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

Diolch, Llywydd. I have no changes 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.

Thank you, Trefnydd, for your statement. Can I call for two statements this week? The first is from the Minister for Health and Social Services regarding the social care financial recognition scheme, obviously something that we very much welcome indeed for those people who've worked on the front lines in social care across Wales, particularly during the pandemic. But a constituent has raised concerns with me that other people who worked, particularly in care homes, in catering and cleaning, are not eligible for these payments, and of course, they very much have also been undertaking work on the front lines, which I feel does deserve to be recognised in some way. So, I would like the Welsh Government to consider this and come forward with a statement—either from the Deputy or the Minister—to discuss whether that could be extended.

Secondly, can I also ask for a statement from the Minister for Climate Change in relation to the new phosphate targets that were set by Natural Resources Wales at the beginning of 2021? You'll be aware that Welsh local authorities are still waiting for clear guidance from the Welsh Government in terms of how to interpret the planning decisions and applications that come forward, against those new targets. And it is causing a delay in many applications being determined, including in my own local authority area. So, I do think this is something that needs to be addressed, we need some clarity, and a statement would be very welcome.

Thank you. I think you've referred to two issues that many of us have received representations on from our own constituents. The Deputy Minister for Social Services was in the Chamber and heard your question and will come forward with further information, either in the form of a written statement or will write to the Member, and I'm sure they will put a letter in the Library.

In relation to your second point, my understanding is that guidance will be issued in the very near future.

Cardiff has been described, Trefnydd, as the fuel poverty capital of the UK, with a quarter of our residents here in the capital suffering in fuel poverty—higher than any other city or town in the United Kingdom. That is 91,000 people suffering. Can we please have a debate in Government time on fuel poverty and the cost-of-living crisis? Plaid Cymru welcomes the announcement today of additional support, but there's much yet to be done. I'm sure the Trefnydd is an avid listener of Radio Wales, and the payment was discussed this morning in the Jason Mohammad phone-in. Among the issues addressed was the growth of food banks in Ely, and others were pointing out, despite them welcoming the payment, that they stressed that many will still be struggling.

It is these types of points that could be made in a debate in Government time, and we could also tease out some of the issues with regard to the UK Government's response. We will all remember the UK Conservative Government stating that it was due to our membership of the European Union that we had to pay value added tax on energy prices. They promised us that energy prices would go down once we were out of the European Union. Well, Brexit is now done, Trefnydd; why is VAT still being charged on our Bills?

So, these are the types of things we could discuss, Minister. What discussions has the Welsh Government had with regards the UK Government scrapping the 5 per cent VAT? What discussions has the Welsh Government had on the inadequate loan of £200 that has been offered by the UK Government? And what more can we as a Senedd do to help the people of Ely, to help the people of Cardiff and across Wales, who are suffering so much at the moment? Diolch yn fawr.

Thank you. As you are aware, at 12 p.m. today, there was a written statement published by the Minister for Finance and Local Government, and, on Thursday, the Minister I just referred to, the Minister for Social Justice, and the Minister for Climate Change, will be holding a cost-of-living summit. The Welsh Government can only do so much. This has been made in London, by the UK Tory Government. You're quite right: they have done Brexit—I think that was their slogan—but what they need to do is make sure that Brexit works for the UK. They did promise lower energy prices if we left the European Union, and I was reading some research last week that showed the variety of countries across Europe where the cost of energy, in some areas, was 50 per cent lower than in the UK.

I have been contacted by my constituent, Evelyn, and her mum, Jacqui, who were shocked and incredibly disappointed to discover that, from September 2022, the Welsh Rugby Union will stop girls playing mixed under-12 and under-13 rugby. Evelyn is an excellent player, and captain for Bridgend sports under-12s, as well as playing for Brynteg Comprehensive School. I did meet with the Welsh Rugby Union to ask why and how this decision to exclude girls from mixed rugby was made. The Welsh Rugby Union, so far, have not provided any evidence that a fair consultation has been carried out that included asking the girls impacted and their team mates for their views, or that an equality impact assessment had been conducted. My concern is that girls have not been asked why they stop playing rugby once they can't play mixed anymore, or for their ideas about increasing their participation, rather than simply excluding them. I have raised this with the sports and culture Minister, and I await answers to my questions from the WRU, but, in the meantime, could the Minister for Social Justice provide a statement on the participation of girls in sport across Wales?

Thank you. I am aware that the WRU did undertake a consultation, as you referred to. I think it was back in 2019, and then it was delayed because of the COVID pandemic, and it wasn't introduced until this year. I think it's really important that we listen to what young people say around the barriers that they feel that they face. As you say, you have made representations to the Deputy Minister for sport and culture, and I'm sure she will respond to you when she has further information from the WRU.

Trefnydd, on 28 September last year, I asked for a debate in the Chamber on the issue of safer travel for horse riders in Wales, and you may recall that your response was that such a debate would be premature, given the up-and-coming changes to The Highway Code. Now that the changes to The Highway Code have been published, I'd like to ask again for a debate in the Chamber on safer travel for horse riders in Wales. I'm asking for this debate because I believe that there's much more that can be done to provide safer routes for the horse riders and carriage drivers, such as better use of signage and the national roll-out of the Dead Slow safety campaign. I also believe that more needs to be done to highlight the new changes to The Highway Code for the benefit of all road users. Sadly, only 22 per cent of publicly accessible routes in Wales are open to horse riders, and many of these routes have been resurfaced to cater for cyclists under the active travel legislation, making them totally inappropriate for horses. Many more routes are also becoming inaccessible for horse riders because of the fencing and barriers that local authorities are erecting to stop motorised vehicles accessing them. With this in mind, I think it's imperative that the riding community have a greater say on the design and implementation of the active travel plan, which, at present, is not meeting their needs, and which can hopefully be addressed and highlighted in this debate. Thank you.

Thank you. I am not aware whether this was addressed in the changes that have been brought forward in relation to The Highway Code changes, but I will certainly ask the Minister to consider your request.FootnoteLink 

Information further to Plenary 

I have two statements I wish to call for. Firstly, the cost-of-living crisis is hitting everyone hard, and on a recent visit to the Anthony's family farm in Aberkenfig I learnt just how much the crisis is hitting farmers. They detailed how inflation has taken the price of fertiliser, for example, from £8,000 to £18,000 a year, with similar trends across many of the utilities and equipment they need to run their farm. Therefore, I would appreciate a statement on what support has been provided for the farming community, not just in Bridgend, but across Wales, so that they can afford to continue operating and supplying the domestic market with high-quality food during this cost-of-living crisis. I think it's abundantly clear to the farming community that that support isn't coming from the Tories in Westminster. 

Secondly, I'd like to join my colleague Sarah Murphy in asking for a statement on what the Welsh Government will be doing to address the inevitable reduction in girls playing rugby as a result of the WRU's decision to stop funding for mixed teams after 11 years of age. From the conversations Sarah and I have had, it seems the WRU are blaming girls for not wanting to play rugby or brushing off the drop-off in girls playing rugby as a natural occurrence. Either way you choose to look at it, it's a step backwards and has caused great concern. I fundamentally believe that if we wish to change the culture in our society then we can find no better place to start than our rugby teams, especially in communities like mine and Sarah's, where, more often than not, the rugby club is central to the community. After all, rugby is for everyone. 

Thank you. So, in response to your second question, I don't think I've got anything further to add to what I said in my answer to Sarah Murphy, only to say that I think it is really important that the WRU perhaps go back and look at the responses to the consultation, see if there's anything else they can draw out of it, or just go to the rugby clubs and have those conversations if necessary. And I'm sure the Deputy Minister for culture and sport, if you haven't written to her, you heard me say that I'm sure she will be responding to Sarah in the very near future, but it might be advisable for you to write to her as well.

In relation to the cost-of-living crisis, you'll be aware from the written statement today of the support that the Welsh Government has made available to everyone, and that obviously includes the farming community as well. You mentioned specifically fertilizer prices, and this was something that I discussed with my counterparts from across the UK at the last DEFRA inter-ministerial group meeting that we held, because clearly this isn't just a matter for Wales; this is right across the UK. We're not looking at any specific additional support, but it is something that we are closely monitoring. But I do hope everybody who is eligible is able to access the additional funding. I go back to what I said to Rhys ab Owen: the Welsh Government can only go so far; this is really something that the UK Government needs to get to grips with.

I have a request for two Government statements. First, I'm asking for a Government statement on the provision of 3G and 4G sports pitches in Wales and plans to increase the number across Wales. I cannot stress too much the importance of 3G and 4G pitches, which allow you to play for long periods of time on a pitch rather than getting only two games in in a day, and also allow them to be used at times when the normal pitches, or the grass pitches, are waterlogged. 

My second request is for a statement from the Welsh Government on the possibility of Wales being part of a joint bid for the Euro 2028 tournament and the support available from the Welsh Government. A joint statement from the five football associations said,

'Following an extensive feasibility study, which assessed the potential opportunities in international football, the football associations of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland have agreed to focus on a bid to host...EURO 2028'. 

I would be really pleased to see some of Euro 2028 played in Wales, so what is the Welsh Government doing in order to try and give as much support as they possibly can to the Welsh FA?

Thank you. Investing in our sporting facilities is a key part of our programme for government, and it's really important that, if we are going to encourage additional participation and support the health and well-being of our nation, we really do consider where we invest in our sporting facilities. We have announced an additional £4.5 million of capital funding for this year, bringing our total investment for this year to more than £13.2 million to support our programme for government commitment. We've also allocated £24 million of capital funding to support Wales over the next three years, and that funding will support not just improving the existing facilities that we have, but also developing new facilities, and that includes 3G pitches. 

In relation to your second request, as you mentioned, the five Governments and the five football associations from across the UK and Ireland have collectively agreed to scope the feasibility of a FIFA World Cup 2030 bid, and I think the FAs did conclude quite swiftly that a bid for the world cup would not be successful—it was unlikely it would be successful at the current time—and they've now indicated their intent to develop a joint UK and Ireland bid to host the UEFA European championships in 2028. So, the Minister, and right across Government, will obviously continue to engage very closely with the FAW and the other Governments and FAs to be able to evaluate the costs and, of course, the benefits of hosting such a tournament. 

Trefnydd, I would like a statement by the Minister for Climate Change on the service provided by Planning and Environment Decisions Wales—that's PEDW. As you may be aware, this new service commenced on 1 October 2021. Now, despite them receiving a 14-month advance warning by Neil Hemington, planning directorate, on 11 October, I've had to send a letter to the Minister for Climate Change highlighting concerns that department officials were without any full access to the new casework system and documents, and as such are now unable to provide essential information on live planning appeals. Five months into the operation of PEDW, serious issues are still being encountered, and it's been raised with me in my constituency, and, indeed, Owen Hughes, the highly respected Daily Post business editor, has reported that planning appeal delays are now holding up business investments in Wales. So, I would be pleased if the Minister for Climate Change could make a statement clarifying how she will ensure that PEDW starts to operate effectively and, of course, to address the appeals backlog urgently. Diolch.

Thank you. As you say, it's only a few months since this new service began. You have written to the Minister for Climate Change, and I'm sure she will respond to you in the near future. 

I'd like a statement, please, on the centralisation of health services in South Wales East—that is, the fact that people now have to travel to different hospitals in order to get different treatments. I've been contacted by a constituent about the fact that all diagnostic breast procedures will only be carried out at Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr in Ystrad Mynach, and that will mean that constituents will need to travel on long journeys by public transport if they don't have a car. So, for someone from Gilwern, for example, but also villages and towns across the region, this could mean journeys that will be complicated, long and involve a number of changes. Patients will often have to wait in the cold for another bus to come. My constituent has pointed out that people requiring cancer treatment will need multiple diagnostic appointments and so would be put through this ordeal more than once. And the patient-carrying service, too, involves long waiting times. Trefnydd, people across the south-east of Wales were told that, when the Grange hospital opened, it would mean better services, but I am concerned or I do share the concern of residents that we're now seeing less direct access to care. The staff of the health board are doing a tremendous job—they need to be commended—but I would like a statement, please, outlining how the Government will tackle the issues to do with access to different hospitals now that different services are being provided in different locations, because the last thing that people who are unwell need is added stress.   

I absolutely agree with your final point. Obviously, the provision of services is down to the health board, and the Minister for Health and Social Services monitors these matters very closely and, I know, meets with the chair and chief executive of the health board on a regular basis. We are seeing specialised services—of course, we are—and we don't want patients to have to travel to many hospitals for treatment of the same condition, but, of course, it is a necessity sometimes if you do have a specific condition and you may have to travel a bit further. But, as I say, this is a matter for the health board. 

I think public transport is also something that's very important. You mentioned the Grange University Hospital, and I've heard many Members refer to constituents' issues around that, and I know, again, that the Minister is working very closely with the Deputy Minister for Climate Change in relation to this. 

Minister, I would like to ask for a debate in Government time on Government policy for the Valleys. You will be aware, since the election last year, there have been very few opportunities to discuss the way in which the Welsh Government is going to develop policy, and economic policy particularly, for the Valleys of south Wales. I'd like that debate to be informed by two statements, with, first of all, a report on the work of the Valleys taskforce. A number of Ministers gave a number of commitments, including myself, in the last Senedd on the ambitions of the Welsh Government, but there's not been a report on the outturn of what the Valleys taskforce achieved in that time and whether it addressed and reached its targets or not. So, I'd like to see a report on the work of the Valleys taskforce published as soon as possible. 

And the second statement that I'd like to ask for is on the Tech Valleys programme. This is £100 million investment programme, focused on my own constituency in Blaenau Gwent. It is now reaching the halfway point, and it would be a good time, I think, for us to look back at what it has achieved over the last five years or so and what the plans are for it to achieve in the next five years.  

Thank you. I will ask the Minister for Economy to publish two written statements on those two issues—the Valleys taskforce and the Tech Valleys. 

Trefnydd, I'd like to ask for a statement from the Minister for Climate Change on water quality in the River Wye. Last week, I met with the UK Government Minister responsible for water quality, Rebecca Pow, and she wants to work constructively with the Welsh Government to improve water quality in the River Wye and across Wales. The Minister for Climate Change was invited to that meeting and it's a shame she couldn't attend. So, will the Trefnydd request that the Minister comes to the Chamber to give an update to the Senedd on what inter-governmental meetings have taken place on water quality, and how she intends to work constructively with the UK Government to improve our inland waterways in Wales? Diolch, Llywydd. 

I did see the letter inviting the Minister for Climate Change to meet with the UK Government Minister. Unfortunately, as you can imagine, our diaries get very booked up; we need a little bit more notice than three or four days. The Minister for Climate Change does work very constructively—as I did when I was in that portfolio—with the UK Government, and, obviously, our programme for government does commit us to improving water quality. Obviously, the River Wye pollution is something that has been very much in the media and very much in our postbags. NRW's initial assessment of P levels in our river special areas of conservation, and that included the River Wye, did indicate that the reason for the water bodies failing P targets was from a very diverse range of sources. The causes really are very complex, and I think that it's really important that we continue to work with NRW, that we continue to work with Dŵr Cymru, and that we continue to work with the UK Government.

I'd like to ask for a statement from the Trefnydd in her role as Minister for rural affairs and agriculture. The Australian High Commissioner to the UK will be visiting Anglesey this week. I always enjoy welcoming visitors to the island, of course, but George Brandis will be meeting with farmers who will be very eager, I'm sure, to raise their concerns about the impact of a trade deal between the UK and Australia post Brexit.

Farmers tell me regularly that they are concerned about this. The agricultural unions say that they have difficulty finding anything in the trade agreement that could help Welsh farmers, and that, indeed, more than anything, they see it as something that benefits those in Australia who would be in competition with Welsh farmers . So, can I have a statement from the Minister on the steps that are being taken to try and safeguard Welsh farmers from the threat that this trade deal between the UK and Australia represents to them?

Thank you. You raise a very important point. There is the Australian trade deal. There is the New Zealand trade deal. If we are not careful, we are going to have the cumulative impact of the trade deals, which could really badly affect our farming community here in Wales. Obviously, an area that really concerns me is about standards. It's really important that we don't have our market flooded by imports from countries that don't have our very high animal health and welfare standards, and our very high environmental standards too.

This is something that the Minister for Economy leads on—trade deals. I work very closely with him on it. It's something that we talk about in the DEFRA IMG that I referred to before. When I have further information about looking at the cumulative impact, I will be very happy to bring forward a statement.

I thank the Trefnydd.