2. Business Statement and Announcement

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:49 pm on 28 September 2021.

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Photo of Huw Irranca-Davies Huw Irranca-Davies Labour 2:49, 28 September 2021

Could I ask for two statements? One of them is actually echoing the point made earlier on—it would be great to get a statement on the timing of the outcome of the extended consultation on school transport. It's been extended to look at this issue over the free travel aspects and the distance. Bridgend traditionally provided more generous than most local authorities in Wales transport in Wales, but it had a decade of austerity funding. I noticed that, when this was debated in the council chamber, no alternative was put forward by any politician in the chamber to actually move into the statutory minimum. However, I'm looking forward with high expectation to the outcome of the Welsh Government consultation to see whether it puts forward any new proposals in Wales. I know my constituents are looking forward to that as well.

Secondly, could we have a statement on the issue of HGV class 1 testing and training? I've got constituents who are ready to actually go through, to leap through, that final hoop to drive articulated lorries, but the cost can be up to and in excess of £2,000, plus the test fee on top of that as well. I wonder whether there is UK Government support or Welsh Government support, or whether there are companies in Wales that can be spoken to by Welsh Government, as I know there are in England, who will actually sponsor candidates now to go through this to fill in some of that backlog in the absence of hauliers that we currently have.