The next item this afternoon is the business statement and announcement. I call on the Trefnydd to make that statement. Rebecca Evans. 

Diolch, Llywydd. There are two changes to tomorrow's agenda. The debate on the Senedd Cymru (Representation of the People) (Amendment) Order 2021 has been reduced to five minutes, and the debate on the Welsh Elections (Miscellaneous Provisions) Order 2021 has been withdrawn. 

[Inaudible.]—George. Russell George. 

Thank you, Llywydd. I think you were just cut off the first time then. Thank you.

Can I ask, Trefnydd, for some input, please, from you? The Welsh Government made a statement last week, a press release via the First Minister, with regard to two new woodlands being created, one in north Wales and one in south Wales. As the Welsh Government press release says, it's hoped that they will be places of commemoration where families and friends can remember lost loved ones. I think it's important to mention this on this particular day that we sadly commemorate on this occasion. I would point out, of course—and I'm sure you'll be aware, Trefnydd—that, sadly, families have lost loved ones in other parts of Wales, in mid Wales also. So, can I ask the Trefnydd at this time to perhaps discuss this with ministerial colleagues? I know that Natural Resources Wales is leading on this particular project, but even though we are in an election period, or about to be in, perhaps you could discuss with local authorities and look for woodland in other parts of Wales, such as mid Wales, that can also be used to commemorate and can be planted in this way as well. I hope the Trefnydd will be able to take this up with colleagues appropriately. 

Thank you to Russell George for raising what is a really important issue, especially on this particular day. It will be important in the months and years to come that we do have appropriate places around Wales in which to pause and reflect and remember those who've lost loved ones, and also remember those who we've lost during the course of the pandemic. I will ensure that colleagues with responsibility for delivering on this particular agenda are aware of that particular concern that you've raised, and I will endeavour to have those conversations that you've suggested.

I've got a request for two statements today. Today, Siyanda Mngaza faces an appeal hearing to challenge the sentence she is currently serving for grievous bodily harm. Siyanda was a 4 ft 2 in, 20-year-old black disabled woman and was attacked by three people whilst camping in Brecon. Two of her attackers were men twice her age, and despite telling officers at the time that she was racially attacked, police admitted in court that her allegations of assault were not investigated. As Camilla Mngaza fights for her daughter's right to justice today, what will your Government do to ensure that young women of colour, like Siyanda, are protected from racism and hostility here in Wales? Please can we have a statement on your actions in this area?

The motherhood penalty, unpaid care, data bias—all terms that relate to the exacerbated imbalance that the pandemic has placed on women. The Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales has confirmed that he's only collecting data split by gender on redundancies where individuals access the ReAct scheme. Can I please have a written statement from the economy Minister regarding the collection of disaggregated data on unemployment in light of the impact of COVID restrictions on parenting and work?

On the first issue, I'm really pleased to say that, this afternoon, we will have a statement from the Deputy Minister and Chief Whip on the Wales race equality action plan. That will be a good opportunity, I think, to hear about the Welsh Government's approach in this area, and also to potentially raise those specific issues that you've just brought to the floor of the Senedd with the Minister.

On the second issue, about data bias and the collection of data regarding unemployment, I will again make the Minister for economy and transport aware of that particular concern, and explore if there is more that we can be doing in this area to better understand the impact of the pandemic on women, but also on others with protected characteristics.FootnoteLink

Information further to Plenary

I ask once again: would the Welsh Government make a statement condemning the appalling behaviour of Ursula von der Leyen and the European Commission in the handling of the vaccine roll-out in Europe? As well as threats to block the exports of vaccines to the UK, her obfuscation and u-turn strategies have undoubtedly cost many thousands of lives across the European Union. And further, would the Government make a statement on the incredible way in which both the Welsh and UK Governments, freed of EU intervention, have handled the vaccine roll-out in the UK, and by so doing saved many thousands of British lives? Surely this in itself is a justification for Brexit.

I don't want to rerun the arguments that we've been having for the past few years in relation to leaving the European Union, but I will respond to the substantive point, just to reflect the fact that, at this point, there is no ban on EU exports of AstraZeneca. I am aware that the Prime Minister is having some direct conversations with the EU on this, and I think that that's the appropriate thing to do, given the fact that vaccine supply in that sense is not devolved to the Senedd. And of course, later on this afternoon, actually, as the next item of business, we will have a statement from the First Minister on COVID-19 one year on, which will be an opportunity to reflect across the last 12 months and the impact that the pandemic has had on all of our lives.

Trefnydd, I wondered if we could have a statement from one of our health Ministers about the importance of Endometriosis Awareness Month, which is this month. This is a terrible condition that affects one in 10 women. Normally, we'd be marching to pay attention to everybody and just what a complicated condition this is. I wondered if we could just have a statement in solidarity from the Government about the commitment to really get to the bottom of this disease and ensure that we are treating people more effectively and more quickly.  

The women's health implementation group was established to provide that strategic leadership for us here in Wales, to ensure that we have that all-Wales approach to break down barriers and also join up the pathways between primary, secondary and tertiary care, so that women's health can be managed in the community, wherever possible, without the need for more intensive intervention. I'm very pleased that the group has developed plans to use some of its funding to bolster endometriosis services across Wales and provide additional support that will come together to form a network, working closely with the existing pelvic health and well-being co-ordinators who have been established by that group. That should, then, ensure that women in Wales affected by endometriosis are supported more effectively. But, as you say, it is awareness week, and I'm really pleased also that the group has developed a menstrual awareness learning resource. That will be published in the next few months, and that does aim to give young girls in particular better awareness and understanding of normal menstruation, allowing them to also get onto that diagnostic pathway at an earlier stage when issues do arise, so that they can recognise when there might be problems. So, I think there is some positive work now happening in this area.  

Business Minister, can I please request that the First Minister of this Government outlines in a detailed statement how and when it's going to bring back adult outdoor organised sport please? As I've already said—and I'll repeat it because of its importance—physical exercise has proven benefits that are well renowned and well known, and the impact on mental health will form an important part of recovery from this pandemic. It is to this end that I ask, please, that there be a statement issued outlining when exactly the Government plans to bring back and reopen all things that will enable children and adults to play sport and take part in physical exercise, recognising those, of course, that will be open and come into effect soon. Our football and rugby clubs, for example, need time to prepare, First Minister and Minister, grounds and fixtures, ironically to ensure they're COVID safe et cetera. This sector is often overlooked in importance, and it needs clarity, Minister. Therefore, can I ask you to ensure there is a road map for clubs and businesses to follow as a matter of urgency? Thank you. 

You were able to hear from the First Minister in response to your question earlier this afternoon, but you did see, at the last three-weekly review, that we did endeavour to provide a greater level of detail as to the steps that might happen in the weeks ahead. Always, we look to give as much certainty and notice as we possibly can, but in this fast-moving situation it can be difficult to give too much notice looking further ahead. But I think the points that you've made about the importance of outdoor activity, and particularly the important role all our sporting clubs have in our own local communities, are very well made and well understood, and I know that this will be considered as we move forward through the next three-weekly review cycle. 

The final report of the Valleys taskforce has been published, and stakeholder views include saying that the taskforce, and I quote,  

'had a fairly limited direct impact upon the Valleys communities.'

It also highlighted a lack of resources. Another direct quote from the report's conclusions: 

'The VTF started out with a very ambitious set of aims and objectives but lacked the resources and capacity to deliver on these effectively.' 

A key issue raised was

'whether the VTF ought to have been established from the outset with an adequate level of revenue and capital funding in place to enable it to achieve its ambitious aims and objectives.'

As the Senedd Member for the Rhondda, I have consistently pushed for more investment, including for a specific proposal for an exciting, well-skilled co-operative of former Burberry workers on that site to set up clothes manufacturing. The taskforce has missed this opportunity and many others, and it has neglected large areas of the Valleys that really need economic development. 

Have lessons been learned from this experience? The Rhondda has been let down by successive governments in London and in Cardiff for decades now. Doesn't this show that the only way that the Rhondda will get the economic development that the people there deserve is with a Plaid Cymru Government? Do you accept that now?

I think that you've given a very unbalanced reflection of the work of the Valleys taskforce, which I think has had some really significant impacts in Rhondda Cynon Taf and elsewhere. Of course, I'm thinking about interventions such as the significant work done in terms of bringing underused and unused housing back into use, which has been particularly important, the important role and contribution of the Valleys taskforce in terms of the Better Jobs Closer to Home projects, and also the Big Bocs Bwyd schemes, which have been very important in terms of tackling food poverty in communities. So, I think it has been a successful programme, and part of the success, I think, is based on the fact it was very much ground up. This was very much a programme and a taskforce that was involved in listening to communities, understanding what the priorities and concerns were. And all of those concerns related to aspects such as the importance of jobs and skills, and I think the Valleys taskforce does have a good story to tell and a good legacy in that respect.

Trefnydd, could I ask for a statement on the challenges facing the use of stop notices and enforcement powers during the pandemic? I've got a long-running issue in my constituency in Rhiwceiliog where stop notices have been placed on unlawful developments in a very peaceful, quiet area. They've been issued, but they've been wilfully ignored, where there's been harassment and intimidation from the unlawful occupiers, who are proceeding to rip up hedges, destroy sensitive ecology, historic parts of the site. And you can understand, Minister, that local residents are deeply frustrated. Police have been involved, Natural Resources Wales have been involved, the local authority has been involved. So, could we have a statement on the use of enforcement powers and stop notices during the pandemic, but also a statement that could make clear that, if we have a future Welsh Labour Government, we will bring forward in an environment Act, and we will have in that environment Act, padlock powers so that stop means stop? When unlawful activity is prohibited from going ahead, people will be stopped from going onto that site, and if we hadn't had the distraction, I have to say, of civil servants being pulled away from EU transitioning, we'd have had that Act a long time ago. So, could we have that statement, Minister? It would be great reassurance to residents in Rhiwceiliog.

Yes, I'd like to provide that reassurance, and the fact that we've been very clear in our commitment that we would want to legislate to place our approach to environmental principles and governance on a statutory footing here in Wales. But, as Huw Irranca-Davies says, when the First Minister reflected on the legislative programme, he said that the pressures that we faced in terms of the end of transition from European Union, and also, of course, the impact of COVID-19, have had a significant impact on that programme of work and that difficult decisions had to be taken in terms of the legislative programme. It does mean that the legislation on environmental principles and governance couldn't be brought forward in this term, but, yes, the First Minister has reiterated his commitment to do so should we be in a position to do so in the next Senedd.

Trefnydd, can I call for a statement from the Minister for Education on the use of face coverings in schools in Wales? I've been contacted by a number of constituents who've been very concerned that the schools are requiring them to wear face coverings all day in school, and of course that is causing a great deal of discomfort to many children who are having to wear them for the full period. We know, of course, that the Welsh Government has introduced regular, twice weekly lateral flow testing in schools in order to reduce risks, so it does seem to me that that needs to be taken into account and the guidance needs to be refreshed on the use of face coverings to ensure that it's appropriate.

Can I also call for a statement on the use of enforcement powers by Natural Resources Wales? I listened very carefully to your response just a few moments ago to Huw Irranca-Davies, but I have issues in my own constituency in the Ruthin area with a significant issue in relation to smoke pollution, and it seems to me that Natural Resources Wales do not have adequate resources to be able to meet their obligations to respond quickly to these things when they happen. In fact, there was an investigation launched into the source of the smoke problem back in January, and we're getting towards the end of March and the outcome is still not expected until the middle of April. Clearly, that's unsatisfactory. It is possible that people's health is being put at risk as a result of these delays, so I would be grateful if there could be a statement from the Minister for environment just on the adequacy of the resources that Natural Resources Wales has in order to deal with and tackle the problems caused by air pollution, in particular in north Wales. Thank you.

Thank you for raising both of those issues. On the matter of face coverings in schools in Wales, I will ask the Minister for Education to review your comments this afternoon and to write you with the latest position, especially in respect, as you say, of the fact that lateral flow tests are now available. On the matter of resourcing for NRW to undertake its enforcement work, I will ask you to write to the Minister with some more detail about the specific smoke problem that you've described this afternoon in order for her to have that fuller picture in order to respond to you.

As we all reflect today, Trefnydd, on the experience of lockdown and those that we've lost, will you first of all join me in congratulating the seven representatives from the Hywel Dda University Health Board who were awarded last week's High Sheriff of Dyfed awards for some of the work that they've done at this really difficult time? But may I primarily ask for a written statement from the Minister for mental health with regard to the immediate support available to young people facing mental health problems, and we know that these have been exacerbated by their experiences during the crisis? I met last week with students from Ysgol Y Strade in Llanelli, and one of their main concerns was the future mental health and well-being of themselves and their young colleagues. I think the Minister herself would acknowledge that there are real issues with access to services, with very long waiting times for some services to child and adolescent mental health services.

We, of course, in Plaid Cymru would like to see a national network of mental health and well-being centres for young people, and I'd very much like to see one of those in Llanelli, but I'd like to hear, in the meantime, from the Minister for mental health about what support she can provide in the short term for those young people so that the very long waits for access to CAMHS are dealt with and the approach that she has talked about as regards it being more community based, using services like youth work services, rather than purely medical services to address the concerns of those young people from Ysgol Y Strade and from across my region.

I'd like to begin absolutely by joining you in giving those congratulations to the seven individuals who have been recognised in the High Sheriff of Dyfed awards. People have gone well above and beyond over the past 12 months in order to serve communities and to provide the healthcare and support that people need. So, I'm very happy to say 'congratulations' and extend our thanks there, and also, of course, to all of those people who have been doing incredible work and have, as yet, remained under the radar, so haven't had the opportunity to be formally recognised, but we all know, and the families whose lives have been touched will have known the kindness and the professionalism with which they've undertaken their roles as well.

This afternoon, we do have a statement on mental health and well-being support in educational settings from the Minister for Education, which I think will start to respond to some of the concerns that you've raised this afternoon. And then, tomorrow, the Minister with responsibility for mental health does have questions, and I know that there are several opportunities on the order paper to hear more directly in terms of the concerns that you've described about the mental health support available for children and young people, and the impact that the pandemic will have had on their lives.

Finally, Paul Davies.

Diolch, Llywydd. Trefnydd, I'd like to request two statements: one from the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs regarding the support for agricultural shows across Wales following the recent news that the Pembrokeshire show has been cancelled again this year, which, of course, is understandable. You'll be aware that the Royal Welsh Show is also not taking place, as well as smaller shows across all parts of Wales. Now, these shows are not just important to the agricultural sector, but they're also important community events and are crucial in promoting our culture, and they are also responsible for community cohesion as they bring communities together, they bring people from rural and more urbanised areas together. Therefore, as more and more cancellations are announced in the wake of the COVID pandemic, it's vital that the Welsh Government publishes a statement of support for shows and, indeed, festivals that confirms exactly how it is supporting them through the pandemic, particularly the smaller agricultural shows and festivals.

Secondly, can I also request a statement from the Welsh Government regarding personal protective equipment for NHS workers? I've been contacted by a distressed constituent who has made it clear that the equipment does not suitably enable workers to lip-read, making life very difficult for workers who have hearing difficulties. I know that there should be appropriate equipment being made available, but I'm told that, in this case, the clear face masks are very challenging in that they're difficult to use for long periods of time, hence my constituent is unable to lip-read due to the right equipment not being worn. I'm sure that you'll agree with me that this is unacceptable and so it's crucial that the Welsh Government provides some leadership on this matter by publishing a clear statement outlining its PPE policy, explaining the importance of suitable equipment for NHS workers who need the right equipment because of hearing problems, and ensuring that those workers have access to the right equipment.

Thank you for raising both of those important issues this afternoon. The Minister with responsibility for energy, environment and rural affairs will have heard your request for the statement on agricultural shows and the Welsh Government's support for them. I just would join you in recognising the important role that agricultural shows play in our rural community life right across Wales and they are often the highlight of the year for many people. So, obviously it's disappointing when people don't have those opportunities to come together in that unique kind of way.

On the matter of PPE, I'd be grateful if you would write to the health Minister, describing the specific issue so that we can explore to what extent this is a wider spread issue or something that is more local, so that we can consider how best to respond to that particular concern. Thank you. 

I thank the Trefnydd.