2. Business Statement and Announcement

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:33 pm on 11 June 2019.

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Photo of Huw Irranca-Davies Huw Irranca-Davies Labour 3:33, 11 June 2019

Can I just begin by thanking Andrew R.T. Davies for raising the issue of the event we had here with pernicious anaemia, an event I couldn't attend myself because it coincided with the devastating Ford announcement? But, thank you, Andrew, for raising it. I'm delighted the Minister is going to write to us both, and I'm sure that will be the start of quite a long conversation now, with the campaigning by Martyn Hooper and Carol and others who attended that day. And thanks to Ministers and Assembly Members who attended; I really appreciate it. 

Can I ask for one statement, and a reminder of a debate I've asked for previously, actually? The first is a statement in the eventuality that Ministers are aware of any uncertainty over the announcement of First Bus—of any danger that that might pose to their services with First Cymru. We've had a letter of reassurance from the operators in Wales that, at present, they're fully committed to the service in Wales, but, of course, this goes on the back at the moment of uncertainty around local bus services, not least because of the continued squeeze on local authority funding, which means that some, including in my own area, are now unable to offer subsidy for bus routes. So, I wouldn't want to see First Cymru injecting further uncertainty in the bus routes that sustain people's ability to get to work and socialise and so on.

Secondly, could you send us off with a smile before the summer, please? We are shortly coming up to Co-operatives Fortnight. It's 24 June to 7 July. I know I've raised this in business questions before, but I didn't have a firm reply, although we've had some interesting discussions behind the scenes. We have a whole fortnight in which we can talk about the Government's excellent record of support for co-operatives, but also some of the innovations currently going on, in community transport, in community energy—the Pierhead event that was on today about what more we can do in that—a range of things, including food justice, local food networks. It would seem a missed opportunity. And I know that I, myself, as chair of the Assembly co-operative group of Assembly Members, plus Vikki, who chairs the co-ops and mutual cross-party group—we are very supportive of the idea of a debate. And I wonder: would the business manager have a discussion with us about whether we can facilitate this in Government time, and if not, perhaps she and the Llywydd could advise us how else we can secure a debate within Co-operatives Fortnight. Send us off with a smile.