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

There is one change to this week's business. Business Committee has agreed that tomorrow's Conservative debate will take place immediately after questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services. 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 for the economy and transport on concessionary rail fare schemes here in Wales? The Minister will be aware that the UK Government announced the introduction of a veteran rail card in England, and I know that veterans are asking across Wales as to whether there'll be a similar card available to them here in Wales. I know that the Welsh Government has done a great deal of work on trying to support the veteran community, and I applaud you for that, and I just want to have some clarity on whether the same privilege will be afforded to veterans here, as is going to be the case in England, once this particular card is introduced?

I'm grateful to Darren Millar for raising this issue, and I do know that the Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales is in current discussion with the Department for Transport in England to better understand the proposed scheme and how it might work, and then obviously to give consideration to the matter here. And obviously the Member will be aware that we do have a more generous offer for veterans who use our bus services here in Wales.

Since raising the lack of support for neurodivergent children, I've had many people get in touch who've been affected. People are growing increasingly frustrated with the system. The picture that is painted by people trying to access support for ADHD, autism and similar issues is, frankly, a grim one. The only conclusion we can draw is that people, and children in particular, are being failed on an industrial scale.

I want to raise points with you today that have been made to me by an additional learning needs co-ordinator. She says her job has now become, and I quote, 'unmanageable' due to the bureaucracy involved in trying to get support for children. One referral takes half a day on the new portal system, which was designed with the aim of making things easier. It has achieved the exact opposite. Children who meet criteria for placements are told that they have to wait two terms for those plans to be in place. This means that children are spending more time in an environment that traumatises them due to the over-sensory, overcrowded nature of mainstream classes. There is no support for children on the spectrum in Rhondda Cynon Taf until reception year, meaning that there's no alternative to mainstream education. Justifiably, this has been described to me as unacceptable and cruel. 

I intend to take up many of these issues directly with the Labour-run council in Rhondda Cynon Taf, but I would like a clear statement from this Government to those people who are struggling to access support for their kids. People need to know what their rights are. They need to know what you as a Government consider to be acceptable or unacceptable from public bodies. Many parents and teachers are at the end of their tether and they are desperately asking for help. They are telling us the system is an unsustainable mess. Children are being badly let down. I hope you'll agree that they deserve swift action. 

Leanne Wood will be familiar with the Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018 and the importance that Welsh Government attaches to that in ensuring that children and young people do get the support that they need at the earliest possible point in their educational journey. And it is entirely appropriate to take up those individual cases with the local authority.

Welsh Government will be consulting on our statutory code for autism and ASD, and there will be some public engagement alongside that. I know that the health Minister and the Deputy Minister, with responsibility particularly for autism, would be keen to understand better the views of the individual who has contacted you to discuss the issues that she has faced in terms of finding the appropriate support for the children who she works with. So, if you could perhaps write to the Minister with some more detail on behalf of your constituent, that would be really useful. Thank you.

I would like to ask for two statements from the Welsh Government. Firstly, what action is being taken to reduce single-use plastic, both by the Welsh Government and by Welsh Government-funded bodies, such as health boards?

Secondly, I want to ask for an update on the provision of 4G and 5G sports pitches. Members will probably remember we used to talk about 4G and 5G sports pitches fairly regularly, but it seems to have dropped off the agenda in the last couple of years. We know that they have the ability to be used continually and to rarely be affected by weather, making them ideal for providing all-round sports provision. It means that children especially, who start taking up sport, don't play football and rugby between September and April and have a winter break of an exceedingly long time. 

On the first issue that Mike Hedges raised, which was the use of single-use plastic on the Welsh Government estate and the public sector estate more widely, I'm really pleased to report that there has been continued progress in reducing the environmental impact of our Welsh Government estate in key areas, including single-use plastics. Of course, I published the Welsh Government's 'State of the Estate' report just a short while ago, which did demonstrate how we are making progress in this area. That includes working with our catering service to remove single-use plastics in canteens, and that of course includes plastic cups, straws, stirrers, sauce sachets and cutlery—all things that we might be looking to include in a potential piece of legislation—to ensure that those items are not used across Wales. I know that the Deputy Minister with responsibility for waste and environmental issues has been looking particularly at this, certainly within the context of the circular economy and the work that has been done in the 'Beyond Recycling' strategy and approach at the moment. So, I'm really pleased with the progress that we are making, but that said, clearly, there's much more to do in this area. But I would certainly commend the 'State of the Estate' report to Mike Hedges. 

Of course, the issue of 4G and 5G sports pitches in Wales is extremely important in ensuring that children and young people, and communities more widely, are able to access those sporting opportunities year round. So, our investment in community 3G, 4G and 5G pitches and artificial pitches is being led by Sport Wales, and they've invested over £3.1 million into the collaborative sports facilities group. That group, crucially, includes Sport Wales, but also the FAW Trust, the WRU and Hockey Wales, to ensure that those pitches do have the support of and the engagement of the various sporting communities who are able to use them. I'm sure that the work of the collaborative sports facilities group would be of interest to the Member, and I know that the Deputy Minister for culture and sport will provide an update on that work.

Minister, may I ask for a statement from the Minister for Housing and Local Government about the oversight and implementation of the planning Act in Wales? I have been contacted by a number of constituents with concerns about the increase in planning consents for housing developments being granted in my region. Although these developments are within the local government plan, my constituents are concerned that the local infrastructure is inadequate to cope with the population increase. In particular, roads are inadequate to cope with the increased volume of traffic and local facilities such as GP surgeries, dentists and schools find difficulty in coping with the increased demand for their services. Smaller villages have taken the brunt of the problem associated with the new developments, with seemingly little thought given to the local population. Can we have a statement on how the planning system ensures that the infrastructure is brought up to an acceptable standard to cope with localised population increases in the future in Wales, please?

The issues of infrastructure and service provision are clearly crucially important when local authorities are considering their local development plans and exploring the burden of additional homes locally. In the first instance, I think the concerns you describe would be best made to the local authority in terms of representations on behalf of your community in relation to the specific planning applications that you have concerns with, because of course we'd be unable to comment on those just in case it did arrive at the point at which they might be called in for determination by Welsh Government. So, in the first instance, I would certainly encourage you to have those discussions with the local authority.

I'd like to ask for a statement from the economy and transport Minister about what the Welsh Government plans to do in relation to the rolling stock on the Rhymney line. We all want more people to use the trains. While capacity on that line will increase substantially over the next couple of years, it's now been confirmed through a freedom of information request that capacity on those trains will be reduced again when new trains are introduced in 2023. That is: there'll be space for fewer people on the trains.

Now, the problem with this is that demand will increase in the intervening period, especially with the increased capacity with the 769 trains that are due to be introduced this year, and that's before taking into account a general increase in demand. I must say, I was extremely worried to hear the Transport for Wales CEO telling the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee recently that they have underestimated what will be the general levels of increase in demand.

So, when space for people on the trains is reduced in 2023, and goes back to the capacity we see now on the Bargoed to Caerphilly trains, the levels of demand will be much, much higher than they are today. That will lead to further cramped conditions, which will be exacerbated by the fact that Transport for Wales regulations actually allow for standing conditions that are amongst, I think, the most cramped in the UK. They allow only 0.25 metres squared standing space per passenger, compared with a UK standard of 0.45 metres squared. Those of us who get the trains every day will know how cramped those conditions can be. So, I'd like a statement, please, from the economy and transport Minister, about what steps the Welsh Government will take to ensure that increased capacity on the Rhymney line is maintained for 2023 and beyond that. 

The transport Minister's been indicating to me during your contribution that he is happy to provide an update to Members on the issues that you raise, but I do know that Transport for Wales are very aware of the capacity issues, particularly on the Rhymney line, and they've been exploring options to address the issue. 

Since taking over the franchise, it's fair to say there's been increasing demand on that line, and I would expect probably above and beyond that which was predicted. So, Transport for Wales are currently exploring how to improve that customer experience, and they've done so already, to a degree, by introducing those extra class 37 transition peak services in May of 2019.

Transport for Wales are fully reviewing all of their passenger number forecasts, and they assure us that the service they provide in 2023 will meet those demands, as many options are currently being considered and planned. But, as the Minister said, he'd be happy to provide an update that addresses your concerns.

The storm we've had in the last couple of days is yet another reminder that we absolutely have to change our ways if the climate emergency is not going to become completely out of control.

We've had very large sums of money being promised in the UK Parliament today: £106 billion for HS2. Professor Mark Barry, however, advises that this won't benefit Wales at all, because we're the only nation in the UK that doesn't have devolution of our rail infrastructure and, therefore, we won't get any consequential from that, is my understanding. So, we're going to have to pony up for this £106 billion to run yet another line out of London to the north of England, but we're not going to be benefiting from it at all, is my understanding.

It would be useful if we could hear from the Government about that, and particularly in light of the fact that the UK Government reneged on the electrification of the line from Cardiff to Swansea and beyond, which of course affects very badly on my constituents who are having to put up with all the pollution belching out of these diesel trains coming in and out of Cardiff Central. So, this is a really significant matter for me, and I wondered what action is being taken on that to try and get the Government to address some of the problems across the UK, rather than focusing all the money on London.

In addition to that, the UK Government has today said they're going to spend £5 billion on bus services and cycling routes. That'll be for England, so is there going to be a consequential for similar sums of money for Wales? And also, the UK Government has established a £50 million fund that local authorities can bid into in England to clean up their bus fleets with electric buses. Could we have a statement to pull together all these issues to find out whether the Welsh Government is going to be able to move with pace on this really, really important issue?

On a completely separate matter, I want to just highlight to the Government that the English Football Association is publishing guidelines for restricting the heading of a football by under-18s in training, and the Scottish Football Association is also going to ban any under-12s from heading a ball during training. Can we have a statement to demonstrate what the Welsh Government's view on this matter is, which is really quite a significant public health issue?

On the first issue, the short answer is that it's too soon to say yet what any consequentials might be coming from the UK Government in terms of the announcements that have been made. The UK Government has a habit of making re-announcements, so it's very difficult to say today what, if any, funding will be coming to Welsh Government.

It's important to recognise as well that the funding that comes to Welsh Government does so as a result of comparability factors that are set at either the previous comprehensive spending review or the spending round. So, we'll need to explore very closely where the UK Government is finding this additional funding and what the implications must be for us. But frankly, if the UK Government is intent on levelling up, then it needs to be stepping up as well, and ensuring that Welsh Government does receive the appropriate funding to make investments in our communities here in Wales.

But we'll certainly be applying all of the pressure necessary to ensure that the UK Government lives up to both the spirit and the letter of the statement of funding policy that should underline those spending decisions. I'll make sure that we get the appropriate funding here in Wales. As soon as there is more information, I'll be happy to provide that information. But as I say, at the moment, it is too early to say, because we don't have the level of detail we need.

On the second issue and a different issue of heading balls in sport, I know that the Football Association of Wales is currently reviewing the mini football offer that we have here in Wales, which involves children aged five to 11, and heading will be part of that review that is due to be concluded in spring of 2020. I know that the Minister is well aware of the concerns on this particular issue as well.

Trefnydd, you'll be aware that the Minister for health has issued a written statement on the coronavirus, a statement that is very helpful. It refers to the need to keep our legislation in Wales under review, I think in light of the fact that the UK Government is introducing legislation with the purpose of mitigating any effects of the coronavirus and looking at treatment options—enforcing supported isolation, for instance, in England.

I recognise that there are going to be regular updates, written statements, from the Minister for health, and also, I think, an update for AMs from the Chief Medical Officer later today. That's all good practice. Perhaps we could also factor into that oral statements on the situation, as this is a fast-moving situation and it does have the potential to be exceptionally serious. We know that there are already many demands on the NHS, particularly over the winter period. If the full extent of the coronavirus infection is realised, and, obviously, it may not be realised to its fullest extent, but if we do get anywhere near that, then there will be demands on the health service. I know that there are discussions going on and I think that the Minister's at the Cabinet Office briefing rooms meeting—COBRA—this week, so if we could have continual updates and oral reports to this Chamber as the situation develops, I think we would, all of us as Assembly Members, find that very helpful in corresponding with our constituents who will, understandably, be getting more concerned and worried as the news filters through over the weeks and months to come.

Secondly, changing tack, the south Wales metro: developing the metro must be a key part of the Government's strategy to deal with the climate emergency and to get people off the roads. We know that you, with your other hat on, have been bringing forward a green budget, and dealing with the climate emergency is key to that budget, so the metro and funding for the metro must be important over the years to come. But could we have an update from the Minister for transport on where we are with the metro? In my area, I know a number of concerns have been raised with me recently. The town of Monmouth, for instance, has been firstly off the metro map, then it was on the metro map, then it was back on—there were a number of maps going around, some official, some not. So, I wonder if we could have clarity from the Minister and from the Welsh Government as to what that map looks like at the moment.

I think the metro is a great idea; I think we're all united in thinking that, but, clearly, in an area like south-east Wales, if people living in the rural fringes, such as my constituency, feel that they're going to be left off that map further down the line, then that doesn't reassure them. It doesn't look as though the Welsh Government is doing everything it can to get people off the roads and onto public transport, as I'm sure would be your key objective in the future to deal with climate change.

Thank you to Nick Ramsay for raising both the issue of the metro projects and also the separate issue of the Welsh Government's response to the coronavirus. As Nick Ramsay said, today, the chief medical officer will be providing an update for Assembly Members in person, so that they're able to ask any questions that they have, and the health Minister has committed to providing an update, at least a written update, every Tuesday and more frequently if necessary to Assembly Members as the situation develops.

He is currently considering whether our current legislation is sufficient to protect the wider public from coronavirus or other high-consequence infections that might take place, or whether we do need to make changes to our legislation in Wales. That's under active consideration at the moment.

On the issue of the metro projects, I'm very pleased to be able to respond positively to that request for a statement. Ken Skates intends to make an oral statement to the Assembly on the twenty-fifth of this month on the metro projects in Wales.

Neath Port Talbot Council have recently decided to consider a proposition by S4C for the Welsh language programme Bang. They want to put up street art in the area to celebrate and to promote the programme, but Neath Port Talbot Council, in their wisdom, are potentially going to be considering this as an advert, as we've heard with another slogan in nearby Bridgend, as opposed to a painting. Therefore, it's going to scupper any plans to be able to promote this particular programme because of the planning processes that will need to be followed. So, I'm requesting a statement from the planning Minister so that we can try and discuss how we can make it easier for these street art activities to come about, as opposed to being hamstrung by bureaucracy and, therefore, hamstringing the development of art at a grass-roots level in our towns and communities, because I simply don't see this as an advert, I see this as something that can aid and support local arts in our communities. So I would urge a statement on that.

And my second request is for the housing Minister, so I'm pleased that she's sitting here today. I've had some complaints from people in my region who have suffered coercive control in many relationships, who have sought to become of priority housing need in another local authority because of the abuse that they are suffering, ongoing by their partners, some of whom live on the same street, and they're being told by a neighbouring authority that they're not a priority, by the social landlord or by the council. Can you tell me what the Welsh Government's plans are to either change this policy or to clarify why they're not a priority? Because, of course, if they're trying to escape a coercively controlling partner, by not allowing them to do so and to become a priority in another area, is absolutely scuppering their chances of getting free from that relationship, and I'm encountering more and more people coming to me in my region desperate for help because they're being abused on a daily basis, either through their children or through relationships that they want to escape, and it's simply making their lives even more toxic than needs to happen at the moment. So, a statement in that regard would be very beneficial indeed. 

The Minister for Housing and Local Government, who's responsible for both of the areas on which you've asked for a statement, has obviously been here to hear your concerns, and she's asked me to ask that you write to her, both on the issue of the street arts to celebrate and promote the Bang programme, and also the issue of coercive control. You'll be familiar with the work that's going on in terms of priority need, and I understand that commission is due to report to the Minister shortly, but if you provide a letter to the Minister, she'll be able to respond in some more detail.

Thank you, Trefnydd.