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

Diolch, Llywydd. There are no changes to this week's Plenary 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, can I call for an urgent statement from the Minister for Health and Social Services in relation to the recent emergence of a story about Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board? There were reports over the last couple of days that emerged, which suggested that a judge had found that the Besti Cadwaladr health board was trying to strike out its name in a report, which was referring to very poor care, neglectful care, of an individual in Glan Clwyd Hospital. The judge described the patient's needs as being substantially unaddressed, unacknowledged, unidentified, and neglected, and yet the Besti Cadwaladr health board was trying to hide itself from that description of events. Clearly, this is unacceptable. It suggests that the health board does not want to be transparent or accountable for its actions, and we really do now I think need to see a culture change in that organisation. I was very hopeful that there had indeed been something of a culture change in recent years, but this suggests that a lot of the same old problems at Besti Cadwaladr health board are still there. Can I ask for an urgent statement from the Minister for Health and Social Services on this specific issue, and, more widely, on the progress that the health board is making, following its withdrawal from special measures before the elections?

Thank you. I'm not familiar with the story that you refer to, but I certainly do think there has been a culture change—and it's a health board I know very well myself—since, as you say, the monitoring of special measures, et cetera. And the Minister for Health and Social Services regularly updates Members in relation to how that monitoring is now going ahead. If she has had any contact with the health board around the story you refer to, I'm sure she'd be very happy to update Members.FootnoteLink

Information further to Plenary

I would like to ask for two statements. The first is on the use of medicinal cannabis. In the last Senedd, we debated the provision of medicinal cannabis, and it had a large amount of cross-party support. There is evidence that certain medicinal cannabis products may be useful in treating epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, symptoms associated with cancer and cancer treatments, as well as pain. I'm asking for a Welsh Government statement on the prescription and use of medicinal cannabis in Wales.

The second statement I'm requesting is an update on co-operative housing provision in Wales. While in much of the world, such as Canada, New York and Scandinavia, the co-operative housing model is one of the more popular methods of housing provision, it is not in Wales or the rest of the United Kingdom. Can we have a Welsh Government statement regarding plans to increase the number of co-operative housing units?

Thank you. In relation to your second point, around co-operative housing, I'm very aware, as I'm sure the Member is, that the Minister for Climate Change, who has responsibility for housing, very much wants a co-operative housing focus. I know she absolutely thinks that co-operative principles should be a priority, and the focus has to be, in relation to the housing sector, on embedding those core principles. And I know she supports the further development of community-led housing, where there is a registered social landlord partner, through our social housing grant. We've also funded the Wales Co-operative Centre to design the delivery that support groups need in relation to our housing needs, and, I think, there are now around 50 community groups that are engaged with Communities Creating Homes, and that support will continue. I know she's put further financial resources into that, in conjunction with the Nationwide Foundation. 

In relation to your first question, around medicinal cannabis, as you will be aware, it's regulated under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, and, therefore, it's a reserved issue for the UK Government. But, of course, access and funding of medicines is a devolved issue, and, therefore, the devolved administrations are responsible for NHS funding of prescriptions. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has produced guidance in situations where the use of medicinal cannabis may be supported by evidence, but we know that further research is needed to confirm effectiveness, because studies to date have generally been very small or have deficits in their methodology. So, I think, until such a time as clinical trials have been completed, prescribing should be in line with evidence-based guidelines. 

Trefnydd, can I ask for an urgent statement from the Minister for Climate Change on the NRW phosphate guidance, which has inadvertently sent the planning system, in my constituency and across parts of Wales, into gridlock? Water pollution is an issue that needs to be tackled, and no-one would deny that, however, what we have seen from NRW is that they have identified an issue, but failed to find a logical solution to address the problem. I know your response will be to say that the Minister has a policy board looking at that. But, with all due respect, I find the pace of delivery to find a solution is far too slow. In Powys, we have 3,700 households on the local authority housing waiting list alone, and we are seeing the development of social and affordable homes being stalled. So, will you ask the Minister to make a statement on this issue, and outline what progress has been made to date and what are the next steps for getting the planning process moving again to benefit our economy and our residents? Diolch, Llywydd.  

Well, as you rightly point out, this is an ongoing piece of work at the current time. It would be wrong to pre-empt any recommendations that come to the Minister. But obviously, as that process goes through, she will update Members at the most appropriate time. 

Trefnydd, can I call on the Minister for Climate Change to make a statement on the Welsh Government's flooding policy, please? In the winter of 2020-21, the quayside in Carmarthen flooded a total of three times in no less than nine weeks. Having met with the businesses and property owners on the quay, they remain worried regarding future flooding of the Towy and of the quayside. Natural Resources Wales have said their hands are tied in helping, as the Welsh Government policy favours residential over business in terms of flood protection. This has been described as a showstopper in terms of getting any flood protection to the quayside and protecting these businesses. Therefore, can the climate change Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government's flood policy, and whether the imbalance against business will continue? Diolch. 

Welsh Government has always made it very clear that our priority, when it comes to flooding policy, flooding management, flooding funding, is to protect as many lives as possible and as many homes as possible, and then businesses come within that criteria. Having been responsible for flooding in the previous term of Government, I know our flooding policy is as up to date as it can be, but it is always being looked at. Clearly, we need to work very closely with NRW, and you'll be aware of the pipeline of flood management schemes that we have in Welsh Government. We've put significant funding—millions and millions of pounds—into our flood scheme to protect as many lives, homes and businesses as possible. 

Minister, the UK Government announcement on the future funding of social care means more money for Wales to ensure that we address the challenge of sustainable funding and staff pay and conditions. Could I ask for a statement from the Minister for Finance and Local Government to be issued after recess, for the Government to outline what it now proposes for Wales? Thank you.  

Thank you. Well, the funding of social care is something that's on the top of the majority of governments' agendas, and it's something that we are are certainly looking at, as a Government. I would not agree with you around the way that the UK Government have funded it. We don't think that is the right way of doing it, but it is something that we have to look at very carefully. As you will be aware, we're now coming into the comprehensive spending review, and draft budget and budget season, so I'm sure there'll be ample opportunity to question the Minister for finance. 

Finally, Laura Jones. 

Diolch, Llywydd. Business Minister, could I ask for an urgent statement from the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language, please? Llanwern High School in Newport has been forced to send home their entire year 9 year group due to a number of staff testing positive from COVID and having to self-isolate, and the lack of staff to substitute. Unfortunately, this is an issue that is now repeating itself at speed across Wales. The unions, the National Association of Head Teachers and I have raised concerns previously with the Minister, and I'd be grateful if you could approve a statement from the Minister to outline what steps he intends to take to support schools and pupils struggling with these staff absences. Thank you.

Thank you. The Minister for Education and the Welsh Language did issue a written statement just last week, on Thursday 14 October, outlining the latest safety measures in place across education settings in Wales.

I thank the Trefnydd.