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

Diolch, Llywydd. There is one change to this week's business. The motion to vary the order of consideration of Stage 3 amendments to the Legislation (Wales) Bill has been withdrawn. 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.

Thank you, Trefnydd. I wonder if I could ask for two items, please, the first being a letter to all Assembly Members, perhaps from you, actually, but I'm not 100 per cent sure who, about why the consultation document—this document—on amending the Government of Wales Act 2006 (Budget Motions and Designated Bodies) Order 2018—I know it doesn't sound very exciting—isn't on the Government website for wider consultation. It's a draft Order that seeks to bring new bodies within the scope of Welsh Government's financial reporting processes, and at least one of the bodies listed here in the draft Order was not informed about this even happening and so didn't know that there was a consultation going on, and one doesn't come within the definition of 'central Government sector', and this only applied to central Government sector bodies. The reason I'm asking you to, perhaps, issue a letter on this is this matter is due to come before the Finance Committee, if it hasn't already.

And if I could also just raise this with you: in March, the Brexit Secretary told us that a significant piece of work was necessary in relation to the qualifications make-up of the public sector workforce across Wales post Brexit. I'd raised a question in the context of teachers' qualifications and the current distinction between EU citizens and non-EU citizens, which is something that could disappear once we leave the EU. Now that it's clear that the main party in this place would campaign for 'remain' should there be a second referendum, I think we could do with some reassurance that this work on what's going to happen to qualifications post Brexit is continuing. Perhaps we could just have a written statement to that effect—not just on education, but the public sector generally. Thank you.

Yes, thank you very much. On the first issue of the consultation document, I'll certainly find out what's going on there and update Members, as you've requested, in terms of the availability of that consultation document and the circulation of it.FootnoteLink

On the second issue, we've been very clear that Welsh Government does see Britain and Wales's best interests best served by remaining in the European Union, and the First Minister has set out why he feels that is the case now, having set out for a number of years the best possible Brexit that Wales could have achieved in terms of causing the least damage. There just doesn't seem any prospect now of the UK Government taking that forward. So, the response now, really, is to make the case to remain within the EU. That said, that does not mean for a second that we are taking our foot off the gas in terms of the preparations that we are doing to prepare Wales should there be a 'no deal' Brexit, and that's one of the reasons, today, I've announced as part of the first supplementary budget, a capital stimulus programme of £85 million, which will be allowing the construction industry particularly to gain some confidence, but also the supply chains that rely on it. So, work is going on both in terms of promoting the case for a second referendum but also in terms of preparing ourselves for any possible Brexit, but particularly a 'no deal' Brexit. And the example you gave in terms of qualifications, I'll be sure that you have an update on that.

Information further to Plenary

Thank you, Llywydd. Trefnydd, as Plaid Cymru’s spokesperson on local government, I am very aware of the financial pressures on the budgets of local authorities. Indeed, that’s why I put pressure on the Welsh Government to provide more money to our county councils some months ago. However, recently in Neath Port Talbot, proposals have been introduced to increase payment for post-16 transport very substantially, from £100 a year to £390 per year. Now, clearly, this will have a significant impact on families across the county, but it will have a particular impact on the only Welsh-medium school in the county, which is Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera Bro Dur, and the only faith school in the county, which is St Joseph’s Catholic School. With pupils traditionally travelling to these schools from all corners of the county, these families will be hit harder than the majority. I, along with my fellow regional Member Bethan Sayed, have already received comments from families who send their children to Welsh-medium education and the concerns that they have, and we are committed to supporting their case.

Now, we know that the Welsh Government has a target of creating a million Welsh speakers, and in order to achieve that target, the Welsh Government and local authorities will need to make Welsh-medium education accessible across Wales. This proposal from Neath Port Talbot council does quite the opposite. In deciding on a child’s education, parents will surely be influenced by the cost attached with that education, and there is a real risk that parents will choose to send their children to the closest provision, which will be English medium, rather than sending pupils to ysgol Ystalyfera. Therefore, will the Welsh Government make a statement on what it intends to do to ensure that Welsh-medium education is not disadvantaged in this way, and will you consider introducing national legislation on the issue of transport in order to ensure fair play for the Welsh language? [Interruption.]

You're to answer, Trefnydd.

So, as the Member quite rightly points out, Welsh in education strategic plans are central to the growth in Welsh-medium education and is one of the key factors in terms of helping us achieve our ambition of a million Welsh speakers by 2050. As part of those WESP requirements, local authorities must have a statement on the availability of Welsh-medium provision in relation to home-to-school transport in order to promote access to education and training through the medium of Welsh.

In the case of Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Ystalyfera in Neath Port Talbot, there is no equivalent access to Welsh-medium education as compared to English-medium education, as we've heard. And such issues relating to travelling distance for the individuals who wish to continue with their post-16 education through the medium of Welsh does place them at a disadvantage. So, we would certainly be concerned about the negative impact that the introduction of the proposed changes might have on the number of students following post-16 courses through the medium of Welsh, and we have sought reassurances from the local authority that all possible options are being considered to remove those financial barriers to ensure that Welsh-medium education is supported within the whole county.

The Minister will note the vote last week by 83 per cent of the Ford workforce to support industrial action up to and including strike action in response to the Ford closure proposal. So, I wonder whether time can be found for a statement on Ford Bridgend in the near future, and at least before the summer recess, which would allow the Minister to update us on progress with the taskforce, and in particular in reference to the representations made to ensure that in the event of closure, the pensions and the redundancies are at least equal to those offered to Ford workers before, in the UK or in any plant in Europe, and that any legacy left by Ford in the event of closure should be equal to any they've given to other EU plants that have closed as well.

We're only asking for fair play to workers who've given 40 years commitment to this plant. I welcome what the First Minister has said, I welcome what the economy Minister has said, standing squarely, shoulder to shoulder, with these workers, but it would be good to get an update in the right, timely manner before we get to the summer.

I thank Huw Irranca-Davies for raising this issue and the concern that he's been steadfastly expressing for his constituents who are employed at the Ford plant at Bridgend and constituents even beyond his own area. I know that the economy Minister is very keen to keep all Members up to date on progress, but I would say today that we've begun the process of establishing that taskforce to work with partners, over the difficult weeks and months ahead, to help to find a sustainable, long-term solution for the plant and its workforce. We are acting quickly to progress this and have approached a prominent figure, as you know, from the automotive industry, to chair the taskforce.

As part of the taskforce being established, the people's work stream, in conjunction with Ford, will consider the provision of appropriate financial advice for the workforce. The First Minister has spoken to the Prime Minister about the situation and the need for the two Governments to work together seamlessly for the people of Bridgend and the wider region. This was a message I was able to reiterate in a meeting that I was at of the Cabinet sub-committee with the UK Government just last week.

The First Minister has also spoken with senior management at Ford who've committed to working with us on the taskforce to support their employees and the supply chain, and also to provide a legacy for the wider community. But I'll be certain to ensure that the economy Minister, in his updates, does address that legacy issue that you have particular concern about, and also the issue of pensions and the issue of parity with the agreements that have been made in similar situations elsewhere.

Minister, please could we have a statement from the Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism on the outcome of the Wales tourism summit in Llandrindod Wells in March? The current 'Partnership for Growth' strategy for tourism expires next year, and I understand that the Deputy Minister has been consulting with the tourism sector following the summit. Given the importance of tourism to the Welsh economy, please could we have a statement on how the Welsh Government intends to support and increase tourism in Wales in future? Thank you.

Thank you very much for your question. The statement on Welsh Government support for tourism—you'll be aware, of course, of the additional £2 million that was invested in the industry to make sure that Wales does have an excellent tourism offer. I know that the Minister for international relations intends to make a statement on the international strategy on 9 July, and I'm certain that there'll be opportunities there to discuss how we can ensure that we have the best possible international tourism offer to attract people from across the globe to what we have to offer here in Wales. But on the specifics of your question, I will ask the Deputy Minister to write to you.

I'm compelled to raise yet again the centralisation agenda of this Government, which has had such an adverse impact upon the Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant. I regularly receive concerns and complaints from both patients and staff. The decision to remove consultants from the Royal Glamorgan, relocating them to Merthyr, has not had a positive impact. The removal of paediatric consultants from the Royal Glamorgan has been halted for now, and I would like to see a decision be taken to halt that on a permanent basis. I'm now hearing deep concerns about consultants being removed from the accident and emergency department at the Royal Glamorgan, sparking genuine fears that, in the medium to long term, the A&E may close, and I share those concerns. I'd therefore like a statement from the Government about the progress of the centralisation agenda, allied with a careful analysis of patient outcomes and staff satisfaction, alongside a commitment to a moratorium on any future centralisation if that exercise shows the dissatisfaction that I believe that it will show. And I'd like a further statement on the future of the accident and emergency department at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital that includes some solid guarantees about its future.

May I ask you in the first instance to write to the health Minister outlining the concerns that you have raised? I'm sure that he'll be pleased to address them with the health board. The Minister will be bringing forward a statement on the task and finish group on critical care's report on 2 July, and I think that would be an appropriate opportunity, as well, to have these discussions on the floor of the Assembly.

Minister, the previous business items included two questions about the well-being of future generation Act, and there is clearly keen political and public interest in that legislation. So, could I request further time to discuss the Act, particularly how local authorities are interpreting the law in respect of public land? You may be aware that there's an ongoing campaign in Solva for public acquisition of Trecadwgan Farm, and the plan is for local residents to develop the site, which dates back to the fourteenth century, and to run it as a community farm. Despite this, Pembrokeshire council has so far refused to cancel next month's auction and give campaigners time to put together a robust business plan. Instead of helping the community, they're asking for an upfront non-refundable £50,000 deposit. In my view, Pembrokeshire's priorities seem to be making a fast buck, not the development of a historic site for the benefit of future generations. I think it's the case that they should be reminded of their legal obligation and given clear lessons and guidance to that end.

I thank Joyce Watson for raising this issue. Public land and, particularly, the disposal of public land is something that I've taken a particular interest in and have had some good discussions or early discussions with my colleague the Minister for economy and also the Minister with responsibility for local government. We're at very early days in these discussions, but I'd be keen to explore further the example that you've given as a potential case study, really, in terms of how we can ensure that when we do dispose of public land, we are doing so in a way that is very much cognisant of our wider Government priorities, the well-being of future generations Act and our aspirations in terms of getting the best value, not just in terms of the bottom line, but, actually, the added value that we can have, in the way that the First Minister described in his response to Angela Burns's question today on procurement.

Can I call for two statements? Firstly, an update from the Minister for transport and economy on the north Wales metro. The Welsh Government announced details of what was initially called the north-east Wales metro project in 2017 to improve public transport in north Wales. Today, the local The Leader newspaper has published comments made by the new Labour leader of Flintshire County Council, Ian Roberts, following comments he made during a meeting in County Hall, in which he says there had only been limited discussions about how the main parts of the project would be implemented, that

'Transport and the North Wales Metro is unfinished business with the Welsh Government' and that he thinks 

'it is of particular interest to really ask the Welsh Government what their intentions are for the North East Wales Metro.'

Clearly, if those calls are not only coming more broadly but specifically from a Flintshire council leader who happens to be a member of your party, I hope you'll agree that that merits a public response.

Secondly and finally, could I call for a statement on alcohol misuse by older people in Wales? Two weeks ago, I sponsored and spoke at the launch event for the Drink Wise Age Well programme's 'Calling time for change' charter, held in the Assembly's Pierhead building. This is looking to reduce the harms caused by alcohol in older adults across Wales, working with members of the charter advocacy group, all of whom are volunteers with lived experience of alcohol. After first getting together as an advocacy group, the charter is the culmination of 12 months of their hard work. An important ethos of the programme is that people should not merely be passive recipients of support but active participants in their own and others' well-being and recovery. Worryingly, the report said that in addressing ageism and age discrimination in alcohol policy, practice and research, they found that more than 4 million Britons over 50 think they should cut back on the amount of alcohol they drink, and that in Wales, those aged 65 and over are the only age group where drinking above the daily guidelines is increasing. Again, I call for a statement from the health Minister accordingly. Thank you.

Thank you for raising both of those issues. With regard to the first, which was the north-east Wales metro, it is certainly a vital part of our plan to improve and modernise transport in the region, and work on delivering the metro vision is progressing well. A Transport for Wales business unit in north Wales has been established to support the delivery of the metro project, including the development of a new Deeside parkway railway station, an integrated Shotton railway station, and an integrated transport hub at Wrexham General rail station. That work is continuing.

Increasing weekday service frequency on the Wrexham-Bidston line to two trains per hour from the end of 2021 is an important aspect of delivering the north-east Wales metro, and we've provided funding to Flintshire County Council for schemes to improve access to and within the Deeside industrial park, with a focus on bus and active travel, and to Wrexham County Borough Council for improvements to Wrexham bus station. We're also progressing plans for the Flintshire corridor red route, which has been supported by the local authority and will be integral to the delivery of the metro. Our proposals for the north-east Wales metro will help the region be better connected and provide access to jobs, facilities and services, which will be a boost for commuters, businesses and the economy, and will also support our ambitions for a north Wales and cross-border area that is competitive and a key component of the Northern Powerhouse.

I think it should be recognised that implementing improvements, in many cases, does require the need to go through the statutory process, and we recognise that some of those interventions will not be quick, but we will begin the roll-out of our vision for the integrated metro system by focusing on those things that could be delivered quickly. If the new leader has particular concerns, I'm sure that he'll take the opportunity to raise them directly with the Minister for transport.

Your point about the Drink Wise Age Well campaign and alcohol misuse amongst older people is very well made, and I know that it's something that the health Minister is keen to address through the substance misuse delivery plan, but I will ask him to provide you with the latest update on that.FootnoteLink

Information further to Plenary

I wanted to ask for a statement on the Augar report that was published in England on how they’re to pay fees and how they’re going to pay for the post-16 education system there. They certainly have recommended a reduction in the fees for students, and I want to understand from the Welsh Government how that will impact you. So, could we have a statement to that end? We know that the Welsh Government will be responding as part of the UK Government's response, but I would like to have a discussion here in this Parliament before the education Minister makes any sort of decision.

My second statement is—. I know that we have had this debate here numerous times about a Welsh cricket team, and many of us here do want that still, but we know that there will be disagreement across the board. Many of us have noticed, with some of the games happening in Wales, the pitiful branding, actually, that Wales gets as part of this Cricket World Cup, and I'm wondering what analysis you will be doing as part of brand Wales, post the Cricket World Cup. You would hardly realise that it was happening, for one, and you'd hardly realise that Wales was part of this alleged England-and-Wales cricket team. So, can we have a statement from the Welsh Government as to how they are creating brand Wales as part of this Cricket World Cup, how they will have lessons to learn for the future, and whether they are minded to change their mind on supporting a Welsh cricket team?  

Thank you for raising those issues. With regard to the Augar review, obviously, at the moment, we are exploring that particular report and formulating our own response, and understanding, really, what it would mean for us in a Welsh context. I would encourage you and any other Members with an interest to make representations to the education Minister to assist in formulating the response and formulating our ideas as to how we would react.

Your point about cricket and branding I think is again very well made, in the sense that we need to be making sure that, when we do host events here in Wales—and we do have an incredible variety of events that we host here in Wales and an incredible reputation, I think, for hosting events well, particularly sporting events—then we do need to be making the most of those marketing opportunities. I will ask the Minister to give the matter some consideration and then to respond to you.

Trefnydd, can I first concur with the earlier comments made by my colleague Suzy Davies as regards the document amending the Government of Wales Act 2006 not being available on the Welsh Government website? As a Member of the Finance Committee, I have access to it, but I think it is helpful if it's available to a wider audience.

Secondly, last week, we had the important debate on plastics and how we might seek to minimise our reliance on plastics. I know that the Welsh Government did respond to that debate, but I wonder if we could have, well, a strategy and maybe regular or semi-regular updates on what Welsh Government is doing to try and tackle this problem. I think if we all do try to take the issue head on then perhaps we can get somewhere over the medium term. Could we have a statement on how any strategy would incorporate the local dimension? I think that there's a lot of good work and a lot of good practice going on out there on a local level that we don't always hear about. I heard last week about an initiative from Raglan Dairy in my constituency, which is a local milk supplier that is seeking to get—or has actually got—the contract with a lot of primary schools in Monmouthshire to replace plastic bottles with conventional bottles. They've made a huge difference over just a year. I think that there are probably other examples, other companies, doing similar out there, and we could have a bottom-up approach, whereby we really do take that good practice and extend it across Wales.

Finally, Llywydd, I'm sure you want to join me in congratulating Usk school ski team, managed by local councillor Sara Jones, who have won silver and bronze medals in a recent competition—that's for girls and boys, respectively—and are very pleased and let me know about their success. I'm sure the Assembly would also like to congratulate them too.  

Thank you very much, Nick Ramsay. On the first issue, as I said to Suzy Davies, I'll certainly explore the issues regarding the publication of the consultation document and make sure that those people who will have an interest and would like and need to respond to it do have the opportunity to do so. 

On the second issue of plastic waste and innovative ways to reduce the amount of plastic that we use, particularly single-use plastic, I know that the Deputy Minister for Housing and Local Government, with responsibility for waste, has taken a particularly strong interest in this. She does intend to make a statement to the Assembly, but I don't think that we can accommodate it until next term, which is why I know that she's planning on issuing a written statement very shortly, given the high level of interest that there is, quite rightly, in this issue.

We're currently undertaking joint consultations with the UK Government on both the possibility of introducing a deposit-return scheme and extending producer responsibility. That closed last month, so, as part of that, I know the Deputy Minister did host a briefing session for Assembly Members and a stakeholder round-table, which did give the opportunity to bring together some of those more local ideas of things that we should be celebrating in Wales, but also scaling up so that they don't become small things that we think are worthy of celebration, but actually things that are mainstreamed in the way that we do things. But, as I say, the Deputy Minister does intend to issue a written statement very shortly to update Members as to where we are on the issue of plastic, and of course I'm very happy on behalf of the Welsh Government to extend my congratulations to Usk school's ski team on the successes that they've had and the medals that they've won.

Constituents have been in touch with me and they’re concerned about the destructive impact of possible cuts at the school of education at Bangor University and particularly the implications of losing experienced Welsh speaking staff and replacing them with an ad hoc strategy that intends to bring in teachers from schools in order to train and mentor students. I would be grateful for a statement on this issue, and, particularly, I’d like to know what the Government’s view is on the impact of disinvesting in training for teachers and in Welsh-medium education, the impact of that on the sustainability and the success of your education strategy and your Welsh language strategy—that is, would actually scrapping posts in the school of education undermine your target of recruiting more teachers and undermine the target of a million Welsh speakers?

I thank you for raising this issue. May I ask that you write directly to the Minister for Education and she'll provide a response?

In the last few days, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has started a hunger strike in an Iranian prison. She had a sham trial and has been subject to all sorts of torments since being arrested in 2016. Her husband Richard has started a parallel hunger strike outside the Iranian embassy in London and Richard's sister, Rebecca Jones, lives in my constituency and has been campaigning locally. Could we have a statement on what Welsh Government can do to add our voice and send a message of support to both Nazanin and Richard at this most heartbreaking of times?

Thank you for raising this. It's not something that I am familiar with, but it certainly sounds like a deeply stressful and worrying time for the family concerned. I'll ask the Minister with responsibility for international relations to explore this with you further.

Can I call for a statement from the Minister responsible for the economy and transport on road signage in Wales? You may have seen some reports in the media yesterday that new hedgehog signs are to be introduced for use in the UK because of the hazards that can often be presented by small wildlife in the roads. Now, many of us in this Chamber are species champions, and of course we need to protect wildlife and motorists from the hazards that roads can cause. We know, for example, that squirrels are often casualties on the roads, and of course the red squirrel population on Anglesey and around the Clocaenog forest in my constituency is particularly precious to me as the local species champion. Given that there have been over 100 deaths in 2017, according to the Department for Transport, as a result of small wildlife in our roads, and over 14,000 casualties as a result of animals on highways, will the Welsh Government consider using these sorts of signs in appropriate places in order to protect local wildlife and motorists from those sorts of hazards?

I thank Darren Millar for raising this, and I'll certainly explore precisely that with the Minister for transport.

I'd like to ask the Trefnydd for two statements. Firstly, following up on your response to Joyce Watson with regard to the situation of the community in Solfa's attempted purchase of Trecadwgan farm, I'm very interested in the points that Joyce made about the well-being of future generations Act; I think those were very well made. I wonder if it would be possible, in the context of the efforts that that community are making, for the Government to bring forward a statement, perhaps a written statement, about the support that's available from the Welsh Government to enable communities to build resilience and protect community assets? This might be possibly by the Deputy Minister for the Economy under his social enterprise and social economy responsibilities. I think it would be helpful to those residents, but I think it's a case study, and it would be helpful to other residents who may be facing similar situations elsewhere to know what sort of support may be available to them, whether that would be through direct grants or in any other way. 

The second statement I'd like to ask for is I'd like to request the Welsh Government stand ready to make a statement once the legal case currently being taken through the High Court by the 1950s women, the Women Against State Pension Inequality campaign and others—if the Government can stand ready when that decision is made to make a statement about how that will impact on Wales. I appreciate that this is a reserved matter, and I'm sure that the Trefnydd, like me, was very disappointed with the UK Government's letter of response that was shared by the Welsh Government recently.

On these benches, we still believe that Welsh Government should give consideration, particularly if there is further legal action, as to whether they could have some locus in the proceedings, because of the huge loss to the Welsh economy, not only to those individual women but the huge loss to the Welsh economy, of the very unjust decisions that have been made around the raising of the pension age.

So, I'd ask the Trefnydd to ask whichever Minister—whether it would be the Deputy Minister with responsibility for equalities or whether it would be the Counsel General—to keep an eye out for that legal response, for the decision, and to be ready perhaps to make a statement about what further we could do to support the women, depending on, of course, the nature of the outcome of the case. 

I thank Helen Mary Jones for raising both of those issues. On the first, I will make sure that the Minister with responsibility for the economy is aware of the request for a statement in terms of what can be done to support the public and community groups in terms of the protection of community assets and the use of community assets in a way that is very much in keeping with the well-being of future generations Act and our wider Welsh Government priorities in terms of ensuring that we have the circular economy, that we have a foundational economy, and that we're able to invest in a way that best benefits all of the people in our communities locally.FootnoteLink 

On the second issue of the WASPI campaign, I know that we have as an Assembly sent a really strong and I think united message to the UK Government in terms of our despair, really, at the incredibly poor way that the WASPI women and other women identified in different groups—the 1950s, 1960s women, who have found themselves on the receiving end of this policy, which is going to have a big impact on them, because they've had no chance to plan for the kind of future that they now find themselves facing. 

The impact on Wales, as you say, is something that Welsh Government is particularly keeping in mind in terms of the impact on the economy, but also the impact on health and social care for women who find themselves more in need of support and assistance. Obviously, I can give you our assurance that we are watching the case very closely and I know that the Deputy Minister and Chief Whip is very keen to update Members as soon as we have anything more.

Information further to Plenary 

Thank you, Trefnydd.