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

Diolch, Llywydd. I have no changes to announce to this week's business. Draft business for the next three sitting weeks is set out on the business statement and announcement, which can be found amongst the meeting papers available to Members electronically.

Trefnydd, the events that we saw unfold in Afghanistan over the summer left everybody shocked and appalled, frankly, with the scenes that unfolded. One of the groups of people in Wales who were particularly affected by those scenes were veterans in this country, many of whom have served in the military in Afghanistan. Can I call for a statement on support for those veterans? I appreciate that there has been some discussion on this in the Senedd recently, but I do think we need a further statement on this, because one of the things that has been raised with me by veterans is the need for a 24/7 crisis line for those who find themselves in difficulty when the current Veterans' NHS Wales service, which is just available during normal working hours, isn't there. I do think that this is something that needs to be considered. It would be great if the service in Wales could be extended so that there is a telephone service available for those veterans in need that plugs them straight into our Veterans' NHS Wales service, which I and others are very proud of.

Thank you. I think you raise a very important point; the gratitude that we have for our veterans should never be forgotten. You'll be aware of the significant support that the Welsh Government does provide for our veterans. The specific question you were asking regarding a 24/7 support line I know is something the Deputy Minister, who is in the Chamber and heard your question, is considering.

I'd like a statement explaining the Welsh Government's decision to continue to attend the Defence and Security Equipment International arms fair. The First Minister said in 2019 that he would review the Government's presence at this event, after Leanne Wood called its participation 'abhorrent', but the BBC reported this week that the Welsh Government was attending this year's event. Trefnydd, there is a rather worrying lack of transparency here. People in Wales who object to their tax money being spent on promoting weapons that kill civilians have a right to an explanation from the Government about why it decided to continue to sponsor the arms trade. Did the First Minister follow through with his promise to review his Government's attendance at this event? If not, why not? But if he did, will the Welsh Government publish the findings of this review so that the Senedd and the public can understand the basis on which they decided that sponsoring an arms fair was an appropriate use of public funds? And finally, Trefnydd, will they provide an explanation as to how attending an arms fair, where deals will be done that will result in civilian deaths in places like Yemen, is consistent with their stated aim of establishing our reputation as a nation of sanctuary committed to human rights and promoting peace? 

The Member is incorrect. There was no Welsh Government sponsorship of the trade fair that you referred to.FootnoteLink

Information further to Plenary

I just wanted to raise the very serious issue that occurred in Bute park about 10 days ago, where there was a premeditated attack on over 50 trees and other infrastructure in the park. This is one of our most iconic parks across Europe, and I'm very disturbed that somebody could've done such a thing, given that it was obviously well organised in advance. It appears to be an attention-seeking effort by somebody who wants to destroy society in the context of the climate emergency and the need to plant a million trees. So, I just wondered what conversations, if any, the Welsh Government have had on this very serious issue, as, to date, nobody has yet been apprehended. I am extremely concerned about what might happen next.

Thank you. It certainly appeared to be a very senseless act of vandalism and I think it's really shocked and saddened many of the local communities in the area. As you say, in response to the climate emergency, we need to be planting more trees. The Welsh Government is working with Cardiff Council and South Wales Police partners; they've added their voice to urge anyone who has any information about this to come forward or to contact Crimestoppers.

Business Minister, following on from a question to the First Minister last week, please can I call for a statement from the relevant Minister—an updated statement—on the advice for sending children and young people to school or other educational settings when a member of their household has tested positive for COVID? Obviously, this is causing significant distress for many headteachers, parents and young people, as children and young people are still being advised to go to school after a member of their household has tested positive. This is, of course, worrying and increasing because the number of people testing positive for COVID is increasing.

Obviously, our priority needs to be to keep our children in school as much as possible this year, but it has been suggested that perhaps children and young people stay off school and college until their PCR tests come back as negative. From my own personal experience recently, I'm aware that the results are coming back now within 24 hours, roughly. The worry is, of course, that more children and young people will end up going off in the long run if we don't manage this correctly. Therefore, to reassure anxious headteachers, parents and young people alike, can we have the current guidance and can you reassure us that it is in the best interests of our children and young people? Can we have a statement on that, please? Thank you.

I'm sure that you're aware that the Minister for education works very closely with our schools and our headteachers. The Welsh Government, when we bring forward any policy or guidance, follow the latest public health advice. If that should change, the Minister for education will obviously update Members.

Trefnydd, with winter fast approaching, many people have contacted me expressing concern at the amount of shoal in rivers next to communities that were devastated by flooding in February 2020, including Clydach Terrace in Ynysybwl and Oxford Street in Nantgarw. Though some work has been undertaken in some areas, due to the impact of the floods on the riverbanks, the amount of shoal remains extensive. Natural Resources Wales have stated to residents that they don't have the funding to do more work in these areas. Can I therefore request a statement from the Minister for Climate Change specifically regarding the dredging and deshoaling of rivers next to at-risk communities, and on progress made on implementing the national strategy for flood and coastal erosion risk management in Wales since its publication in October 2020?

Thank you. Well, unfortunately, the area to which you refer suffered severe flooding in February 2020, just ahead of the COVID-19 pandemic, and I'm aware of a great deal of work that has been carried out by NRW and the local authority. I will certainly ask the Minister to write to you to update you in relation to the specific question you asked.

Trefnydd, on Friday, I will be attending the 125th birthday celebration of Tata Steel in my own constituency. My community is built on steel, as you well know, and I'm incredibly proud of that. Now, the future of steel production is low carbon, locally produced steel, and Shotton Steel should be right at the forefront of that process. Can we have a statement, a Welsh Government statement, Trefnydd, on the importance of the steel industry to all parts of Wales, including Shotton Steel, and perhaps wishing them a very happy birthday and a successful future?

Well, I'm certainly very happy to wish them penblwydd hapus. As you know, this Government is absolutely committed to a very strong and sustainable steel sector, and you'll probably be aware that the Minister for Economy, in his very first engagement in the portfolio, attended a meeting with the Steel Council, and I know he has visited Shotton recently with you. 

The Minister for Economy did make a statement in July on the importance of a decarbonised industry and our support for the future of steel, to which you refer, and I know he'll be going to Tata Port Talbot later this week.

The riots in Mayhill in Swansea in May were shocking. I know how hard the police have worked to identify and arrest those responsible. Can I ask for a statement setting out what has been learned from those events, and whether any further community support might be needed?

Thank you. You are quite right, they were certainly shocking scenes, and I know the Minister for Social Justice has worked very closely with the police to ensure that lessons are learnt, and particularly worked in relation to community cohesion. If the Minister has anything further to update us on following the previous one, I will certainly ask her to do so. 

Trefnydd, will the finance Minister make a statement updating Members on what steps the Welsh Government is taking to get to grips with the concerns of those businesses that failed to access financial support, adequate support indeed, during the pandemic, and that are now facing difficulties, particularly those that have fallen between the cracks? One of those businesses is a shop owner in Carmarthen, who took the opportunity to do some work on their business and to undertake repairs when her tenant moved out. As soon as they were ready to rent out the property again, the first lockdown started and they couldn't find someone to rent the shop. They now face a business rates bill of thousands. Now, of course, businesses have received business rates relief over that period, but because the property was empty, the individual concerned failed to receive the same support. 

So, has the Government undertaken an assessment of how many businesses are in similar positions, and would the Minister consider providing financial support in these particular cases? Thank you. 

Diolch. As you will be aware, the Welsh Government gave the most generous support package to our businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. We had the unique economic resilience fund. Obviously, I can't comment on an individual case, and I would advise you, if you do feel—. Whilst, obviously, we couldn't help every business, we were very keen that businesses didn't fall through the various gaps of the various funds, and I would encourage you to write to the Minister directly around your specific case. 

Trefnydd, I find myself, unusually, sharing common ground with the Conservatives—[Members of the Senedd: 'Oh']—when I was disappointed to hear that the Government would continue to press ahead with NHS COVID passes in Wales, or COVID passports. Minister, the Scottish Parliament were afforded the opportunity to debate the merits of this decision before they introduced similar measures. Will time be given to the Senedd to discuss and debate this issue? Diolch yn fawr iawn. 

Diolch. So, we are finalising the timetable for the introduction of regulations to make the COVID pass compulsory for use in certain settings in Wales from 11 October. So, there will certainly be an opportunity.

Minister, can we make time for Government to bring forward a debate on civil contingencies and emergency preparedness? Over the last few months, the catastrophe of Brexit has hit home to many people. The farming community have been telling us about the betrayal that they feel. The fishing industry have told us about the betrayal that they feel. We've seen thousands and thousands of lorries unable to cross the Channel. We've seen boats avoiding stopping in British ports. We've seen companies and businesses relocating wherever possible, and losing business as a direct consequence of Brexit. And in the last few weeks, we've seen empty food shelves in our supermarkets.

There is a real danger, particularly with the issues at the moment around gas prices, the removal of Britain from the European gas networks, which means that we're going to see fuel poverty and food poverty in this country for the first time, at such a scale, for decades. And this is both the result of Brexit and the incompetence of the UK Conservative Government. Can we have a debate in this place about how our Government can ensure the safety and well-being of people in this country, because it's clear that the Government in London really doesn't care about what happens to the people in this country?

Yes, I absolutely agree with the Member around the saga that we've certainly seen unfold. I think what we've seen from the UK Government is a complete lack of long-term planning; they're very good on short-term slogans, but they are not good on long-term planning, and that's what we need to see. You'll be aware of the carbon dioxide issue at the moment, with our abattoirs concerned that they cannot process—[Interruption.] Well, they've put too much emphasis on markets, haven't they? And we're now seeing it with carbon dioxide, we're seeing a cost-of-living crisis, we are seeing energy prices going up, we are seeing food prices going up, we are seeing our national insurance contributions going up, and we are seeing a cut—[Interruption.] You may find it not serious, Andrew R.T. Davies, but people are having cuts of £20 from their universal credit. We have got a cost-of-living crisis, and it's about time the UK Government started planning for the future. So, I absolutely agree with the Member that it is really important that people see Welsh Government standing up for them, and I'll be very happy to put a statement in.

Trefnydd, a couple of weeks ago, I met with the principal of Coleg Gwent, and he shared with me a quite harrowing tale—well, not a tale, a fact—that one of his equestrian students had had a bad accident, and had suspected spinal injuries, and, as a result, the emergency services said that she should not be moved until they get there. Having rung every 20 minutes, for a significant time, it was nine hours before that young lady was shipped and moved to hospital as an emergency. But the implications of that I feel need to be discussed, because, as a result of that, the principal feels that he has to now pull away from providing courses in Coleg Gwent—those courses that could carry risks, like sport or equestrian advice. And I know that headteachers in schools are feeling the same about things like the Duke of Edinburgh Award. And I was wondering could I ask for an urgent statement from the education Minister on how he believes that principals of colleges, and indeed headteachers, can be expected to manage this difficult situation going forward, as many are very anxious that they cannot continue with these courses, due to being able to comply with their own risk assessments, and due to that unreasonable emergency response time. It's a really serious concern, which could affect many thousands of young people, right across Wales, as a direct result of some of the issues resulting from the pressures within the health service.

Whilst of course I am extremely sorry to hear that somebody had to wait nine hours—I assume it was for an ambulance; I assume that's what you were saying—but you will accept that our ambulance service, and I think we should pay a huge tribute to our ambulance staff, they are dealing with unprecedented pressures. You have to remember that every time they respond to a call they have to do it in a COVID-secure way. Even putting PPE on takes time, and that has to be added obviously to the response time. Ahead of the COVID-19 pandemic, they were hitting their targets all the time. 

I don't think it would be a good use of Government time for a statement. If there is a concern, I'm sure the Minister for education is aware of it. I think what is really important is that people remember only to phone for an ambulance when there is an absolute need, and I'm not saying that wasn't the case that you referred to, but I think it is an opportunity for us to remember the very difficult situation that our ambulance service and our NHS are in at the current time. 

I thank the Trefnydd.