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

Diolch, Llywydd. There are three changes to this week's business. Later this afternoon, I will make a statement on implications for Wales of the UK Government's 2019 spending round, and the Counsel General and Brexit Minister will make a statement on Brexit. To accommodate this, the statement on Designed to Smile—10 years of improving children's oral health in Wales will be issued as a written statement. 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.

Can I call for a statement from the Minister responsible for transport on the A55 trunk road in north Wales? The Trefnydd will be aware that there have been many complaints coming in to Assembly Members from across the North Wales region because of significant roadworks that are taking place in the Llanddulas area. Now, I appreciate that these roadworks are necessary in terms of restoring safety to the bridge in Llanddulas, but the organisation of those roadworks, without any appropriate diversions in place to encourage motorists to take alternative routes, is causing absolute mayhem in local communities and towns throughout my constituency, including Abergele, Old Colwyn and Colwyn Bay. We've had children not able to go to school on time, we've had people not able to get to work on time, we've got tourists who are having a very poor visitor experience of north Wales as a result of these roadworks, and I'm very concerned that it's damaging now the reputation of north Wales and our economy. So, can we have a statement on what the Welsh Government is going to do to make sure that it plans these things better in the future so that we don't have the sort of disruption that we've been experiencing?

I thank Darren Millar for raising this issue this afternoon. As he recognises, the work that is being carried out on the A55 is very much being done in order to ensure the safety of that stretch of road, but clearly any disruption to people's lives is concerning. So, I will ask in the first instance Welsh Government officials to investigate the situation with a view to providing some advice as to how we can best avoid that kind of situation in future.

I'd like to add my name to the growing number of people who are calling for a summit on adult social care services on a national basis, into the provision of care for older people. I'd also like to see a moratorium in the interim on the closure of further facilities, because many local authorities have closed or are closing their day and residential care centres, and spaces are being lost everywhere. On the other end of the age spectrum there's a shortage of care places for younger people, and private care homes that prioritise profit seek to take advantage of this situation. We need good-quality, publicly provided care for older people, disabled people and looked-after children. At present, privatisation is happening by stealth. Can we have a Government debate and a response to this request for a summit and a moratorium as soon as possible, please?

The Government is well aware of the long-running campaign to reopen the Rhondda tunnel as a walking and cycling route. Its potential to attract tourism, facilitate active travel and to encourage physical activity is massive. That's why it's such an integral part of this policy document that I produced in conjunction with Sustrans this month. The main stumbling block to opening that tunnel comes from the question of its ownership. It's currently owned by the English Department for Transport and managed by Highways England—a bizarre anomaly that really should have been corrected by now. Until the ownership question is resolved, efforts to raise money for the project and take it to the next stage are hampered, thus endangering its chances of success. The project is also hampered by not being designated as part of an active travel route.

I have to declare an interest as a member of the Rhondda Tunnel Society, and, like my party colleague Bethan Jenkins AM and your party colleague David Rees AM, I've been working closely with the Rhondda Tunnel Society to bring this project to fruition. I first raised the issue of ownership with the Welsh Government more than three years ago, and we haven't moved on a great deal since then. So, can we have a statement explaining how the Welsh Government can help this project and resolve the ownership question? Guarantees could be put in place for the Welsh Government to avoid financial liability. The question now is: is the political will there?

Thank you for raising those two issues. I know the Minister with responsibility for social care is here in the Chamber to hear your request for a statement and a view on the proposals for a summit. I know that she'll give that due consideration.

With regard to the Rhondda tunnel, I think it's a tremendously exciting proposal. Clearly, there are issues in terms of the ownership and how any work would be funded in future—something that Welsh Government's very much alive to. I had a discussion only today with the Deputy Minister for Economy and Transport about this, and I know that he's engaging with Sustrans as well to ask them to do a piece of work to explore how we can move this forward, because I think that we all share the enthusiasm and the understanding of what could be achieved.

Minister, can I add my voice to the last question by Leanne Wood in relation to the Rhondda Tunnel Society and the Rhondda tunnel ownership? I won't go any further because you've already answered the question, but I do put my voice to that call.

Can I ask for three statements, if possible? The first one is on the Learner Travel (Wales) Measure 2008. Now, earlier this year Neath Port Talbot council actually put proposals forward that would have increased charges upon post-16 education travel for those going to Welsh-medium education, going to faith schools, and also in the additional learning needs areas. There is an opportunity here now—and I welcome the decision of the council to actually defer any decision on this for the local people—to look at the learner travel Measure as to whether we can actually look to amend the learner travel Measure to ensure that post-16 education becomes part of the travel requirements, to ensure that these people can go to schools or places of education without the extra charges that are being considered by local authorities. Will you, therefore, ask for a statement from the Minister for Economy and Transport, who I believe has responsibility for that area, to look at whether we can review the learner travel Measure to see what updates could be put into place, what amendments could be put into place, to ensure that those children can get the free transport to school, as it happens in the future?

Can I also look at a question in education as well—the supply teacher frameworks? I understand new frameworks are now in place. Well, I have seen e-mails from one of the agencies that has benefited from those frameworks, indicating that they are slightly encouraging schools to go off-framework, to encourage them to take people out of the frameworks and therefore pay them lower rates than they would be entitled to. That’s from an agency that’s been given permission in the frameworks and actually has a position on all 22 across Wales. We need to look at the monitoring of the supply teacher frameworks to ensure that teachers are not being abused by this system and that agencies are not taking an option to try and encourage schools to avoid and circumvent the actual requirements, to ensure that teachers get a decent wage and the decent conditions that they deserve as a supply teacher. And, therefore, can we have a statement from the Minister for Education as to what is being done about that framework?

Finally, it’s been mentioned by Rhun ap Iorwerth in his question to the First Minister this afternoon on free swimming. We had a written statement, and I thank the Deputy Minister for the written statement last week, giving us some indication as to what’s happening. But we need to ask questions in relation to the free swimming concessions and the changes that are being applied, because, if you look at it, they are actually not huge figures we’re talking about, but this is actually crucial to many constituents of mine, and they have written to me in quite large numbers saying, 'Why are we doing this?' We need, therefore, to be able to ask the Deputy Minister questions about the concessions, as to how we can move forward. It’s not just a matter of free swimming for everybody; this gives them opportunities, it takes them out of their homes, it gives them social interaction, it improves their health, and every opportunity like that is crucial to ensure our people over 60 are able to be active participants in our society. And this decision actually is going to remove that from some. I would therefore like an oral statement so that we can ask the questions specifically on the free swimming concession changes.

I thank Dai Rees for raising those issues. I know that you have also written directly to the Minister for Economy and Transport outlining your support for the Rhondda tunnel proposal and your concerns about the ownership, and so on. I can say that, as you’re probably aware, Welsh Government has funded work on a high-level business case for the project as well as providing subsequent funding to undertake an ecological assessment, a bats survey, a tapping survey to assess the condition of the tunnel, and also work to improve access to the tunnel for the survey work to be undertaken. So, I think that we can demonstrate our clear support for the proposals, although those issues of ownership and how the project could be funded are yet unresolved.

In terms of the learner travel Measure and your concerns about how that impacts on the ability of those learners over the age of 16 to get to their learning environment, and I think particularly those who are disabled are of concern to you, I will ask the transport Minister to write to you with an update on that, but also to take into consideration the case that you’ve made this afternoon.FootnoteLink

On supply teacher agencies, I can say that officials in the education directorate have worked closely with the National Procurement Service to address and incorporate a number of additional requirements in the framework contract specification to support supply teachers’ pay and working conditions and our fair work and social partnership principles. But, on the particular issue that you raised, the NPS has issued contract guidance to all of the appointed agencies, requiring them to report situations of non-compliance so that they’re able to have as much information as possible regarding the framework's uptake and effectiveness, and if a framework agency is consistently attempting to subvert the framework rules and, I think, the spirit of those rules as well, the NPS will take action.

And in terms of when the earliest opportunity would be to question the Minister on the issue of free swimming, I know that there is a question to the Deputy Minister tomorrow afternoon.

Information further to Plenary

Trefnydd, I'd like to ask you for a couple of statements, if I may. First of all, could we have a statement from the Minister for Economy and Transport relating to public transport particularly in south-east Wales? I've received correspondence from constituents about difficulties in commuting from Monmouthshire to Newport and Cardiff—the city region area—and the frequency of those services. I myself drove to the Assembly today. If I hadn't driven, then I could have got the bus and the train here, but I wouldn't have been able to get back after 5 o'clock because there's no linking bus service after 5.30 p.m. from Newport or 5.45 p.m. from Abergavenny to Raglan. Sorry to bore you with my domestic issues, but that's an issue that affects all sorts of people commuting down to Cardiff. I appreciate that the metro is looking at this. Perhaps, as I've raised with the Minister in the past, the possibility of a metro hub at the new convention centre at the Celtic Manor could alleviate that. So, if there have been any discussions in that area, that would be interesting to hear.

Secondly, Members may be aware that there's been an issue in the United States, which is currently in the process of banning most flavoured e-cigarettes. Hundreds of people are suffering from a mysterious lung illness. I know that vaping products in America are different to the vaping products here—the nicotine is much stronger, the other chemicals in them are stronger—but nonetheless, there's an issue there and some of my constituents have been asking me what my opinion is. I'm not an expert on vaping, but I wonder whether we could have an update on the guidance of the Welsh Government in the light of those concerns.

And finally, it was the Usk Show recently—a very well attended event—and farmers there raised the issue of bovine TB with me and are concerned about recent increases in that disease. If we could have an update from the Welsh Government on efforts taken to tackle the disease, both in livestock but also in the animal reservoir.

And very finally, Llywydd—you've indulged me—yesterday was United Nations world ozone day, which I Facebooked and tweeted about. It's the thirty-second anniversary of the Montreal protocol that banned ozone-destroying CFC chemicals from aerosols and fridges and other utensils and household appliances. That was an enormous success. It was a positive that showed that when the world community gets together they can tackle really big environmental issues and it can be done in a way that here we are, 30 years on, and not only is the ozone hole in Antarctica now repairing itself, but it's estimated by 2060 it will be completely healed. That's brilliant news. Hopefully, your climate change emergency and that of local authorities in Wales will be able to deal with the issue of global warming and in the future we'll look back and say that was a similar success.

Thank you very much to Nick Ramsay for raising those issues. The first related to public transport in south-east Wales and your interest in a hub at the Celtic Manor at the new convention centre, and also ensuring that public transport is at a convenient time for people to be able to get both to and from work. I'll ask the Minister for transport to provide you with an update on the latest work regarding the south Wales metro and also thoughts in terms of public transport more widely and more imminently in the area. 

In terms of e-cigarettes, I know that reports from the United States of the cluster of serious pulmonary disease amongst people who use e-cigarettes are very concerning. However, I think that it's fair to say at the moment the exact cause of the disease is unknown. But we're very clear in Welsh Government that e-cigarettes shouldn't be used by non-smokers, they should not be used by young people. At the same time, we recognise some people have found them to be helpful in terms of helping them stop smoking, but we're very clear that evidence of the longer term health affects of e-cigarette use is currently very limited. We are working with partners across Wales to develop a shared consensus about e-cigarettes that is evidence based and I'm sure that we'll have more to say on that in due course, but in the meantime we'd certainly encourage anyone who wants to quit smoking to call our free national helpline, Help Me Quit, on 0800 085 2219. We also have our helpmequit.wales website, which you can also visit as well, should anybody be interested. 

In terms of bovine TB, I know the Minister for environment and rural affairs does provide regular updates to the Assembly on that issue and I know that she'll seek to provide a further update as and when she's able to.

And I share your enthusiasm for UN world ozone day and it certainly is an example of the power that can be drawn upon when countries work together for an important reason.

Before the summer recess, there was a commitment from you, and I quote, that

'there'll be a debate on 'Designed to Smile: 10 years of improving children's oral health in Wales' on the first day back in September'.

Well, today is that first day back and there is no debate. I know that the health committee is to bring a debate forward at the beginning of next month, but the Government has already rejected their recommendations for providing more funding for dental services, which makes no sense whatsoever to me.

It is critical. At the moment, only 15 per cent of surgeries in Wales are taking adult patients through the NHS and only 27 per cent take children. There are no dental practitioners in Arfon taking new patients on the NHS, and that includes children.

The Government here needs to face this reality, but at the moment you’re not even willing to hold a debate on the matter. So, may I ask for a debate and update as a matter of urgency, and an explanation of what the steps that you will take are and how you’re going to tackle this crisis across Wales, including in Arfon?

Unfortunately, we did have to move the item, as I illustrated at the start of the business statement today—the item on oral health amongst children—to a written statement, and that was to accommodate the statement that I'll be making this afternoon on the impacts for us of the spending round and, obviously, the statement that the Minister will be making on Brexit.

I understand, probably as much as or more than most people, the huge pressures that there are in order to accommodate all of the requests that we receive in the business statement. I often receive four requests from a single individual during a business statement. Clearly, on a normal business day, we would only have four debates or statements. So, we do our best to accommodate Members as much as possible.

On this occasion, we have, unfortunately, had to turn that proposed statement into a written statement, but the Minister has been here to hear your comments and I know that he will be keen to provide an update on dental issues in an appropriate way as soon as possible.

Could the Minister make a statement on the problems encountered by my constituents with regard to the obligatory application to renew their bus pass, which has to be completed by the end of December? Apparently, there has been a complete shutdown of the site where they could complete the application online, and the telephone service has also crashed. Surely, the volumes of applications should have been anticipated and the structures put in place to cope with the high volume of demand. A fundamental question has to be asked: why was the operation necessary in the first place? All of the necessary information would already be held by the local authorities, so the information could surely have been gleaned from these sources. It would only have been necessary for those whose details have changed to reapply. Surely, this is just another example of taxpayers' money being wasted, not to mention the anxiety caused to so many people who rely on their bus pass to move around.

Transport for Wales is managing the issue of the new-style concessionary travel cards across Wales on behalf of the Welsh Government and the 22 local authorities. The scheme is still owned by the local councils. The new-style cards will offer the same free travel rights and benefits as the current card, and the new-style cards are required because the current bus passes won't be recognised on electronic readers on buses after 31 December this year. The new cards, crucially, are also designed to work as part of an integrated travel network in the future. It's true to say that Transport for Wales has experienced an exceptionally high volume of hits to their new concessionary travel card site since its launch on 11 September. I've had, as many Members will, many members of the public contact me about this. Transport for Wales has taken down the new website to boost the capacity to better manage the traffic, and I understand that it will be back in operation today. But, really, the message to current cardholders is that there really is plenty of time to apply for those new cards. Their cards will be accepted right through until 31 December 2019, so we do encourage applicants to visit the website in the coming days, once demand has reduced.

I would like to ask for a Government statement on the role of planning inspectors and the rules under which they work. It is well known that I do not believe that there is a role for planning inspectors overruling democratic decisions made by council planning committees, as opposed to the ombudsman and judicial review for all other decisions made by councils. I do not understand why inspectors ignore supplementary planning guidance that has been approved by the Welsh Government. Perhaps the statement could explain why both local and nationally agreed policy can be ignored by planning inspectors.  

Thank you, Mike. I think in the first instance it might be helpful if I liaise with my colleague Julie James to offer a technical briefing from the appropriate officers within planning in order to have that opportunity to ask the detailed questions that you have. 

Minister, may I ask for a statement from the Deputy Minister and Chief Whip about the Welsh Government action plan to advance equality for transgender people published three years ago, in 2016? The Assembly will be aware that the equality impact assessments are a process designed to ensure that a policy, project and scheme does not discriminate against any disadvantaged or vulnerable person or people in our society. However, in response to a Freedom of Information Act 2000 request for a copy of the assessment relating to this action plan, the Welsh Government replied that they do not hold the required information. When pressed for further comments, the response received was—and the quote is, Minister—

'I understand that at the time of the development of the action plan an equality impact assessment was undertaken, to be updated throughout the consultation process.'

The quote continues:

'We have undertaken a thorough search, unfortunately, it appears that this document has since been deleted from our electronic record system and is not available to access.'

Minister, can we have a statement from the Deputy Minister on this unsatisfactory situation, and what action she intends to take to review the plan to ensure it meets its objective of advancing equality for transgender people in Wales, please? 

Thank you, Mohammad Asghar. Of course, the Deputy Minister is here to hear your comments, but clearly it is a matter of regret that the equality impact assessment relating to the 2016 action plan to advance the equality of transgender people cannot be located. However, it is important to note that the action plan focused on training, support and awareness raising, and challenging transphobic attitudes, rather than being operational guidance. Safeguarding is paramount, and all organisations are bound by relevant and appropriate safeguarding procedures. But I know that the Deputy Minister has heard your concern on this issue. 

On the first Saturday of this month, thousands gathered in Penderyn Square in Merthyr for a march for independence. However, many were unable to attend due to the lack of sufficient capacity on train services to Merthyr. Many trains were packed to the brim, with some trains bypassing some stations altogether due to the carriages being full from Cardiff Central. It simply isn't good enough to have a small number of carriages on days when major events are taking place, and this wasn't a one-off. When rugby internationals are held in Cardiff, there are often similar issues. What message are we sending to the world about Wales when we can't provide train services to an acceptable standard? I accept that improvements take time, but we are well over a year into the new contract, and it seems that although there have been improvements on some services, some are still Arriva trains in all but name. Will the Welsh Government provide a statement on what it will be doing in partnership with Transport for Wales to ensure there is sufficient capacity in future for major events of this sort that have been publicised well in advance?   

The Minister for Economy and Transport will be making a statement on a railway for Wales in Plenary next Tuesday, so this would be a good opportunity to hear from him on those concerns. 

Trefnydd, I would like to request an update from the Welsh Government on job losses that have been announced by BSW Sawmills Ltd of Newbridge-on-Wye in Powys. I received correspondence on this matter and it does say that there'll be a total of 33 redundancies, and 11 of those are people who are employed on a temporary basis. I know that this figure doesn't seem really high for some people in this Chamber, but for an area of Powys where there are very few jobs that are well paid, this is a very high number, 33 redundancies. So, I'm keen to know what discussions Welsh Government have had with the sawmills on this particular matter, and what assistance might or is being given to those impacted by this news. Constituents are concerned that further job losses may be announced in the very near future.

Thank you, Joyce Watson, for raising this issue. She's quite right that 33 job losses in a fairly small community can have a huge impact on that community and the life of that community. I'll ask the Minister for Economy and Transport to provide you with an update on the discussions that Welsh Government has had and any support that can be given to the affected workers.

Can I call for two statements? Firstly, on drugs, related to drug poisoning in Wales. This follows the publication during the Assembly summer recess of Office for National Statistics figures showing deaths related to drug poisoning in England and Wales 2018. These revealed that Wales has the second-highest figures amongst 10 areas—nine English regions and Wales. Wales had both the second biggest increase in its rate over the last 10 years, an 84 per cent increase, and the second-highest age-standardised mortality rate for deaths per million related to drugs misuse by country and region registered in 2018. Given that the Welsh Government has been responsible for tackling substance misuse policy in Wales for two decades now, Llywydd, this merits a statement and I hope this might be forthcoming.

Secondly, and finally, I call for a statement on funding for a social enterprise accelerator in north Wales. For the past five years work involving Bangor University and colleagues in Wales and Ireland has been ongoing to develop a social enterprise accelerator. They've been told several times over the last two years that €3.4 million of INTERREG funding has been ring-fenced for their project. However, repeated delays from the Welsh European Funding Office, part of the Welsh Government, have now led to a situation where the ring-fenced funding could possibly be returned to Europe unspent. They say that if WEFO had decided there were better projects to fund, that would be understood, but the social enterprise accelerator has already had its initial application and its stage 1 business plan approved, but the process of approving the project has taken so long that it looks like they could now run out of time when there were times when they were waiting three months even to receive a response to correspondence. They say that if nothing can be done the unacceptable delays from WEFO will have cost the economies of north and west Wales over £1.7 million in funding when a similar project in the south-west of England has already delivered over £16 million of economic value and supported the creation of over 1,000 jobs. So, will you provide a statement noting that they've said to me that if we're not too late, they'd be grateful if you could see whether anything can still be done to ensure the project proposal is assessed in time to secure this ring-fenced funding?

Thank you very much for raising those issues. The Minister for Health and Social Services is currently consulting on the next substance misuse delivery plan, so I think that would be an opportunity for Mark Isherwood to explore that plan to ensure that he's satisfied that it addresses the kind of issues that he described relating to drug poisoning. So, any contribution that he would have to that consultation, I know, would be welcomed, and then the Minister will obviously update the Assembly on the issue when the consultation has closed.

Regarding the social enterprise accelerator, I'll certainly look into that matter myself and then try to get to the bottom of what the delay is.

I'd like to ask for an update on what's happened in terms of the discussions between the Welsh Government and Ineos on the potential for the creation of 500 jobs when Ford—. Well, Ford have said that they are to leave the Bridgend site. If that does happen, we're given to understand from the Financial Times that Jim Ratcliffe is interested in that site. I have to say that I do have some reservations in that regard in terms of his track record on workers' rights, but according to that article, there have been discussions and I would like a statement from you as Government to inform us as Members—not just Members representing that area, but each and every one of us—so that we know what the state of those negotiations is.

The second request for a statement is—and I'm pleased the health Minister is here to hear me because I'm getting increasingly frustrated—about the fact that we are having no progress at all on the announcement as to what is happening with the eating disorders framework. I've been pretty tolerant, I think, in trying to wait for the outcome of the framework, but I've come to the point now where I've had to write an open letter to the Minister because he hasn't answered a letter that I wrote to him in July, with campaigners, with sufferers, who took part in good faith as part of that eating disorders framework review, who want to see positive changes, who want to work with the Minister, but are deeply frustrated at feeling ignored by him and his team. Please, I do not want to stand up here week in, week out asking for a statement on this. These are people's lives, people who have suffered eating disorders all their lives. Please, please act.

With regard to your interest in Ineos—and I'm aware of the FT article as well—I know that when there is an announcement to be made, the economy and transport Minister will make that announcement.

With regard to the eating disorders framework, I'm advised by the health Minister that he will be making a public statement in the coming weeks.

First, I'd just like to associate myself with the concerns expressed by Nick Ramsay on e-vaping. It's interesting to note that Peter Black, who opposed the legislation on e-vaping that was presented by the then health Minister, now First Minister, to give it the same regulatory controls as smoking cigarettes—. So I'd be keen to understand clearly why the regulations in the UK protect us from the serious risks that have occurred in the United States. I think that's the specific thing that I'd like to see. Is it that regulation is better in the UK, and specifically in Wales, to ensure that we're not getting the deaths that have been associated with vaping in the United States, and people becoming seriously ill who were otherwise healthy in every respect?

Secondly, I want to highlight the fact that Cardiff University recently secured £3.6 million in European funds for its electron microscope facility to develop cutting-edge research in catalysis, which will speed up cleaner, cheaper, safer ways of manufacturing goods, and entirely relevant to John Griffiths's points made in the First Minister's questions about electrical steel. This is exactly the sort of research we need, and I want to contrast that opportunity for developing safer, more sustainable, greener manufacturing in Wales, which we are getting as a result of that EU grant, with the alarm being expressed by university vice-chancellors. Four in five university vice-chancellors are having to worry about where they're going to source their toilet paper or how they're going to feed their students who are in residential halls were there to be a 'no deal' Brexit. In Cardiff, in particular, over 700 staff are EU citizens, and how are they going to be replaced? They are engaging in really important research, so it'd be really useful to have a statement from the Government about the impact of 'no deal' on our university sector, not just Cardiff University.

And lastly a specific question about the 'no deal' preparations the Government is making in relation to our clean water because, from the Welsh Government statement, I understand that there are chemicals that are sourced from Europe that help to keep our water clean. So, I'd like to know the specifics on what are these chemicals, why it's not possible for us to produce them in the UK, and how, under these very catastrophic circumstances, we are going to maintain a clean water supply for our citizens. Because that, ultimately, is the most important thing that we have to do.

I thank Jenny Rathbone for raising the issue and for associating herself with Nick Ramsay's comments on e-cigarettes and the concern about what we've seen in the United States. We are working with partners to agree a common position, based on the best and most recent evidence. And, obviously, I think the Welsh Government will be keen to share that common position when we have arrived at it.

There's a statement from the Minister for Brexit later on this afternoon—I think it's the next item of business—so that would be an opportune moment to ask some of the questions you've just raised in the most recent contribution. But I think the way you've described our membership of the European Union—the support we've had for innovation and for safe, sustainable manufacturing and the exciting potential future there—and then contrast that with the concerns that you've described about the things that university vice-chancellors are having to concern themselves with and spend their time on, that really does demonstrate the kind of impact that Brexit will have on us and what we would be losing were we to leave the European Union.

On the issue of water, you'll be aware that Welsh Government did produce the action plan identifying the strategic risks that we're aware of and setting out what we are doing in those areas, and I can confirm that Dŵr Cymru is working with the Government and the wider water industry to ensure a continuous high-quality supply of drinking water in all eventualities.

I'm looking at the Government's statement on making the fight against knife crime an absolute Government priority. I attended a very well-attended vigil in Cardiff recently with lots of parents and lots of young people, and it was an education to listen, especially to the young people talking about how they are affected by knife crime. I'm wondering whether or not Government Ministers or officials will sit down and meet with campaigners to discuss ways of taking action in the future, because this needs to be an absolute priority.

Thank you for raising this really important issue of the fight against knife crime. I know it's something that the police and crime commissioner has also taken a particular interest in—the south Wales police and crime commissioner who covers your area. I'll ask Ministers what might be the best and most appropriate way forward in terms of engaging with the interested parties on the fight against knife crime.

Can I request a Government statement on the role that sport plays in dealing with mental health? Last week marked World Suicide Prevention Day and I was very proud to lead an awareness-raising campaign—a successful campaign—with Cardiff City Football Club, Swansea City Association Football Club, Wrexham AFC, Newport County AFC and the Offside Trust charity. Unfortunately, we all know that by the end of a Premier League match on a Sunday, 84 men will have committed suicide that week. Now, to me and many others in this Chamber, those statistics are shocking and clearly unacceptable.

Many of us also know, those who struggle with mental health, that quite often it's our thoughts that cause more pain than any object, so I would like to thank, and for the Trefnydd to thank as well, any of those who joined in different campaigns on that day and do so on a daily basis. I certainly know the pain I felt during that day and during the run-up to that and even now as I stand here in the Chamber.

We need to recognise that mental health and suicide are actually now a national crisis. I've heard some say, Llywydd, 'When does the support end?' Well, let me be clear in this Chamber: to me, the support doesn't end. The support that we show people never should end, because we are talking about people's lives and the lives of their families and friends. My message to people out there in Wales today and across the UK is if you are worried about a friend or a family member, reach out. If you are struggling yourself, don't be afraid, there is support out there. So, let's work together for better mental health and suicide prevention, and that's as a Government, as Assembly Members, as friends, as family, but just basically as human beings.

Thank you, Jack, for raising that and I think that you've said that much more eloquently than I could, but I would certainly pay tribute to everything that you've said and give our backing, as Welsh Government, to the concern that you have for this issue and share your gratitude and your thanks to everybody who does provide that listening ear to people who are in those very dark situations.

We are currently consulting on the mental health delivery plan and I was quite taken by your suggestion at the start that we need to ensure that sport and that area is made the most of in terms of supporting mental health as well. So, I think we'll be checking that the mental health delivery plan does have those synergies across to sport in the ways that we already know it has across to things like substance misuse and homelessness. So I think that's a really important point that we'll take forward.

I wonder if you could let me know, Trefnydd, whether Welsh Government is planning a debate or statement on the skills needs of Wales any time soon. There's a report to be launched next week by ColegauCymru called 'Building a better Wales—lessons from Europe', which is about the future skills needs of Wales, that explores the connection between higher level skills and regional economic resilience. It's based on evidence and interviews across six countries in Europe, and also here in Wales itself. And this research aims to contribute to Welsh Government policy and the conversation that takes place in Wales around skills needs. It's made possible, the report, by European Union funding, and it includes a number of key recommendations, including that a broader range of business organisations, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, should be involved more closely and effectively in deciding what future skills should be provided, and how we could have effective mechanisms to achieve that. And it also calls for a review of post-16 skills training in Wales, to provide longer term funding arrangements that support collaboration, and that there should be longer term planning and succession planning in terms of future skills needs on a more effective basis.

This will be the subject matter of the next cross-party group on further education and future skills meeting, which takes place next week, and it would be good if as many AMs as possible could get along to engage in that. But, essentially, Trefnydd, I think that with Brexit still a real possibility and the economic shocks that could bring, we really need to concentrate our minds on the future skills needs of Wales and make sure that we provide them as effectively as possible.

Thank you, John Griffiths, for highlighting that report. As you'll be aware, the First Minister has asked every member of the Cabinet to take responsibility for one of the cross-cutting areas of Government, to ensure that we are maximising all of the work that we do across different departments. I was given the role of taking on the employability and skills agenda as part of that cross-cutting work, so I'll certainly be really interested in receiving a copy of ColegauCymru's report to help inform our thinking as we develop that, and I'll explore as well what might be the best way to update on the work being done on skills. 

Thank you to the Trefnydd.