Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Of course, Cabinet Minister, our portfolio covers connectivity across Wales, and good broadband and strong mobile signal is certainly a huge component of that. Ofcom found that much of Wales has the poorest broadband provision in the UK. Wales has an average broadband speed of 6.5 Mbps compared with the UK average of 7.5 Mbps. Twelve local authorities across Wales are classified as having the poorest broadband provision, with some areas receiving speeds of only around 2 Mbps. I've spoken so many times about this with the previous Government, and it is fair to say that, in rural areas, parts of my constituency of Bangor Conwy Môn, some residents are still facing extremely poor broadband connectivity. Now, we need to see increased emphasis—
Contributions
86 contributions on record. Newest first, by sitting day. Page 1 of 2. Counted by Siambr
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Yes. We need to see a greater emphasis on funding. How will you address these notspots?
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Diolch. I just need to correct you. In the previous UK Conservative Government, under David Cameron, £56.9 million of funding came directly into Wales for superfast Cymru broadband. And we then had Project Gigabit under Boris Johnson, the Right Honourable, again under a Conservative Government. This must continue. And additionally, companies are now phasing out copper cables. So, my residents in Bangor Conwy Môn are really struggling, because, with the phasing out of copper cables, which connect many residents to landlines, there's growing concern about people living in rural areas with poor mobile phone coverage. What steps are you taking, Cabinet Minister, to ensure that those households in rural, isolated parts—and there are many within Wales, but there are a lot in Bangor Conwy Môn—? How are you going to support them as a Government throughout this transition, and how are you going to work with the UK Government now to ensure we get much better funding into Wales for this? Diolch.
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Diolch. Over 500 Commission staff work in Tŷ Hywel, and then, of course, you do have the 96 Members and our members of staff. The refurbishment of Tŷ Hywel is set to last approximately three years. We've only got three and a half years left of this current term. These refurbishments, complete, are set to cost around £42 million, but with the relocation and decanting of this high number of staff and Members, it is bound to be a very costly exercise. You could even have duplication. You could have a situation where you're keeping all the lights and all the heating going in this building whilst it's being refurbed, and we're paying those heating costs—a duplication of costs. This at a time when people are facing so many increased costs of living themselves within their families. As a previous proud Conservative Commissioner, it is true, and it should be on record, that I opposed such a massive spend of taxpayers' money, because I believe that it is taxpayers' money that's being spent, and it is vital that we are as transparent as possible.
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Yes, it’s coming right now. Will the Commissioner commit to providing a complete and transparent breakdown of these ever-increasing costings as the plans progress? Diolch.
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I will declare an interest in this debate, because this particular cancer has come knocking at my own door for a loved one of my family. I would first of all like to thank my colleague, though, Paul Davies MS, for all the brilliant work that he's already done to raise awareness of prostate cancer. By sharing your own experiences, Paul, which was very brave, you've already actively played a part in encouraging more men to come forward for screening. More than 2,500 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in Wales every year. Around 640 men in Wales die from that disease annually. And the reason I'm speaking up is because what has happened to me and my family, it can happen to anybody. We shouldn't just stand by and read out numbers any more of how many people have died annually. In my particular case, two years of monitoring—diagnosed two years ago, two years of monitoring—and the condition was going worse and worse during monitoring, to such a degree now that more extensive surgery is required than would have been had this been picked up sooner. Almost 40 per cent of prostate cancer cases are diagnosed at stages 3 or 4. That is not good enough. When the disease is more advanced, the treatment becomes more challenging. These figures should concern everybody sitting here, including you, Cabinet Minister for Health and Care. Behind every statistic is a man facing the devastating consequences of cancer, prostate cancer being the most common cancer to affect men. Yet it remains one of the cancers where diagnosis too often comes too late. That is why, as has been said many times here today, and I endorse, early detection must be a priority. The Welsh Conservatives firmly believe that a national prostate cancer screening programme could help to identify the disease earlier, improve survival rates, reduce inequality and raise awareness across Wales. We recognise that screening must be evidence-based and carefully designed. Concerns have rightly been raised about false positive results, unnecessary treatments and the pressure a screening programme could place on NHS capacity. I also understand that there's been a pushback, certainly from our health board, but also the Government, that too much testing can actually identify problems that could lead to more problems. I'm never convinced by that. A raised PSA result does not automatically mean a man has prostate cancer, but an ever-increasing PSA result is very worrying indeed for the family. Screening can identify some slow-growing cancers that may never cause serious harm. But these challenges should drive us here, as Senedd Members, to develop a far better approach. Advances in diagnostic technology, including MRI and improved testing pathways, offer opportunities to make diagnosis more accurate, and for better treatment decisions when better informed. We should ensure Wales keeps pace with these developments and adopt proven innovation and evidence as it emerges. We should also recognise that a consistent national approach will tackle those very inequalities that have been described today: black men, men with a family history of prostate cancer and men with certain inherited genetic variations. It is fair to say that a very close member of my family has already died with prostate cancer, so why those warnings were not heeded earlier—who knows? We acknowledge the recommendations of the UK National Screening Committee, including targeted screening for certain men with a confirmed BRCA2 variant and a relevant family history. The Welsh Government must carefully consider these recommendations. However, we also believe Wales should be ambitious. We should work with clinicians, researchers, charities, and patients and their families, to establish the strongest possible screening approach, informed by evidence and designed for the needs of our Welsh men. We must also ensure that earlier diagnosis is matched by timely access to high-quality treatment, sufficient NHS staffing and the resources needed to meet demand. I will say this here today: patients from north Wales, patients within the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, should not be going to London for operations. Devolution was always supposed to be about providing those kinds of treatments here in Wales, and I was really shocked to learn that the robotic equipment that was purchased in the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board was not the right equipment—that is why we're sending people from north Wales to London. And it has to stop now. Diolch.
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We on these benches very much value greater co-operation and increased trade with Ireland. Around 1.5 million passenger journeys are made between Wales and Ireland each year through Holyhead port, making it a vital gateway between the two nations. Holyhead handled 4.3 million tonnes of freight between Ireland and Wales in 2024, which is more than any other Welsh port. The 2.4 km Holyhead breakwater is approximately 150 years old and needs work done to it. First Minister, closer co-operation with Ireland must be demonstrated through delivering not simply warm words. Your Government inherited a £40 million commitment to Holyhead breakwater, together with a clear warning that its failure could ultimately close the port. With Welsh-Irish connectivity, trade and around 700 local jobs dependent on resilient port infrastructure, why is there still no firm timetable, and when exactly will the refurbishment begin and be completed?
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Well, thank you for your strategy announcement again today, and I look forward to more meat on the bone as this goes forward. I'm not a lover of strategies, as people well know, but this is looking at the future of moving towards renewables. Now, interestingly, you've just said it mustn't be a just transition. During the co-operation agreement that you had with Labour, every other word on climate change policy was talking about a just transition. We believe, quite firmly, and it was the UK Conservative Government, first starting with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who pushed the move to the climate targets and everything back a little, in order to take people with them. And it's been continued by our leader, Kemi Badenoch MP, that we believe in the development of a sensible approach, and one that is not making a very expensive transition for those already facing an increased cost of living. I'm very wary of the approach by this Plaid Cymru Government and the approach previously by the Welsh Labour Government, at a time when your own hypocrisy is so paramount, when you have actually, with Ed Miliband, supported the stopping of the oil and gas fields that were providing us with good energy sources, and under the Welsh Labour Government and the co-operation agreement, we saw numerous large-scale wind and solar farms approved across Wales. Those of us who live in Llandudno, and there are other Members here, actually face hundreds of turbines out in Llandudno bay, and yet we have the highest electric bills in the whole of north Wales and Wales. So, there's got to be this sensible approach. If you look at Alaw Môn, the solar farm on Ynys Môn, 660 acres taken out of agriculture to facilitate generating 160 MW. Llanwern solar farm near Newport, 250 acres with a capacity of 75 MW. Clocaenog forest windfarm, 27 turbines. These developments disrupt our natural environment, affect the views enjoyed by visitors and residents, and take valuable agricultural land out of production. Now you talk about, and we have got a climate emergency, but we've also got an energy security issue. Global fighting across the world is very paramount currently. Sorry, I thought you were looking at me then.
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We don't need more state-owned companies being established, nor do we need more large-scale wind and solar developments without proper consideration. What Wales needs is cheap, reliable energy to keep our existing factories running, help our businesses remain competitive and keep household bills low. These should be the priorities; they're my priorities for my residents. But none of this must come at the expense of Wales's food security. We need to strike a sensible balance between meeting our energy needs, protecting our countryside and preserving the agricultural land that helps to feed our communities. That's why we are reiterating our call for a moratorium on industrial scale solar and windfarm developments. You've referenced using tidal stream and lagoons, and I actually agree with that, but it would be interesting to see how you as a Government put money behind that and make that an action, not just words. Cabinet Minister, your strategy must also focus on restoring the marine environment. During the fourth carbon budget, I met with Lord Deben, and he noted that I was the only Member who had picked up on that we're not doing enough in our marine environment in terms of carbon sequestration, and I'd like to know what you're doing on that going forwards. When people think of renewable energy now, they just think of solar, wind and tidal power. But Gwyndod power station on Ynys Môn is a significant asset that deserves to be focused on, and again is thanks to the UK Conservative Government, who actually purchased the land. It has the potential to provide energy, create jobs and strengthen our economy. We must ensure that nuclear energy is properly considered. I'm really pleased with Morlais and the work that's going on there. We must remember oil and gas production—to ignore it and then import inferior quality oil and gas is not what you should be looking at as a Government here. So, Minister, I hope you'll hear our calls from these benches, and I hope that we can have a sensible strategy going forward. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
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Diolch, Lywydd. Cor blimey, I'm on my hobby horse now, I'm afraid. Now, this may shock some, but I have to begin by congratulating Reform. [Interruption.] Not because you've come up with a brilliant idea of a new policy, but because once again you've demonstrated an impressive talent for taking good Conservative ideas and applying the Reform logo to them. Now, as they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. But let's just remind people in this Chamber who weren't here years ago—. I'll just remind you that you did that, of course, with your pre-election manifesto launch, which was a direct copy-and-paste job of good Conservative policies. Now then, it was a Welsh Conservative manifesto pledge to fix council tax, and has always been a solid manifesto pledge not only to fix council tax, but to reduce council tax. Indeed, it was the Conservatives who have long noted the importance of low council tax, and, in 2011, I was proud to have been elected here when the Right Honourable David Cameron, Conservative Prime Minister, actually provided a three years' council tax freeze—£50 million—to the Welsh Government, Labour propped up by Plaid Cymru. But guess what, folks? They did not pass those moneys on to secure reductions in council tax, instead spending it on their own pet projects. We as a party, we fight to keep all taxes low. It is the solid foundation of the Conservative Party to allow those who work hard, and our cash-strapped pensioners, to have more money in their pockets, not just at the end of the week or the end of the month, but day in, day out. Now, we have long advocated—. And I can name the Secretaries, Cabinet Secretaries, Ministers that have been in post here—there isn't one that we haven't raised with, on these benches, the idea of a 5 per cent cap on council tax increases. If you look at our own local authority in Conwy, over the past three years nigh on 10 per cent—9.8 per cent; 9.6 per cent—and people are getting less. We've got more weeds than ever before, toilets closing down, we've got litter on our streets, and people genuinely wonder what on earth they pay their council tax for. Now, this system already exists in England, where referendums are required for what Government determines to be excessive council tax increases. The principle has been established for more than a decade and it does provide an important democratic safeguard. What is perhaps most remarkable is hearing this proposal from Reform, a party whose own councils in England have discovered that campaigning against tax rises is rather easier than governing in those councils. So, you say one thing before an election—. And this is pre-local government election talk and spin. [Interruption.] No, we mean it, every day. It's not a come-day, go-day. We believe that there should be a referendum on council tax. And, of course, we've made these same arguments for years; long before you were ever a twinkle in Nigel Farage's eye. [Laughter.] Across Wales, residents are facing average council tax rises—average—of 7.2 per cent. But, as I've mentioned, there are others who have the audacity to try getting 10 per cent. Now, after 26—actually, it's 27 now—years of a Welsh Labour Government, propped up by Plaid Cymru, the council tax system in Wales is broken. [Interruption.] Yes. From you, Sarah, any day; yes.
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Sarah, you are right to point out that Reform say one thing and do another. Now—[Interruption.] The figures, I won't repeat them again, but—. A £600-plus increase in the average band D council tax bill in Wales over the past five years. The annual band D council tax bill in Conwy County Borough Council being £2,472 and in Kensington and Chelsea, £1,643. How can that be right? After more than two decades of Labour-led Government, with Plaid Cymru support, residents are paying more, but are not necessarily seeing improvements in services they deliver. I would ask, Cabinet Secretary, please have a look at ensuring that referendums are brought into Wales for council tax increases of 5 per cent or more. I think that way it would be very fair for our residents, our hard-working families, and, indeed, our cash-strapped pensioners. Diolch.
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Diolch, Lywydd. Hoffwn i ofyn am ddatganiad gan y Gweinidog Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gofal am sut maen nhw'n gweithio i ddileu sgabies yng Nghymru. Dros y mis diwethaf, rydyn ni wedi gweld dau ysbyty yn cau wardiau achos presenoldeb sgabies Norwyaidd. Mae nifer yr achosion o sgabies yng Nghymru wedi cynyddu o 1,300 yn 2018-19 i dros 12,000 o achosion yn 2023-24. Mae hyn yn bryderus iawn ac yn achosi anghysur sylweddol i gleifion ac yn gwneud i bobl feddwl ddwywaith cyn mynd i'r ysbyty. Mae angen cymryd camau brys i ddelio â'r clefyd erchyll hwn.
Official English translation
Thank you, Llywydd. I would like to request a statement from the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care on how they are working to eradicate scabies in Wales. Over the last month, we have seen two hospitals close wards due to the presence of Norwegian scabies. The number of cases of scabies in Wales has increased from 1,300 in 2018-19 to over 12,000 cases in 2023-24. This is deeply concerning and is causing patients significant discomfort and making people think twice before going to hospital. Urgent action needs to be taken to eradicate this horrific disease.
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Bit of a long one that one, sorry.
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Diolch, Lywydd.
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Thanks for your statement. [Laughter.] Now, as someone who uses the train service in particular—I'll mention buses in a minute—this summer in particular highlighted to me just how we always tend to think it's the winter, with the leaves and everything on the line and the bad weather, where disruptions come, but we've faced it all in terms of the transport network here. Extreme weather is becoming a more frequent occurrence, and nobody in this Chamber can deny that. We're already seeing the consequences of inadequate planning across our transport system. Direct train services between Pontypridd and Cardiff Bay have been cancelled for a prolonged period, because more trains than usual are requiring repairs. And I think it's the 137s. Those trains are just—. In this day and age, I can't, for the life of me, imagine why we put a load of trains on a line whereby if the air conditioning in summer packs up, there are no windows, so, basically, it's very, very uncomfortable, and I would just say that the thinking behind that just baffles me. In north Wales, we're also facing significant disruption, and I think Mair mentioned it earlier. I am dreading January to 6 February next year, with rail replacement buses being provided. Because, quite often, when I get on a train to come down here, I don't know whether it's going to be a four-hour journey or a five-hour journey. I've even had a seven-hour journey on more than one occasion down here. So, how you're going to make sure that, not just for us as Members, but anybody using the rail service and then having to rely on buses—. I think you're really going to have to make sure that it is a very easy flow-through for passengers. Of course, while essential engineering works are sometimes unavoidable, passengers require and deserve clear communication. My biggest bone of contention when I'm on a train is, sure enough, we have to get up and we have to change to another train, but the lack of information is just—it's unbelievable. You get told different stories by the conductor. I then have been known to contact Transport for Wales myself directly and you get told something completely different. And I remember a time when Tom Montgomery had to wait several hours—. I was lucky because somebody came to give me a lift, but I think he had about nine hours to get from north Wales down here. Now, these closures are going to place already enormous pressure on other transport services and cause considerable stress. Points have been made about people with disabilities, older passengers and those with limited transport alternatives. Disruption can create additional barriers to accessing essential services. These pressures are not confined to particular routes or specific times of the year; they do reflect wider challenges. Jason mentioned the reputation that Transport for Wales has, and I've done a survey today and I make no apology for, when responding, saying, 'Poor, poor, poor'. I'm sorry but the facts speak for themselves: 14,272 trains were cancelled in Wales throughout 2025; 880 cancellations were attributed to points failures. Another thing, Cabinet Minister, is that I'm told in letters by James Price, 'We don't have a points problem in Wales'; I'm sorry, but you do, because, quite often, signalling and points failures put lots of extra time onto our journeys. So, whatever needs to be done, sort the points and the signal failures out. Driver-related issues—this surprised me—were responsible for 843 cancellations. There must be other Members here who've got to a station only to be told, 'We're waiting for the driver; we haven't got a driver.' In this day and age, I can't understand why we end up in those situations. Severe flooding, of course, caused 250 cancellations. But it just demonstrates the scale of disruption that passengers experience and it does raise important questions about how effectively our transport network is being maintained and prepared for the future. Every cancellation represents more than a statistic. It can mean a missed medical appointment. I was sat with a young man who was deeply stressed because he had an interview to go to and, whilst he was there, he actually had the job turned down because he couldn't get to his appointment on time. You don't need me, Minister—and I've run out of time anyway—to tell you all the problems that—. I could speak for an hour on this alone, but I'm not going to, I won't be allowed—
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Yes, over to you.
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Yay. [Laughter.]
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Minister, UK average petrol is now averaging around 173.5p per litre. In real terms now, I've seen it over £2 per litre—diesel that is—and north Wales is paying above the UK average. In terms of energy production, we have the Gwynt y Môr windfarm right off our coast, yet we have the highest fuel costs in north Wales. Minister, Wales is being hit from both directions: rising prices at the pump and an energy policy that leaves Britain increasingly dependent on imports. Higher fossil fuel prices are estimated to cost Welsh households, businesses and public services an additional £5.64 billion. In our rural communities, certainly in Bangor Conwy Môn, travelling by car is not a luxury but a necessity, particularly for our carers, farmers, healthcare workers and small businesses. The previous UK Conservative Government froze fuel duty and cut it by 5p per litre. Conservatives then campaigned against its planned reversal, now that diesel is so extortionately high. At the same time, an industry taskforce reports that 25,000 UK oil and gas jobs have been lost since the general election, while UK energy import dependency stands at 43 per cent. Will you work with the UK Government to cut fuel duty, reverse its restrictions on new North sea oil and gas licences, protect skilled energy jobs, or will rural Wales once again be expected to pay more while Labour and Plaid Cymru prioritise ideology over the practical concerns? And I know that my colleague Andrew wishes to ask a question on the Veolia refinery.
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Thanks, Niamh, for bringing this debate forward. This subject of contaminated land and pollution in our water supply is unfortunately a frequent topic in this Senedd Chamber and has been over the past number of years. Now, we have a new Plaid Cymru Government, and certainly when I was on the committee with Llyr Gruffydd as our Chair in the environment committee, this was a very big issue for us as a committee. And it's nice to see Carolyn Thomas up there, a former colleague of ours here in the Senedd, who also used to speak up very passionately and very strongly about contaminated land. Thank you, Carolyn. I strongly believe that in incidents involving contamination, leaks or the illegal dumping of waste, the perpetrator should be held responsible and required to cover the cost of clearing and restoring the site. This is especially important in cases that involve repeat offenders, such as Dave Neal. My colleague Paul Davies, over the years, has represented so many constituents who were badly affected, so much so that they used to have to keep their windows closed, and yet for years it went on and on and on. Fines aren't enough. Many of these environmental polluters simply add them as a business cost because the fines—. They make more money doing what they do than the cost of a fine, and it's wrong. We must take a stronger stance against illegal dumping that contaminates our land and threatens our natural environment. Failure to take stronger action against these criminals has even brought down a former First Minister here. Accepting funding from individuals involved in this activity was shameful. So, I reiterate my call for stronger action to be taken against these organisations and for a clear message to be sent out today that this behaviour cannot and will not be allowed to continue. You pollute our land in Wales and you will pay. In a freedom of information request conducted by Friends of the Earth, it was found that potentially over 45,000 contaminated land sites exist in Wales, yet only 82 sites are designated as contaminated. So, data collection and investigations and inspections are key. Only six out of our 22 councils provide a full public register online. Fifteen councils have an inspection strategy, but only four have updated it in the last five years. I'm sorry, but you need to really get a grip of this. These figures are deeply concerning, especially as we all know that contaminated land can have a significant impact on our health, our environment and our water supplies. Today, there have been some shocking examples of illnesses that people have contracted—some terminal—and we cannot stand by any more. And I thank the people in the gallery for the work that you do. You're not elected; you're volunteers, you're activists against these environmental criminals. It is vital that these sites and other potential sites of contaminated land are reviewed, monitored and registered. This will ensure that we have current and up-to-date figures, allowing contamination to be identified and contained as effectively as possible. It is essential that joint action is taken by the Welsh and UK Governments, and appropriate resources to identify, assess, monitor and register are key. We also need to ensure that responsibility does not simply fall on local authorities and taxpayers when pollution has been caused by those who have chosen to break the law. Where wrongdoing can be established, those responsible should face appropriate enforcement and be required to contribute towards the costs of remediation. And if you think that a fine is enough, it isn't. If you keep polluting, you should go to prison. The public should not be left to carry the financial burden of dealing with pollution caused by illegal activity. There must also be greater transparency around contaminated land. Communities should be able to understand where these sites are located, what risks have been identified, what action is being taken and whether that action is satisfactory. Regular inspections and up-to-date public registers would help. We must ensure that lessons are learned from previous incidents. Where contamination occurs, the response should be timely, co-ordinated and proportionate, with clear responsibility for investigating the source. This is not simply about dealing with contamination after it has occurred; it is about prevention, enforcement and accountability. If we really are serious about protecting our land, our water supplies, our environment and the health of our people, then we must ensure that contaminated land is dealt with. Those who illegally dump waste or cause contamination must understand that there are serious consequences. I'll just say this: I would like the First Minister now—. And I am not calling for any further devolution, but I've called for this numerous times before. Currently, any fines from environmental pollution go to the UK Treasury. That is morally wrong. That money should come to Wales. So, do your best, First Minister; you will have my support. That money should come to help to pay for the pollution. But let you now, as the new Plaid Government, work with us all, because we're all against allowing these criminals to pollute. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
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Now, of course, I was here when this legislation came forward, as were my Welsh Conservative colleagues, and right from day one we said 'no' to the 20 mph default, blanket—call it what you like. The fact was that the majority of our roads were being turned back—
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I used both. [Laughter.]
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I apologise for using the word 'blanket'. Anyway, we knew at that time, when the road network was subjected to 20 mph, 2024, it increased from 2 per cent to 37 per cent by road length. The Welsh Government's 2022 impact assessment estimated direct financial costs of around £33 million and a central net economic disbenefit of £4.54 billion over the years. Now, what kind of Government actually persuades or brings forward legislation that then damages its own residents and businesses? Absolutely rubbish. Now, in October 2025, Ynys Môn county council's planning and orders committee approved 22 of 25 exception proposals to return sections of road from 20 mph to 30 mph. And as Helen Jenner has quite rightly mentioned, the cost of this makes this institution, actually, and those in Government at that time, a laughing stock. Only it would be, if it wasn't so serious. Now, I support the motion calling on the Welsh Government to scrap Labour and Plaid Cymru's default 20 mph speed limit. Let me be clear, this is not an argument against 20 mph limits outside schools, near playgrounds, around hospitals or on highly populated residential streets, where evidence does show a genuine safety need. It is an argument against a blunt, one-size-fits-all default that treats very different roads as though they were the same. The Welsh Conservatives are clear: restore the 30 mph default while retaining 20 mph limits where they protect pedestrians and vulnerable road users. Now, Labour and Plaid Cymru, you chose the opposite approach, and, to this day, your co-operation agreement has left the legacy of this Senedd and, indeed, Wales with some terrible decisions made during that co-operation agreement, this being one of them. They imposed the default first, leaving councils and communities to work backwards, road by road, and traffic regulation order by traffic regulation order. And do you know what? It actually cost the Minister at the time their job. Public opposition could not have been clearer. A record nearly 500,000 constituents out of a just over 3 million population said 'no', but they were ignored. Public opposition should be listened to. These people were not opposed to road safety. They simply wanted common sense, local knowledge and the right speed limit on the right road. Lee Waters, the Minister responsible, told the Senedd that the Buckley pilot showed that an area-wide approach does not work. He also said that piloting involves failing and learning from the failure. So, if the pilot showed an area-wide approach had not worked, why was a nationwide default imposed before those lessons were reflected in the roll-out? The public were assured that the policy had been carefully designed, yet, in 2024, the Welsh Government—oh, Ken's gone now—revised its guidance, allowing councils to identify roads. And, Helen, we've still got roads in Conwy, actually, that haven't gone back to 30 mph. They just haven't put the signs up yet. The consequences are visible in my constituency. Now, this is Government in reverse. Ministers imposed the default nationally, rejected an unprecedented public demand for change, and expected councils to sort out the consequences locally. The costs are substantial. I get in a taxi now when I get here from Bangor Conwy Môn, and I ask the taxi driver, 'How does the 20 mph affect you?' And they hate it. They say it actually hits their pockets. And taxi driving isn't the easiest job in the world. I'm going to finish now. Look, we didn't put any amendments forward. We wholeheartedly support this debate. And if you had listened to your residents during election time, and even now since, you would all be supporting this 20 mph.
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Would you take an intervention?
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That's very generous. Would you not agree with me that the reason why there's so few Labour people sitting on benches now—? This was one of the fundamental reasons why the people of Wales were so angry—that their petition of 0.5 million people was completely ignored. They were furious about the 20 mph policy. It has actually changed the Government here.
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Llywydd, on a point of order, I find it really bad that the Minister is sat almost intimidating—
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The Minister is completely reversed in his chair, almost intimidating a Member that is speaking.
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There's some irony here that only last week, when we were scrutinising and challenging your ethical defence framework, the aircraft went down at RAF Valley. I would hope that everybody on these benches is glad that those two pilots were able to eject and that they're well now after receiving treatment for minor injuries. I'm incredibly proud of that base. I'm also incredibly proud of the defence industry across Wales and the United Kingdom. And I'm incredibly proud of those who serve, and have served previously, in our armed forces—those who have lost their lives so that we have the freedom of speech here in this place. I've enjoyed so many excellent contributions today, bar one. I will leave it at that. It should be noted that the ejection seats in that aircraft were made by Martin-Baker, a company based in Denham. The company's own data notes that these seats have saved almost 8,000 aircrew lives around the world, but it is shocking to note that this essential business has been subjected to vandalism and factory occupation by Palestine activists simply because the Israeli air force utilise their ejection seats. This type of behaviour should be firmly reprimanded and these essential companies should be protected. This crash last week served rightly as a reminder to us all of the risks that each and every one of our brave servicemen and women take in protecting our country. And when I say 'our country', I mean the United Kingdom, to include Wales. Our vital defence sector uses a wide range of high-value skills that makes it naturally an ideal partner for schools, colleges and universities. It also employs over 18,500 people, has a turnover of more than £5 billion and contributes around £2 billion of gross value added to the Welsh economy. This industry contributes significantly to both our Welsh economy and our nation's safety. It provides highly skilled employment, supports supply chains across Wales and creates opportunities for collaboration between industry and education. Following the crash last week, when I got out of this Senedd, even though I had to go on somewhere, I made a point of contacting RAF Valley, sending them my best wishes and assuring them of our 100 per cent support. Unlike the Welsh Government, some within Plaid Cymru in particular want to move the arms industry out of Wales due to what they describe as a feeling of complicity in death. Other Plaid Members use the pretence of an ethical defence framework that will push back defence spending in Wales. This is absolute madness at a time—well, it's madness at any time, but particularly now—when we are under such global threat. This is also reflected in the ideological blacklist that's set out in the form of the ethical framework for Welsh Government engagement with the defence sector. There's one that already exists in the United Kingdom Government. The Conservatives understand the importance of this sector because of the global unrest and have instead set out a plan. We would increase defence spending to 3 per cent of GDP. It is also important to remember that, in the last Senedd term, the Welsh defence growth deal memorandum of understanding was signed. This agreement allocated £50 million to Wales from £250 million of UK-wide investment in regional growth as part of growing investment in defence. Following this, the regional defence and security cluster was established. This helps Welsh businesses, universities and colleges access Ministry of Defence contracts, develop their supply chains and grow their share of defence spending. It also connects businesses with Wales's eight universities and further education colleges, making use of their research and their expertise in areas such as cyber security, optoelectronics and artificial intelligence. The UK Government has pledged to work collaboratively with the Welsh Government to establish a new defence technical college by September 2027. This will train the next generation of defence engineers and help support Britain's growing autonomous capabilities. There is a clear opportunity here for Wales, Cabinet Secretary. We have a strong—. We were in committee this morning—
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Yes, I will. It's essential we have productivity in Wales. We are lagging behind because of the previous Welsh Labour Government, supported by you. The evidence is clear: the defence sector is a vital component. We need the Welsh Government to commit to ensuring this industry has the support and what it needs to thrive here in Wales. I hope that you have a change of heart and that you support this motion today. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
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It's an excellent question, Carmelo. First Minister, the latest dedicated national data on construction and demolition waste is from 2019. It estimates that the sector generated 3.43 million tonnes of waste, of which 45 per cent was mixed waste, 38 per cent was soil, and 213,000 tonnes were sent to landfill. Without up-to-date information on the quantity, type and destination of this waste, how can you as First Minister, or your Government, credibly increase the use of high-quality washed recycled aggregates in construction projects across Wales, and measure whether your actions are succeeding? So, when will you be doing the next data collection on this? Thank you.
- Not timed: the Record publishes no broadcast time for this contribution, so Siambr cannot place it on the stage.
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Diolch. The latest YouGov polling, conducted between 7 and 13 September this year, found that just 20 per cent of people in Wales support Welsh independence—the lowest recorded level since 2023. Meanwhile, 72 per cent of people in Wales reported dissatisfaction with the NHS, 57 per cent of Welsh voters placed the economy among their three most important issues, and, furthermore, 20 per cent of pupils leave primary school functionally illiterate, whilst Wales remains at bottom of the UK Programme for International Student Assessment rankings. First Minister, it has been pointed out by our colleague here, Helen Jenner. It has been pointed out by many other Members. We represent those very people who put us here in this Senedd. With no parliamentary majority for it here in the Senedd—and I’d defy you to prove me otherwise—why is constitutional change taking priority for you, above fixing our NHS, fixing our economy and fixing our schools? It's a downright disgrace.
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I will declare an interest, as my family and I have been affected deeply by this very issue over the past seven days, and continue to be so. I'm sure Members would also agree with me how tragic it is that North Wales Police have been in touch with us as Members to say that a baby's body has been found on the shoreline near Bangor, in my constituency. There are calls for the mum to come forward. Please contact North Wales Police or the Betsi board. They will give you the support that you very much need at this moment in time. I'd like to thank you, Delyth, for bringing forward the update on the Bliss baby charter, and thank every single person that's involved in trying to improve neonatal care here in Wales. The core principles are around family-centred care and are known as the seven standards, with further standards being published as we go along—specialist services and staff, benchmarking, unit information and support for families. The Bliss baby charter is now a tool that helps to examine the procedures, practices and environment of a neonatal unit. Whilst this is good, there is still a long way to go. And I have to say it now, being as I've declared an interest: I want to put on record my deep thanks, and that of my family, to Alder Hey, and to Ysbyty Gwynedd, who recognised the emergency. We need that over-the-border continuation of fantastic neonatal care.
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The model is about no two births are the same. We need this individualised care process. And bear in mind that, sometimes, it isn't mum and baby, it can be a mum and twins or triplets. So, all I would ask you, Deputy Minister, is if you will commit to ensuring that you work, as far as I am concerned, with the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board—and the other health boards—to establish a comprehensive review of its maternity services and neonatal care, and ensure that there is absolute implementation of individualised care plans. Because no two births are the same and no two babies are the same. Diolch.
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Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. And pen-blwydd hapus, Cabinet Secretary. Minister, there is potentially a very expensive problem with the Global Centre of Rail Excellence. Now, my colleague Andrew R.T. Davies yesterday raised it, and I'm not sure that the answer that you gave yesterday actually addressed the very fundamental point of such an amount of wasted taxpayers' money. When the Welsh Government announced this scheme, the Global Centre of Rail Excellence—sounds good, doesn't it—it explicitly stated that Celtic Energy would gift all the land necessary for the project, yet the site was subsequently described as having been purchased by GCRE, and it was transferred before restoration of the former Nant Helen opencast mine had been completed. So, will you tell us today, plainly, was the land gifted or purchased? If it was purchased, how much did GCRE pay, and what restoration liabilities did the previous and now this current Welsh Government-owned company take on when it acquired the site? Most importantly, if the money available for restoration is not enough to finish the job, exactly who does pick up the bill, Celtic Energy or the Welsh taxpayer?
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Diolch. I hope you can answer this one. Minister, the original plan was that £70 million of public money would help unlock around £330 million of private investment. For years, we were told there was serious private sector interest. GCRE talked about credible bidders and international interest, even from the middle east and America. And as recently as March last year, the First Minister at the time told this Senedd that GCRE was in detailed discussions with a potential funder, yet the private investment still hasn't materialised and the rail testing centre still hasn't been built. So, what exactly went wrong? Was there ever an investor genuinely prepared to put up the money needed to build the project, and, if so, why did they walk away? Because, at this moment in time, it does look as though your Government has inherited a large hole in the ground, a project nobody is prepared to invest in, and, potentially, a very large bill for putting the site back as it was. How much more taxpayers' money are you prepared to put into this scheme? Diolch yn fawr.
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I'd like to request two statements, one from the Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality on how they are working with councils and the UK Government to prevent rogue builders and their ability to phoenix, which is starting up again after you've left people with incomplete builds and in lots of debt, and also on identity fraud, quishing and other scams that are taking place in north Wales, where it has emerged that there is a higher degree of scams now affecting our older constituents. I'm working with trading standards and the BBC, as north Wales does seem to be this key place where it's happening. The Federation of Master Builders Cymru have called on the Welsh Government to work alongside the UK Government to produce a mandatory licensing scheme for building companies. Will your Government support that? And a second one from the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care on the parking provision at Ysbyty Gwynedd—and Ysbyty Glan Clwyd is just as bad. Patients and visitors are continuously struggling to find appropriate parking, despite driving around continuously for almost an hour sometimes, and sometimes they will actually accept that they're going to get a fine because otherwise they would miss that appointment. This has been going on for too long now, so we need something from the health Minister to say that he's accepting that this isn't adequate. Please help.
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Thank you for the statement, but I have to say, I'm really disappointed. This is not an ethical defence framework. It is nothing more than an ideological blacklist that risks Welsh jobs, investment and national security. Defence and aerospace employ 16,000 people in Wales, they generate £3.7 billion in turnover and they contribute around £1.5 billion in gross value added. These are highly skilled, well-paid jobs supporting communities across Wales, and I thank each and every one of those working in our defence industry and, indeed, in our defence forces. Yet, just when defence investment is increasing, this Plaid Government has ordered investment decisions involving the sector to now be put on hold. There has rarely been a more dangerous time to send such a hostile message. Russia is waging war in Europe, hostile states are targeting our infrastructure, NATO allies are strengthening their defences. It is almost, with making statements like this, that old saying, isn't it, 'Nero fiddles whilst Rome burns.' Our freedom and democracy exist, Wales exists, because brave men and women, previously and now, in our British armed forces are willing to put their lives on the line to defend them. But courage alone is not enough. They need aircraft, they need vehicles, communication systems, protective equipment and ammunition. And we need those jobs for Welsh people here in Wales. If Members support our armed forces, they must also support the people who design and manufacture the equipment that they have to go to war with and fight with, that keeps them safe. There is nothing grubby or unethical about that work. It is honourable, and it is vital to our security. Wales should be competing for a greater share of rising UK defence spend and encouraging responsible defence companies to invest here. Instead, this Government—Plaid Cymru Government—is creating uncertainty as businesses decide where to place new contracts and jobs. Mind you, that attitude is unsurprising from a party that has refused to commit an independent Wales to full NATO membership. Your hypocrisy—not yours personally, but your group, your Government—is breathtaking. Defence workers are treated as morally suspect while an Opera Cymru production is advertised as a 'celebration' of nationhood, honouring as three giants the men responsible for a terrorist attack on an RAF bombing school less than three years before the second world war. One of those, of course, was Plaid's then leader, Saunders Lewis. Plaid subsequently adopted neutrality in the war against Nazi Germany. Lewis used explicitly antisemitic language, and wrote that Hitler had 'fulfilled his promise' to remove Jewish financial power from German economic life. Instead of subjecting the people who equip our armed forces to an 'ethical' test, Plaid Cymru should apply one to publicly supported arts organisations that celebrate or platform those who have committed or glorified violence against the British state, whether it is an opera hailing Saunders Lewis and his fellow arsonists as national heroes, or public funding connected with Green Man while the festival gave Kneecap a stage. And in its first week back, it is absolutely disgusting that this Plaid Cymru Government shared a platform with Sinn Féin leaders, despite that party's long association with the IRA's campaign of terrorism. So, Minister, how many investment decisions have been suspended? How many jobs, do you believe, are at risk? I agree with you, Jason—not often, but today, on your comments today. Were employers and trade unions consulted? Will lawful Welsh firms be blacklisted simply because Plaid Cymru disapproves—and you do disapprove—of their industry? An ethical defence policy distinguishes between aggressors and those who protect us from them. Wales should stand firmly with our armed forces, with the workers who equip them and with our NATO allies. We should also stand firmly with the ethical framework that the UK Government has in place. This framework should be withdrawn, and I will be more than happy to vote against this later today.
- Not timed: the Record publishes no broadcast time for this contribution, so Siambr cannot place it on the stage.
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Diolch. A hundred and twenty-one million people worldwide watched the 2023 six nations championship across 209 international territories. Six nations matches regularly attract UK television audiences of up to 4.5 million viewers. Welsh rugby generates an estimated £225 million to £250 million annually through the professional game and match-day activity. An independent study commissioned by the Welsh Rugby Union found that Principality Stadium contributes £2.75 billion in economic output and supported around 2,500 jobs annually. Now, despite this, there does remain a clear imbalance in the professional game. Professional men's rugby has long been concentrated in Cardiff, Swansea, Llanelli and Newport, leaving north Wales without a professional regional team. As the WRU moves towards a three-region model, there are concerns that opportunities for supporters and talented young players in north Wales could be further diminished. How exactly are you going to redress this inequality?
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I thank you, John, for bringing this question, because it's really important that we don't allow Bangor high street to continue suffering as it is. When I was campaigning, and since, residents stated that there just are not enough shops, cafes or restaurants in the area. Now, I welcome the announcement of £654,000 of funding to reinvent struggling high streets in Wales, and in particular in Bangor, but some of the projects are for new street furniture and an amphitheatre. Businesses themselves are concerned as to how they will be involved in the spending. And if anyone's ever looked, when the previous Welsh Labour Government put funding grants into towns, it didn't make any difference whatsoever. Now, I note that I have previously asked, in terms of hospitality businesses, for VAT to come down to 10 per cent, and I'm pleased to say that one of your party members in Parliament is also making that call for VAT on hospitality businesses to drop to 10 per cent. Do you support her calls, and the calls of the Welsh Conservatives, to really help our tourism and hospitality businesses?
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I would like to request a statement from the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care on the high number of operations that are now being cancelled due to delays in patients passing the pre-operative assessment clinic assessments. This has been raised with me at a very senior level within the Betsi Cadwaladr health board. Clinicians are reporting that four to five operations a day are being cancelled in Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, despite being fully staffed, despite having the consultants there ready, waiting to do the operations. This means that a normal operating day that often runs from nine to five are seeing some surgeons finishing the day at 11 a.m. It has been noted that a main cause of the delay is due to staff sickness, but the real truth is that admin staff are not being able to book POAC appointments at present without having to go to senior management for an approval to book the POAC. This includes cancer surgery, which means now that cancer patients are waiting considerably longer for their operations that the consultants are wanting to do. At a time when waiting lists are high and there are promises from your Government to get those waiting lists down, will you ask the Cabinet Minister to make a statement on those claims that I've made here today to ensure that the delays that are currently in existence now are seen to and dealt with immediately? Diolch.
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Just hang on a second. I need to get my—
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I did ask the question in English.
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It is now, yes.
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Sorry, I can't hear it properly.
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Sources
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