The next item is the business statement and announcement, and I call on the Trefnydd to make that statement—Lesley Griffiths. 

Diolch, Llywydd. There are two changes to today's agenda: the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language will make a statement on renew and reform: supporting learners' well-being and progression. Secondly, I have extended the length of the debate on the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 5) (Wales) (Amendment) (No. 6) Regulations 2021 to 30 minutes. 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 congratulate the Trefnydd on her appointment to the Welsh Government's Cabinet and on her other ministerial role as well for both rural affairs and north Wales? Can I call for two Welsh Government statements today, please? The first is in respect of neonatal care in Wales. The Minister will be well aware of the fact that there's been a significant impact on visiting arrangements to neonatal care facilities across the country as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the charity for babies that are born premature and sick, Bliss, has raised concerns about the visiting arrangements to these, excluding largely the fathers of small and sick babies. And I wonder what action the Welsh Government might be able to take through issuing more updated national guidance, now that the vaccination rate has been so successful and we've seen a significant fall in the number of COVID cases. So, could we have an update on the arrangements for visiting in those particular neonatal care centres across the country?

Secondly, could we have another statement from the Minister for health, this time on access to face-to-face GP appointments? I'm getting increasing correspondence from across the constituency from people who are desperate to be able to book a face-to-face appointment with their GP and who are increasingly frustrated by the call-first triage system that is operating across north Wales and other parts of the country. Now, I can appreciate, obviously, the need to safeguard the infection control arrangements in our GP surgeries, but this is now becoming a matter of contention in many communities and I wonder whether there can be fresh guidance issued that allows a gradual face-to-face appointment regime to return, a more routine regime to return, to our GP surgeries across the country. Thank you.

Thank you, Darren Millar, for your kind words and I look forward to working with you on the Business Committee. You raised two very important points, and I know that it's been a particularly difficult and worrying time for parents and families of babies who've required neonatal care. Obviously, health boards do have flexibility within the current guidelines around visiting and I'm sure that each health board will look, as you say, when the situation improves, to when they can expand the visiting times in those areas.

In relation to your second question around access to general practitioners, we know that, predominantly, people are having consultations by telephone and other technological means. But I know that the new Minister for Health and Social Services, Eluned Morgan, is currently working with GPs themselves and other stakeholders to see when that can be opened up. And again, there is some flexibility around that. I know of certain GP practices in my own constituency where those face-to-face visits are currently happening.

Trefnydd, a report published last week by the End Child Poverty coalition showed that parts of Wales have seen a dramatic increase in child poverty over the past five years and that Wales now has the worst child poverty rate of all the nations in the UK, with 31 per cent of children living below the poverty line.

The situation of child poverty in Wales is a national scandal. Unfortunately, child poverty is not new and the Welsh Government has already tried to address the issue but has failed. Charities and other organisations are calling on the new Welsh Government to prioritise the reduction of child poverty, with clear, measurable milestones and ambitious targets. Will the Trefnydd commit today to allocating time in the parliamentary timetable at the earliest opportunity to give us all an opportunity, as a Parliament, to discuss and to scrutinise the Welsh Government's plans to address child poverty? May I also urge the Trefnydd likewise to allocate time for the Senedd to address the impact of deprivation on our young people, something that the police agree needs to be prioritised when considering, particularly, the incidents of last week in the Mayhill area of ​​Swansea?

Diolch for that question and, clearly, child poverty and the mitigation of child poverty and all forms of poverty will continue to be a priority for this Welsh Labour Government. I will certainly speak with the Minister for Social Justice, Jane Hutt, to see what plans she has in relation to tackling all forms of poverty as well as child poverty, and, when appropriate, I'm sure she will bring forward a statement.

I'm asking for an update on the legislative consent motion on increased sentences for animal cruelty. The Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee unanimously agreed to support it during the last Senedd, but, unfortunately, it was too close to the end for it to be implemented. Can the Trefnydd give us a date for it being brought before the Senedd, because my understanding is that you have unanimous support across parties and within parties for this legislation to come in, which will mean that people who commit crimes of animal cruelty can have their sentences increased massively?

Thank you, Mike Hedges, and, obviously, I'm very well aware of the cross-party support that was there for the LCM. But, unfortunately, the UK Government proceeded with the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill, despite the lack of an opportunity for the Senedd to give consent, owing to the election, and it was during the pre-election period, when I did not think the LCM would be coming forward at that time. We didn't think the Bill would be processing that quickly, so I did write to the UK Government immediately to express my concern in relation to this. I think it's another example of the disrespect for the Sewel convention by the UK Government. I will be issuing a written statement—maybe this afternoon, but certainly hopefully by tomorrow—and I will also be writing to the UK Government again. What I want to provide is detail to Members about how it happened and what action we took as a Welsh Government to avoid it.

I call for a Welsh Government statement on its current position regarding the A55, A494, A548 Flintshire corridor. The Labour Welsh Government announced in 2017 that they had decided on the Flintshire red route option to the A55 at Northop. I subsequently raised constituents' concerns regarding this with the former economy Minister on several occasions, highlighting issues including environmental impact on habitats, meadows and ancient woodland. Last September, he stated,

'We're due to carry out some environmental investigations along the preferred route in autumn 2020.'

Last October he stated,

'We're continuing with the next stage of development on the Flintshire corridor improvement and are currently procuring a designer to develop the designer proposals in more detail.'

Last December, he told me in this Chamber that this route was determined to be the most suitable for the challenge that we face in that particular area of Wales. However, during the recent election, the local Member—herself a Member of the Welsh Government—stated that she opposed the route and it's understood that the First Minister then stated he would review this. I call for a statement accordingly.

This issue is obviously being looked at by the new Minister and I will certainly ask her to bring a statement forward when she has all the relevant information.

First of all, I'd like to thank all of you for the opportunity to contribute this afternoon, and congratulations indeed to all of the Members on their election. I'd like to thank my constituents for putting their faith in me to represent them as a regional Member.

The coronavirus pandemic has sparked in us a renewed appreciation for our green spaces, the importance and the beauty of Wales and the Welsh outdoors, and the need for a green recovery. However, last June, when we saw fast-food drive-throughs reopening, our green spaces became plagued with litter. Littering is a pervasive problem across Wales, no less in the south-east, and my constituents are eager to tackle the ever-growing litter crisis. One potential solution to the crisis would be to make it compulsory for fast-food outlets with drive-through facilities to print car number plates on their packaging so that litter can be traced in order to discourage littering. The COVID recovery in south-east Wales has to be a green recovery. So, I would like a statement from the Welsh Government about their plans for tackling the litter crisis, and would the Welsh Government consider adopting this approach to discourage littering? Diolch yn fawr.

Diolch, and croeso. One of the last things I did ahead of the election in my previous portfolio was launch a consultation around fly-tipping and littering. I absolutely agree with you—it's a dreadful thing that, unfortunately, we've seen an increase in, particularly over the last 12 months, and this Government has made it very clear that it has to be a green recovery as we come out of COVID. We can't just keep doing the same things differently; we have to do different things, and part of that will be in the green and indeed the blue recovery. So, I'm sure, when the Minister—I can't remember when the consultation closes, but it hasn't closed yet—has the opportunity to look at the responses, she will bring forward relevant information to all Members at that time.

I'd like to congratulate you, Trefnydd, on your new role also. Trefnydd, at the start of April, the House of Commons select committee on business, energy and industrial strategy published their report into the mineworkers' pension scheme, and their findings were stark. I quote:

'It is patently clear...that the scheme's arrangements have unduly benefited the UK Government and it is untenable for the Government to continue to argue that the arrangements remain fair.'

Governments should not be in the business of profiting from mineworkers' pensions. The report was clear in that this profiting was at the expense of miners and their families, many of whom were struggling to make ends meet. Can we have a statement from Welsh Government on its response to this report, which affects so many of my constituents in Cynon Valley? Could you also ask your colleagues to raise this with UK Ministers so that we can get justice for those affected?

Thank you, Vikki Howells, for raising this very important point. We are very aware of the National Union of Mineworkers' long-standing campaign on this and, obviously, previous Welsh Governments have set out very clearly to the UK Government their support for the position that was adopted by the NUM. The committee that you refer to, I think it's very heartening to see that they came to the same conclusions as the Welsh Government did. It is a non-devolved matter, and obviously it's not in our gift to make their recommendations happen. However, we have a commitment to fair work. You'll be very aware that it is a fundamental principle that workers should receive a fair reward for their work, and I think that includes a fair pension. So, we will continue to press the UK Government on this matter and I will keep Senedd Members updated through written statements.

Minister, may I call for a statement from the Minister for health on the decision to allow doctors to prescribe pills by telephone or video to enable girls and women to abort at home? I am sure many Members have been contacted by people concerned that the removal of any direct medical supervision overseeing the use of these abortion pills at home raises a number of safety issues for the mother, putting their health and safety at risk, and the worry that it could lead to increased pressure being put on the NHS, which is the very consequence the policy is ultimately trying to avoid. The previous health Minister said this was a temporary approval, in light of coronavirus, that would expire on the day on which the temporary provisions of the Coronavirus Act 2020 expire, or the end of the period of two years, beginning with the day on which it was made, or whichever is earlier. With the easing of coronavirus restrictions, and bearing in mind the need to ease the pressure on front-line NHS staff, could we have a statement from the health Minister on whether this temporary policy of allowing women to have access to termination of pregnancy services at home will be permanent or not? Thank you.

Thank you, and thank you for that question. As you say, it was a temporary position announced by the previous Minister for Health and Social Services, and I'm sure, when the new Minister has had time to consider it—and you gave a couple of examples of when it would finish; I don't think we've reached either of those yet—then she will come forward with further information.

Mabon ap Gwynfor.

Thank you very much, Llywydd. Congratulations to you, by the way, on your election to that role, and congratulations to you, Trefnydd, on your appointment to an important role in the Cabinet. May I say at the beginning that it's a privilege to join you as a Member of the Senedd for Dwyfor Meirionnydd? Thank you to the constituents of Dwyfor Meirionnydd for placing their faith in me. May I take this opportunity to note how strange it is to think about this Senedd without my predecessor, Dafydd Elis-Thomas? I thank him for his immense contribution to public life in Wales and to the development of the Senedd.

I was very pleased to hear the First Minister saying in the Chamber last week that he didn't want to see Government Ministers coming to the Chamber denying responsibility for decisions that were done because that responsibility had been transferred to an external body. I very much hope, therefore, that the same will be true of the health service, and in that spirit, therefore, will the Government ensure that the Robin Holden report into mental health services in the north Wales health board will be published in full? Will the Government provide an update on the steps that have been taken to improve mental health services in north Wales since they were taken out of special measures back in the autumn? Thank you.

Diolch and croeso, Mabon. As you know, we have a specific Minister, or Deputy Minister, for mental health and well-being, and Lynne Neagle has just come into that role and, obviously, will have that report on her desk, in her in-tray. I'm sure, at the appropriate time, the report will either be published or there will be a statement to accompany it, because, as you say, it's a very serious issue that this Welsh Government takes very seriously, and we will obviously ensure all Members are informed.

The Welsh Labour manifesto—. Should I first welcome the Minister to her post as Trefnydd and offer my congratulations to her as well? The Welsh Labour manifesto said that,

'We will implement the new Additional Learning Needs Act, to transform the experiences and outcomes for children and young people.'

In order for that to be successful, I think it's going to be a huge test of the Welsh Government. It must be fully funded and must also link seamlessly education, social care and health together, and I think that in itself is a challenge and we mustn't see education only shouldering the burden that will come, and the amount of work that will come, with the introduction of the Act. Therefore, can we have a statement before the summer recess from the health Minister to inform us on how that manifesto pledge will be met by the Welsh Government, and enable us to engage in appropriate scrutiny of the Welsh Government's early plans?

Thank you to Hefin David for his kind words, and I know this is a matter that's very close to his heart. Considerable work has been undertaken, as I'm sure the Member is aware, to prepare for the implementation of the Act. Transformation leads, for instance, have been working very closely with key stakeholders and delivery partners so that the new system is prepared for with the people who are going to deliver it. A guide to the first year of implementation is currently being finalised. That's due to be published in the coming weeks, followed by additional information for parents and their families. And then work will continue in relation to year 2 and year 3 of the implementation, with further implementation guides to follow. 

Congratulations to you in your role as Trefnydd. Now, as you'll be aware, the tourism sector has suffered greatly over the past 14 months, and no more so than in my constituency of Aberconwy, and it's really fantastic, actually, driving along Llandudno promenade now and going through the valley, to see hotels starting to slowly reopen. However, they are still at a major disadvantage here in Wales compared to those over the border in England. Here, hotels are subjected to the 2m rule, whilst in England it is 1m plus, so that does affect restaurant bookings—they have to have half the numbers in there. Now, we have the unreasonable prohibition on live performance in hotels. Some of my constituents who are, indeed, employed as entertainers in this sector haven't worked for about 16 months now, and we're also hearing of hotels losing customers to England—you know, coach tours. They want entertainment in their hotel. So, will you bring forward a statement, Trefnydd, on ensuring that we do have a level playing field as soon as possible so that hoteliers in Aberconwy can work to the 1m plus rule, and also that we can go back to having live entertainment in our hotels? Thank you. Diolch, Llywydd. 

Thank you, Janet Finch-Saunders, for your kind words and I look forward to working with you too. In relation to—. I don't see it as being an unlevel playing field. Clearly, England have different regulations to what we have in Wales around coronavirus. Sometimes they meet, sometimes they don't, and, obviously, representing a border constituency, I'm very well aware that people feel it's an unlevel playing field, but it really isn't. And you will have heard the First Minister answer extensively around hospitality and other sectors in relation to coronavirus. Next week, we have a further review of the regulations. Everything will be considered, but, as the First Minister said, the priority is keeping people and, obviously, businesses in Wales safe. We have supported businesses in the way, again, that the First Minister outlined, and it is good to see places opening up now and people in restaurants et cetera. But I think we have to always consider safety and preserving as many lives as possible, which has always been the underlying reason for the restrictions we've had in place. 

Trefnydd, welcome to your new role. 

I'd like to ask for a statement on coal tip safety in the southern Wales Valleys. Earlier this year, it was reported that nearly 300 coal tips in Wales have been classified as high risk, with the largest number for any one local authority area being in Caerphilly in my region. Now, I realise that many of these will be on private land—they're not all under local authority control—but some constituents have contacted me asking if information about the location of these sites could be made more accessible for the public. So, I'd ask for clarity on that, but, more importantly, I'd like to know what action the Welsh Government is taking now, how this has developed since the election, and what actions you're demanding of the UK Government, because surely they should be paying to make these tips safe. The profits of mining didn't stay in these valleys, and yet we have paid such a high price for coal mining. Trefnydd, I represent an area that has been blighted by grief because of coal tips, and since the landslip last year in Tylorstown, in the adjoining region, I know that people living near these tips get so scared every time we have high rainfall, as has happened these past few weeks. So, could I please ask for a statement so that we can lessen people's anxieties, so that we can have openness, but, most importantly, so that we can know what actions will be taken to assuage people's concerns? Diolch yn fawr iawn.

[Inaudible.]—Delyth Jewell. As you know, there has been a huge amount of work done in relation to coal tip safety since we had that landslide in Tylorstown in February 2020. The First Minister convened a coal tip safety forum, and obviously the UK Government—the Secretary of State for Wales—sat on that forum, because, as you say, it is the UK Government that—. This is a legacy; this predates devolution. And clearly the UK Government need to provide significant funding, because, as you say, with every month that passes, that bill gets bigger and bigger. So, it is really important. 

One of the things that became very apparent very quickly was that we didn't know where all those coal tips were and who owned them. So, a huge amount of work has been done to get a register, because, as you say, many of them are privately owned. A lot of them are in the local authority ownership, but I think the majority of them are privately owned. So, this is a piece of work that's been done. There is a helpline. The Welsh Government made sure that there was a helpline available for people if they're concerned, and I will make sure that that phone number for that helpline goes to all Members, because, clearly, we've got new Members who may not be aware of it. But this is a piece of work that continues to be a priority for the Welsh Government, working with the UK Government and, obviously, local authorities.

I'd like to ask for an urgent statement on any potential free trade deal with Australia. We heard the news over the weekend that the UK Conservative Government is turning its back on rural Wales and turning its back on the agricultural industry. We've heard from both farming unions about the potential detrimental effect on farming across the whole of our country on the basis of a free trade deal that will benefit the Tories' funders in the City of London and will sacrifice Welsh agriculture to pay for that. It's important for the future not only of upland Wales, not only of rural Wales, but of our own national identity that we are able to debate and discuss these matters in this Parliament and to ensure that this Parliament's voices are heard—that we want to support our farmers and we want to support our sheep industry. even if the Conservative Government is turning its back on them, and we do need an urgent statement on that, or an opportunity to debate these matters.

I'd like to ask also for a statement on off-roading and its impact on communities in Wales. Members and the Minister may have seen the reports on the BBC yesterday from Mynydd Carn-y-Cefn in Ebbw Vale, where graziers have been debating and discussing how off-roading is affecting them, affecting our local environment in Blaenau Gwent, but also is having a real effect on the communities of the borough as well. This is something that has been going on for some years, and off-roaders, in breaking down fences, in destroying our environment, are having a real impact on our borough and on the environment of the Heads of the Valleys. But I recognise it's also an issue elsewhere in the country. I hope that the Welsh Government will be able to make a statement on this and bring different agencies together in order to address this issue.

Thank you. At this point, we don't know the exact details of the UK Government's offer to Australia. Like you, I've read lots of speculation in the press, but, certainly, Welsh Government officials from within my own portfolio and within the economy portfolio have been working very closely with the UK Government to make very clear our views that everything has to be done to support our agriculture sector, and that includes the quotas and the tariffs for agriculture. I met with the National Farmers Union last week, along with Vaughan Gething, the Minister for Economy, to hear what they were saying, because clearly they have very strong views on it also. I think we need to continue to have those discussions with the UK Government. Our officials are also meeting regularly with the Department for International Trade as well as the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs officials as well. I think we need to be kept up to date, but certainly we are not privy to a lot of the information that I've, unfortunately, read in the press.

The negotiations with Australia are continuing. I also read that, I think it's Liz Truss, the international trade Secretary hopes to finish them by next month, so some sort of conclusion needs to come. But until we know the exact details we are just continuing to work very closely, and I am certainly seeking to have some information from the DEFRA Secretary of State as a matter of urgency.

In relation to your second point, on off-roading, I will ensure that the Minister has heard what you said, because I think it's really important that agencies do work together, but I will ask her to write to the Member.

I thank the Trefnydd. We are out of time on this item. I will now suspend proceedings briefly to allow changeovers in the Siambr. The bell will be rung two minutes before proceedings restart.

Plenary was suspended at 15:11.

The Senedd reconvened at 15:22, with the Deputy Presiding Officer (David Rees) in the Chair.