4. Will the Minister make a statement on the delivery of local public services in Pembrokeshire? OQ56992

I'm grateful for the ongoing work of local government, including Pembrokeshire, and other public service leaders in delivering public services to support the COVID recovery and protect vulnerable people in our communities. Local government continues to do excellent work in challenging times.

Minister, you may be aware that Pembrokeshire County Council is currently considering the future of its waste and recycling centres, and the options include reducing the number of sites operated by the council and reducing the opening hours of all sites. Now, I can't emphasise the importance of waste collection and recycling to our environment and, indeed, to our health, and should residents have to travel further afield for these vital services, it may undo some of the good progress done by Pembrokeshire County Council in recent years. Therefore, can you tell us, Minister, what support can the Welsh Government offer to Pembrokeshire County Council to ensure that they can keep their sites open so that people in Pembrokeshire have access to waste and recycling centres? 

Well, it's good that Paul Davies does recognise the good progress that we have made in Wales in recent years in terms of household recycling. We're absolutely one of the best in Wales, and we want to maintain—. 

I can't hear the Minister's response. I'm sure Paul Davies wants to hear the response. 

So, I was referring to our good progress in Wales in terms of our household recycling, putting us as one of the best in the world and, clearly, we want to maintain that and continue to improve our performance there.

As you say, Pembrokeshire is currently consulting on this. This is a matter for Pembrokeshire County Council. However, I will make your concerns known to the Minister for Climate Change, who has responsibility for waste.