Prynhawn da. Er mai cyfrifoldeb yr awdurdodau lleol yn Afan Ogwr Rhondda ydy asesu anghenion cludiant disgyblion i’r ysgol, mi ydyn ni fel Llywodraeth wrth gwrs yn awyddus i weld darpariaeth effeithiol sy’n diwallu anghenion pawb. Mae hyn yn bwysicach fyth i ddisgyblion efo anghenion dysgu ychwanegol, gan fod cludiant yn gallu bod yn rhwystr gwirioneddol iddyn nhw allu cael mynediad at yr addysg y maen nhw ei hangen.
Official English translation
Good afternoon. Whilst it's for the local authorities in Afan Ogwr Rhondda to assess the school transport needs of all pupils, we as a Government are of course keen to see effective provision that meets everyone’s needs. This is of even greater importance for pupils with additional learning needs, because transport can be a real barrier to them accessing the education that they need.
Dwi'n croesawu penderfyniad Rhondda Cynon Taf i gario ymlaen efo darpariaeth trafnidiaeth dewisol—discretionary, felly—ar gyfer rhai o’r dysgwyr mwyaf bregus. Rydyn ni’n sicr yn cydnabod bod trafnidiaeth i ddysgwyr efo anghenion dysgu ychwanegol yn gallu bod yn fwy cymhleth yn aml iawn, yn golygu’r angen am gerbydau arbenigol o bosib neu gynhorthwy gan eraill. Ac mae’n rhaid, wrth gwrs, yn y cyd-destun hwnnw, i benderfyniadau ystyried cynaliadwyedd hirdymor, tra'n cadw’r ffocws yna ar y canlyniadau rydyn ni angen eu gweld rŵan, yn sicrhau bod dysgwyr, uwchlaw popeth, yn gallu cael mynediad at addysg, ac yn gallu gwneud hynny yn rheolaidd a chymryd rhan yn llawn mewn bywyd ysgol.
Mi gafodd anghenion dysgu ychwanegol a thrafnidiaeth ei drafod efo arweinyddion llywodraeth leol ym mis Medi, efo’r WLGA. Mi rydyn ni'n parhau i weithio’n agos efo’r WLGA i gryfhau teithio i ddysgwyr ac i ymateb hefyd i newidiadau mewn patrymau ledled Cymru.
Official English translation
I welcome the decision made by Rhondda Cynon Taf to retain its discretionary transport provision for some of the most vulnerable learners. We certainly recognise that transport to school for pupils with ALN can often be much more complex, as it can perhaps require specialist vehicles or assistance from others. And in that context, of course, decisions must take into account the long-term sustainability, whilst retaining that focus on the results that we need to see now, ensuring that pupils, above all else, can access education, and can do that regularly and take a full part in school life.
Additional learning needs and transport were discussed with leaders of local authorities in September, along with the Welsh Local Government Association. And we are continuing to work closely with the WLGA to strengthen learner travel provision and also to respond to changes in patterns across Wales.
As I said earlier, this is very much a live issue, making sure that, when it comes to additional learning needs learners in particular, those particular circumstances that are relevant to them are taken into account. Funding for school transport, remember, comes through the revenue support grant. It is for local authorities to make provision, but the rise in school transport costs is a complex issue. It is driven by a number of factors. And whether that's local government or the Welsh Government, and the way we interact with this, addressing those complexities requires action across portfolios at local and national level. We, as I say, have been discussing with the WLGA those kinds of pressures that we realise are on local government, at the same time as making the case to the UK Government on the issues that they can take decisions to address—on fuel costs, for example. So, this is something that needs to be addressed on many, many levels.
Welsh Government investment through Ynni Cymru is generating real savings and benefits for the community. I was delighted just a few weeks ago to visit the Iqra Masjid mosque in Newport to see one project first-hand for myself. Our plans to establish a new Welsh public energy company will support our ambition in the national energy strategy for more of the energy generated in Wales to be owned in Wales and to benefit Wales. More Welsh ownership will see the value created from our natural resources retained for the people of Wales, which is something I hope all of us would want to pursue.
Yes, absolutely. In many ways, that principle is agnostic of that source of power generation. Energy projects in Wales must show, I think, how they improve matters for people in Wales. It's an important issue that will be at the heart of the national energy strategy we have committed to delivering. Through that strategy, we will deliver that commitment to make sure that Welsh people and communities have more ownership, as I say, of energy initiatives, and that they and their communities receive also their fair share of the profits. We need a balanced energy system that delivers secure supply. Renewables will be an important part of that system, obviously. The public energy company that we're currently consulting on will have a vital role, I think, to play in supporting communities and securing value from commercially led projects too.
Will we reconsider our energy strategy? I think I've confirmed again today that we are bringing forward a new national energy strategy that calls for that balanced energy system. Referring to community energy 'nonsense'—talk to people in Bethesda about the 'nonsense' that is their energy production scheme, which they are hugely proud of and that brings all sorts of benefits to that community. Look at all those projects across Wales, including the one I visited in Newport recently, that people take a real, genuine sense of ownership of and know that they are tackling the energy crisis that we are facing, plus the climate change crisis that his party is denying. Our energy future will bring together all sorts of technologies, all sorts of production methods. I want to use our resources for the benefit of the people of Wales, but at the heart of that has to be something that is very different to the extractive story of the past and that has the interests of Wales at the very heart of it—something that Reform really struggle with.
I ateb y cwestiwn yna, mae hwn yn dechnoleg sydd yn datblygu, ac mae o'n gwneud synnwyr i'w ddatblygu ar safle lle mae yna sgiliau niwclear o'r gorffennol. Ond mae'r cwestiwn yn ehangach na hynny, wrth gwrs. Dwi ddim yn meddwl bod yna lawer o anghytuno rhyngom ni, mewn difri, ar yr angen i wneud yn fawr o'n hadnoddau naturiol ni fel gwlad, i sicrhau ein bod ni'n gallu cynhyrchu mwy o ynni yn defnyddio'n adnoddau naturiol ni, pa un ai yn wynt neu'n donnau neu'n llanw, neu beth bynnag.
Dwi'n cytuno hefyd ar yr angen i sicrhau bod y system sydd gennym ni i drosglwyddo a dosbarthu'r trydan yna yn wydn ar gyfer y dyfodol. Rydyn ni'n mynd i fod angen llawer mwy o drydan yn y dyfodol, ac mae'n rhaid i'r trydan yna gyrraedd ein cymunedau ni a gadael y llefydd lle mae'n cael ei gynhyrchu. Ond, unwaith eto, dwi'n dod yn ôl at y pwynt canolog yma fod modd gwneud hynny mewn cydweithrediad efo ein cymunedau ni, yn gwneud yn siŵr nad oes yna ecsbloetio. Hefyd, dwi'n cytuno ar y ffaith bod hynny'n gorfod digwydd mewn cydweithrediad efo Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig, ac yn y blaen. Felly, mae yna agenda yn fan hyn. Dwi'n gobeithio y gallwn ni adeiladu consensws drosto fo. Mae yna benderfyniadau anodd ynghlwm wrtho, ond adeiladu dyfodol ynni annibynnol ar gyfer ein hunain fel gwlad yr ydym ni a'r holl fuddiannau a fydd yn llifo o hynny.
Official English translation
To answer that question, this is a developing technology, and it makes sense to develop it on a site where past nuclear skills exist. But the question is broader than that, of course. I don't think that there's a great deal of disagreement between us, truth be told, on the need to make the most of our natural resources as a nation, to ensure that we can produce more energy using our natural resources, be that wind, wave, tide or whatever.
I agree also on the need to ensure that the system that we have to distribute that electricity should be resilient for the future. We're going to need a lot more electricity in the future, and that electricity has to get to our communities and leave the sites of production. But, once again, I return to this central point that that can be done in collaboration with our communities, ensuring that there is no exploitation. I also agree with the fact that that has to happen in collaboration with the UK Government, and so on. So, there is an agenda here. I hope we can build consensus on it. There will be difficult decisions in relation to that agenda, but we are building an independent energy future for ourselves as a nation, along with all the benefits that will flow from that.
I think I would refer the Member to the safeguarding work that this Government is doing in general, making sure that we are strengthening the provisions that we put in place as a Welsh Government to safeguard the citizens of Wales. What has been described to me—and it's not a case that I am familiar with myself—is criminality. What has been described to me are the actions of an individual that all of us would condemn and that the legal system should be empowered to deal with.
I know that it is always the case that Reform seeks only to comment on those elements of criminality that emerge from people who have come into the UK, but that really doesn't help us when it comes to the core issue here, which is to make sure that we in Wales, in the public sector, in the Welsh Government, have safeguarding measures in place across the board that make sure that we de-risk and that we look after those vulnerable people within our society.
I described in the Senedd last week the multiphase approach that we are taking to addressing an issue that previous administrations chose not to. Inaction, we have decided, is not an option for this new Plaid Cymru Government. Therefore, we will press ahead with a number of short-term measures in order to strengthen the infrastructure that is in place now. And we are embarking right away on a piece of work to look at what is that engineering solution that will help then bring together a package that will deal with the blight that is the Brynglas situation for the people of Newport, and the blockage that is in place for the people and the economy of the wider south Wales region.
The seating plan on that side of the Chamber seems to be changing every week. [Laughter.] And I would suggest that maybe she doesn't make herself too comfortable where she is either.
We have an agreement in place on the supplementary budget and I'm grateful, on an issue that Reform also wanted us to deliver on, which is additional learning needs. The irony, Llywydd. It's just that Reform enjoys shouting from the sidelines rather than wanting to contribute to the future of Wales. The fact is that this Government has decided to make good on the wishes of the people of the north-west of Wales on the Menai crossing; that this Government is taking action after years of inaction around the M4.
I go back to the second question asked. This ultimately is around dog-whistle politics for Reform. They talk about the risk of importing criminals. And absolutely, we need to take measures to make sure that we keep our citizens safe. But what about the risk of importing doctors? What about the risk of importing nurses? What about the risk of importing people who want to contribute to the life and the future of Wales in a way the benches over there have very, very little interest in doing?
As I said previously, I'm very pleased that an agreement has been reached, and I thank those who engaged very constructively with us to get us to a point where we both now are able to move to release money for additional learning needs services, an area on which we both have common ground. It was a manifesto commitment of mine to move towards sustainability within ALN. That hasn't changed. We want to pursue that sustainability. The discussions that we have been having, without going into confidential issues, have been very much about how we are able to release this money that doesn't come from elsewhere in the education budget. This is mature, positive working, and it has led to what we both wanted to happen—and others in this Chamber—which is the strengthening of ALN provision.
I certainly agree with the comments made that there is an ideological drive to push down public transport by the Reform benches, and they don't seem to care who that impacts. I think we have seen in recent weeks around the ALN funding issue that we are able to reach a positive place through co-operation, and I'm always interested in looking at how we can co-operate across the Senedd in finding ways to spend public money well on ALN needs, on public transport and on learner transport. It is through that co-operation that we will get better results.
I must say at the outset that there's a real irony here, isn't there, that the Conservatives choose to focus on high salaries when tax cuts for the highest earners are always among the driving forces of the Conservatives' agenda, which does nothing whatsoever to help people in Wales who are living with the challenges of the cost-of-living crisis.
Across the public sector, we need to make sure that we have the right people in the right place. That does absolutely involve paying them the right sums of money. But all I can tell you is that this new Government, through our work on effectiveness and efficiency, will do everything that we can to make sure that the public pound in Wales is driven as far as it possibly can be. Securing that value for money is at the heart of what this Government is trying to achieve for Wales.
Pay absolutely should reflect performance. But I again point to the irony here. We have to make sure that we get value for money from, yes, at times, high wages within the public sector. But compare like for like. Where were the Conservatives calling for the bankers to pay their part of the bill for the financial collapse that is still causing pain for families in Wales today? Where are the Conservatives when it comes to making sure that public spending is able to help those people in communities the length and breadth of Wales, with two out of every five children in Wales living in poverty? I'm afraid that this is faux outrage from the Conservatives. And on performance-related pay, the Conservatives have precisely nothing to show for 27 years in this Parliament.
Our programme for government sets clear priorities. We will drive efficiency and effectiveness by focusing on these priorities, working collaboratively across Government with a clear focus on outcomes for the people of Wales. We're committed to being the most transparent Government since devolution. And the first iteration of our digital dashboard, for example, which measures progress against our top priorities, was issued this summer.
Well, neither does spending less mean that you are being more efficient or more effective, that's what my response would be to that. You spend what you need to spend, not a penny more. You drive that efficiency, you drive that effectiveness. That's the programme that the Government is engaged with now in looking at budgets for the coming years. We have a set budget. Reform voted against fair funding for Wales, but we will work within the budget that we have. And in spending every pound sensibly, in looking at how we get the most out of every pound, that is how we drive outcomes. Because I absolutely agree with the Member that it's not measuring how much you spend, it's what you do with the money. And that also goes on whether you're putting efficiency drives in place for ideological reasons, or whether you're doing it in order to get more out of the system. Let's focus on what we're trying to achieve always for the people of Wales.
This is a programme of work that we put in place in the early weeks of this new Government. The programme for government is built around a set of priorities. To deliver on those priorities and all those other areas that the Welsh Government is responsible for will take a whole-Government approach. Cross-Government working we really want to be a part of our DNA as a Government.
I tasked the Cabinet Minister for Government effectiveness to ensure that the Government works collectively across portfolios to deliver meaningful outcomes. Here are three examples. On climate change, yes, there's a Minister responsible, but it belongs to all of us, so we've put the structures in place to make sure that we're working collaboratively on climate change. Prevention is another one that cuts across the work of so many departments. Tackling poverty is another one of those.
I'd also make the point, Llywydd, that it's not how we work co-operatively within Government alone that matters. Effective delivery also depends on strong collaboration with others—local government, for example, businesses, the third sector and, crucially, communities across Wales.
We can point to a whole host of targets that are already in place, from the first meaningful economic target that we've had in maybe a quarter of a century, on halving the productivity gap with the rest of the UK within a decade. That's setting our sights high, but we need that kind of target. We know about the targets on the longest waiting times in the NHS. We have a very clear path towards raising standards in numeracy, literacy and so on.
I'd refer the Member to the answer I gave a few moments ago. Yes, we want to be efficient in our use of public money in everything that we do. And yes, we have already found ways that we, I believe, can deliver more for less in a whole host of different ways, and I think that's very important.
But to ideologically drive down spending for the sake of it doesn't help the people of Wales. What helps the people of Wales is using money wisely, carefully and setting a clear trajectory for the kinds of changes that we want to deliver for them. With childcare, we know what it is that we're trying to deliver. We know what we have to do. We're getting on with the job.
I recognise the vital role that health visitors play in supporting children and families across Wales. Responsibility for their pay, grading and employment rests with the health board as the employer. But we have engaged with the health board and the trade union, making clear our expectation that all parties should work constructively towards a swift resolution. We will continue to support those efforts while ensuring appropriate arrangements remain in place to safeguard children and families.
This is a dispute, as the Member rightly points out, that this Government inherited, and yes, I did say that I wanted this dispute to be settled very quickly. I say now, also, now that I'm in Government, that I want this dispute to be settled quickly—for the health visitors, for the health board and for the people that they serve. It is clear that this is a matter that can only be resolved in dispute resolution between the employer and the employee, between the health board and the health workers. What we can do in Government is ensure that there is real clarity on roles and bands and pay structures nationally, and that is exactly what the review instigated by the Cabinet Minister for health is setting out to do.
I agree that it is important that there's a real understanding of where resolution for this dispute lies. Where disputes persist and affect service delivery, wherever that might be, health boards must demonstrate how concerns have been managed, risks monitored, and the necessary actions taken to maintain safe services.
The Cabinet Secretary has therefore sought further assurance from the health board on safeguarding arrangements and health visiting capacity, with an expectation of full transparency and robust oversight, just to make sure that children and families remain protected.
More broadly, NHS organisations must have strong governance to identify and respond to emerging risks, whatever they might be. The new accountability and support framework published just two weeks ago strengthens accountability, oversight and improvement support, while a forthcoming well-led framework will further strengthen leadership right across the NHS.
It's hard for me to comment on what would have happened in the early days, because that was under a Labour Government. Do I believe that we should lean heavily on social partnership? Yes, absolutely. That comes to the resolution of local disputes, it comes into play on issues of national disputes. I believe in the concept and the principle of social partnership. There are certainly learnings from this issue, where we can all ask could things have been done sooner. I hope, as the Member does, that that resolution, which we all wish to see happening, is coming closer.
It is not as simple as that. This is a resolution that can only come from dispute resolution between the employer and the employee. What we need to ensure, as I said, is that we have absolute clarity now on pay structures and banding, as that relates to health workers wherever they are in Wales, because that consistency of application is crucial to make sure that we avoid this kind of dispute in future. There's work that has been instigated by the Cabinet Minister for health, and I trust that that not only comes into play now, but that it will be of use when it comes to, potentially, nipping other disputes in the bud in future through social partnership.
There is no question that health visitors are driven by vocation. I've met those who are currently involved in this particular dispute. They want to get back to work. That's the core of this from their point of view. Yes, we are talking about women, largely, here, but I think what we need to show always is an appreciation of that commitment that people right across the public sector show towards their work that goes over and above, by some way, what they are contracted or paid or the hours that they are meant to work. We look right across the public sector and show our appreciation to those people who care for those within their communities. I'll also take this opportunity to wish your family well after your recent loss.
The Government believes in the future of our town and city centres. They're at the heart of local identities, our culture and our communities. We refuse to accept their decline and want to reinvent and repurpose those town and city centres for the future. Public services are very much part of that. We want our town and city centres to be places where people can easily access the services they need. We're also investing in better transport links and regeneration schemes and using our town centre taskforce to consider what further action is needed.
Well, post office provision in itself is a reserved matter for UK Government, but I certainly do recognise the importance of maintaining access to a full-service branch in Swansea city centre, particularly for older and perhaps disabled people and small businesses too. I understand that Post Office Ltd has committed to finding replacement host businesses for branches like the one in Swansea affected by the TG Jones closures. Alongside this, our town-centre taskforce will consider how essential public services, as I say, can support thriving town and city centres. Across Wales, we will continue to support co-location, accessible transport and business rates relief, which we announced recently, so that regeneration sustains the kind of everyday services that communities rely on, and, at the same time, attracting, hopefully, new investment into these town and city centres.
People are rightly frustrated by congestion on the M4 around Newport and want to see progress, so last week we brought clarity where there has been uncertainty, I think, for too long. We've taken a clear decision that road and engineering improvements must be part of the solution, and we're getting on with the practical improvements now while we develop that long-term solution.
The Member is referring to what was known as the black route, of course. It is no longer a protected route. When the decision was taken to cancel that particular route, that option was essentially taken off the table, or at least for a very, very, very long time, and we're not prepared to wait that long. And I think we've made it clear that we do think road relief is a part of the solution, and that is why we need to do that careful planning and engineering work to make sure that we understand what is the best solution to pursue, because it's become very, very clear to me—and I've been personally engaged on this, because I have an interest in unblocking this issue for the people of Newport and for the wider south Wales economy—that it will take a host of different things. It will mean—and this is good news for the people of Newport—strengthening public transport. It is important, it will contribute.
Taking traffic on other roads where there is capacity is something that's very, very important, and it could be something as simple as making sure that we provide better provision for HGV drivers, something that I know from my own constituency, with how important that is around Holyhead. So, what I say is, this is live now, this is happening. We're pressing ahead with a multiphase scheme that will crucially take into consideration the views of, and will happen in partnership with, the people of Newport. Will there be challenges in this transformation to a twenty-second century Newport? Yes, but we want to face those challenges and put solutions in place with the people of that city, because there is a city and a broader region that have a lot to benefit from getting this right. Inaction is what we saw up until now; that's not an option now.
Patients in north-east Wales deserve timely, joined-up care, whichever side of the border provides it. We are strengthening cross-border partnerships, streamlining referrals and improving information sharing between NHS Wales and NHS England. Our aim is clear: better co-ordinated care, clear accountability and fewer avoidable delays, so patients receive the right treatment, in the right place, at the right time.
I'm very glad that the Member pointed out that statistic about traffic for primary care and in which direction it goes. And it's a little-known fact that there are more people from England coming into Wales to see a GP than the other way around. What that tells me is that we need to get this right for people on both sides of the border. I'm a patient in the north of Wales too. It is part of our landscape that there are elements of care that we might get at a specialist children's hospital in Liverpool or a neurosurgery department at Walton and so on. We are committed to making sure that we improve that cross-border working.
I'll give you an example on information sharing: we are working on improving the transfer of referrals, improving the sharing of clinical records, test results and prescribing information. Digital interoperability work is focused on making sure that care becomes safer, becomes more co-ordinated, reducing the need for patients to chase information and so on. In terms of those waiting times, the key thing is that it is the patients that we look after and make sure that we trace their journey through the NHS, wherever that treatment takes place, and for many patients, parts of their treatment will be in the north of Wales and parts of it will be in the north-west of England.
We are taking action across Wales to improve and integrate provision across bus, rail and active travel. We are working closely with Transport for Wales and local authorities, including in Sir Fynwy Torfaen. We are implementing bus franchising and making better use of assets across bus and rail, which will be key to delivering better integrated services that reflect passenger demand and the priorities of communities.
The Member describes exactly what we all should be trying to achieve in making public transport so accessible and cheap and easy to use that it becomes a no-brainer. We want to make it easier to choose public transport for everyday journeys across the wider M4 corridor by integrating bus and rail into one cohesive network. Bus reform is an important of it. That'll support co-ordinated planning and management of public transport by Transport for Wales, in collaboration with local authorities. That should mean more efficient aligning of transport options. TfW is already working with local authorities in the south-east to review the bus network plan. We'll launch a programme of public engagement in the region next year. Yes, we will consider the potential for more frequent train services, including on routes from Abergavenny and Chepstow to Cardiff, and, yes, we want to see the delivery of those new stations in the south-east of Wales without further delay.
We are committed to this agenda. I know the Deputy Minister for Public and Preventative Health wants people to be able to access high-quality addiction recovery services where needed. Some £68 million has been invested annually in substance misuse services, with most funding allocated to area planning boards to commission services based on the needs of those localities. Accessibility is a key consideration, with boards needing to provide regular assurance to Welsh Government on both delivery and performance.
Well, we certainly do recognise the challenges faced by people recovering from addiction, and we value the vital contribution of organisations such as the Salvation Army in supporting recovery. We also recognise, absolutely, the stigma that can be a significant barrier to individuals seeking help and sustaining recovery afterwards. Through investment in local treatment and recovery services, we're working to make sure that people can access the right support at the right time. The Deputy Minister for Public and Preventative Health will continue to engage with people with lived experience, service providers and the wider sectors, so that we can be properly informed as a Government of future action in these areas.
Well, we've allocated over £450 million for social housing alone this year, providing the investment needed to increase supply and help more people access a safe, secure and affordable home. Local authorities across the Caerdydd Penarth constituency have been allocated over £82 million in social housing grant funding this year. Together, this will contribute to the delivery of over 1,100 additional homes.
I appreciate the work that the Member does around the issue of housing. Some of the statistics that he mentions are pretty sobering, and we are under no illusion as a Government as to the scale of the challenge that we are facing.
We propose to address this, and look forward to co-operating with him and others on this. We propose to take action, not only in making sure the necessary investment goes in on building more social homes, but that we legislate too, that we put legislative steps in place to make sure that we are emphasising our belief as a Government that people should have that fundamental support in making sure that they have a roof over their heads and somewhere to live safely. This is something that I know drives my housing Cabinet Minister every day in her work.