1. Will the Minister make a statement on the economic impact of closing the Menai bridge? OQ58714

Yes. Officials are working closely with Cyngor Sir Ynys Môn and other stakeholders to monitor and understand the economic impact on the town of Menai Bridge specifically as well as surrounding areas.

Thank you very much. I have kept in close contact—as close as possible—with businesses, and the whole community of course, since the decision was taken to close the bridge. They all want assurances that everything will be done to reopen the bridge as soon as possible. I would welcome any news from the Minister on that and the work to reopen early in the new year.

But, in terms of the impact on business, businesses are very consistent in what they tell me—they tell me that trade is down some 40 per cent, and more in some instances. People aren't going shopping or going for a cuppa in the way that they used to. So, can I first of all ask for financial support for them? We need to think how we can help them to get them through this period and the pressure, which is not of their own making, of course. But, of course, there is no reason for people to stay away. As much as this causes problems at certain times of the day, and as much as we need a third bridge to ensure the resilience of the crossing in the longer term, people can travel to Menai Bridge and to Beaumaris and so on, as they please. So, will the Minister, first of all, ensure that there is no sign saying 'Menai Bridge Closed' anywhere, and that 'Pont ar Gau' or 'Suspension Bridge Closed' are the signs? And will he look at starting a marketing campaign, perhaps through Visit Wales or other organisations, to encourage people to travel to Anglesey, to Menai Bridge, Beaumaris and so on, for leisure and shopping as they normally would?

Yes, I think some of those are for my colleague the Deputy Minister for Climate Change, in terms of the signage, but I think it's a fair point to make clear that the island isn't closed—there is still the opportunity to go and, indeed, that businesses in Menai Bridge themselves are open and available as usual. And I would say in the list of places on the island that he's mentioned, I've been to all of them with my family and enjoyed being a part of the local economy when we've done so.

So, yes, I do recognise that there are real issues to understand what we can do with other agencies, including the council and, indeed, local elected representatives to understand what is actually happening as well as being really positive about the fact that all those towns and places are accessible, open and available, whilst we carry out the essential work, from a safety point of view, on the suspension bridge—the old, old Telford bridge—by making sure that there is a safe and easy passage for people to get on and off the island until then.

And we are considering the request for financial—. That's a little more challenging. We want to work with stakeholders to understand what we can do and, indeed, I think there was a constructive meeting earlier this week between the Deputy Minister and local stakeholders—I believe you took part in it—to try to understand what is being done in terms of progress as well as the immediate circumstances that businesses themselves are facing.

Like others, I too was shocked at the sudden closure of the Menai bridge and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to realise that there were repairs needed to that bridge long before the closure came. Now, there's the potential for this to be closed for up to four months. The closure in itself is impacting already on my local constituents in Aberconwy. Many work in the businesses there and work in various other businesses in Ynys Môn, and a lot have family there. The business owners who I speak to, who work on the island, are saying that the continued uncertainty about the status of the bridge is causing them now, as Rhun has quite adequately pointed out, a massive drop in revenue. So, this closure will affect people commuting to work and school and will be a blow for hauliers and families alike, with places in Aberconwy feeling now cut off from their neighbouring communities.

Another aspect has been about the other bridge, because I know there were some problems there the other week, where there were some concerns about whether that would actually be closed in terms of stormy weather and things. So, how can you also ensure that any messaging you put out, which Rhun has asked for, spreads more across other constituencies that are also affected so that they know that business on the island is still taking place? But also, more importantly, how soon can we get that bridge opened so that people travelling to work there are not in the situation that they are now? Thanks.

I think there were two questions there. There were a number of points that weren't questions, I think. But look, the reality is, in response to the constituency Member Rhun ap Iorwerth, I've made clear that, yes, we are working with local stakeholders, including elected representatives, including the council, including representatives from businesses that we know are being affected by a difference in footfall. We want to have the message that the island is certainly open for business, and to be really clear about that, though I recognise that that isn't just for the island; it's for people who move on and off the island in the normal course of business. So, yes, we do of course want to take account of—.

And I think your second actual question was about how soon the repairs will be completed, and that's a matter that the Deputy Minister is engaging with local stakeholders on, to understand what our experts are advising us on, and then we can see how quickly we can undertake and complete the repairs. It's in all of our interests for the suspension bridge to be repaired, for it to be safe and secure for everyone who uses it, and that is absolutely our objective. But I do think that it will be a matter for the Deputy Minister for Climate Change to give updates on that, rather than me trying to assume a range of his responsibilities. And I do believe he's intending on making a visit to the area in the coming immediate week. So, I think that will give a greater insight, and, hopefully, greater visibility on the steps we are taking, and the fact that the island is very much open for business.