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

Diolch, Llywydd. There are two changes to this week's Plenary business. Tomorrow's committee debate will be on the challenges facing the creative industry workforce in Wales, which was postponed from last week. Therefore, the debate on the Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee's annual report on international relations 2022-23 has been postponed until 28 February. 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.

Can I call for two statements today, please, Trefnydd, the first on the future of our high streets in Wales? Many town centres have been struggling in recent years. We know that the competition presented by online retailers and out-of-town developments, with their free parking opportunities, has made it tough doing business, sometimes, in our town centres. And, of course, the latest impact of the reduction in business rate relief is causing many businesses in my constituency to get in touch to say that that could be make or break for them. I do think that we need to ensure that there's more discussion on the future of our town centres, how we can make sure that they are vibrant in the future, and I wonder whether we could have a statement so that we can have an engagement and a discussion on this on a cross-party basis to see what might be done to protect them.

Secondly, can I call for a statement on whether Transport for Wales represents value for money for Welsh taxpayers? We know that £125 million was recently awarded to Transport for Wales, in spite of there apparently being no business case for that ever having been published, and in spite of it not having been part of the Welsh Government's budget arrangements for last year. It's been brought to my attention by a constituent that Transport for Wales recently spent £5,500—I know it's a small sum in relative terms—wrapping a train in a 'Made in Wales' advertising slogan and sign. Now, clearly, that is unnecessary discretionary expenditure at taxpayers' expense, and I wonder what else is going on that's being wastefully spent by Transport for Wales without there being a proper business case around it.

So, I would appreciate a statement from the Minister on Transport for Wales, on why these significant sums are being given to that organisation when it seems to be able to spend frivolously on that sort of advertising.

I will agree to a statement on your first question, but not to your second. 

Trefnydd, I'd like to request a statement following an investigative piece published at the weekend by The Sunday Times regarding cash for courses, which exposed that Cardiff University was one of the universities named that were offering to recruit foreign students on far lower grades than we would expect from students here in Wales, meaning that students are missing out, having to have excessively high grades of A*s and so on to get onto some courses, which are absolutely vital in terms of the Welsh economy, of course, and missing out because of the situation that many of our universities are facing in terms of their financial difficulties.

I think we need clarity on this, and I'd appreciate a statement from the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language to understand what discussions he may have with Cardiff University to ensure that Welsh students aren't missing out, and also, that we're not exploiting international students unfairly.

Well, obviously, we welcome foreign students to our Welsh universities, but I think we do have to be very careful. I know the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language is currently speaking to vice-chancellors in general around foreign students, and I'm sure he'll be happy to update us at the appropriate time. 

Trefnydd, I'd like to ask for a statement, please, from the Minister for Economy about the £70 million clawback that the Welsh Government had from the Superfast Cymru broadband scheme. I know the Welsh Government is going through a procurement exercise on how they could supplement the Welsh Government scheme with regard to broadband, but it would be useful if we could have an update in the Chamber, please, on this procurement exercise, because people in my constituency want some assurances that that scheme is going to enable our harder-to-reach properties to have equitable access to fast broadband in our rural communities. 

Thank you. I will certainly ask the appropriate Minister to update via a written statement. 

Well, very conveniently, I want to follow the same track and ask for a statement from the Minister for Economy, because I've raised concerns in this Chamber previously about areas of rural Carmarthenshire, and rural areas in Ceredigion also, that have been disappointed time and time again by companies that have pledged to implement the voucher schemes, but have let those areas down. And I have to declare an interest: I live in one of those areas, and I've been one of those people who've expressed an interest. The Broadway company went bust and let people down. And then they were bought by a company called Voneus, and, last week, we heard that they weren't going to commit to follow the voucher scheme. So, having spoken to Openreach originally, then Broadway, and then Voneus, we are, in these areas, still lacking the kind of broadband service that we deserve.

So, can I ask—I know that many elements of this sit with the UK Government—what is the Welsh Government intending to do to provide services in these notspots in rural areas?

Thank you. Well, what I will do is ask the Minister to encompass your issues as well in the written statement. It's really important that our rural communities have access to broadband in the way that urban areas do too, for business and, obviously, for personal use as well. So, I will make sure that's encompassed in that statement.

I would like to request a statement from the health Minister, please. Last week, it was announced that the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board supported the plan for Nevill Hall Hospital in Abergavenny in my region to be closed every night of the week. It has previously operated 24-hours a day, seven days a week, and my constituents and I are deeply concerned at the decision to close the minor injuries unit every night. This is the wrong decision for my constituents and it is not putting patient need first. The decision is not supported by local residents or politicians alike. It will mean people in my region having to travel a significant number of miles to receive treatment, and will only add to put further pressure on the Grange, at a time when it's already under tremendous pressure.

So, I'd like the Minister to release a statement to update the Senedd on what discussions have taken place with the health board, what is being done to ensure that this crucial service remains available for my constituents to get help when they need it, and whether the Minister believes these changes are sufficient. My constituents also obviously need to know what the alternatives are for them, what transport will be available to them. I'm sure the Minister will agree with me that all my constituents need to be aware of this significant change in service. Thank you.

Thank you. Well, this isn't a matter for the Minister for Health and Social Services; this is obviously an operational matter from within Aneurin Bevan health board. My understanding is there was only one patient a night, on average, attending. And again, it's a matter for the health board to make sure that the information about where they should attend in the case of an emergency, that the general population that they serve know that.

Well, actually, like Laura, I'd like to have an oral statement, please, from the health Minister about the provision of minor injury units in the region. We've seen, as has been outlined already, the closure, overnight, of the minor injuries unit at Nevill Hall Hospital in Abergavenny. Many patients are concerned about where they'd go late at night if something goes wrong, and over 5,000 people have signed a petition in support of that facility. Limited hours are also going to be made permanent at Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr in Ystrad Mynach. I would appreciate if a statement could address those local concerns, whether legislation could be made possible to ensure that there is provision 24 hours a day offered to people, particularly those who find it difficult to get to A&E, especially when A&E services have become so centralised across the whole region, because people feel isolated and worried about where to get help.

Now, on a related matter to that, I've been contacted by a constituent who is expressing concern about the level of pressure being put on staff because of workloads, I think, in Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr, actually in the minor injuries unit—staff, who, by the way, they commended for their dedication, but there is a worry that they might be being overworked. I have contacted the health board. They told me that the staffing levels at the unit conform to Government guidelines. They also admitted that those staffing levels were under review. So, in that same statement, please, could the health Minister commit to a review of the current guidelines, to ensure that staff and patients are getting the support they need, please? Diolch.

Well, I don't think I have anything more to add, really, to my answer to Laura Anne Jones. This is not a matter for the Minister for Health and Social Services; this is a matter for Aneurin Bevan, so you've done absolutely the right thing writing to them. But I do think it is important that the health board make the population that they serve aware of the changes. I appreciate no-one likes change, but it is important that people know where to go to access the correct health service, at the correct time.

Trefnydd, can I please request two statements? Can I request the first from the health Minister, on the delivery of emergency services and ambulance waiting times in Wales? I've been made aware of a constituent whose relative had to wait 26 hours for an ambulance after an initial first responder arrived. Another constituent's family have been in touch to tell me of their relative who waited over an hour and a half for an ambulance after having a heart attack on Christmas Eve. Unfortunately, that person passed away at the age of 40, leaving two small children. I'm sure you'll agree with me that that is absolutely appalling, and my heart goes out to the family. Minister, given these unacceptable cases, it's vital that some time is now made available, I think, to discuss emergency health services, and ambulance waiting times in particular, so that Members and the public can understand what the Welsh Government is doing to improve services and ensure lessons are being learnt.

And secondly, Llywydd, can I request a statement from the Welsh Government regarding footpath connectivity? I've received representations from a constituent who has expressed concern at the lack of connectivity of footpaths, and calls for them to be better linked up across the country. I appreciate that this involves buy-in from landowners, from local authorities, from national parks, and indeed other stakeholders, but I'd be grateful if a statement—written or oral—could be provided, outlining the Welsh Government's position on this particular issue.

Thank you. In relation to your first request, clearly, the two situations you outlined are unacceptable, and I too send my sympathies to the family involved in the second example that you gave. If we look at our ambulance service, and certainly if we compare it to this time last year, we have seen some improvements, despite the very highest demand that we've had for red calls on record last month. The median response time for immediately life threatening red calls was just over eight minutes, and 80 per cent of red calls received a response within 15 minutes. Again, emergency departments, we know that the system is very much under pressure, but people are still receiving a very good standard of care within our emergency departments across Wales, and this is absolutely a testament to the hard work of our health staff.

In relation to your second point, I think it might be better if you write directly to the Minister for Climate Change around footpaths, and she'll be able to answer your specific concerns directly. 

Can I ask for two statements, if I may? Could I have a statement from yourself as rural affairs Minister on the economic impact assessment of the sustainable farming scheme, which has been the focus of some coverage this week, outlining the potential loss of 5,500 jobs and £200 million-worth of losses to farm incomes? I know you've said that the assessment is based on a previous iteration of the sustainable farming scheme, but, of course, fundamentally, not that much has changed, really. So, a statement, I think, explaining the relevance of the impact assessment to the current proposals would be useful, on how, maybe, the impact assessment has led to change in what you're now proposing and how you will, therefore, secure a just transition that avoids thousands of job losses and hundreds of millions of pounds' worth of farm income losses as well. And maybe you could also tell us when an updated impact assessment will be provided to inform the current consultation that's ongoing around the SFS.

Could I have a statement from the Deputy Minister for culture, if I might ask for one? There are a number of budget cuts that are going to impact organisations directly funded from her portfolio, which will lead to jobs being lost. Now, I know some of these bodies are already undertaking redundancy processes. So, I would want a statement from the Deputy Minister that reassures us that those processes are being undertaken in an appropriate manner, that they treat everyone fairly, and that they allow sufficient time for people who have to make important decisions about their future employment—that they're given the support and the information they need to make those informed decisions—and that they happen with a degree of consistency across the organisations and the sector, because, clearly, there will be significant implications. And, I think, those reassurances would be welcomed by many people. 

Thank you. Regarding the economic impact assessments on the economic analysis ahead of the consultation for the sustainable farming scheme, I don't think I will be doing an oral statement around that. I've made it very clear that this is very old data, and the reason I shared it in the way I did was to be open and transparent about it, because I thought it was really important, ahead of the current consultation regarding the sustainable farming scheme, that that data was available. I've made it very clear that there will be a new economic analysis, and that will be done after the consultation closes, which I think is on 9 March, ahead of the final decisions being taken on the SFS this summer.

Regarding the Deputy Minister for culture and her budget for next year, as you know, we're currently going through draft budget scrutiny. I fully understand the concerns that you have, and the Deputy Minister is making sure that she talks to the organisations that you refer to as the process has gone along. Once the budget is set, I think those conversations will obviously continue.  

And, finally, Mabon ap Gwynfor. 

Diolch, Llywydd. Well, Trefnydd, can I ask for two statements, please? Can I ask for a statement from the Deputy Minister for Social Partnership on the impact of the Post Office's Horizon scandal on post offices in Wales? The post office in Nefyn has recently closed, and, unfortunately they're struggling to find someone to take on the contract. It closed, partly, because of a loss of confidence in the IT systems, and I'm led to believe that other communities are experiencing similar responses too. The post office provides an essential service for many people and we need to have the assurance that these services will be maintained. So, can I ask for a statement, please, on that? 

Secondly, I'd like to ask for a statement from the Minister for Social Justice on actions taken by this Government to tackle sexual assault and rape. Last week, I met with RASASC, the Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre North Wales, in Bangor. I was frightened hearing some of the statistics and understanding that a third of women who were asked at the freshers' fair last year knew someone who had been raped or sexually assaulted. In fact, north Wales has the highest rate of sexual violence anywhere in the UK outside of London, and we're seeing increasing numbers of referrals, with a 30 per cent year on year increase this year, especially amongst children. The data is staggering, and I'm really concerned about the welfare of women and children. So, I'd like a statement on what action the Government is taking to this effect. Diolch.

Thank you. Both Ministers have agreed to do written statements. Diolch.

Thank you, Trefnydd, for those responses.