The next item will be the business statement. I call on the Trefnydd to make that statement. Jane Hutt.

Thank you very much, Llywydd. There is one change to this week's Plenary business. The time allocated to the Stage 3 debate on the Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill has been reduced to two hours. Draft business for the remainder of the summer term and the first two weeks of the autumn term is set out on the business statement and announcement, which is available to Members electronically.

Can I call for a statement, Trefnydd, on speeding on the trunk road network? There's an issue in my own constituency in relation to the A494 trunk road going through the village of Llanferres in Denbighshire. Residents there have been calling for a speed limit reduction and improvements to road safety now for many years, but there is simply no progress actually happening. We've got a situation where the speed through the village, according to the eighty-fifth percentile test, is 53 mph, and this is at a time when the speed on non-trunk roads through similar villages is 20 mph. Clearly, that speed through the village is an anomaly. It needs to be addressed. There has been some work that has been done by the trunk road agency, looking at the traffic signs and road markings through the village, but even though they agreed that some action was even needed on that, there is nothing actually been scheduled. So, can I ask for an urgent update on trunk road safety, what is being done to address anomalies like this, so that villagers in Llanferres and elsewhere in similar situations can feel safe? And in addition to that, can I also ask for a clear timescale for the implementation of measures once they have been agreed by the trunk road agents, as is the case in this particular village?

Thank you very much, Darren Millar. I think you have drawn this to our attention on previous occasions. I believe you might have had Ministers and former First Ministers actually visiting this village. It is important that the trunk road agency is looking at this. Obviously, the Cabinet Secretary for North Wales and Transport will be also very much aware of this, and hopefully this will be resolved. I think this is an issue that probably is across the whole of Wales, with those reviews that have been undertaken by local authorities in terms of speeding. But this is a trunk road, and this needs to be addressed via the trunk road agency.

Trefnydd, I just wanted to correct something I said to you last week about fake stamps. I wanted to inform everyone that there is a process at the moment where people aren't being charged for fake stamps while the Post Office looks into this. It turns out that one election candidate had posted letters without stamps on them to lots of people in Pontypridd, hence why I had a number of complaints. But the Post Office are now going to be providing us all with an update around the issue of fake stamps that have been in circulation.

One of the things I did want to raise with you was that a number of constituents have been in touch saying that they faced barriers in voting. Obviously, we know that photo ID was a barrier to some, but the accessibility of polling stations remains to be problematic. Some people physically couldn't get into the polling stations in order to be able to place their votes. So, can I ask if the Welsh Government can work with each authority in Wales to ensure that there is no barrier in place by the Senedd elections, so that we understand what went wrong this time? Because, obviously, everybody should have that democratic right to vote, and to hear that there are still barriers in place now is hugely concerning for all of us, I'm sure.

Diolch yn fawr, Heledd Fychan. Thank you for that clarification on fake stamps. I'm sure we were all intrigued last week when you raised this. But this is an issue on which we will obviously hear more, I'm sure, as a result of that inquiry. 

On barriers to voting, it is really important, because I, certainly, like many, knocked the doors of people who said, 'I cannot vote because I have no voter identification.' There were a couple who had no driving licence, no passport, and—let's face it—a lot of people are in that position, particularly young people and families on lower incomes. So, thank goodness we have control, anyway, over our electoral systems in Wales. I look forward to the Stage 4 debate on the Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill this afternoon, because that is going to be helping us to address many of these things. On accessibility of polling stations, again, it's very much that we need to feed back across the Chamber on experiences that our constituents had in terms of accessibility to polling stations. I know that there were some improvements in my constituency, and I'm sure that's reflected more widely. But also, it's very interesting to see what can be a polling station. I think we need to just learn from—. Each election, we tend to, perhaps, not learn as much and then go straight into the next one, but really important points—diolch yn fawr, Heledd.

The Trefnydd will be aware of the interest in this Chamber in the fate of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama’s junior department, and all the efforts, led by Rhianon Passmore and others, to try to save it. A petition of more than 10,000 signatures was presented to the Senedd, and the Petitions Committee agreed that they would go for a debate. But with recess coming up very quickly, and we understand—the parents certainly understand—that there is going to be an imminent announcement about the fate of the college on 19 July, about its future, is there any way that the Trefnydd can enable there to be a debate in the Chamber, so that there can be a meaningful voice from the elected representatives about this very important issue that will affect the future of our music and drama legacy in Wales?

Thank you very much, Julie Morgan, and thank you for once again bringing this to the attention of the Senedd. This is a really important route, through the business statement, where issues can be raised, and are regularly raised by Members. It’s on the record and, of course, Government then has to respond, but also recognise the work that’s been undertaken with the collection of this petition of more than 10,000 signatures.

I think it is important just to reflect on some of the work that has been undertaken involving meetings, and I have to say that the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama did write to Lynne Neagle, our Cabinet Secretary for Education, in advance of the launch of a staff consultation in response to the financial challenges faced by the college, and that consultation involved proposals to stop some of its present work with young people of school age, specifically the young acting and music weekend courses. And also to inform Julie Morgan, and other Members who’ve raised this—Rhianon Passmore—Welsh Government officials have met with the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama to discuss its proposals, and, indeed, Lynne Neagle actually met with Helena Gaunt—she’s come into the Chamber now—the principal of the college earlier this week.

It is an autonomous body. It’s responsible for its own academic affairs, and those courses aren’t funded directly from the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales or the Welsh Government. But, obviously, the college’s commitment to providing opportunities in music and theatre for young people and creating pathways into professional learning and training has been fed back to us very clearly, and they’re going to continue to deliver on a number of areas of project work.

I understand about the decision that you referred to, and this was raised before, but I think it is important to report back that there will be a debate early in the autumn term. Certainly, the Business Committee did agree to this this morning, in terms of recognising the Petitions Committee's request to schedule that debate early in the autumn term.

Can I have a statement, please, on patient waiting times in Glan Clwyd Hospital in my constituency? They have started to see slow improvements in waiting times at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, particularly with cancer treatment, but, anecdotally, I’m hearing from constituents about their experiences with excessive waits at Glan Clwyd Hospital’s A&E department. I heard from a patient with a heart condition who arrived at Glan Clwyd’s A&E department with severe chest pains and had to wait for an excessive length of time and being handed painkillers while he waited. Eventually, he was discharged and informed he would need a CT scan and angiogram, which couldn’t be booked in for another two to three months despite the urgency of this condition. Another lady waited three hours in an ambulance and then spent the next 24 hours in a corridor.

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board issued a red alert as recently as May this year, as their emergency departments are currently under extreme pressure, and extremely long waiting times are to be expected. I’m unsure what has caused this recent spike in excessive waiting times at Glan Clwyd, but it needs to be addressed urgently. So, could the Welsh Government provide an update as to what is causing these excessive waiting times at Glan Clwyd’s A&E department, and what measures are being taken to relieve the pressure as a matter of urgency, given that it is under special measures, which the Welsh Government has direct control of? Thank you.

I thank the Member for that question. As you know, reducing waiting times is a priority for us. We’ve invested £170 million per year to address the long waits that arose due to the pandemic, and two-year waits are 70 per cent lower than they were at the launch of our recovery plan—that’s a huge achievement from April 2022. But we know, as you do know as a north Wales Member, that demand for NHS Wales care has increased markedly in recent years and we have heroic NHS staff dealing with 2 million contacts every month, a phenomenal amount for a population of just over 3 million. Progress has been made. We recognise that waits are still too long, and we’re supporting health boards to drive further improvement.

The legacy of chemical waste in our Valleys is poisoning our land and I’d like a statement, please, from the Government addressing the huge problems thrown up by these forever chemicals. The Chamber will be familiar with the plight of Ynysddu in my region where chemicals called polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, still contaminate the water and the landscape. The actor and campaigner Michael Sheen has drawn attention to this scandal recently in the press, and local councillors and campaigners have long sought answers about why these toxins aren’t being acknowledged or cleared, because PCBs are highly toxic. The production of these chemicals is banned in 151 countries, including now the UK. But, unluckily, those communities where PCBs were left to pollute the land all those years ago—still they are reaping the wreckage. So, can we have a statement giving my constituents assurance that the Welsh Government and local councils are taking this issue seriously and that there will be a national response to protect those communities from these PCBs at long last?

Thank you very much for that question, Delyth Jewell. I think it’s really good that we have a range of Cabinet Secretaries here today—this is very much a cross-Government issue. We recognise this. In terms of the evidence that’s coming out from your region in terms of those particular sites where there are PCBs and contamination, I certainly will be asking the Cabinet Secretary for an appropriate way to look at this in terms of acknowledging the concerns for constituents across Wales.

Good afternoon, Trefnydd. I wonder if I could have an update, please, from the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs on the consultation process in the animal welfare licensing process. Many of us cross-party here in the Siambr have been campaigning for a ban on greyhound racing, which is part of that consultation process, so we’d really appreciate an update, please, on the timescales and when we might have an outcome. Diolch yn fawr iawn.

Diolch yn fawr, Jane Dodds, and thank you for again raising important issues, as you do, in this context of the licensing of animal welfare establishments, particularly relating to the welfare of greyhounds. You know that there was a 12-week consultation on the licensing of animal welfare establishments’ activities and exhibits, and that included greyhound racing and training. It was launched on 8 December of last year. It supports our work to develop a national model to improve the regulation of animal welfare. That consultation closed on 1 March. So, now, it’s a matter of analysis of the consultation on the licensing of animal welfare establishments’ activities and exhibits. There were 1,100 responses received. It’s important to get this right, weigh up the evidence and not pre-empt outcomes, including the future of greyhound racing, any further at this stage. But we do expect to publish the Government’s response to the consultation later this year. Can I say again, Llywydd, and to Jane Dodds, it’s really important that you put these items on the agenda of the business statement so we can update you, and the Cabinet Secretary can hear the concerns and ask for clarity about that consultation and outcomes of that consultation?

I call for two Welsh Government statements. The first from the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care on raising awareness of the symptoms and complications of type 1 diabetes. In March last year I called for a statement here on raising awareness of diabetic ketoacidosis, or DKA, a complication of type 1 diabetes, after meeting Flintshire mum Dee Pinnington to discuss her raising-awareness campaign, following the death of her son Alistair—or Ali—Thomas in 2018 from DKA. Speaking here last October I noted that Dee Pinnington had arranged a music festival—Ali Fest 2024—in Flintshire on Saturday 6 July this year, with all funds donated to Diabetes UK Cymru. I opened this festival last Saturday. Raising awareness for people who either live with, work with, have friends with or come into contact with anyone who has type 1 diabetes is vital, where understanding the symptoms and alerting medical services properly, so that they can categorise their help and prioritise an ambulance, can be the difference between life and death. I call for a statement accordingly. 

Secondly, finally, I also call for a statement on the reform of the 'The Additional Learning Needs Code for Wales 2021', the ALN code. Responding here to the 8 May debate on the petition on this, the Cabinet Secretary for Education concluded:

'we do hear too often that the families of children with ALN have to fight for the right support and education, and this must change.'

In my subsequent meeting with ALN—

I am sorry to cut across you, Mark Isherwood, but you are way over time on this request. If you could bring your second request to a question for the Minister, please. 

Okay. Well, in my subsequent meeting with the ALN Reform Wales campaign, they told me they'd received—

No. I'm really sorry. But I don't want to hear what they told you at this point. Can you just ask for the statement?

So, I call for a statement answering their question: 'Where is the accountability on this coming from?'

Okay. Cleverly done, Mark Isherwood, cleverly done. 

Thank you very much, Mark Isherwood. I think those two points, questions, you've raised have been heard by both Cabinet Secretaries. I have no question at all—doubt—that the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care completely understands. And the feedback, of course, from people with diabetes, particularly their own patient experience, in terms of symptoms and complications, is really important to feed back, and, of course, it will be made aware to all of those involved. And this is from not just our health professionals, but also patient groups and support.

And, yes, the Cabinet Secretary for Education has heard your calls in terms of looking at the ALN code and what it means and how it's being delivered. It is about implementation, which is what the education Secretary is concerned with. Diolch.

Several constituents from the Cefn Glas area in Bridgend have raised concerns with me around the safety of a proposed cycle path in the area, specifically surrounding the gradient of the proposed area and its proximity to residential driveways. Now, residents have worked to seek clarification on the proposed cycle path's safety, but they are met with a lack of transparency. Very little information has been forthcoming around the proposals, and when questions are raised residents have had to wait months for freedom of information responses, that have been unable, then, to provide any new information. So, in light of this, I would like to request a statement from the Cabinet Secretary for Housing, Local Government and Planning on how we can open up the planning process, ensure transparency with information and give a voice to residents? 

Thank you very much, Luke Fletcher. Well, I think, it is really important to recognise the importance of our house building programmes and targets, and, indeed, how we ensure that, in terms of planning, we take this forward. And, of course, we have our targets for new homes in Wales that are set locally. Each local authority, of course, produces its local housing market assessment to provide the basis for targets for markets and affordable homes. And also, looking at that in terms of 'Planning Policy Wales', which we have taken forward, I think it's fortunate that we have up-to-date and consistent planning policies at national and local levels, provided by 'Future Wales', 'Planning Policy Wales' and our local development plans, which, of course, would address some of the issues that you've raised in terms of particular possible sites. 

Trefnydd, as you will be aware, there's been considerable concern among some residents in my region about the way that postal votes were issued for last week's general election. Delays in issuing postal votes for many constituents meant not receiving them in time for their holidays or work commitments, and, sadly, some residents didn't receive postal votes at all and were unable to collect them from council offices. On election day itself, I was also informed—and I don't know if this is true or not—that council officers were out knocking on the doors of people who hadn't received their postal votes and asking them to fill them out there and then. Though I do not suspect any foul play here, if true, you can imagine that this opens up the door to accusations of fraud in the voting system, and it seriously diminishes confidence in the postal voting system. With this in mind, Trefnydd, can I ask for a statement from the Government, explaining how they intend to improve confidence in the postal voting system and ensure that postal votes are received in a timely manner ahead of future elections? Thank you.

Well, I know there will be an analysis—there always is—to look at, with electoral returning officers, the implementation of all of the rules, regulations, procedures and policy relating to the last election. I think, across the parties, we know there was an issue with Royal Mail in terms of postal votes, and, I think, earlier questions as well about accessibility, all of which we are certainly addressing in terms of our electoral powers. I'm sure that the Counsel General, as we move forward, I hope, with Stage 4 of the Bill this afternoon, will also be responding to these points—not this afternoon, but in terms of his future roles and responsibilities.

Can I ask for an urgent statement to the Senedd, outlining both the short-term and longer term impacts of the proposed sudden closure of the young artist junior department at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, outlining how this has come to pass and what the future is for the many distraught young students, the majority in receipt of means-tested bursaries, and the talented musicians who are today being told they are no longer needed, many also impacted by WNO cuts? And can the statement to this place outline the future for Wales's only conservatoire with no junior department and no pipeline, as that will be unsustainable for Wales and untenable for those talented students, now and in the future?

Thank you very much, Rhianon Passmore, and thank you again for bringing this to the attention of the Chamber via the business statement. I won't repeat what I said earlier on in response to Julie Morgan's question. I think it is important to say that we will be debating this early in the next term as a result of the petition. And, again, there's the fact that our Cabinet Secretaries have met with partners not just in the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and Welsh National Opera, but all our great cultural institutions—have met them and have discussed these issues and these challenges. But, also, for the royal Welsh college, again it's stated its full commitment to providing those opportunities in music and theatre for young people. Also, they reported back on the fact that they have their weekend immersive workshops in music, the National Open Youth Orchestra residency, and holiday courses in production arts.

Trefnydd, can I please call for a statement from the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care on the provision of adult day-care centres in Wales? The Pembrokeshire County Council-owned Anchorange day-care centre in Pembroke Dock has been a safe haven for vulnerable adults with learning difficulties and additional needs for many decades. Many important relationship between attendees have developed over this time. Indeed, one parent told me that it's like a family. Sadly, the centre is earmarked for closure, despite a petition signed by hundreds calling for it to remain open. Its closure would mean serious disruption for those who attend—some of the most vulnerable adults—and would severely impact their well-being.

Page 9 of the Welsh Government's statutory guidance for adult placement services states that the following requirement on service providers is made, and I quote:

'Maintaining oversight of financial arrangements and investment in the business to ensure financial sustainability so that individuals using the service are supported to achieve their personal outcomes and are protected from the risk of unplanned removal or change in the service provided due to financial pressures'.

So, family members of those who attend Anchorage believe that the actions of Pembrokeshire County Council have contravened these regulations, and I would be grateful if the Cabinet Secretary would give either an oral or written statement on the provision of adult day-care centres in Wales so that sites such as the Anchorage day-care centre can be safeguarded for future generations. Diolch.

Well, thank you for that question. We've talked about the great joy, as far as I'm concerned, and us here, of having a new UK Labour Government, working in partnerhsip with our Welsh Labour Government. Also, I think that what's really important, which we haven't mentioned today, is how good it's going to be for local government in Wales and for the third sector because, actually, this is a partnership. Where we will see change, it will be difficult, and our Cabinet Secretary for finance will be watching me closely on this—[Laughter.] But, there will be change, there will be opportunity, because so many of these wonderful centres and places of care have been threatened by 14 years of austerity. Let's hope there will be some change, but let's also support our local authorities in the challenging decisions across all of Wales that they're still having to make, and look to the needs of the people they serve.

Could I ask for a statement from the Cabinet Secretary for Housing, Local Government and Planning, please, on the process of applying for and receiving a blue badge for people with disabilities? Now, obviously, they're the badges that people are given to allow them to use accessible parking spaces. The current system forces individuals to reapply for their blue badges every three years, and that is causing concern for many, because there's a high percentage of blue-badge users that actually have long-term or lifelong conditions, yet they still have to apply every three years for their new blue badges. It's important to note that you don't have to renew your driver's licence for over 10 years—or it's 10 years at a time—and likewise with a passport, it's 10 years. So, this is causing issues, particularly, of course, when you need a new passport picture for each new application, and photo booths very often have accessibility issues, and that's before you start filling in the very long forms. So, I need to understand from the Cabinet Secretary whether the Welsh Government will take action to ease this burden, because surely, if you have a lifelong condition, then you should be able to get a lifelong blue badge.

Thank you very much, Llyr Gruffydd. It's a very important question.

This is something that we have discussed over many moons. Probably you've been in committees where we've discussed changes and developments in relation to the provision of blue badges. It is important in terms of inclusivity, accessibility and also supporting disabled people as they seek to not just apply for blue badges, but, actually, retain them and renew them. So, thank you for raising it again. It has been raised in a statement on an earlier occasion, and I hope we'll be able to update you with a statement on blue badges.

Could I have two statements, please, Trefnydd, with the first with regard to the proposed closure of Maindy Centre velodrome, the final sporting venue of the 1958 empire games in Cardiff, and a training ground for cyclists such as Geraint Thomas. Maindy park is owned by a charity, of which the council is the sole trustee. Now, arguably, the closure of the velodrome is a breach of the council's powers and, perhaps, its public sector equality duty if the rights of disabled residents have not been included in impact assessments.

Secondly, could I please support the call of Julie Morgan and Rhianon Passmore for a debate on the youth programme of the royal college before the summer recess? We saw yesterday the Prif Weinidog and the Prime Minister being mesmerised by Ysgol Treganna, and I'm sure some visitors on Thursday will be equally impressed by our young singers. I appreciate your comments about the royal college being autonomous, but we need to protect Wales's reputation as a land of song and of famous actors. Diolch yn fawr.

Diolch yn fawr, Rhys ab Owen. Well, the Maindy Centre is a matter for Cardiff Council, and I'm very aware, as we all are, of its history and its place, and I won't comment on it any further, because I'm sure you will be raising it as a regional Member in terms of the prospects and the alternatives that are being discussed for that provision.

And again, as to the importance of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama provision for young people, yes, we've only got one week to go for Plenary business, and I think the debate will be important in September, and it is very important to all those affected that we have given it such an airing this afternoon.

Finally, Natasha Asghar.

Thank you so much, Presiding Officer. Business Minister, can I please request a statement from the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care about the ongoing issues at the Grange University Hospital in my region of south-east Wales? This matter has come up a number of times, but, last week, it pretty much hit the lowest point of all. A constituent of mine attended the Grange hospital last week after falling seriously ill. She was left in the hospital's waiting room in agony, being violently sick in front of all the other patients. This, I'm sure you can agree, business Minister, is just simply not acceptable. After contacting my office for help, I reached out to the Aneurin Bevan health board to see if anything could be done to provide the constituent with a little bit of privacy. In response, I was told that beds are not currently available and that it might be some time before one becomes free. So, business Minister, I appreciate what you responded to my colleague Gareth Davies, but the Grange hospital, as we all know, only opened in 2020 and is already struggling to meet demands. Whilst I have absolutely no issue with the staff and my loyalty is completely towards them for the hard work that they do, the Welsh Government has invested £14 million in improving the hospital's emergency department, and that, of course, is welcome news, but something needs to be done to increase bed capacity as well. So, I appreciated the health Minister's comments last week, which she made here in the Chamber, when she said that her team were keeping a close eye on it, but can the health Minister please bring forward a statement updating the Chamber on how the Government plans to improve the Grange, because, as things stand, my constituents are really, truly suffering? Thank you.

Thank you for that question, Natasha Asghar. This is for the Aneurin Bevan health board to address. We have heard from you this afternoon about the circumstances of huge pressure, and, as I said earlier on in relation to an earlier question, demand in the NHS has increased so much in recent years, and our, again, heroic NHS staff are dealing with 2 million contacts every month—that phenomenal increase in pressure. But, again, we are making progress, and I believe we will make further progress because we now have a Labour Government in Westminster as well as here in Wales.

Thank you, Trefnydd.