2. Business Statement and Announcement

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:21 pm on 5 November 2019.

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Photo of Darren Millar Darren Millar Conservative 2:21, 5 November 2019

Can I call for two statements, one from you in your capacity, Trefnydd, as the Minister for finance, in relation to support for the armed forces community? The Army Families Federation has raised concerns about what appears to be a trend of some local authorities not giving the appropriate discount for armed forces families in terms of their council tax. You will be aware that this is something that the Welsh Government has promoted in the past, and I would be very keen to see you reinforce the promotion of that discount for those armed forces families that are eligible.

In addition, concerns have also been raised about the application of non-domestic rates to army cadet halls. Now, you'll be familiar with cadet forces, probably, in your own constituency. Traditionally, their facilities have not been subject to non-domestic rates. They've been exempted on the basis of the opportunities and services that they provide to young people in their communities, and I do think that it's a retrograde step if some local authorities are choosing now to impose charges on them that are undermining their viability.

And thirdly, can I call for an update from the Minister for Health and Social Services in relation to the Betsi Cadwaladr health board and the whole of the special measures process? Clearly, we've had some concerning information regarding the appointment of turnaround directors and additional capacity in that health board. Now, we accept that that health board is clearly struggling. The interventions so far from the Welsh Government have not worked to support significant improvements in that health board and many people are very, very concerned that this is a health board with a significant overspend expected by the end of the financial year of tens of millions of pounds, that is making changes to nurse staffing rotas that are unpopular and providing a disincentive for nurses to go and work in that health board, and that, at the same time, is spending millions of pounds on people who are contracted as consultants to the health board doing jobs that, frankly, the executive team ought to have the capacity to do. [Interruption.] So I think we do need a statement on this from the Minister for Health and Social Services, who is barracking at the moment while I'm trying to ask for this statement. If he's got something to say, let's hear it in a formal statement, instead of the barracking that he's giving me from the front row, along with other colleagues on that front row, right now.