Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:36 pm on 15 June 2021.
Trefnydd, can I call for two separate statements, please? The first is from the Minister responsible for culture. The Welsh Government will be aware that, for UK City of Culture applications this year, the deadline for expressions of interest is coming up next month. For the first time ever, groups of small towns will be able to apply for city of culture status, rather than just larger cities. That obviously opens this opportunity up to many towns and villages across the whole of Wales. I've already been contacted by an enthusiastic group of volunteers in the Vale of Clwyd area—not the Vale of Clwyd constituency—and they are very much hoping that they can put a bid together to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity that it presents. I think it would be good if the Welsh Government could encourage these sorts of applications to come forward, and give some guidance to those smaller towns and communities, because, otherwise, I think we may miss this opportunity, and it would be great if Wales was able to seize it with both hands.
Secondly, can I call for a statement from the Minister for health in relation to referrals and treatment for prostate cancer in Wales? I was astonished to be told recently that the number of referrals for prostate cancer had fallen by over 2,000 in Wales due to fewer people being tested following the restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic. Clearly, that's very alarming—it could mean that there's undetected prostate cancer out there, and people's health could be damaged as a result. So, I think it would be good to know what the Government's strategy is to get on top of that in the future. Thank you.