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

Diolch, Llywydd. There are multiple changes to this week's business. All the changes have been published on the Plenary agendas. Draft business for the next three weeks is set out on the business statement and announcement, which can be found amongst the meeting papers available to Members electronically.

Trefnydd, it's been some time since I called for an update from the Welsh Government on its action to address stroke care in north Wales, which, as you will be aware from the updates that we receive from the Stroke Association, unfortunately, is falling well short of where it ought to be, with the overall grade in each of the hospitals in north Wales being either D or E. Now, clearly that is not acceptable. Many of the indicators are also getting worse, particularly in terms of access to stroke units, and we know that these are essential in turning patients around as quickly as possible and giving them the best possible chances of recovery. So, can I urge you again to work with the Minister for Health and Social Services so that we can get a statement on this important issue as soon as possible?

Secondly, can I also request an update from the Minister on progress towards delivering the real living wage commitment for social care workers in Wales? I know that this something that my party has supported, and we wish the Government well in ensuring its implementation. However, it's recently come to my attention that there are some care homes in my own Constituency that are not paying the real living wage to their staff, and they say that it's because the commissioners have not given them sufficient resources to be able to make that happen. I know the Welsh Government has released extra resources to local authorities to deliver on this important commitment, and I wonder what action is being taken to ensure that local authorities are actually making that cash available to care home operators to make sure that this commitment is delivered in full, and that our hard-working social care workers in our constituencies are getting the pay and remuneration that they deserve.

Thank you. Well, the Minister for Health and Social Services is in her place, and will have heard what you said, particularly around the second issue, and I'm sure she will have great concern about what you said. As you mentioned, the Welsh Government has given extra funding to our local authorities to ensure that our very hard-working staff in the social care sector are in receipt of the real living wage. I would imagine that the Minister's officials are monitoring this, but as I say, she has heard your question, and I'm sure if she has any concerns in the way you've described, she will ensure her officials are aware of them and will have those conversations with—. I'm assuming you're referring to Denbighshire in particular, as you referred to your own Constituency. 

In relation to a further statement on stroke, I'm not aware of any guidance or further information around the stroke strategy, but again, I will ask the Minister if there's anything she can update us on.

May I request an oral statement on RAAC outwith schools? Clearly, we're very grateful that the Minister for education will be giving us an update on the situation in schools, but as was mentioned in Ken Skates's question, it's clear that there is a situation across Wales, and in his response, the First Minister mentioned that the work was ongoing. But I do think, because of the gravity of the situation that we see in my region—St David's Hall being closed for four weeks, for example, and a number of major warnings in terms of the safety of that building—that it would be beneficial, with buildings such as St David's Hall having to close, to know what the broader picture is, what the timetable is, and what collaboration is ongoing to ensure that there is no risk to life, either for those working in those buildings or attending events, for example, in the case of St David's Hall.

Thank you. Well, you will have heard the First Minister say in his answer to Ken Skates that there is a comprehensive review being undertaken by Welsh Government officials, and, fortunately, at the moment, there are only isolated incidents of RAAC being identified. It's a two-stage process. Obviously, work has been ongoing, and I'm sure you will have heard Councillor Llinos Medi, in her statement around the two schools—. And as you say, the Minister for Education and the Welsh language will be bringing forward an oral statement this afternoon in relation to RAAC being present in educational establishments. But she said that Ynys Môn council was very aware, and that was because this work has been ongoing for quite a significant time. It is a two-stage process. I think, firstly, officials are gathering summary information, so that we do have a clearer picture of what work will be needed, going forward, to make sure all of our public estate remains safe. And then, obviously, there are other concerns around theatres and leisure facilities. You mentioned in particular St David's Hall in Cardiff, which has been closed because they've confirmed the presence of RAAC in the ceiling and roof of St David's Hall. So, I think that when all that information has come forward—as I say, today, the Minister for education is bringing us a statement on educational establishments—we will look for Welsh Government Ministers to bring forward further statements at the most appropriate time.

First of all, I wondered if we could have a statement on whether or not the Government will consider a demolition levy as a minimum response to the illegal demolition of a listed building in Guildford Crescent in my Constituency last week. This commercial company has form on this matter, in showing willful disregard of the planning regulations in pursuit of profit, and this listed building was in the way of their 30-storey block of flats. There were a lot of calls by the community to cancel the planning application as a result of their behaviour. That may not be possible, but we need to protect the buildings of the future, and I would like to see a statement on how we might consider a demolition levy as one way of getting developers to behave.

Secondly, I wondered if we could have a statement on the interim agri-environmental scheme that you announced during recess, which I know is causing a certain amount of concern amongst the over 500 organic producers, who are worried that all the progress that we've made in Wales with the production of organic farming could be lost if there is no form of grant available specifically for organics, when there is a shortage of production, for example, of milk, that is not meeting the demand already, and particularly as this obviously enhances nature, which is one of the things we are endeavouring to do. I appreciate that this is an interim scheme, in advance of the sustainable farming scheme, but it seems to me that we need to ensure that we're going forwards and not backwards on that.

Thirdly, I wondered if you'll join with me in congratulating the two schools that have been nominated for the World's Best School Prizes, under the sustainable development scheme. These include Cadoxton Primary School in Barry, which has a wonderful pay-as-you-feel shop, with a launderette and uniform store, to support poorer members of its community, and Cardiff Sixth Form College in my constituency, which is also doing fantastic work on ensuring that they are strengthening the physical and mental health of their A-level students, in the main, many of whom are living very far away from their families.

Lastly, I wondered if we could have a statement from the Minister for health on what we've learnt today about misogyny in the operating theatre, because the revelation this morning that female surgeons are being molested while they are doing operations is just beyond belief. I know that this is obviously focused on research that's taken place focusing on England, but we need to ensure that our excellent female surgeons, who, by the way, have a better performance overall than male surgeons, are made to feel comfortable that this is a career that they can pursue without being chased and molested while they're doing their work. It's really beyond belief.

Thank you. Welsh Ministers are aware that Cardiff Council are currently considering a planning application that relates to the demolition and rebuilding of the existing Guildford Crescent facade. Now, I know they are having to consider any necessary action to address the recent breach of planning control, which you referred to, and obviously, given Welsh Ministers' wider statutory role in the planning process, it's not appropriate to comment on that, but you raise a question around a demolition levy. I'm not aware that that is something that is being considered, but certainly I'm sure that the Minister for Climate Change would be interested in that.

Around Glastir organic, obviously the Glastir contracts, I’ve extended several times, and they are coming to an end at December 2023, because the European funding is coming to an end and I am unable to extend it in a way that I know some people would have liked, but it’s just not possible to do so. I think you make a really important point about the excellent work and the gains that we’ve had in relation to organic farmers, and it’s really important that they are able to access a range of support schemes, and that will include the interim agri-environment scheme that my officials have been working on over the summer, and we will be announcing the scheme and when the windows will be opening later this month. But I think it is really important that we do retain as much benefit as we have, and that’s why I was very keen to have an interim scheme ahead of the sustainable farming scheme coming in in April 2025.

I’ll certainly join you in congratulating both Cadoxton Primary School and Cardiff Sixth Form College in your Constituency, the former primary school being in Jane Hutt’s constituency. I met with Janet Hayward, the headteacher of that excellent school, at the Royal Welsh Show. You will be aware of the Big Bocs Bwyd, for instance. It was great to talk to a group of children from Merthyr Tydfil who had told me they’d never been to a farm, they’d never understood where their food came from and the lessons that they were learning at the Royal Welsh Show were just brilliant to see. So, certainly, I know that the Minister for education has praised both of them as being finalists for this prize. It’s really a massive achievement, I think, to see two Welsh schools in the final. So, it’s great to hear of that, so congratulations to them both.

In relation to your latter point, I too read that article today with absolute horror and I’m sure the Minister for Health and Social Services, once she’s had time to have a look at that, will be very happy to update Members.

Trefnydd, I’d like to request two statements, please, from the Welsh Government this afternoon. Firstly, can I also request a statement from the health Minister regarding the discovery of RAAC at Withybush hospital? I was heartened to hear you say that other Ministers will now bring forward statements on this issue, because recent reports tell us that its existence at the Withybush hospital site has been known since 2019, and we now need an urgent statement from the health Minister to clarify exactly what the Welsh Government knew and when the Government knew about it. Now, as has been said, the education Minister is rightly coming forward with a statement today on the situation facing schools in Wales, and I believe the health Minister should do the same as soon as possible, as it’s vital that the Welsh Government does everything possible to support the local health board and ensure services continue at the site. I know that the Minister has recently visited the site and so I’d be grateful if time could be made available for the Minister to provide an update to the Chamber as soon as possible, and outline exactly what the Welsh Government is doing to address this matter. And I think it’s important that the health Minister does bring forward a statement on this issue because my understanding is that it does actually affect other hospital sites as well. 

Secondly, Llywydd, can I request a statement from the Minister for Climate Change regarding water quality here in Wales? I know that there has been some movement on this issue, but this continues to be a real problem for us in Pembrokeshire and right across Wales. It's vital that we see some leadership on this matter and that the public can understand exactly what is being done to tackle this issue. So, I'd be grateful if the Welsh Government could bring forward a statement on action being taken to address water quality as a matter of urgency. 

Thank you. Well, you will have heard my earlier answer to Heledd Fychan around the work that's being undertaken by Welsh Government officials in relation to RAAC. This is not a new thing. We have been working with the UK Government, and I was very surprised—I haven't discussed it with the Minister for education—to hear Gillian Keegan say she was chairing gold meetings from her villa in Spain, because Welsh Government should have been part of those gold group meetings. So, you know, we are doing this independent piece of work now, but we have been working with the UK Government on this for several years, so it's not a new issue. The Minister for Health and Social Services did bring forward a written statement, and, as I said in my answer to Heledd Fychan, we will look at the work that's been done and, as and when, we will bring statements forward. The Minister for Education and the Welsh language is doing an oral statement today on educational establishments because, obviously, a couple of weeks ago this was the main focus, but we thought it was important for the Minister to update Members today. 

In relation to your request for a statement on water quality, I think there is indeed leadership being shown in this area. As you know, the First Minister has chaired two water quality summits. There will be a third one this autumn that both I and the Minister for Climate Change will be attending, and, certainly, a further statement will come forward following that summit. 

May I request a statement from the Deputy Minister for Climate Change on the truly critical situation facing bus services on Anglesey at the moment? Since the announcement by Arriva buses last week, dozens of constituents have contacted me to express their concerns about loss of bus services—some of them stating that they will lose access to a service that is crucially important to them in their daily lives, some are concerned that it will be difficult for them to access education, some fear that they will have to give up work, even. In their announcement, a spokesperson for Arriva stated said that, among other reasons, the changes to the way the Welsh Government supports bus services after COVID had led to reforms to the Arriva network across north Wales. Now, I am meeting Arriva tomorrow, as it happens, but bus services, of course, are crucial in rural areas such as Ynys Môn. This announcement is a serious blow to communities such as Llanddaniel, Bodedern, Trefor, Llynfaes, Bodffordd, Gwalchmai. We can't afford to see these communities being isolated, and I would like a statement giving a commitment as to how the Government is going to act urgently to protect these bus services. 

Thank you. Bus services are indeed crucial to many of our constituents right across Wales, and you'll be aware the Deputy Minister for Climate Change announced £46 million from bus budgets for the bus emergency scheme and the bus transition fund to prevent that wholesale cancellation of services. And we've asked local authorities, Transport for Wales and operators to plan the network that best meets the needs of the travelling public. By March of next year, the Welsh Government will have provided over £190 million to protect our bus network since the onset of the COVID pandemic, and, as you know, we are introducing legislation to reform the bus system in Wales, taking public control of the bus system through a franchise network, putting people before profit and making buses easy and attractive.  

Can I ask for a statement, please, on what the Welsh Government is doing to promote responsible reporting on suicide? I know that suicide prevention is something that is very close to the Deputy Minister's heart, and it's vital that we as Members of the Senedd keep the issue on the agenda and debate how it can best be addressed. Sunday was World Suicide Prevention Day, and I'd like to take this opportunity to remind Members that we must lead by example when discussing this important subject, and that our words and the way we frame things can have a huge impact. The Samaritans have long been a voice of expertise on this issue, and I know that Members around the Chamber will have seen their briefing on the importance of responsible reporting on suicide. Responsible reporting, whether it's in the media or social media, is incredibly important, and there is evidence that certain types of depictions can lead to increased suicide rates. The briefing contains many useful suggestions that I believe are imperative for us to take on board. These include avoiding discussing details of suicide methods, not labelling locations as hotspots, exercising caution when referring to the context of a suicide, and avoiding oversimplifying suicide by the suggestion of a single cause. As elected politicians, we should always be reminded of the importance of the words we choose, and the Welsh Government and the Senedd can play their role in enhancing this message across the country.  

Yes, I absolutely agree with Jayne Bryant and we very much welcome this guidance. As you say, we all have a role to play in talking about suicide responsibly, and this guidance helps us to do just that. I understand the Deputy Minister’s officials are working with the Samaritans to develop the new suicide and self-harm prevention strategy for Wales, which will be published for consultation towards the end of this year. 

Can I ask for a statement this afternoon from the Deputy Minister for Social Partnership regarding north Wales fire service's emergency cover review as it is currently being proposed to the people of north-east Wales regarding the future of fire service provisions in Rhyl, Deeside and Wrexham fire stations? The three options available seek to cease 24-hour services in all three stations, leaving night cover to the retained service, which is causing much anxiety to my constituents and people across north-east Wales over their future safety, particularly at night-time. Over the summer recess, I’ve liaised closely with front-line firefighters and representatives from the Fire Brigades Union, who all believe if such measures are implemented they will cause jeopardy to the safety of local residents and the work-life balance and fatigue amongst those who put their lives on the line for us, who face the prospect of being relocated, in some cases to rural stations in Gwynedd.

There have also been concerns around the quality of the public engagement exercises, with consultations being poorly promoted and timings of meetings being in the daytime, when most people are at work or busy, and also the complexities of completing the online surveys, which take up a lot of time and are labyrinthine. So, can I see a statement from the Minister on what discussions the Welsh Government have had on this matter and what the position of the Government is in regard to maintaining robust fire service provision in north-east Wales? Thank you.

Thank you. The issue to which you refer is, obviously, out for public consultation at the moment, and I think the point you make around public engagement is very important. I know that the Deputy Minister for Social Partnership has met with the chair and officials of the fire and rescue service to make sure that that consultation is absolutely out there so that people are very aware of the consultation and it’s a meaningful consultation.

I, too, want to call for a Welsh Government update on the RAAC at the Withybush hospital site. I am aware that the Welsh Government have already approved a £13 million spend for survey work to be carried out, and I know that that work is in progress. But I’d like to ask you to join me in thanking the staff at Withybush hospital who’ve been impacted by that disruption and will be impacted as the repairs go forward. The staff’s understanding and commitment to delivering patient care during this challenging time has been commendable. Some staff have moved hospital sites to ensure that patients have been able to move from Withybush and have continued to receive the much-needed care that they require. Minister, I’d like to hear in the update from Welsh Government what assurances they will be able to give to patients and staff that care and services will remain as local as possible whilst the survey work and the repairs are being carried out. And one of the asks—which I know is not an easy ask—by members of my Constituency is a timescale, where that timescale is possible. 

Thank you. You will have heard my earlier answers around the timeline for Ministers doing individual statements as and when we get the information. I think you make a really important point around thanking the staff at Withybush hospital, who have had incredible upheaval, and ensuring that they can do all they can for that continuity of patient care. We send them a massive 'thank you' for doing that, having to move hospital sites. None of us like upheaval in our working life, but they’re clearly putting patients first, and patients have had to move from Withybush hospital.

I’m not able to give you a timeline at the current time. As I say, that work is being undertaken at the moment, but the Minister will do a statement when we have that further information.

Can I call for two statements from you as Minister for rural affairs, please, with the first being on the end of the Glastir programme and the introduction of an interim agri-environment scheme, and the second on the nutrient management scheme, both announced via written statements on the same day during the first week of recess? The Minister will be aware that I wrote to her to express my concern that these were written statements and made during recess, affording this Chamber no opportunity to scrutinise and debate the changes. With Glastir scheduled to end on 31 December, only four months remain to scrutinise this decision and the interim scheme, which will exist for only 12 months before the sustainable farming scheme begins in 2025.

I was also rather shocked to learn, via 8point9.com and their freedom of information request, that no impact assessment took place before the decision to end Glastir, so the consequences of its termination are unknown. This has caused real concern within the agricultural community, especially participants of Glastir Organic, a number of whom have been in touch with me and shared their frustrations with me.

I would also hope that an oral statement on the nutrient management scheme would set out your decision on whether to implement a licensing scheme or not, so that Welsh farmers can have some clarity as the clock is ticking. So, despite some time having passed since these written statements were made, they are both still incredibly important topics, and I would welcome oral statements on them both. Diolch, Llywydd.

Well, they are two very important topics, and that's why I believed it was important to bring forward those written statements. You'll be aware that both refer to ongoing work. So, in relation to the ending of Glastir, I want to make it very clear that I could not extend Glastir any further. I've extended and extended, but the European funding that paid for Glastir comes to an end on 31 December 2023. But, as I said in my answer to Jenny Rathbone, it's really important that we keep the good work that we've had, not just from Glastir Organic, but from everybody who's had Glastir support, so it's very important to have an interim agri-environment scheme. Officials have been working on that scheme over the summer. We've engaged with stakeholders, because it's really important that we get their views. The farming unions were very clear that they wanted to have an interim scheme. We are bringing an interim scheme forward, and the window for opening that will be done shortly. I will certainly update Members when further work has been undertaken over the next couple of weeks, and I will bring forward a statement once further work, again, has been done regarding nutrient management.

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

Trefnydd, as you may be aware, there is currently a medicines supply shortage in Wales, with hormone replacement therapy products being one of the main medicines affected. I'm conscious that I've been in correspondence with the health Minister regarding this matter, but, since that time, I have been further contacted by worried residents and medical practitioners over the ever-increasing number of routine medicines that are in short supply. As such, I am concerned that the Welsh Government's assessment of occasional and temporary supply shortages is not reflective of the experiences of health professionals. With this in mind, may we have a statement from the health Minister regarding this and its impact on patient care in Wales? As you'll no doubt agree, a statement would offer Members an opportunity to directly question the Minister on this and to allay any fears that the general public might have. Thank you. 

Well, there are always opportunities to question the Minister for Health and Social Services during her oral question session, but I do think you raise an important point and it clearly is a matter—. I know I've had constituents contact me, not around the drug that you referred to, but clearly there have been issues with a variety of medicines being accessed. I will certainly ask the Minister for Health and Social Services to bring forward a written statement.

I'd like to request and see a statement from the education Minister on the multitude of issues that we've seen plague the return to school regarding school transport. Back-to-school is always chaotic at this time of year, but this year takes the biscuit. It has left thousands of anxious parents and children with no transport or unsuitable transport. It is clear that current provisions and the way of doing things just aren't good enough. I am fully aware that this is a local government issue, but I'm also aware that we've had a Children, Young People and Education Committee report into school absenteeism recently, and we've just seen how critical the issue is, yet we're allowing school transport to be a massive contributor to lack of school attendance. We also talk about safeguarding and the rights of the child, which we quite rightly promote, yet we see children being put on public transport and waiting hours, potentially in the rain, before and after school because public transport timings don't fit around school hours.

I could go on, and every Member in this Senedd must be aware of the issues that I'm presenting to you, as they'll be in their inboxes, but we need a pupil-first approach and we need wholesale reform, not just tweaks. Parents can't wait around for a white paper on school transport for implementation years down the line. Urgent action needs to be taken; this cannot be repeated next year. All children should be able to get to school and should be able to get to school safely. The Welsh Government have a responsibility—

You need to ask a question.

—to act on this. Therefore, I'd like to see a statement, Minister.

Thank you. This doesn't fall in the Minister for Education and the Welsh language's portfolio; it falls within the Deputy Minister for Climate Change's portfolio. You'll be aware that, quite long ago, in a previous term of this Senedd, the Learner Travel (Wales) Measure 2008 was brought forward, and that's currently under review. And you will have heard in my earlier answer to the leader of Plaid Cymru that we will be bringing forward a bus Bill, which I think will help in this area.

And finally, Janet Finch-Saunders.

Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Could I have a statement, please, from the Minister for Health and Social Services on the presence of RAAC in Welsh hospitals, especially the Bryn y Neuadd Hospital in Llanfairfechan? The issue with this particular unsafe building at Bryn y Neuadd Hospital is not new; I've been raising this issue since February, particularly the £27.7 million backlog of spend and 70 per cent of the floor area being recorded as not functionally suitable. This was evidenced in the health board's estate strategy. This is a mental health hospital and it cares for 25 of the most vulnerable people in our society. The Majority of the building is quite frankly not fit for purpose, and this is well documented. So, I would be grateful if the Minister could provide a statement to urgently explain what is being done to assess the presence of RAAC in hospitals, what precautions are being taken to ensure that RAAC does not impact NHS patient care and waiting times, and how a hospital like Bryn y Neuadd has been allowed to reach a position where the majority of the estate, according to their own reports, is deemed not functionally suitable. Diolch.

Thank you. Janet Finch-Saunders is the fourth Member to ask for the Minister for Health and Social Services to bring forward a statement on RAAC in healthcare settings. As I said, once we've got the necessary information, the Minister will do so.

I thank the Trefnydd.