The next item 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. The draft business for the next three weeks is set out on the business statement and announcement, which is available in the papers made available to Members electronically. 

Can I ask the Trefnydd to schedule a statement on access to sports clubs and training in Wales please for young people, and, indeed, for adults too? Since the introduction of the local restrictions in the Conwy and Denbighshire areas, I've been contacted by many parents who are unable now to take their children to training facilities just over the neighbouring counties' borders. It's causing some angst for those parents in terms of the young people being able to access those training opportunities. 

Also, I've been contacted by people who are in the Welsh football leagues, and they are asking why they are not able to participate in second division games and matches for training purposes, in the way that other elite sports athletes actually are. I wonder whether we could have some clarity on these things going forward, in order that those individuals can participate fully in sport, which of course is an important part of our culture here in Wales.

Thank you to Darren Millar for raising those issues. Of course, next week in Plenary we will be debating the specific regulations to which Darren refers, so that might be an opportune moment to raise those concerns about the individuals involved in sport and training within the area that he represents. But of course, the Minister with responsibility for sport will have been hearing your comments. And if there is more that we can do in terms of the guidance on the phased return to sport, and the guidance that we're offering to those sporting clubs, then obviously we would seek to make that guidance clearer. So, I will ask the Minister to review your comments, to see if there's anything more that we can do in that area.

Can we have a statement outlining how the Government can further help the hospitality sector? In some communities, the pub, the club, the bingo hall is keeping the community together. They're more than a business; they're a community centre. Because of the restrictions, many are really struggling. So, how can the Government help to ensure that they have a future?

I'd also like a statement on testing. Last week, I asked about testing in the Rhondda and the Royal Glamorgan Hospital, and since then, people working in care homes have told me that they are waiting days for their results and that the time is lengthening. Now, care home staff and NHS staff need their results back as quickly as possible in order to stop the spread. It is possible to have an hour turnaround time. So, can we have a statement on the Government's testing plan and strategy? I want assurances that it doesn't rely on the private UK Government system that has let us down so many times so far.

Thank you to Leanne Wood for raising both of those issues. On the first, of course, we have recently announced the third phase of the economic resilience fund. The Minister will confirm later on today that the eligibility criteria for phase 3 will be available on the website of Business Wales later on today. So, I would certainly encourage businesses within the Rhondda, and beyond, to look to that, specifically I think for hospitality, because I know the Minister has been at pains to ensure that hospitality businesses are prioritised within that support, recognising the difficulties that they're experiencing.

We do publish very regular updates on testing. I know that the Minister for health has published an update on testing just today. I know that he'll be keen to continue to provide those regular updates in the period ahead.

Minister, could I ask for a debate or a statement on the situation facing the many thousands of people and families, not only in Blaenau Gwent but across the whole country, who are facing real difficulties now because local lockdowns mean that they're unable to take holidays or breaks or flights that they've already booked and paid for? The attitude of some travel companies has been, frankly, appalling, treating people really very, very badly. People who have tried to find a way of taking a family break over these months have found themselves a victim of a travel industry that doesn't seem to care much about the people who are affected by their decisions. I know that MPs have been taking this up in Westminster, and there needs to be an opportunity for us here in Cardiff to address some of these issues as well.

I would also like to ask for a Government debate on the situation facing our choirs and community music societies and organisations across the country. We've debated and discussed the position of singing in choirs and churches on a number of occasions. But as we head into the winter months, and particularly with some of the restrictions that are in place in different localities across the country, many choirs and many community musical organisations and societies and clubs are facing some real difficulties. Wales is a land of song and a land of music, and it's important that we're able to ensure that people can continue to be able to make music and that choirs are able to continue to function. The Welsh Government has already invested in some of the professional musicians and freelancers, and we also need to find a way of protecting the volunteers and the people who make Wales the land of song. 

Thank you to Alun Davies for both of those issues. He'll be pleased to note that there is a debate on the arts and culture and heritage sectors tomorrow in the Senedd. So that would be a great opportunity for him to showcase the fantastic musical communities that he has in Blaenau Gwent, which I know he's a great supporter of.

On the first issue of the impact of local restrictions on people's ability to take holidays, you'll recall that last week, in the Chamber, the First Minister updated on the response that he'd had from the travel insurance sector, which I think was broadly positive, certainly in words, but obviously now we'll be seeking to ensure that those words are turned into action in terms of being able to recompense those people who have been unfortunately unable to take their holidays.  

I'm going to ask for something very simple from the Trefnydd. I would like a phone call. I was given to understand that a new testing centre was to be established in Bangor, but that's still a fortnight away, and nobody is entirely clear of the details, including who will be allowed to go there for testing. There is a lack of clarity in my constituency as to where it's possible to get a test if you are COVID symptomatic, unless you travel to Llandudno or beyond. And as the number of cases increases, my constituents need this information as a matter of urgency. So, will you arrange that I can speak over the phone with the health Minister so I can have a full explanation, please? I have tried every other avenue of seeking this information so I can share it with my constituents.

I'll certainly endeavour to speak to the health Minister to get that information for you so that you're able to provide your constituents with the information that they're seeking with regard to the testing centre in Bangor. I'll get that to you as soon as I can. 

Trefnydd, eight months ago, the Prime Minister, in Parliament, openly stated that the UK Government would passport the moneys necessary to repair the flood damaged infrastructure in Wales, and, as you know, that is estimated, in my constituency in Rhondda Cynon Taf, at around £70 million. The Secretary of State for Wales has also confirmed that. There have been many such promises. It now appears that the UK Government is going to renege on its commitment to provide those funds to enable those important infrastructure repairs to be carried out. I wonder what discussions you've had with the UK Government on this. But I think it is a matter of such importance that it deserves an urgent statement in this Chamber, so we can actually discuss what the future is, what the implications are and how those infrastructure repairs are going to be financed in the future.  

Thank you to Mick Antoniw for allowing us this opportunity to reflect again on the Prime Minister's words in the House of Commons, when he did say that funding would be passported directly to the Welsh Government, in order to fund those repairs to the flooding damage. We've yet to see a penny of that funding, but we are still in dialogue with the UK Government. In the meantime, we've been at pains to reassure the affected local authorities that work should continue on the grounds of safety, and that the funding issues shouldn't prevent that work from starting. 

I listened carefully, Trefnydd, to Darren Millar's request and your answer, but if I could also request a statement, please, on the situation facing those who take part in the national football league of Wales. I'm aware that many Newtown AFC players work full time, play football part time, but they're still classed as elite athletes, meaning that, under the Welsh Government guidance, they can travel to play football. Last week, they visited, for example, Bridgend, which is currently in a local lockdown area, something that the management and many of the players were reluctant to do given the increased risk of travelling in that position. If they don't want to travel and attend, then they face a penalty. So, I do think this is something that the Welsh Government needs to bring guidance forward on, rather than just leaving it to the Football Association of Wales. 

Secondly, and related, many clubs won't survive through the winter without further financial support, so I would be grateful if you and your colleagues could outline whether or not you intend to follow the UK Government's lead in providing financial support, following the UK Government's announcement that the national league is to receive a £10 million rescue package.

Thank you for raising that. Of course, I will ask the Deputy Minister to also review your particular comments about the national football league, when he considers the comments made by Darren Millar also this afternoon, in terms of whether any additional guidance is necessary. You'll be aware that Welsh Government has already announced significant support for the sport sector. Much of that is going through Sport Wales, so I would encourage the teams involved to look at Sport Wales in the first instance to explore whether any support might be available.

Trefnydd, I would like to call for two statements from Government Ministers. The first is a statement from the Minister for health regarding cancer care in Wales during the pandemic. Whilst urgent cancer care continues, to an extent, cancer screening, like much of the NHS, is on hold while resources are focused on the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak—understandably so at the beginning of the outbreak, but not nearly nine months on. Many services are beginning to return, but nothing has been said of how the backlog will be dealt with. As a survivor of breast cancer, I was dismayed to learn that, according to Tenovus, 30,000 Welsh women missed out on screening, and that means as many as 300 women could unknowingly have breast cancer. As one of Wales's biggest killers, it is vital that we address this issue and that the Government outlines the action it will take in an urgent statement. 

The second statement I call for is from the Minister for housing on the homelessness crisis in Wales. Welsh Government assured us that actions taken during the peak of the pandemic would put an end to rough-sleeping. However, just a few days ago, I spoke to yet another veteran still sleeping rough, waiting for help. And I'm sure you will agree with me that this is unacceptable. Homelessness hasn't gone away during this crisis; it's just become more hidden. We need urgent action, and I call upon the Welsh Government to make a statement on how they will tackle homelessness, particularly within the ex-forces community. Diolch yn fawr. 

Thank you to Caroline Jones for raising both of those important issues. We have, of course, been working very closely with the health boards and trusts from the start of the pandemic to ensure that as much cancer care can continue as possible. I do want to reassure you that cervical screening in Wales restarted sending invitations in June to women who had been delayed an early repeat invitation for cervical screening, and also Bowel Screening Wales has restarted its bowel screening programme with a phased approach from July. And Breast Test Wales started to send out screening invitations to women at higher risk from July. So, those screening services are now resuming. And, obviously, clinicians and managers across Wales are working flat out and doing all they can, really, to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on those areas. But, obviously, COVID has certainly had an impact. 

I'll ask the Minister with responsibility for housing to write to you with an update on homelessness, with that specific focus on people who have left the armed forces and how we can ensure that people don't leave the forces and find themselves on the streets, but then also that those people who have formerly served and found themselves on the streets are supported into housing as soon as possible.

Organiser, can I identify with the comments of Alun Davies, the Member for Blaenau Gwent, around choirs and the ability for choirs in restricted forms to obviously try and come back together in some shape or form, because they provide a huge amount of enjoyment for the communities they serve and they are emblematic of Wales as a country? But could I seek two statements from you as well, please, one on the suspension of Qatar Airways flights from Cardiff Airport? Regrettably, in other parts of the UK, they are starting to re-establish themselves, in Belfast and Scotland—in Edinburgh, I think it is—but regrettably here in Wales they've chosen to cancel the whole winter schedule. I do not believe a statement has been forthcoming from the Welsh Government as to what actions the Government are trying to undertake, working with the airline, to establish flights, certainly for the next summer season, and it has been a major investment on behalf of Welsh Government to secure this airline to Cardiff Wales airport. So, an understanding of how the Government are going to engage with the airport and the airline would be beneficial for all.  

Secondly, could I seek a statement from the health Minister in relation to Velindre Cancer Centre and the development of the new hospital and facilities on the site? The Minister was in the health committee last week and, because he is determining the business case, he obviously had to absent himself from much of the discussion and contribution. But there are serious concerns within the community that this centre will serve that the proposals, as currently outlined, are not fit for purpose and that an inquiry, a review, which is independent and ultimately led by a cancer specialist from outside Wales to ascertain the best outcome for the development of cancer services in south-east Wales is the way forward, so that we can be sure that the £300 million investment is the correct investment for the next 40 to 50 years. A statement from the health Minister as to whether he would be prepared to construct such a review, and appoint an individual to undertake it, would be most welcome. 

I'm grateful to Andrew R.T. Davies for raising those issues. On the issue of Velindre Cancer Centre, I'm aware that the health Minister did receive a letter from clinicians about the clinical model for the proposed new cancer centre, which I think is what Andrew R.T. Davies is referring to. I know that advice is due from officials shortly on the proposed development, so it would be difficult for either the health Minister or me to say anything further at this point. But we do expect any advice from officials to take a close look at the matters that were raised by the clinicians, although the health boards in south-east Wales who commission tertiary cancer services from the trust have previously signed off the business case for the new cancer model, and that included the clinical model for the new hospital, which, in the case of acutely unwell patients, is the same clinical model that's currently in place for the region. But, that said, I know that further advice is on its way to the Minister regarding the proposed development there, and I know that he'd be keen to provide an update when he's able to.FootnoteLink 

And, on Qatar, I will certainly make the Minister for economy and transport aware of your request for an update on the implications of the decision on Cardiff Airport. 

Information further to Plenary

I want to ask for two statements, Trefnydd, and the first one from the economy Minister about the Stadco car parts factory closure in Llanfyllin. There are 129 workers and their families who would urgently want to know what help and what support is available to them in the immediate future. And then, following on from that, I know that there will be wider public interest in what happens to that site given that it is the largest manufacturing site in that county.

The second statement that I would like is on the advice that is given to pregnant women who are at work in Wales. There is the all-Wales COVID-19 workforce assessment tool, and it does inform women if they are more than 28 weeks pregnant that they should work from home or in a non-public-facing role in a COVID-secure workplace. But that can put women—and I have been contacted by a constituent facing this dilemma—to oppose, sometimes, the workplace setting that they find themselves in, and to have to challenge their employer to make sure that that workplace is a safe setting for them. So, my question, really, is: rather than sticking to the 28-week-plus pregnancy rule, would it not be better that we were able to advise women who are pregnant to be able to choose, if it's best for them, to work from home, and to send that advice down to the employer, rather than adding in extra stress for women who are pregnant at this time when it's absolutely not necessary so to do?

Thank you for raising those issues. I will ask the Minister for economy and transport to provide you with an update on the Stadco closure, in terms of what support might be available for the workers and their families, and any potential future uses for the site. So, I'll ask that he provides you with that information directly.

And, obviously, the health Minister would have been listening to your contribution there with regard to the advice that we provide to pregnant women and the way it's communicated to employers, and I know that he will give due consideration to that suggestion.FootnoteLink  

Information further to Plenary

Minister, I'd like a Government statement on repot NRPB-M173. It's a report that I've sent through to Ministers. It's a report that proves—it actually proves—that plutonium leaked into the Severn estuary for decades. I've sent the report to Natural Resources Wales and I'm still yet to get any kind of answer. It is a proven fact that plutonium leaked into the estuary from Hinkley Point nuclear power station. It's in black and white from a Government study in 1990, which is no longer publicly available. So, I'd like a statement as to when the Government will take action on this matter and ensure that an independent environmental impact assessment is carried out. Diolch yn fawr.

Well, we've had this discussion previously in the business statement, not very long ago, and at that point I did advise that the Petitions Committee was looking at a similar issue and that that would be an opportunity to hear from the Minister. And you'll see now, in the business statement, that that Petitions Committee debate has been tabled, so there will be an opportunity to discuss this in more depth in the coming weeks.

I thank the Trefnydd.