minister whether there is more to add on this issue at this particular time.

You will know that I've asked several times in the Chamber about the expectations of the Government in terms of our health boards, and how transparent and open they are in their operations. You'll also know that I feel that Betsi Cadwaladr health board, which is under your control, of course, because they are in special measures, are trying to make important decisions about services by the back door. Now, the health Minister has said that that isn't happening, but it was a great surprise then to find this week that the board won't be meeting next week. If you go to the website, you will see that the meeting has been cancelled—'Meeting stood down' is what the website says. Now, I was going to attend that meeting next week—that's why I was looking for the details—because in that meeting there was going to be a discussion about the three-year plan for the health board, which was going to talk about important changes to local services. But the meeting has disappeared. I'd like to ask whether it has been cancelled in its entirety to the public, or whether it's cancelled for the public only. So, we need to know, and why it has been cancelled.

I also understand that the board hasn't confirmed a u-turn that would have meant losing emergency vascular services from Ysbyty Gwynedd—something that concerns a great many of my constituents. We've heard from the board that this u-turn has happened, but the board hasn't confirmed it, so I would like some clarity, urgently, on what's happening with that service as well.

Thank you very much. With regard to vascular services in north Wales, not only has the reorganisation of the vascular service benefited from investment of nearly £2.3 million of funding from Welsh Government, more importantly it has proved crucial in attracting staff who are essential for the delivery of excellent clinical outcomes to be sustainable.

Whilst its reorganisation was publicly consulted on and agreed a few years ago, following extensive public and stakeholder engagement in developing the proposal, the health board has continued, during the implementation phase, to work with professional bodies, staff and other interested groups, to ensure that the service provided is in the best interests of patient safety. Welsh Government supports the effort made by the health board to meet Vascular Society guidelines and ensure that aneurysm screening in Wales is in line with quality standards. The people of Wales deserve the best services we can provide, and it's unhelpful to continue questioning the model, which is weeks away from final implementation, and so perpetuate fears about patient safety.

On the issue of why the meeting has been cancelled or whether it's been postponed, I would suggest that's taken up directly with the health board, but you could also write to the health Minister for further information.

Organiser, could I have several statements, please? The first is in relation to the cystic fibrosis unit at Llandough hospital. I appreciate that there's a business case that has gone into the health Minister from the health board, but speaking to local practitioners in the cystic fibrosis unit there, there is concern that progress isn't as speedy as it should be. There's been great work going on at the site there, huge improvements in patient outcomes, and it would be a welcome boost to the outcomes for patients and the clinicians who work on that site if a road map now could be laid out as to when the unit's improvements could be completed, and hopefully that will be in the not-too-distant future.

Secondly, could we have an update from the Deputy Minister who's responsible for transport in relation to the eastern distributor road here in Cardiff? Or the Rover Way improvement—it has many titles attached to it. That's the last missing link of the ring road around Cardiff, and anyone who travels that piece of road realises that the congestion is at virtually any time of the day, to be honest with you, at that pinch point in the transport network around Cardiff. And an update on progress—I understand Welsh Government did undertake a feasibility study along with Cardiff city council, and the outcome of that feasibility study will be greatly appreciated to understand will the Welsh Government be in a position to take any work forward in improving that real pinch point now in the transport artery around Cardiff.

And also, could I ask for a statement from the economy Minister in relation to air passenger duty? I do think it is vital. I cannot find a coherent argument why—and I'm criticising my own Government here—passenger duty is not devolved here to Cardiff so that, obviously, that can be used for the benefit of Cardiff Airport. I do believe there's a real opportunity. It's a long-standing position I've taken, when the Silk commission was meeting as well, and it was a recommendation of the Silk commission. And I do believe, rather than reading about this in the press, as we read yesterday, a statement on the floor of the Senedd would be more appreciated—certainly by myself, but I'm sure other Members—so that we can actually understand why these roadblocks exist.

And, in a lighthearted way, could I also draw the Assembly's attention to the main rugby match that's happening on Saturday, the Assembly rugby team playing the House of Commons and the House of Lords? I promise to keep my shirt on; I think I frightened so many people when I took my shirt off a few years ago, thinking I had to swap it. But I know Rhun, who's one of the Members who participates, Hefin David—we're playing in his constituency in Caerphilly—and Huw Irranca have been great supporters of what the club has tried to achieve over the last 12 months. It has raised over £35,000 for Bowel Cancer UK and other charities since its inception back in, I think, 2005/2006. And if any Members who are hearing this want to turn up on Saturday to play, or to, obviously, just support the team, I know everyone would be greatly appreciative of that. Thank you very much.

Thank you very much for raising those issues. I'll start on the issue of the cystic fibrosis unit at Llandough. The health Minister has confirmed to me that he is awaiting that business case, and I would hope that it would be with him before too long.

On the eastern distributor road, I'll certainly ask the Minister to provide you with an update on that work.

And I know that you've had long-held views regarding air passenger duty, which are very much in sync with the Welsh Government's views on air passenger duty. I had the opportunity to raise the issue specifically with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury at our meeting last Friday. I made all of the arguments that you have made and that others have made, and there just seems to be no reason why this would not be devolved to Wales. It's certainly something that we will continue to pursue. I look forward to giving evidence to the Welsh Affairs Committee in due course on this particular issue as well.

And, of course, the most important game on Saturday, we're all looking forward to it and we all wish the Assembly rugby team the very best.

We are not here next week, because of recess, but it's Eating Disorders Awareness Week and there's a campaign, 'I'm socking it to eating disorders', where they're asking people to wear snazzy, coloured socks and post this on social media. Assuming that AMs have snazzy, coloured socks, I would encourage people to support Eating Disorders Awareness Week by taking part in that social media activity. I'm also requesting an update from the Government on the review of the framework for eating disorders. I am pleased that the Minister has been working positively with the sector in this review process. Can we have details as to the progress on that? I have been critical of Government on many things, but I would like to thank the Government for embracing the concept of working with sufferers and their families in renewing this framework so that we can get the best deal for those with eating disorders in Wales. 

My second question is something I've raised many times now in relation to the situation of the Kurds here in Wales and further afield. A demonstration was held in Newport over the weekend. I've seen pictures of the police actually being forthright towards campaigners who were simply protesting, i.e. protesting peacefully, walking along the street, wanting to raise concerns about imprisoned Kurdish politicians that have been imprisoned by the Turkish authoritarian regime. I'm dismayed at the way that the police in this country have treated protestors. I do believe that we need to have a debate on community cohesion, because I've also seen some comments on social media by people from Wales saying, 'Well, if they want to campaign on these issues, they should go to Turkey to do so.' Do they not realise that, if they went to Turkey, many of those, especially if they were women, would be imprisoned and beaten on the streets of Turkey because of standing up for the rights of Kurdish people and the politicians? So, I would urge you to give us a statement here on what the police can do to have positive relations with the Kurdish community here in Wales, of which there are many, so that we can ensure that we come to a peaceful political settlement. We know that there may be an imminent attack by Turkey on the Syrian-Turkish border and we really do have to support the people not only in this country, but show solidarity to those in Turkey who are from the Kurdish community and continue to do so.

Thank you very much. I'll take that last point first. Just to confirm, the Minister for international relations recently met with the Turkish ambassador and did raise this particular issue directly with him. Your point about community cohesion is an important one and a timely one. I think that we're all concerned about what we've heard about the increase in attacks on people for various reasons following the Brexit vote. Certainly, it's something that we're very aware of as we prepare to leave the European Union. I'll certainly talk to my colleague to explore the best way to update on Welsh Government's actions in that area.

On Eating Disorders Awareness Week, thank you very much for your comments about how Welsh Government has engaged with the review. I understand that the report has been received and is currently being considered and the Minister will provide a response to that in due course. Of course, I'd be happy to support your snazzy socks Eating Disorders Awareness Week event. I look forward to seeing colleagues' snazzy socks. 

Last week, it was reported that Lucy Bagnall was struck off from being a social worker with immediate effect. She was found guilty on all counts by Social Care Wales. It transpired that Bagnall had lied about my constituents and it's also alleged that a third party was told that a disputed care order will remain in place and the family will never see their children again. I'm calling for an immediate review and investigation by Bridgend county council into the case, but I want a Government statement about what the Welsh Government can do to help vulnerable families falsely accused in children's services reports. What mechanism allows families to seek recourse and correction of errors? Because I'm not aware of one that exists in Wales.

Thank you for raising this issue. Obviously, as you say, you'll be raising this specific case directly with Bridgend county council. I'll certainly suggest in the first instance that you write to the Minister with regard to your concerns regarding what support there might be for families who find themselves in situations such as the one that you describe.

Trefnydd, my constituents in Chepstow could only look on enviously last week as news reports of the newly opened Newtown bypass filled their tv screens, ably supported with interviews from Ken Skates, Russell George and others, and, of course, we all welcome the opening of that bypass. It's been a long time in the making. However, as those news reports circulated, Chepstow was totally clogged up with traffic at that very point in time: a result of poorly planned roadworks on the M48 and the Severn bridge. The latter due to the toll removal following the abolition of the tolls.

Could I make my usual plea for a statement, an update, on where we are in terms of achieving a Chepstow bypass, much needed for the town? But also, could I add to that the need for far greater co-operation between the highway authorities in Wales and across the border in England? Those roadworks could have been better co-ordinated cross-border. We saw a lot of traffic leaving Chepstow and clogging up the minor roads because of the closure for roadworks on the M48 and the bridge at the same time. So, I think that there was a way around that confusion last week. But if we could solve those problems in future, I know that my constituents in Chepstow would much appreciate it. So, I look forward to statements from the relevant Minister. 

Thank you very much and, of course, the Deputy Minister will have heard your concern regarding a Chepstow bypass. But on the issue of far greater co-operation across borders, I think that that is an important point that warrants some further discussion between Welsh Government and the UK Government in terms of how we can best ensure that traffic moves slowly and that lack of co-ordination and communication doesn't prevent that.

Thank you, Trefnydd.