2. Business Statement and Announcement

– in the Senedd at 2:25 pm on 21 March 2023.

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Photo of Elin Jones Elin Jones Plaid Cymru 2:25, 21 March 2023

(Translated)

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

Photo of Lesley Griffiths Lesley Griffiths Labour

Diolch, Llywydd. There are two changes to this week's business. Firstly, I've added a statement by the Minister for Climate Change on building safety to today's agenda, and secondly, the legislative consent debate on the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill has been postponed until next week. Draft business for the next three sitting weeks is as set out in the business statement and announcement, which can be found amongst the meeting papers available to Members electronically. 

Photo of Darren Millar Darren Millar Conservative 2:26, 21 March 2023

Minister, can I call for two statements from the Government, please, this week? The first is on standards of stroke care in Wales. The Stroke Association recently circulated information that showed that the latest sentinel stroke national audit programme identified that stroke services in Wales have been deteriorating, and in fact, in north Wales were worse than in any other part of the country. Most or many of the hospitals in the region were graded as 'E', which, unfortunately, is the worst grade in terms of their performance. Most patients were not being admitted to stroke units, most patients don't have access to speech and language therapy, and we've got the worst access to physiotherapy as well. Now, given, obviously, the failings elsewhere in the health service in north Wales at the moment, quite rightly and understandably, people are concerned and want to know how this situation will be improved. 

The second statement that I'm requesting is an update on road safety projects in Wales, please, from the Deputy Minister for Climate Change. Obviously, we know that the roads review report recommended the axing or postponing of a number of road safety projects, including two on the A494 trunk road in rural Denbighshire in my own constituency. These are essential projects that need to proceed. They're not going to damage the climate, but they will save people's lives. The Maes Gamedd bend junction in Gwyddelwern has been on the Welsh Government's to-do list for well over a decade, and people were promised it up until as recently as 12 months ago. In addition to that, the Corwen Road and Lôn Fawr junction on the A494 trunk road is also very dangerous, with very high speeds and lots of accidents. Now, clearly those are projects that, regardless of the Welsh Government's honourable commitment to the environment and nature, need to go ahead. So, I think what the public want to know is when will they see action so that these sorts of projects can be delivered as soon as possible.

Photo of Lesley Griffiths Lesley Griffiths Labour 2:28, 21 March 2023

Thank you. In response to your second question, the Deputy Minister for Climate Change will be bringing forward a statement before the end of the summer term in relation to road safety and the road review, which, as you say, not everything has been cancelled—there is obviously some road building going ahead. 

With regard to your question for a statement on the audit of the stroke services provided in Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and what we'll be doing, you're very aware of what's recently been announced by the Minister for Health and Social Services in relation to the health board, and clearly, there is a significant piece of work that will be undertaken by the new chair and the new independent members with a great deal of support and monitoring by the Minister's officials and by the Minister herself, so I'm sure she will be looking at that report in detail. 

Photo of Ken Skates Ken Skates Labour

Diolch, Llywydd. Trefnydd, you'll be aware of the fabulous new metro trains that are being introduced by Merseyrail across much of the metro area of the Liverpool city region. I'd be very grateful for an update from Welsh Government regarding discussions with Merseyrail regarding the potential use of these brand new Stadler units on rail lines serving the citizens of north Wales, in particular the Wrexham to Bidston line. Diolch.

Photo of Lesley Griffiths Lesley Griffiths Labour

Thank you very much. So, Transport for Wales are working very hard to bring forward the class 230 trains into service on the Wrexham to Bidston line. And I know that they're also in very regular discussions with Merseyrail and Merseytravel about future services on that Wrexham to Bidston line, and that includes the possibility of direct services into Liverpool also, and how they can best be delivered. 

Photo of Jane Dodds Jane Dodds Liberal Democrat 2:30, 21 March 2023

Good afternoon, Minister. I'd like to ask for a statement, please, from the Minister for Climate Change on the timeline for the next iteration of the Warm Homes programme. Within the Equality and Social Justice Committee, we have raised this issue and have looked at the importance of having a clear timeline for this programme, given its importance, as I'm sure you'll know, to many people across Wales. So, I wonder if you could give me some clarity—maybe there has been some clarity in that discussion, but I'd be grateful for a further statement. Thank you. 

Photo of Lesley Griffiths Lesley Griffiths Labour

Thank you. As you're aware, officials have been developing the next iteration of the Warm Homes programme, which, again, as I'm sure you're very well aware, has helped many thousands of people, with help in Wales to reduce their bills and energy consumption. And unlike in England, we have maintained continued support for the retrofit of homes over the last decade and more, where our focus, really, has been on the most vulnerable and those who are at risk of fuel poverty, and will remain so. The Minister for Climate Change will bring forward a statement before the end of the summer term. 

Photo of Llyr Gruffydd Llyr Gruffydd Plaid Cymru 2:31, 21 March 2023

(Translated)

Minister, we hear from week to week about the increasing crisis facing dentistry here in Wales. Now, the British Dental Association, of course, has warned that services on the NHS could to all intents and purposes come to an end, because there are so many dentists who have either given up, or are about to give up, their NHS contracts. 

Now, Ruthin is the latest dental surgery to hear this week that they'll be losing access to NHS services, and, for transparency, I'm one of the patients who uses the dentist service there. We had a statement last week from the Minister for health on dentistry in Wales, but that has made me even more concerned about the future of the service, because it's clear that there is no understanding that there are three tiers of people using the service: first is those who can afford private treatment; second, those who can't but are succeeding in accessing NHS services; but there's a third tier, and that's growing on a weekly basis, and on a monthly basis, where there are people who can't afford to go private and also can't access NHS services. Now, out of the 10 dentist surgeries around Ruthin—but I'm also talking here about Wrexham, Mold and so on—only one is receiving NHS patients at the moment, and there's a waiting list of two years to be able to access those NHS services. 

So, can I invite the Government, and the Minister for health specifically, to try again with another statement, to prove to us that you as a Government are getting to grips with this issue, because it is a crisis, and, as far as I can see, you are not succeeding in dealing with it?

Photo of Lesley Griffiths Lesley Griffiths Labour 2:33, 21 March 2023

Well, as you referred to yourself, there was a statement here only last week on dentistry, where the Minister for Health and Social Services set out very clearly the work being undertaken. So, I won't be allocating further time. 

Photo of Janet Finch-Saunders Janet Finch-Saunders Conservative

I would like to request two statements. I found out last week that Conwy County Borough Council is paying its own care home 57 per cent more than privately-run care homes who are providing the same, exact level of care. Conwy's awarding itself £1,136 per resident per week, whilst only paying just over half that amount—£721—towards the care costs of the vulnerable residents in privately-run homes in Conwy. So, I would like the Deputy Minister for Social Services to make a statement on the clear discrimination. And this is a council, of course, run by Plaid Cymru, Labour and independent members. How can this even be ethical?

The second statement I would like is from the Minister for Health and Social Services on the cancer treatment pathway. Too many of my constituents are missing the targets to include those with serious, life-threatening cancers. We need a statement now to ensure the cancer treatment pathway is strictly adhered to, because, in some instances, this can actually save lives. Diolch. 

Photo of Lesley Griffiths Lesley Griffiths Labour 2:34, 21 March 2023

In response to your first request for a statement, I suggest you write to Conwy council directly on that; I don't think that's a matter for the Deputy Minister for Social Services. And in relation to cancer waiting times, which I think is what you were alluding to, you'll be very well aware the NHS is working very hard to reduce waiting times, especially for people with suspected cancer, and we are investing heavily in cancer services to improve that early detection and provide rapid access to investigation, treatment and high-quality care. The Minister has recently announced £86 million for new cancer diagnostic and treatment facilities.