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

Diolch, Llywydd. There is one change to this week's Plenary business. The time allocated to Senedd Commission questions tomorrow has been reduced to 10 minutes. Draft business for the next three weeks is set out on the business statement and announcement, which can be found amongst the meeting papers available to Members electronically.

This week is obviously Holocaust Remembrance Week, and the Minister may be aware—the Trefnydd may be aware—that there's work that is ongoing in north Wales to try to chart the history of Jewish communities in the region. That work is being led by Nathan Abrams, who's a professor at Bangor University, and he's already undertaken a great deal of work in Anglesey, Gwynedd and other parts of north Wales. In order to progress and complete that work, around £50,000 is needed, which I know is a significant sum in terms of research, but it's not a significant sum in terms of the importance of this work. Can I ask for a statement from the appropriate Welsh Government Minister on our Jewish heritage here in Wales and what action is being taken in order to promote it, particularly in the north Wales region?

In addition to that, it shouldn't have escaped anybody looking at my social media feeds over the weekend that we marked Red Squirrel Appreciation Day this weekend. And as the red squirrel champion in this Senedd, I don't want to miss the opportunity to seek an update on the support that the Welsh Government is giving to the conservation work that is taking place for red squirrels. I took part in a webinar yesterday with the UK Squirrel Accord to talk about the good work that's being done, collectively, in Wales, to promote and boost the numbers of red squirrels in the country. But one issue of concern that was raised was the fact that the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949 apparently only covers rodents, and gives responsibilities to councils and local authorities to take action to minimise rodents as pests in people's homes and businesses. But there's no provision for the pest damage that, of course, grey squirrels can also cause—stripping electrical wiring, and burrowing into people's properties and causing damage to the timber. I know I'm going on, but if I may just finish—

Sorry. It's handy that you're going on, because I was losing myself in laughter there at the idea of you in the squirrel webinar yesterday. [Laughter.]

Me in the squirrel webinar, yes. It wasn't just attended by squirrels, I have to say. [Laughter.]

But, clearly, there is significant damage that is done to timber, that is done to trees, because they strip trees of bark as well, and we've got an ambitious tree-planting programme here in Wales. And therefore I would ask if we could have an update on red squirrel conservation work in Wales from you as Minister, and whether you could incorporate some reflections on whether it would be a good idea to broaden the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act in order to encompass the damage caused by grey squirrels in particular. Thank you.

Thank you. In relation to your first question, I am aware of the work that you referred to that's going on in north Wales, and I will certainly speak to my colleague Jane Hutt, who would be the Minister with responsibility, to see if she and her officials are aware of that work. It just sounds excellent work, and I will make sure the Minister is aware of that.

In relation to your second question, which is obviously asking for a statement from myself, I have to say, since I've been in post, it's very apparent—and you just referred to an Act from 1949—that a lot of the legislation around this, and I'm sure the Minister for Climate Change would agree, is very, very dated. So, I'll certainly be very happy to look at that as a whole, and then if I think it's, obviously, worthy of a statement, I'd be happy to bring one forward.

I'd like a statement, please, about community right to buy. A beautiful local asset, bluebell wood, near Llanbradach was destroyed a few months ago, and the council issued a restoration order. The site is up for auction, and the new owner will be obliged to restore the land. A group of local residents is trying to raise funds to buy the land for the community, but I'm sure that residents across Wales would welcome other chances and other ways of protecting beloved local sites. I know the Government is looking at establishing a new commission around community empowerment. Could a statement take this further, please, including explaining how local groups, like that one I mentioned in Llanbradach, could feed into a process, because so many buildings and even green fields in our valleys hold a collective memory, a sense of connecting us to our past. It would be wonderful to help ensure that spaces like this, which are so important, could be protected for the future. Thank you. 

Thank you. I think you raise a very important point, and, as you alluded to, the Minister for Climate Change is certainly leading on a significant piece of work in relation to that. I think, in the first case, it might be better if you write to the Minister for Climate Change on that specific point, and I'm sure, as the work progresses, the Minister will be happy to bring forward a statement. 

In this very cold weather, I just wanted to highlight the situation of a constituent of mine whose boiler has broken down: a family of four with two disabled children, they absolutely don't have the money to replace this boiler, with a combined income of £19,000 and two disabled children. So, they've no savings to fall back on and Nest has told them that they can't help them, because he uses his home as his business address. So, if he'd been a mobile hairdresser, apparently he could have got help, but because he's a mobile IT engineer, who does a small part of his work remotely, helping his clients get their IT systems back up and running again, and only part of his work is done in people's offices and homes, they've told him he's not eligible. So, I wondered if we could have  statement from the Minister for Climate Change regarding the decision-making processes that Nest is supposed to adhere to, because there seem to be some huge anomalies here, which don't keep up with the fact that people often work remotely, as we do occasionally. And also, when can we see light of day on the new Warm Homes programme, which might be the best and most elegant way of rectifying this anomalous situation for really desperate people? 

Unless you have already done so, I would advise you to write to the Minister for Climate Change, because it could be that there's some flexibility within the criteria that would allow your constituent—. I think you raise a very important point, particularly post COVID pandemic, when many people have seen a change in their work style, and many more people are working from home. So, I would suggest you do that, in the first place, if you haven't done that already. 

Can I ask for a statement from the Minister for Economy this afternoon on the upcoming closure of HSBC in Denbigh, which is due to close in August? Now, I understand it's part of a nationwide closure of 114 banks, I think, but I really believe that HSBC has been shortsighted in its strategy of closures, particularly in rural areas. Denbigh is a rural town in the heart of the Vale of Clwyd, and HSBC is one of the last banks in the town, as Barclays and Nat West vacated some years ago, and many people in the town and surrounding villages simply can't travel as far as Ruthin or Rhyl to do their banking, particularly if they have no access to a private vehicle or public transport. I set up an online petition in December, and I've circulated paper copies around local pubs and businesses, and I've so far received over 200 signatures, and I hope this increases over the next couple of weeks. So, could I have a statement from the Government this afternoon in response to the planned closure of banks in Denbigh and what support can be available to help my constituents who struggle to travel around rural areas to carry out their business? Thank you. 

Well, banking is a reserved matter, so I don't think it would be appropriate for a statement.

May I ask for an urgent statement from the Deputy Minister for transport on an announcement made last week by the Llew Jones bus company, which is going to bring to an end the T19 service from Blaenau Ffestiniog to Llandudno in a fortnight on 11 February? The T19 service was launched 18 months ago, to replace the X19. Many people in the Ffestiniog area use it for medical appointments, education, shopping and leisure, and it's crucial to them for their day-to-day lives. People's lives will be affected as a result of this announcement. Of course, there is a train service, but a train ticket to Llandudno is more than £9, whilst a bus ticket is £5, and the train has been inconsistent in terms of service. This announcement will be a blow to the Ffestiniog area, and it's not consistent with the ambition of Government in increasing the use of public transport. Can we therefore have an urgent statement from the Deputy Minister on what steps the Government will take in order to ensure the reintroduction of this bus service, be it a Fflecsi bus, or on a revised timetable, or a financial investment? Thank you.

Diolch. It was very unfortunate that Llew Jones Coaches did serve notice that they intended to withdraw from operating the TrawsCymru T19 bus service, with effect from Saturday 11 February. As you referred to, there are other public transport options available to passengers in the Conwy valley, and Welsh Government is working very closely with our partners to ensure that those vital public transport links are maintained for our rural communities along that route. I am aware that the Deputy Minister for Climate Change is expecting a further update within the next, I think, week to 10 days, and continues to work with Transport for Wales, Bus Users Cymru and Conwy County Borough Council. 

Trefnydd, this week is Cervical Cancer Prevention Week. Around 160 cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed annually. It's the most common type of cancer for women under 35. I've been working with Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust to increase take-up of the HPV vaccine and cervical screening, as we know that regular screening reduces risk by up to 70 per cent. Could we have an update from the health Minister on Welsh Government interventions to eliminate cervical cancer?

And, in addition, the leader and deputy leader of the Welsh Local Government Association have written to UK Government, calling on them to clarify which council services will qualify for the energy bill discount scheme. This is important so that our councils can get assurances that important community assets, such as leisure centres, will get support towards their energy costs. So, could I ask also for an oral statement from Welsh Government on its discussions with its UK counterpart to ensure this vital support for our councils is put in place?

I think it's very good that you've raised Cervical Cancer Prevention Week here in the Chamber. It's very important that we do always continue to raise awareness and, as you know, Welsh Government has committed to improving cervical cancer outcomes through a combination of screening and HPV vaccination, and also access to treatment. I think it's fair to say the cervical screening programme has fully recovered from the impact of the pandemic now, and there's a significant number of eligible people participating in the programme. Take-up of the HPV adolescent programme was affected by the pandemic because of the school closures, and the vaccination teams have really made some significant efforts to recover and increase the uptake, and I think we as Members should do all we can to make sure people are aware of that vaccination programme. 

With regard to your second point, I am aware of the letter from the WLGA to the UK Government on the energy bill discount scheme. We've expressed concerns at ministerial level, and our officials have, regarding future support for non-domestic energy consumers, in particular the need for that continued support when we have that cliff edge that's coming down the track at the end of March. It's our expectation that all council services will be covered by the energy bill discount scheme when it's introduced in April. And, as I mentioned at the outset, our officials continue to engage with the UK Government to stress the importance of comprehensive support for all, alongside the higher level of support for those most impacted by energy price changes. 

Over the longer term, we believe the UK Government need to implement market reform to decouple the consumer cost of renewable energy from global gas prices, and we really do all want to work together to build a more localised, renewables-based energy system to replace our reliance on imported fossil fuels. 

Business Minister, a whole term has now passed since the beginning of the Curriculum for Wales's implementation in schools, and Estyn inspection teams have, of course, been very busy. For the first time in many years now, the inspection process is the only method by which primary schools are held to account. Secondary and all-age schools have the additional pressure of the external examinations, of course, with results at age 16, but these soon, too, will be changing. Given the importance of these changes, can I ask the business Minister for an oral statement from the education Minister on how the inspection process has changed since the new curriculum entered our schools? Thank you.

I will certainly raise it directly with the Minister for education. I would have thought he might think it's a bit early in the timescale of the changes to have an oral statement at the moment, but I will certainly raise it with him.

It's good to see that already today colleagues have been raising the issue of the effect on businesses of the cliff edge at the end of March of the drop in support for energy prices. Both Vikki and Jayne Bryant have raised this. I think they're right in raising the fact of the impact of this upon things such as retail outlets, local pubs and clubs, and so on—that's absolutely right. But I would welcome a statement, Trefnydd, on this issue that also focuses on some of those small-to-medium-scale local foundational economy businesses that are employed in food manufacturing. Within the Bridgend area, we still have a number of these businesses, and I've spoken to them. They have, when I say, significant fears, they genuinely worry that they will close in April or May, and the reason is they've managed to get this far with support, on good order books, by the way, and, in fact, many of them could take on more. These are good, family-owned businesses, some of which go back three, four or five generations. But the energy costs now are tipping them over the edge, and they're looking to pay 70p or 80p per unit price for electricity, whereas, a year ago, they were paying 30p. They could pay a little bit more, but they cannot pay 70p or 80p. It means their cash flow will take them under. Their banks can't help them any more, and no development bank of Wales or anybody else can help them. The energy cliff edge will push them over.

Now, these are jobs where people walk to work. They may not be highly paid jobs, but they employ hundreds upon hundreds of people in every community in my valleys, and also in Bridgend and the RCT area as well. Perhaps I could, in asking for a statement, reflect the views of one of these businesses—a family-run business who's been there for many generations—who said, 'I would welcome the Minister not just calling on the UK Government to extend the support, but to bring the energy companies into a room and lock the door until they renegotiate, some of which has been done through brokers, the unit price energy costs.' There's a role for UK Government, but there's a role for the energy companies as we see wholesale costs falling, to sit in that room and give back to some of these companies, because it's no good to those energy companies if these companies go bust, and I'm seriously worried we could be looking at a tsunami of job losses and businesses closing.

Thank you. You will have heard me say in my earlier answer to Vikki Howells that the UK Government is responsible for the energy bill relief scheme that does provide support to businesses to help them cope with the increase in the energy costs they're experiencing. I know the Welsh Government prepared a response to the UK Government's consultation that they had on the future of the EBRS, and that did include representations on behalf of not just the companies that you refer to, but also the energy-intensive sectors as well, and I know that the Minister is very aware of the concerns of stakeholders and continues to make representations to the UK Government. I'm sure having a summit is something that he will consider, now he's heard you asking him to do so.

Good afternoon, Minister. I'm going to continue the theme of ambulances and waiting times. It was reported in our local paper, the County Times, that Welsh patients arriving at English hospitals, given that most of the patients on the border with England in Mid and West Wales actually use those hospitals, are potentially waiting longer because they are from Powys. Given that the area I represent in Mid and West Wales has that long border with England and many constituents of mine access emergency medical care, this, of course, is a concern, on top of the issues around ambulance waiting times anyway. For that reason, may I ask for a statement from the Minister for Health and Social Services regarding these claims and investigating them to see whether patients in border communities from Powys are experiencing worse outcomes with regard to emergency care? Thank you. Diolch.

Thank you. My understanding is English trusts do not treat Welsh residents differently, in the way that you've suggested, and I think the best way forward, the best course of action, probably would be to ask the Minister for Health and Social Services to get her officials to monitor that. Certainly, her officials would monitor any commissioning arrangements that they had with English hospitals. I'm not sure if ambulance waiting times is something that would be considered as part of those commissioning arrangements, but, certainly, I think it would be good for the Minister to ask her officials to look into this and write to you.

Trefnydd, the First Minister said in First Minister's questions, in answer to Andrew R.T. Davies, that he thought that 'urgent and transparent action' was needed by the WRU to ensure it responded properly to rectify the horrific allegations that were made of it in last night's BBC Wales special. But, as a major contributor to the finances of the WRU, we need to understand the action that the Welsh Government is taking here as well, which is why I'm calling for a statement from the Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport to explain that. For example, we heard that she met with the WRU yesterday, but we need to understand the implications of that meeting and whether she raised linked issues as well—for example, the Welsh Rugby Union has resisted calls to publish its 2021 review of the women's game. Where is that and why has that been delayed? Surely she's aware of this review and, if that has not been forthcoming, why has it not been? And finally, we need to better understand to what extent the important work the WRU does with Welsh Government money is contingent on cultural change within the organisation. So, a statement would be very welcome, to clarify those matters. Thank you. 

Thank you. Well, of course, the Deputy Minister is aware of the report you refer to and has called on the WRU to publish it, I don't think on one occasion, but on many occasions, and continues to do that. As you heard the First Minister say, the Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport did meet with the WRU ahead of the airing of that programme last night. She continues to engage with them on immediate actions that must be taken to address the allegations set out in the investigation. I think the details that were provided in the testimonies were devastating, and we absolutely recognise the courage it takes for people to come forward after experiencing any form of harassment, bullying or abuse. The Deputy Minister will continue to meet with the WRU, and her officials too are engaged in this. It is a direct matter for the WRU, as it relates to their employment practices as an independent organisation, but, of course, there is a very clear public interest, and I think the leader of the opposition did refer to this, as the WRU being right at the heart, really, of our sporting and civic life. So, they will need to further explain how they're taking these matters very seriously. The Deputy Minister wants to know what action they will be taking to improve the current practices and the culture, and how they are going to provide a safe and welcoming environment for its staff and wider stakeholders. 

In light of the recent reported cases of allegation of sexual harassment and/or domestic abuse by serving officers in the Metropolitan Police, Gwent Police and the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, the public need to be assured that all public services are safe places to work. Trefnydd, I'd like to ask for a statement from the Minister for Social Justice on what action she has taken or is going to take to ensure that people who work in the public sector and large organisations are free from sexual harassment in their workplace, and that those individuals who do come forward to report incidents can be assured that they will be heard and taken seriously at all levels of that organisation. Furthermore, what is being done to ensure that detailed vetting is carried out to root out perpetrators of domestic abuse and sexual harassment who will be then in charge of ensuring the safety of those individuals who fall victim?

Thank you. The Minister for Social Justice has always been very clear about her commitment to end violence against women and girls. It's a societal problem and it obviously requires a societal response. The Minister is absolutely adamant we've got to change attitudes shaped by long-standing structural misogyny and making lasting changes in order to tackle violent, abusive and controlling behaviours. You'll be very well aware, Joyce Watson, of our programme of government commitments to strengthening the violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence strategy, and that includes a special focus on violence against women in the workplace, as well as in the home and as well as in public places, in order to make Wales the safest place to be a woman. 

The Minister delivers the strategy through a collaborative blueprint approach, which brings together all relevant authorities, as outlined in the Act, with non-devolved organisations. I know the Minister co-chairs the national partnership board with Dafydd Llywelyn, the lead police and crime commissioner for Wales. I'm sure the Minister will be very happy to bring forward a written statement to update us.

The Deputy Presiding Officer (David Rees) took the Chair.

And finally, Ken Skates.

Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Minister, I'd be very grateful for a statement on the status of the Wrexham Gateway project in light of the failure by the UK Government to support the scheme through the levelling-up bid process. This is a hugely important scheme for north Wales. It was conceived by Welsh Government; it's backed by Welsh Government, by the local authority, by the university and by the football club, but sadly not by UK Government as yet. The people of the region would very much appreciate an update on where the project stands and confirmation that the Welsh Government continues to support the Wrexham Gateway project, both in terms of administrative support and, of course, with financial support too.

Thank you. It was certainly very disappointing that, for the second time, the levelling-up bid by, as you mentioned, a group of partners in the Wrexham Gateway partnership was rejected by the UK Government. I, obviously, declare an interest as the constituency Member, and it certainly went down very badly with Wrexham's residents, because the gateway partnership, and the project, is such an important aspect of the ambitions for the new city.

I know that Welsh Government officials met with the Wrexham Gateway partnership last week, following the news that the bid had been rejected. They agreed unanimously that the commitment to deliver the Wrexham Gateway project remains resolute, and that, obviously, includes Welsh Government, and alternative funding options would be looked at in relation to the Kop part of the development. Those discussions are ongoing with Wrexham Association Football Club. I know a further meeting is to take place between the club and the partnership this week. Obviously, there are other very important elements of Wrexham Gateway, and they will continue to be considered as the project progresses.

I thank the Trefnydd.