Next is the business statement and announcement, and I call on the Trefnydd to make the statement. Rebecca Evans.

Diolch, Llywydd. There are no changes to this week's business. Draft business for the next three sitting weeks is set out on the business statement and announcement, which can be found amongst the meeting papers available to Members electronically.

Minister, may I ask for a statement from the Minister for health about the results of a study by the European Heart Journal? The study found that more than one in 10 cancer patients die from heart and blood vessel problems rather than from their initial illness. The researcher advised that the increase in the numbers of people surviving cancer means that more attention should be focused on cardiovascular risks. Minister, please could we have a statement from the health Minister about these findings and on what action he will take to ensure that the cancer doctors and cardiologists work closer together to minimise the risk of patients surviving cancer succumbing to heart and circulatory disease in Wales?

I'd be grateful if Mohammad Asghar would send me a copy of that report in relation to the cardiovascular risks for cancer patients, and I will be sure to ask the health Minister to look at that report if he's not already familiar with it, and to write to you with his thoughts on that report.FootnoteLink

Information further to Plenary

Some of my constituents have been to see me recently to talk about an exciting proposal to create an environmental centre in Snowdonia. The aim of the International Earth Resources Centre would be to use the latest scientific research to help people understand the effect that they're having on the world and what steps we can take to mitigate. But it appears that there is some slowness in your Government's response which is holding things back. An appropriate site has been identified in Glynrhonwy near Llanberis and a business plan, a work programme and feasibility work have been completed. I have written to Ken Skates and to Lesley Griffiths, but I haven't received a response to date. The claim is that the project could bring at least 100 jobs to the area. I'd be grateful therefore if you could take a personal interest in this issue and could ask the two Ministers to discuss the issue and to respond appropriately. It would be a huge shame for north Wales if it were to miss this unique opportunity because of lack of interest from the Welsh Government.

Secondly, in turning to health, and unfortunately another GP surgery in my constituency is to close. After a number of years of serving individuals and patients in Penygroes, the Llys Meddyg surgery has given notice that they will bring their contract with the health board to provide GP services to an end in April 2020. The health board states that they are working closely with the practice and other local GPs to plan how patients will continue to access the necessary services from next spring onwards. There is a plan in place in the Nantlle Vale for a new health centre for the area, so I would like to ask your Government to bring that project forward immediately for the benefit of all the constituents of the Nantlle Vale. You taking a lead in this area in taking it forward immediately could safeguard and develop services for the future.

Thank you to Siân Gwenllian for bringing forward both of those issues this afternoon. I can certainly give you that commitment that I will liaise with both the Minister for environment and rural affairs and the Minister for economy to ensure that a response is forthcoming on the issue of the international earth—I can't read my writing—on the centre that you've described in your contribution today.

And in terms of the GP surgeries, and the potential for a new facility, I'll ask the health Minister to explore with the health board what the latest is on that, and provide you with the very latest update.FootnoteLink

Information further to Plenary

Given that a press conference was held in Europe this week, at which Professor Guus Berkhout of the Climate Intelligence Foundation gave information on the 700 signatures he has collected from prominent scientists and professionals, including a Nobel Prize winner, where they declare there is no climate emergency, and also that four new scientific indices have recorded that the earth's temperature has actually fallen by 0.47 per cent over the last decade, despite the 2 per cent rise in carbon dioxide, and new revelations that show the world is actually experiencing record levels of snow cover, which includes the fact that snow covering the northern hemisphere is the fifth highest for the last 52 years, would the Government make a statement on whether it will continue to accept this totally erroneous assertion that there is a climate change and global warming crisis, because your pursuit of policies that are accepting of this fact is pushing increasing numbers of people in Wales into fuel poverty?

Well, just to be clear, Llywydd, this Welsh Government is very clear that there is a climate emergency. Welsh Government is very clear that climate change exists, and we're very much focused on tackling that climate emergency. And the Member will be aware of the low-carbon delivery plan, which sets out a detailed and ambitious programme across Government in terms of what we will seek to do to ensure that Wales becomes a low-carbon nation.

I would like to ask for two Government statements—firstly, on the use of supply agencies to provide supply teachers to schools. This, to me, is a very serious social justice issue. I believe supply teachers are being exploited. I believe that we need to have a public sector solution rather than supply teachers being at the mercy of private supply agencies.

The second statement I'm requesting is on free swimming for those over 65. A large number of my older constituents in the least advantaged parts of Swansea East are now losing out on free swimming. If our aim is towards preventative rather than reactive health action, then free swimming for our elderly living in the poorest of communities is surely very important to keep people active and keep them out of hospitals.

Well, there has been a great deal of change in terms of the way in which supply teachers are procured in Wales. So, the new National Procurement Service framework for supply teachers became operational in September of this year for the start of the academic year, and there are 27 agencies on that framework, so schools are now offered a choice of provider. Framework agencies must comply with the terms of the framework agreement, including promoting the minimum pay point, and the NPS is monitoring compliance with the framework, and they will address any issues of non-compliance with any agencies. So, if Mike Hedges has some examples of agencies that are exploiting supply workers, we'd be very keen to have that evidence, and we certainly will work to ensure that that exploitation comes to an end. The framework is designed, really, to ensure that workers' rights are protected, so there'll be the minimum pay rate for qualified supply teachers, abolition of the Swedish derogation and fixed and transparent agency charge rates. So, I think that we've made some really important steps, but if there are agencies that aren't working to the spirit and to the letter of what we've set out, then I need to have that information.

In terms of the free swimming initiative, Mike Hedges will be aware that it was only 6 per cent of the over-60s who were taking up the opportunity for the free swimming initiative, and the independent report suggested that the scheme did need to be amended, to ensure that young people, particularly from poorer backgrounds, were able to take up the opportunity for free swimming.

So, the situation now is that, based on the understanding of the needs of their own communities, local authorities are being asked to focus on supporting young people, and older citizens from more disadvantaged areas, and provide new plans to meet those objectives. And those plans, I can say, are currently being introduced, and we are in a transition period, where users are being encouraged to feed back their views and experiences to the provider via their local swimming pools. Again, I'd be really pleased if Mike Hedges and other Members are able to feed back some of their feedback to Welsh Government in terms of what their constituents are telling them, because that feedback will be used to help local authorities and delivery agents provide a more tailored service in the future. Support will be provided by Sport Wales and Swim Wales, who will, in turn, report back to the Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism every six months, for a period of 18 months.

Organiser, could I seek two statements, please, if possible—one from the Deputy Minister responsible, for the comment that she made back in February 2018 about an environmental impact assessment required for the Barry biomass incinerator. The Deputy Minister and Chief Whip was here to protest on Saturday, and I understand she spoke to the crowd, and said that the biomass boiler—or the incinerator, should I say—will be up and running in a matter of days. Now, this cannot be right that, given that the Deputy Minister said back in February 2018 that she was minded to have an environmental impact assessment; we understand now from Government Ministers that the incinerator is going to start in a matter of days. And yet, we had a statement back in April that the Government was working on breaches of the planning system, they believed, that they were going to talk to the Vale of Glamorgan Council over. And I declare and interest as a Vale councillor. But we cannot continue with this complete open-ended, unanswerable question: are you going to insist on an environmental impact assessment before this incinerator starts, or aren't you? You've had nearly two years now to come up with the answer. It just isn't good enough for the residents of Barry, and it's not good enough for other residents in South Wales Central. So, can we have a statement from the Minister, to clarify the position, rather than this ineptitude, I would say, that is at the heart of the Government decision-making process on this particular matter?

Secondly, could I seek a statement from the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs in relation to the new regulations that she's bringing forward in relation to pollution incidents, and the nitrate vulnerable zones that are going to be created after 1 January? We are obviously now on the—virtually, there are only two weeks left of term, and these regulations will pose significant burdens and new responsibilities on agricultural business, and there's still widespread concern over exactly what obligations will have to be met, and in particular around the timings that people will be able to dispose of slurry and farmyard manure onto the land. And given the autumn we've had, it is quite an acute problem at the moment on many farms. So, more information is required from the Government, and I'd be most grateful if there is an indication from you that a statement will be forthcoming before we break for the Christmas recess, given that these regulations are due to start on 1 January.

So, in relation to the Barry biomass plant, the Member will be aware that, back in May, we announced our intention to consult on an environmental statement that the developer was offering to prepare. The developer has now provided an environmental statement, and we've just appointed WSP to undertake independent scrutiny of the materials submitted. If the environmental statement is found to be adequate, WSP will undertake public consultation after the general election. And WSP have a team that has both an in-depth knowledge of the UK power industry and the Welsh planning system, and has extensive experience reviewing and producing environmental statements for energy projects. And their experience will add welcome support to the Welsh Minister's consideration of the case.

In terms of the very latest situation, I'm aware that Natural Resources Wales has been monitoring compliance with the conditions of the company's environmental permit throughout the testing phase. And should any permit breaches come to their attention, then they would obviously take appropriate action, in line with their enforcement and prosecution policy. That, as I understand it, is the very latest in relation to the Barry biomass plant.

On the second issue, of the agricultural pollution regulations, I know that there are still discussions under way between the Minister and various interested parties, including those who are members of the Wales land management forum sub-group on agricultural pollution. I know that they are being asked for their views on the possible transitional periods, including those with potential closed periods for fertilizer applications. I also know that the Ministers have responses on this issue from both farming unions, and they'll be considered in the final regulatory impact assessment, alongside the other responses received. But, obviously, the Minister is here this afternoon, and she's heard your concerns and your requests for the update.

I would like to make reference to two different cases. The first relates to electric cars, and I give the Government a choice to respond in one of two ways—either by giving us a statement, or by providing a written response. I would like a response to the following statements: how many charging points for electric vehicles are available on sites managed by Natural Resources Wales? What information is available for the reliability of electric vehicle charging points on NRW sites? How many electric vehicle charging points have been set on sites managed by NRW? And when are charging points at Coed y Brenin Forest Park likely to become available again? So, a statement on that, or a response to those written questions that I sent to the Government on 7 August and still haven’t received a response to—either way I’d be happy.

The second point that I wanted to raise is on funding for Citizens Advice.

Recent changes to the way Citizens Advice is being funded is going to be leaving some of the most vulnerable people in my constituency even more vulnerable and unable to access help when they most need it. So, can I ask for a statement from Government on how it intends to deal with this lack of capacity now to deal with issues that are of importance to my constituents?

Just to give you an idea, we currently in citizens advice bureaux on Ynys Môn have five and a half full-time equivalents working with constituents: one and a half debt caseworkers, two welfare benefits specialists, and two generalist specialists. From January next year, there'll be 1.6 for everything else other than debt, with a 0.7 full-time equivalent working and dealing with all my constituents' needs to do with debt. It is impossible for CAB to give the kind of advice and service that they have been giving to my constituents. On many of these cases they work with my office as an Assembly Member, because we work very, very closely. I would like a statement on how on earth they're meant to cope with that situation, and how Government would give a consideration to the possibility of moving to a situation whereby numbers might vary from one county or one area to another, but that there is at least one full-time equivalent person to deal with issues, such as debt, because nothing else will suffice, especially when the service has been so good from CAB in recent years.

On the first issue, in terms of the written questions that you submitted to Welsh Government on electrical vehicle charging points, I will certainly make sure that you receive a response to those questions.

And on the second issue, I share your admiration completely for the work that Citizens Advice does and the way in which they work with Assembly Members' offices to ensure that people get the support that they need when facing debt and other issues. And I think that we are seeing increased demand, for obvious reasons, because of the impact of austerity, and that's one of the reasons why my colleague the Deputy Minister and Chief Whip recently announced a new £8 million grant funding scheme for advice services here in Wales, and the grants will be awarded through the new single advice fund. I'm confident that that will give us a strategically planned and collaborative approach to advice services, helping to meet that increased demand across Wales. But I know that if you were to write to the Deputy Minister and Chief Whip with your particular experiences within your constituency, she'd be able to consider that as we move forward with our approach to advice services.

And can I ask for two statements or debates—one of them on that topic, actually, of debt advice and the very positive and crucial role played by debt advisers in many organisations—CABx, StepChange Debt Charity, Christians Against Poverty and many others? Last week, at an event organised by Hefin David, StepChange's 'Wales in the Red' report showed that, in Wales, single parents are significantly over-represented amongst their clients; that the biggest cause of going into debt in Wales is income shocks, and we often find families who are just one event away from being cast into debt; over half of new clients in Wales are behind on at least one household bill after receiving debt advice, after receiving counselling—that's how critical the financial pressures are; and, based on general polling, there's an estimate now that around 8 per cent of adults living in Wales are facing severe debt problems, compared to around 6 per cent of the UK adult population—that's around 193,000 people in Wales in severe problem debt. 

On the plus side, it would allow us to debate the fact that short-term, high-cost credit as a proportion of clients in Wales with those short-term, high-cost debt loans has substantially fallen over the last five years, from 17 per cent of clients in 2014 to just one in 10now. And that, I have to say, is not least in thanks to regulatory interventions by the Financial Conduct Authority and the withdrawal of some of these rip-off high-cost credit firms—these sharks—from the market, both of which have been subject to major campaigns supported by Labour and other colleagues in Westminster and here. So, a debate would allow us to further explore what more we could do in Wales by further supporting those debt advice organisations and also supporting responsible lending through organisations like credit unions within Wales.

Could we also have a statement or a debate on the Wales union learning fund, described by the president of the Wales TUC, Ruth Brady, last week as a shining example of union partnership with Welsh Government? It was a moving birthday celebration under the banner '20 years, 20 stories' in the Pierhead, which I was pleased to attend. People have seen their lives transformed—like Mark Church, who spoke eloquently at the event. In his forties, he decided to seek help for problems with reading. He took a WULF-funded essential skills course, which he described as being like being let out of a cage, and he spoke about how the experience left him with greater confidence and a host of new skills, which he uses at the office and at home, including helping his daughter with her homework for the first time. For those people who criticise the union learning fund at a UK level, but also here in Wales, they should see the evidence before them of how it's transformed people's lives. So, it would be great to have a statement or an opportunity to debate the way in which that has made a transformative impact on people's lives. 

Huw Irranca-Davies reminds us that there is a wide range of organisations that are available to individuals who are experiencing debt problems. He mentioned StepChange and Christians Against Poverty, and we're very fortunate to have such a vibrant community of people who are seeking to ensure that people have access to the right support and advice when they need it. And I'll make sure that the Deputy Minister and Chief Whip are aware of the request for a statement to explore the importance of that particular sector and also, of course, the credit unions, which provide access to affordable credit and offer a fairer and more ethical alternative to exploitative high-cost credit, which many people find themselves seeking or feeling that they have to seek to access. And, in support of the work of credit unions, Welsh Government is providing £544,000 to credit unions this financial year, and I think that that is money well invested.

Huw Irranca-Davies, again, is right to say that people have seen their lives transformed by the Wales union learning fund. Since its inception around 20 years ago, over 200 Wales union learning fund projects have been supported, helping thousands of learners, and around 1,000 union learning representatives in Wales have helped to provide access to learning to 7,088 people in the last financial year alone. And those workplace learning teams have also, obviously, contributed greatly to the effective delivery of those projects and have done so through very much their grass-roots level knowledge and support. So, I think that any opportunity to celebrate that would be certainly a positive thing.

Two issues, if I may, Trefnydd. First of all—well, the first issue, actually, that I was going to raise with you has already been very eloquently raised by Mike Hedges, with regard to the free swimming initiative and the changes made to that. And I hear what you say about a small minority—I think 6 per cent, you said, was the uptake of that. So, nothing's perfect, and I know that the independent review suggested it wasn't fit for purpose, but, like Mike Hedges, I've got constituents, older constituents, who have been concerned about it. So, given that the decision has been taken by the Welsh Government to finish with that scheme, I wonder if they could be reassured with what alternative might be forthcoming or in what other ways older people can be encouraged to take up a benefit such as swimming or maybe other activities. I think that that would be appreciated, because there are concerns out there.

Secondly, the Welsh Government has recently announced 66 active travel projects from the Wales infrastructure investment plan. I've just been looking through the projects now, the allocation for 2019-20, and I see that there are two projects in Monmouthshire: Abergavenny town centre active travel improvement phase 3—quite a mouthful—which is being funded to the tune of £300,000; and also there's £50,000 available for a multi-modal Chepstow traffic study. Can I welcome both of these? I think it's good to see that, after years of talking about active travel—and I remember when the Minister came to the previous Enterprise and Business Committee and gave evidence supporting the creation of the active travel Bill—it's good to see that we're getting some development now of actual projects on the ground, which is what it was all about in those early days. So, I've mentioned those two projects; obviously, other AMs will be interested in projects in their constituencies. I wonder if the Minister could bring forward a statement to this Chamber as soon as possible so that we can discuss these issues more fully.

Okay. So, thank you for raising again the issue of free swimming, which was raised by Mike Hedges. In my response to him, I was able to say that we're in a transitional period at the moment, where users are being encouraged to feed back their experience. So, if you were to capture the experiences of your constituents and share them with the Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism, that would be very helpful indeed.

I'm grateful for your enthusiasm for the work that we're undertaking now in terms of improving our active travel offer for people in Wales. I think it is a really exciting part of the journey that we're on, in terms of active travel. We are starting to make some real progress in this area, and I know the Deputy Minister has heard your request for a statement, and I know he's always enthusiastic to share the latest information about the projects that we've been able to support.

Three things. One is: can I just follow up on the points raised by Mike Hedges and Nick Ramsay on free swimming? Because, like them, I've had correspondence from older people who've been affected by the changes in the timetable in our local swimming pools, but I've had absolutely no correspondence whatsoever from any families of children, or indeed from children, who are affected by the reconfiguration of this service, which tells me that they were probably, in the main, unaware that this service existed, which is what has been worrying me for some time. So, what I want to see, in due course, is a report that demonstrates that the more-targeted approach on communities that can't afford to do this free swimming is actually working, so that we are seeing an increased uptake by the people who really most need this service. Anyway—so, I'll leave that with you.

Secondly, I just wanted to highlight a report launched in the Pierhead today on infrastructure supporting healthy and active lives by the Civil Engineering Contractors Association, which is the outcome of the deliberations of a conference with other engineers. The ambition that they have for integrated infrastructure planning to promote active lifestyles and create active social, healthy places is really good, because without excellence in engineering it is extremely difficult for us to achieve the ambitious targets that we have. So, I just wanted to point that out to all Members, including the Government, particularly as you're in charge of procurement, as they, I'm sure, have a lot to contribute.

Thirdly, I wonder if I can just ask for a statement from the health Minister—an update on the 'Healthy Weight: Healthy Wales' strategy—to confirm whether or not he intends to include, as a matter of priority, (a) restrictions on price promotions on high-fat, high-sugar, high-salt foods, and (b) a restriction on hot food takeaways near schools.

Okay, so, again, on the issue of free swimming, I would invite you to share the experiences of your constituents with Dafydd Elis-Thomas. As I've mentioned, he will be receiving six-monthly reports in terms of the transition to the new offer and how that's impacting on those target groups.

The infrastructure report, the integrated infrastructure planning and healthy lives report—I'd be really keen if you could share a copy of that with me. I was unable to attend today, but I am very keen to see that report, especially as we start to consider the next iteration of the Wales infrastructure investment plan, for example, and ensuring that our infrastructure offer is done in a way that takes into account the impact across Government—so, thinking of skills, for example, but also thinking of our wider ambitions in terms of 'A Healthier Wales' and so on.

Insofar as the 'A Healthier Wales' strategy goes, I can confirm that to take forward delivery of a series of two-yearly delivery plans there will be work launched by the Minister on 6 February, and that will set out our early commitments and next steps. A key action of the strategy will be the establishment of the national implementation board, which will oversee the actions for each delivery plan and provide leadership and governance to drive forward the change we need to see across a range of settings, including environments and behaviours. That will meet for the first time on 13 January and is being chaired by the Minister himself, because he's taken a very strong personal interest in this agenda.

Through the delivery plan, a consultation will be held next year to consider a package of legislation in the food environment, and that will include price promotions, energy drinks and calorie labelling, as well planning and licensing around schools. We'll be working with that national implementation board to develop the approach.

Finally, Neil McEvoy. 

Diolch, Llywydd. On Saturday, we had Labour AMs, Labour MPs—or potential MPs, former MPs, candidates now—a Deputy Minister all protesting against the Government policy on incineration. So, I just want to be clear—I listened carefully earlier—could you confirm, maybe—well, get a statement from the environment Minister confirming that there will be no production of electricity at the Barry incinerator? I do want to press the point on the environmental impact assessment, because that's what residents were promised, and anything less than that is simply not good enough. So, I want to press the Minister on the environmental impact assessment: where is it and when will it take place?

So, Neil McEvoy would have heard my answer to Andrew R.T. Davies earlier on this afternoon. That is the full information that I have at my fingertips this afternoon, so I would encourage him to write to the Minister responsible to seek a further update in answer to those more detailed questions.  

Thank you to the Trefnydd.