Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 2:25 pm on 22 June 2021.
Rhys ab Owen
Plaid Cymru
2:25,
22 June 2021
Thank you very much, First Minister. As you will be aware, on Clean Air Day, the Labour council in Cardiff reopened Castle Street in the heart of Cardiff, and the Deputy Minister for Climate Change described that as disappointing. Many Labour councillors in Cardiff have questioned the figures and the data used by the council. Every Member of this Senedd stood on a manifesto to promote a clean air Act, and pollution levels on Castle Street would be unlawful under that piece of legislation.
I know that it's difficult. There are complaints in Riverside, in Grangetown, and in Pontcanna about an increase in pollution levels. But, we must move people away from the use of private cars, and reopening a road isn't a solution to that. So, First Minister, could I urge you to please speak to Cardiff Council and to encourage them to consider this move and to close Castle Street once again to private vehicles?
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.
