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

Diolch, Llywydd. I have one change to today's agenda. I have extended the length of the Counsel General's statement on justice in Wales to 45 minutes. 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. 

Good afternoon, Minister. I'd like to ask for a Welsh Government statement on maximising the potential of Wrexham's newly announced city status. I'm sure, Minister, you were as delighted as I was to hear the announcement that Wrexham will now be a city following Her Majesty the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations. Of course, Minister, there are lots of fantastic things happening throughout Wrexham, as you'll be aware, and, as has already been mentioned, around Wrexham Association Football Club, who again will be playing at Wembley this weekend for the chance to be promoted to the football league. In addition to this, Minister, of course you'll be aware of many businesses thriving throughout Wrexham, on the industrial estate. I believe that this new status can raise the profile of Wrexham and help it go from strength to strength. So, will you join with me in congratulating all of those who enabled this to happen, but also allow for a Welsh Government statement to outline how we can ensure this new city status is maximised? Diolch yn fawr iawn. 

Thank you. You're quite right; there are many exciting things going on in my constituency of Wrexham at the moment. We won't say anything about the result on Sunday, but we're certainly looking forward to the semi-final of the play-offs on Saturday. I think acquiring city status for Wrexham is positive, but what I think is really important now is that Wrexham County Borough Council really grasp the opportunities, the economic opportunities particularly, that they certainly believed pursuing city status would bring. I've certainly looked at other towns that got city status—I think 20 years ago it was Newport, 10 years ago it was St Asaph, which you'll know very well—and I think it is really important that that ambition is there to grasp those economic opportunities. 

Trefnydd, last week a written statement was published announcing a £750,000 investment in libraries and museums. Of course, I welcome this very much, and it's good to see libraries and museums across Wales receiving investment. I would like to ask for an oral statement by the Deputy Minister for arts and sport, before the summer recess, providing further information on the Government's vision for local museums, and, specifically, progress on the development of a new national museums strategy. After all, Wales was the first nation in the United Kingdom to develop a national museums strategy in 2010. Work was done to develop a new strategy in 2017 and 2018—and I should declare that I was part of that process in my previous role—but the work was not completed. It would be beneficial to have an update, especially as museums are not statutory services, on how the Government is supporting the sector, and when the new strategy will emerge, as well as receiving an update on the implementation of recommendations made as part of the local museums review in 2015. 

Thank you. I'm very pleased you welcomed the additional funding that the Deputy Minister for culture and arts announced last week, as you say, in a written statement. I don't think there will be an opportunity to have an oral statement before the summer recess, but I'm sure, as we go through the next year of this term of Government, if the Deputy Minister does have further information about the strategy, she can bring it forward.

I want to ask for a Welsh Government statement on eating disorders. The 2018 eating disorders service review put forward an ambitious vision, based on earliest access to effective treatment and support in every part of Wales. Beat's new report finds that progress in expanding and improving eating disorders services has been very uneven. While access to treatment has improved in some areas, in others, it is still very limited. Can I ask for a Government statement and the publishing of a plan with timescales for achieving the vision of the 2018 eating disorders service review, so that everyone affected can access effective help quickly?

Thank you. We continue to prioritise investment for eating disorders services, and, since 2017, as I'm sure the Member is aware, health boards have received an additional £4.1 million to support improvements in those services, and particularly in waiting times. We will be targeting additional funding for eating disorders services from the increased mental health funding that has been secured for 2022-23. Funding has been provided to health boards specifically to reconfigure services towards earlier interventions, to work towards achieving the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence standards on eating disorders within the next two years, and also to develop plans to achieve a four-week waiting time across both adult and child services, as was recommended in the review.

Leader of the house, could I seek a statement from the Minister responsible for the blue badge disability scheme? I've recently been contacted by a constituent whose child is registered as blind, is under the age of three, and has cerebral palsy and requires constant physiotherapy. The regulations as laid out by the Welsh Government, which local authorities work to, are very prescriptive—and I can understand why they're prescriptive—but they seem to be completely irrelevant if you fall in that category of under three, for a child. And in this particular case of my constituent, regrettably, they are being refused a blue badge, despite obviously requiring to go for regular physiotherapy sessions, and with a blind child as well—you can imagine the stress and the grief that this causes the family.

I appreciate you can't speak on the specifics, because you need to have fuller details—and I will be writing to the relevant Minister on this—but I'd be grateful to understand if the Welsh Government is proposing any review of the blue badge scheme. If a statement could be forthcoming, could it touch on how that review might be undertaken and the terms of reference, so that we can capture young children in particular under the benefits of the scheme, which are there to make life easier for people who, obviously, need to be close to community halls, GP surgeries or any other place where a disability parking space might be available?

Thank you. I do think that the most appropriate way for you now is to write to the Minister for Economy around your specific constituent and the experiences that they've had. I'm not aware of any review, but, as I say, if you do write to the Minister for Economy, he'll be able to advise you.

We will all be aware that it's No Mow May, and I'd like to ask for a statement setting out how the Government is taking this further, to reconnect people across Wales with the natural world on their doorstep. I'm proud to be the species champion for the shrill carder bee, the most endangered bumblebee in Wales and England. I'd really like more people, of all ages, to learn more about how conservation projects like Natur am Byth can help to avert the nature crisis we're in, but also to strengthen the sense of belonging that people can feel with the habitats that are all around us. We know that one in six species in Wales is threatened with extinction. If we don't do anything, so many bumblebees and butterflies and creatures will stop existing. But the great news is that we can do something about it, and there are ways in which people can get involved. So, can a statement please set out how people can find joy in the natural world, get a boost to their health and well-being, and find a sense of wonder in so many creatures, like the shrill carder bee? Thank you very much.

Thank you. I'm certainly very happy to take part in No Mow May—I think my garden's very appreciative of it, and I certainly am too. It's great that you are this species champion, as you say. It was also World Bee Day last Friday; I was very pleased to do a visit to some beehives in Buith Wells last Thursday to promote that. But I think you make a really important point—it's very important that we change how we manage our grasslands. I think Plantlife's No Mow May is an excellent campaign. That really helps people look at how they deal with nature, by just changing their behaviour, for instance. I know tomorrow the Deputy Minister for Climate Change is responding to a short debate, and that's going to look at the importance of managing grass verges and amenity grassland. I know Carolyn Thomas has really taken up the role of road verge and amenity grassland champion to support the better management. It just shows that we can all make little changes to really help our biodiversity. 

Could we have a statement on measures that Welsh Government Ministers will take to urge the UK Government to raise the value of Healthy Start vouchers to meet the runaway cost of inflation? The UK Government last raised the value of the Healthy Start vouchers before the cost-of-living crisis hit, and it was only after, I have to say, an incredible amount of pressure from Marcus Rashford with his campaigning, food charities and, indeed, the Co-operative Party and the co-operative movement. A statement from the Welsh Government would send a very clear message of support for raising the value of these Healthy Start vouchers, and, frankly, avoiding babies and young children going hungry.

Could we have a debate on the Welsh Government commitment to food justice and on tackling the looming food poverty issue right across Wales, as well as the wider UK? It's estimated that across the UK, the sixth richest nation on earth, as many as 8 million people could be struggling to put food on the table and 500,000 have used foodbanks over the last year alone. So, a statement could advance the case for the right to food to be recognised by Government, for food strategies to be drawn up, for the designation of food champions in local government, a food strategy at local levels and more. We face a growing storm that is ripping through our communities, so Welsh Labour in Government and the Co-operative Party need to send stronger signals that we'll be there for those who are most exposed to this storm in every possible way we can. 

Thank you very much. The Healthy Start scheme is a welfare food scheme, which, as you're aware, is not devolved for Wales. However, the Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Well-being wrote to the Secretary of State, I think, at the end of last year, and has also written again to ask and really push for an uplift in the scheme. Isn't that just one way the UK Government could help with the cost-of-living crisis? I think the Deputy Minister is really keen to see Healthy Start eligibility until a child starts primary school—I think that would help—increasing the household income threshold to create consistency with that for free school meals. That would help support our most vulnerable children. So, there are lots of things that could be done. In fairness, I do think the Secretary of State has allowed their officials to engage with the Deputy Minister's officials to try and see where they can do more, and I know that those discussions are ongoing. The Deputy Minister has also asked her officials to explore devolving welfare foods, and we do intend to undertake an independent review of the Healthy Start scheme here in Wales later this year, in the autumn.  

In relation to food justice, again, 8 million people across the UK is a truly horrific figure. The Minister for Social Justice led a food poverty round-table, which I was very pleased to join, just the week before last, and we discussed the ongoing urgency of the cost-of-living crisis and the impact of rising prices, and, of course, the effect that high energy prices also has on food poverty. The Minister and I heard from representatives from some of our foodbanks, who were saying that they've had to completely rethink what food they give out in food parcels, because people can't afford to heat food, which is truly appalling. The Minister for Social Justice is looking at the funding. We have allocated £3.9 million to support action that really tackles the root causes of food poverty, building on the success of previous work that she's brought forward, and there will be an announcement soon on how the funding will be distributed this year. 

Minister, may I ask for two statements from the Welsh Government? The first on the difficulties and disparities still being faced by many disabled workers. According to research published in April last year, only 52.3 per cent of disabled people are in employment. This compares with 82 per cent of the able-bodied population. In Wales, the disability pay gap is a staggering 18 per cent, with disabled women most affected, earning on average 36 per cent less than their other counterparts. Can we, please, have a statement on what the Welsh Government is doing to encourage employers not to overlook skilled workers just because they have a disability, and to advocate the great benefits disabled workers can bring to a business or a line of industry?

Secondly, can I ask for a statement from the Welsh Government about the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations? I know a lot of people have mentioned it today in the Chamber. In particular, I would like to know if any councils in Wales have been given extra funding for local Jubilee celebratory events or projects, and what guidance has been issued by the Welsh Government Ministers to local authorities on this issue. Thank you. 

Thank you. With regard to your last point, I am aware that, certainly, my own local authority did have funding to award to local groups if they wanted to take part in Jubilee celebrations or organise a street party, et cetera. So, I'm presuming that that's happened right across Wales. As you know, the next debate will be led by the First Minister in relation to the Jubilee.

The Minister for Social Justice works very closely with organisations to ensure that people with disabilities are able to find employment. I would have thought one of the best things we ever had in Wales was Remploy, and I think it was very unfortunate the UK Government closed it down.

I would like to request a statement from you, Trefnydd, in your capacity as Minister for rural affairs. With the brutal and illegal conflict in Ukraine continuing to rumble on, I've been delighted to see the UK Government take leadership on the refugee crisis, with hundreds of families now being given the opportunity to rebuild their lives here in Wales and across the UK. However—and it was raised with the Minister for Social Justice last week—we do have a situation where there is no mechanism now to allow pets arriving from Ukraine to complete their isolation at home with their owners. This is even after all necessary checks and immunisations have been completed. My colleague Russell George raised this here last week, and I've heard of more instances where pets are now trapped in England and being moved around different places in England. So, what we want to see, really, is you make a statement on how the Welsh Government will work with the Animal and Plant Health Agency to urgently allow these beloved pets to be returned to their owners, just providing some small sense of their own home to families looking to rebuild their lives here in Wales. Thank you.

Thank you. The Member hasn't got the position quite correct—[Interruption.]—but of course I absolutely understand that people fleeing the war in Ukraine want to have their pets close by. That's absolutely what we intend to do. The difference here in Wales is we don't have home containment. Pets will have to go into quarantine if they don't meet all the criteria. So, if a pet has been vaccinated against rabies, has a pet passport, has all the correct paperwork and is microchipped, they will absolutely be able to go with the family or with the person straight away. Home containment is very difficult to monitor and very difficult to enforce, so we are sticking with the approved quarantine units that have been there for many, many years. I have to make sure that our animals here in Wales are protected, the health of the animal coming from Ukraine is protected and, of course, that public health is protected also. So, we are expanding our quarantine facilities because we appreciate that we haven't got enough. I was telling the UK Government back in February they wouldn't have enough, and of course APHA, who I do obviously work very closely with, play an important role. But, things can go wrong, and whilst I appreciate it is a very low risk,  I have to say there were 1,800 cases of rabies in Ukraine last year. We haven't had rabies in this country for 100 years. Whilst the risk is low, the impact of having such an animal disease in this country would be very, very significant. 

Business Minister, I would like to ask for a statement, please, on the stopping of the use of genderless language during the drafting of legislation to prevent the unjust and dangerous erasure of women in policy and law. We have seen genderless language creep into our law making, and this has been again recognised by UK Government Minister Lord True, who has now released a statement on the matter. They have come to the conclusion that a number of drafting approaches are available to deliver the desired policy outcome while still using sex-specific language. One approach is to use sex-specific language to refer to the main case—for example, women—with the addition of further wording so that the provision also has the desired policy outcome for the less common cases. Using gender-neutral language can lead to the erasure of women in law and, in some cases, cause significant and insidious harms. I hope to see a statement from the Minister, please, business Minister, updating us all on what approach this Welsh Government is taking in relation to the drafting of legislation to prevent the erasure of women in order to stop the undoing of all the hard work over decades to protect women. Thank you.

I certainly think this Government has absolutely led the way. If you think about our ending violence against women Bill, at the time it was absolute groundbreaking. I know the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution is working on accessibility to Welsh law and clarification, and he's in the Chamber and heard you, and I'm sure he can look at that as part of it. 

I thank the Trefnydd. No, I do apologise.

Sorry, a bit premature on my part there—one more person to call that I've missed on my list here. Ken Skates. It might be about Wrexham.

I hope so.

Diolch, Llywydd. Indeed it is. I was delighted to hear the First Minister's response to my question a little earlier, but I'd also be grateful if a statement could be forthcoming should Wrexham win the city of culture bid, outlining details of the Welsh Government's support, both financial and in-kind support, because I am in no doubt that the local council will be relying very heavily on the excellent major events unit in Welsh Government for support and advice.

Trefnydd, I'd also be grateful for a statement from the Minister for health regarding progress against the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board improvement plans that were published in March of 2021. And could I ask for another statement from the Minister for health confirming that the citizen voice body will be headquartered in north Wales? The chair of the body, of course, is very familiar with south-west Wales and mid Wales, and most of the NHS is headquartered in south-east Wales, and so it stands to reason that the citizen voice body should be headquartered in north Wales, where we have the largest health board and where, arguably, the NHS faces its greatest challenge. Diolch.

Thank you. There were several questions there, but I'm certainly pleased to hear the First Minister listens to my ramblings about Wrexham Association Football Club with such depth and has such knowledge now. In relation to the city of culture bid, as the First Minister said, the announcement will be next Tuesday, and we very much hope Wrexham will win, and I'm sure the Deputy Minister for arts and culture will be very happy to do a statement if that is the case.

On your two questions around health, in respect of the establishment of the citizen voice body, no decisions have been taken as yet as to the location of any of its sites. I think once the citizen voice body recruitment is completed, the Minister for Health and Social Services will bring forward a location strategy around the decisions taken.

You ask for an update on the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board improvement plan, and, as you're aware, in the previous term of government, back in March 2021, a written statement was issued by the Government outlining the targeted intervention framework for the health board. This is something that, obviously, the Minister for Health and Social Services monitors very carefully. I am aware there are further discussions going on, and the Minister will ensure the health board update their website, because I think that hasn't been done for a few months, and I think it is really important that that's done. I know that their baseline assessment was completed, but it is really important that the website is updated so Members are able to access it. But if there is anything further from the Minister's meeting, I will ask her to issue a written statement. 

I now thank the Trefnydd.