The next item will be the business statement and announcement, and that statement is made by the Trefnydd, Jane Hutt.

Thank you very much, Llywydd. There are no changes to this week's business. Draft business for the next three weeks is set out in the business statement and announcement, which is available to Members electronically.

Trefnydd, can I call for a statement from the Cabinet Secretary for health on the future of the NHS here in Wales? We know that the NHS is facing significant challenges in north Wales, but also they go beyond that, to the whole of the country. The UK Government commissioned an independent investigation of the NHS in England by Lord Darzi, and, having read that report, it's quite clear that, on nearly every single item listed in it, the NHS in Wales is performing worse than the situation identified in England. Now, I would like to know is the Welsh Government going to commission an independent review of our national health service here in Wales, so that we can expose the problems and the difficulties and challenges that are there, and finally, once and for all, get to grips with them. We have seven health boards in various degrees of Welsh Government intervention or special measures. That is simply not good enough. It wouldn't be the case if we were able to have an independent report that gave us a steer on how to get out of this mess that you've created after 25 years of a Labour Government here in Wales, and we want to know, from the new Cabinet Secretary for health, whether he will commission such an independent review.

Thank you very much, Darren Millar. We absolutely entirely agree with the recent independent review, undertaken by a very evidence-based, and, indeed, Labour, Lord, who actually saw for himself, not only as a physician himself, but also as a health Minister—. He actually identified all of the prerequisites for the future of a healthier nation and the NHS for Wales and, indeed, the rest of the UK. So, I think the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care very much endorses that report. Because, as the First Minister said earlier on, this is about prevention, primary care and public health, and, in many ways, it's about making sure that we have a health service, not a sickness service, and that's something that has driven us in terms of our investment and priorities in the health service. But I think also you will be pleased to note that the Cabinet Secretary is making a statement on winter preparedness this afternoon in the NHS, which, of course, will address many of the pressures on the NHS in the coming weeks.

Caerphilly council is set to decide tomorrow whether it will cut its meals on wheels service, used by its most vulnerable residents. I would request a Government statement, please, setting out what could be done to help ensure that local government can maintain these services as essential. A number of constituents have written to me not just with worries about this, but with fear. One constituent told me her mother relies on this service to remain living at home. She is housebound, she has limited mobility, she can't get at food in the freezer or use the microwave. She said that the meals on wheels staff—or Meals Direct—don't just bring her mother food, they help her keep her dignity, they check in on her; when they don't get an answer, they phone the family to check that she's all right. She said, in her words, 'The service is delivered by caring, dedicated teams of people who offer a lifeline to my mum, and the people they care for. They are not just a delivery service. It's shameful that this is even being considered.' Could the Government intervene in any way to ensure that this lifeline isn't lost?

There are so many ways in which local authorities, and, indeed, in partnership with the third sector and community groups, are supporting many vulnerable people, including senior citizens in the community, enabling them to stay in their own homes and accessing a range of services, including, still, some arrangements in terms of what we used to call 'meals on wheels'. But there are many different ways in which they're being delivered.

So, this is really important in terms of preventative—again, the points that we’ve just been making—and enabling people to stay in their homes, relieving the pressure on unpaid carers as well. So, obviously, this is something that we need to note and recognise in terms of the importance of these services. But local authorities are under such pressure now because of public finances, because of the £22 billion hole that we were left with after 14 years of austerity. And I know I said last week—[Interruption.] I notice the First Minister hasn’t mentioned the £22 billion. Well, I certainly am going to be mentioning it today, because it is actually having an impact on those kinds of front-line services.

This week is International Week of Deaf People, so I’d like to ask for a Government statement on what the Government is doing to support deaf and hard of hearing people across Wales. I’m very pleased that Wales is the only country in the UK to include British Sign Language in the curriculum, because it is so important that all children in Wales, hearing or not, have access to and awareness of education in other formats.

But there continue to be barriers in place for deaf and hard of hearing people in all parts of society, and I’ve previously raised the very limited access, for example, to participation in the public work of the Senedd, and also the problem of not having enough BSL interpreters, which does cause a real issue. So, I wondered if we could have a statement this week on the work that the Government is doing to support deaf and hard of hearing people, and to highlight the issues that arise.

Thank you very much, Julie Morgan, and, of course, this is really important in terms of the recognition, I think, globally this week, in terms of supporting deaf and hard of hearing people across Wales. I think this is where Welsh Government making provision to promote and facilitate the use of BSL, and its tactile forms in Wales, removing existing language barriers, is important, because we recognised BSL as a language of Wales in 2004. And it is important that there is this intention to develop a BSL unit within the skills suite qualification, and that’s part of the national 14 to 16 qualifications available to schools and learners for first teaching from September 2027.

We work closely, of course, with the National Deaf Children’s Society. We’ve developed an e-learning unit, but I think the most important thing is to engage, through the disability rights taskforce, with people with lived experience, to learn, with representative organisations, how we can improve the delivery of improvements for disabled people. And that taskforce, in terms of recommendations, has already recommended including increased provision of BSL in key areas such as health, children and young people, access to justice, and it will form actions in terms of equality for disabled people.

Also, it has to be about deaf BSL signers being a priority. I just want, Llywydd, for the record to say that we do have these all-Wales standards for communication and information for people with sensory loss. That was actually implemented in 2013, but I think we have a long way to go to deliver that. It would be good if it was more available in terms of our parliamentary circumstances here in the Senedd, and indeed in the public services that we are partners with, and that we fund and support in Wales.

Minister, can I please request a statement from the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales in relation to how the Government is supporting the development of active travel routes in appropriate locations? The reason for my request today is the need for an active travel route linking Pontypool, New Inn, Mamhilad, Little Mill and Usk together. This project, which is being spearheaded by the Welsh Conservative councillor for Llanbadoc and Usk, Tony Kear, has been in the works for more than a decade, yet appears to have stalled. Not only will this project reduce car usage in the area, but it would better connect residents with employment sites and other important areas, including schools. 

In a Monmouthshire council consultation last year, residents were asked if they would be more willing to travel by active routes if that adjacent to the A472 was improved or if an off-route was installed. Seventy-one to 88 per cent of respondents respectively said that they'd be more willing to do so. It's clear that the public is on board with this specific project, which has received planning permission and support from various groups and organisations. However, a problem over land ownership and various other issues has meant that the project has failed to get off the ground. So, a statement from the Cabinet Secretary, outlining exactly what steps the Welsh Government can take to help get the ball rolling with this important project, would be really appreciated. Thank you.

Well, I'm very pleased to report that the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales is taking this up. He's recognising it and he's going to take this forward. As you say, I think the important think is it's about this connection with active travel routes that actually make sense for people's lives and to access our public services.

Can I ask the Welsh Government to make the strongest possible representations to the UK Government about the critical situation in Sudan? The conflict there has set off the world's largest hunger crisis, and more than half the population—that's many millions of families—are now experiencing crisis levels of hunger. In fact, the UN tell us that 0.75 million people are now on the brink of famine. I know that foreign policy, as such, isn't devolved to the Senedd, but I do feel that we as a Senedd have a moral obligation to make representations to the UK Government to respond, both on a political and a humanitarian level, to save the lives of those innocent men, women and children who are now finding themselves facing the prospect of dying from hunger. So, could I ask for a statement from the First Minister, who of course has responsibility for international relations, explaining how the Welsh Government will be proactive in putting pressure on the UK Government to intervene, to avoid the imminent humanitarian disaster that's looming in Sudan?

Thank you, Llyr Gruffydd, for raising that issue today. I think it is important in this Chamber that these international and humanitarian issues are raised. As you know, it's not devolved, but we have a Wales and Africa programme, which we're very proud to support even in the toughest times; it's about priorities. And we have a very large, extensive and very welcome Sudanese diaspora living in Wales, with their families affected and caught up in the situation in the Sudan. I know that the First Minister will be asking officials to look at this, in terms of what the situation is and what the UK Government is doing in terms of the response to that humanitarian crisis.

I'd like to call for a statement on what discussions the Welsh Government have had with the UK Government on the soaring cost of the King's Guards' real-fur bearskin caps, and what work is being done to find a suitable alternative to real fur. Last week, it was reported that there has been a 30 per cent yearly increase in the cost of these caps, with each real-fur bearskin cap now costing around £2,000. And it was revealed that, in the last decade, £1 million has been spent on replacements. Of course, beyond the financial cost, there's the ethical cost of these bearskin caps, and that is hugely significant. It takes the fur from one black bear to make just one cap. To date, the Ministry of Defence have said that there is no suitable fake-fur alternative that meets the five tests it has set itself for a bearskin alternative. However, they have said they're open to considering fox-fur alternatives. I'm keen to know from the statement I've called for if there has been any progress on this matter, and if the First Minister, or her deputy, will raise this with Westminster. I look forward to a response.

Diolch yn fawr, Joyce Watson. Again, it is important that issues of this nature, which many would not be aware of, unless they'd seen your statement and questions, are brought to our attention. Of course, defence policy is reserved to the UK Government and the Ministry of Defence. And in that regard, the procurement of bearskins and policy on ceremonial uniforms are matters for the Ministry of Defence. Of course, this link is to the Welsh Guards, and many of us have had engagement, of course, as a Senedd with our Welsh Guards. But I think this is a matter for the Ministry of Defence and you've put this on the record today in the Chamber. 

Something that is devolved to Wales is transport matters. I'd like a statement, please, from the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales regarding overcrowding on Transport for Wales rail services in north Wales, and recent failures in planning for events with an increase in passenger numbers. The 10:30 Holyhead to Shrewsbury service on Saturday, which had to carry hundreds of football fans to Wrexham and many attendees of Chester races, had just one carriage. Passengers were packed into a singular carriage like sardines, which, as you can imagine, would make it very difficult, if not impossible, for the elderly, people with disabilities or parents with young children to board the train. It should be standard practice to make contingencies for events, like popular football matches or race days, by putting extra carriages on the train, yet issues with overcrowding for such events still seem to be a regular occurrence. 

With the purchase of new rolling stock, many would assume that there would be ample supply to ensure that enough carriages could be used for popular rail services, but this doesn't seem to be happening, and Transport for Wales passenger satisfaction and well-being is still on the decline. Constant overcrowding and recent fare rises also have the potential to impact tourism to Wales, which your Government is also hostile to. So, can the Cabinet Secretary for transport make a statement on how the Welsh Government is working with Transport for Wales to reduce overcrowding? And can you clarify whether there is a sufficient supply of rolling stock? Thank you very much. 

Well, there are, I have to say—. Thank you for the question, but I think I need to put the record straight on some of the points that you've made. Well, first of all, let's just be proud of Transport for Wales. Let's be proud of the fact that Transport for Wales recorded the greatest improvement of all operators in both punctuality and reliability across Great Britain between April and June, compared with the same period last year. And weren't we proud when we—I have to say 'apologies' for this—when we were in Liverpool, saying that we have got our Transport for Wales already in our ownership here in Wales. It was a great moment to make that point. 

But also, just to say, the issues in terms of crowding do often relate to events, as you've said. I recognise that. But also, when there are issues in relation to particular events, and I have to say that that often does associate with—. And in the south, for example, the busiest station, of course, is Cardiff Central. And we, of course, have to then work with the UK Government in relation to funding, delivering improvements to stations—particularly stations in terms of the UK Government—to handle the passengers that we serve.

But I think it is important that we recognise that this is about a Transport for Wales rail service, which not only has, as I've said, the greatest improvement and is more reliable, but is also responsive to customer need and circumstance. I must say that I very much enjoyed my journeys on Transport for Wales to the north last night and, indeed, on Saturday, and it was an excellent service. Certainly, there was no overcrowding on those rail journeys, as you all, who travel down and are proud to be travelling on our Transport for Wales trains, as so many of you do every week. 

May I ask for a statement by the Cabinet Secretary for health regarding the future of health services in west Wales? Now, this Thursday, Hywel Dda health board will be considering a number of cuts to healthcare provision in west Wales, which include potentially decreasing the number of beds in Tregaron Hospital, closing the children's unit in Bronglais hospital temporarily and transferring them to Glangwili in Carmarthen, which is about an hour away, and temporarily closing the minor injuries unit overnight in Llanelli hospital, leaving the largest town in west Wales without 24-hour provision for accidents and emergencies or minor injuries. These proposed cuts have already caused a great deal of concern across the region, particularly in communities that have become familiar with cuts, in terms of surgeries closing, dentists not being available, and so on, over the past decade. Inevitably, you will be placing the blame on the health board, but the truth is that you as a Government have failed these rural communities because you haven’t provided adequate funding to recruit sufficient numbers of nurses and doctors to ensure that these services can continue. Can we, therefore, have an urgent statement by the Minister in response to these potential cuts in west Wales?

Thank you very much for that important question.

I’m pleased to say that the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care will be meeting with Hywel Dda University Health Board this week and, clearly, those policy issues and changes as a result of pressures will be on the agenda. Interestingly and importantly, and you will know, Cefin Campbell, in relation, for example, to the minor injury unit at Prince Philip Hospital—of course, this is still in discussion in terms of the board—it’s important that the board actually does engage with Llais, the voice of patients in Wales, and its local communities and follows national service guidance. We’re assured that the health board is engaging with local communities as they consider long-term planning. I think, in relation to all of these changes and pressures and proposals for change resulting from pressure and policy needs and patient needs, we do look to the voice of patients, Llais, to help with that community engagement. But the Cabinet Secretary will be himself, of course, engaging directly with the board this week.

Could I have a statement by the Cabinet Secretary for housing and planning regarding the unacceptable pace of the fire safety remediation work that the Welsh Government has been undertaking for the past seven years since the awful tragedy of Grenfell? It was only at the beginning of this September that I drew attention to the fact that there are still 53 high-rise buildings that remain to be identified for any remediation need. Only this week, I received a response from the Cabinet Secretary stating that, out of 238 private tenure buildings earmarked for crucial fire safety work, only three have had the works completed. This is an embarrassment to the Welsh Government and it’s shocking that those residents are left living in fear. This represents a success rate of 1.26 per cent, and it does raise significant questions about how serious this Welsh Government is taking the matter. Would the Cabinet Secretary please provide this statement and outline what steps the Welsh Government is actually taking to treat this matter as serious and expedite the actual building safety aspects so that these people can no longer live in fear? Diolch.

Diolch, Janet Finch-Saunders, and it is important, I think, today, that I reflect, in answering that question, as your Trefnydd, that our thoughts are with all those who were and continue to be affected by the Grenfell tower fire. We very much welcome the publication of 'Grenfell Tower Inquiry: Phase 2 Report' and we’re carefully considering the recommendations. We’re committed, of course, as a Welsh Government to ensuring the highest standards of building safety for all residents in Wales. We’ve taken robust action in addressing the recommendations of previous reports. We’ve committed to delivering a Building Safety (Wales) Bill by the end of this Senedd term, and that was not just reaffirmed by the First Minister last week in terms of priorities, but also we’ve commenced importantly relevant parts of the Building Safety Act 2022 to bring about reform to design and construction of higher risk buildings, and changes to regulation of the building control profession. But, just to give you the final point of update, it’s intended that a written statement will be issued this week responding to the Grenfell phase 2 report, setting out work being undertaken in Wales to address fire safety issues, and that includes that commitment to deliver a Building Safety (Wales) Bill.

May I ask for two statements, please? First, it's almost a year since we saw changes to bus timetables on the TrawsCymru routes, and this follows cuts implemented by your Government. If my inbox is anything to go by on this, then it's clear that the changes have been a disastrous failure, with vulnerable people not being able to access services, and children and young people not being able to get to sports clubs, and so on. So, can we have a statement from the Cabinet Secretary for transport, outlining an assessment of the impact of these cuts, please, over the past year since they were introduced?

Secondly, can we have a statement from the Minister for agriculture on the funding system for woodland and habitat sites until the new sustainable farming scheme is introduced? A number of farmers, for example, have designated land for woodland or habitat with conditions not to graze that land, and, in light of that, they have received funding to sustain them under Glastir advanced. Now, that programme has come to an end and no funding has been introduced to replace it, which means that many of these farmers now have lands that aren't productive and yet it costs to maintain them, and they are considering felling that woodland. So, it would be good to hear what financial system the Cabinet Secretary has in mind for these lands until the new SFS is introduced. Thank you.

Thank you very much for your questions, Mabon. 

The Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales will be assessing the impact of changes on the TrawsCymru lines, and, of course, that does relate to the whole range of uses of that line, from everyday use by children and young people and older people, to tourism. We'll be looking at that. 

And secondly, I will raise with the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs the issue about what assessment is being taken in terms of the circumstances for those woodland sites as we move forward with the sustainable farming scheme outcomes.

Good afternoon, Trefnydd. I'd like to request two statements, if I may, with one from the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning with regard to rural banks. Lloyds Bank have announced a third closure in Brecon and Radnorshire. They've closed one in Ystradgynlais, they're intending to close one in Presteigne, and another one in Brecon. Lloyds Bank made a profit of £7.5 billion last year, up from £4.8 billion the year before. This is not a bank that is struggling. This is a bank that owes their communities banks that meet their needs. So, I'd like to ask the Welsh Government exactly what they're doing in order to ensure that there is access to cash within our rural communities.

And secondly, could I ask for a statement from the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, for an update on the phased ban on greyhound racing? In March this year, the consultation ended, and we've heard nothing with regard to the timetable. In June of this year, the Greyhound Board of Great Britain published their report revealing a shocking 47 per cent increase in racing-related canine deaths and euthanasia cases. This cannot be allowed to continue, so I'd like an update on the timetable please. Diolch yn fawr iawn, Llywydd.

Diolch yn fawr, Jane Dodds. Thank you for drawing attention to the vast profits of Lloyds Bank, as banks continue to draw out of our communities, come out of our communities, closing bank branches. Three hundred and seventy six bank branches have closed in Wales since January 2015, and that's such a loss to those highly valued services. And you've drawn attention particularly to the needs of people in rural communities. So, we've been championing the specific needs of Welsh communities, looking at accessing cash and face-to-face banking services. Of course, now the Cabinet Secretary for the economy is taking on these responsibilities, and, of course, it's an issue of social justice as well in terms of access to financial services and financial inclusion. We have banking hub roll-outs, and I'm pleased that the UK Government has said that they want to see a network of banking hubs expanded, bu also, looking at our relationships with the Financial Conduct Authority, Link and Cash Access UK, they're championing the needs of sections of the population who rely most on accessing cash and face-to-face banking services. But also, we are working with many of our banking partners in Wales, for example—those who are responsible lenders, not just our credit unions, which, of course, are across Wales, but also those responsible lenders like the Principality Building Society, who are trialling OneBanx. We've also done all our work on the community bank as well.

Thank you very much for your question. We will be progressing this with the Cabinet Secretary for the economy. 

Right, if we move to the second question, in terms of the response, I’m sure, from the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, it is important that we look at timelines now on licensing of animal welfare establishments. It closed in March, as you know. It received over 1,100 detailed responses. It does help inform the development of a national model for the regulation of animal welfare, which has come up more than once this afternoon, and it's also a review of current legislation. It looks at where improvements can be made. And, as you know, included in the questions in the consultation was the future of greyhound racing in Wales. So, we're grateful to all of those who responded, we're evaluating the evidence and we'll publish a summary of responses, and the Cabinet Secretary will make a statement on our next steps in due course.

I’d like to turn to the question of active travel, Trefnydd, to request a debate in Government time. There was a report last week from Audit Wales that showed that our ambitions are a long way from being achieved, echoing a report two weeks before that by the Government's active travel delivery board, which says that progress is painfully slow, both of whom draw heavily on the work of the cross-party group here in the Senedd, which, in its review of the Active Travel (Wales) Act 2013, showed there were a number of areas where improvements need to be made.

And the themes are common. There's now a strong evidence base to show that there are problems with data collection, the lack of capacity in councils, and there is a need to prioritise investment where it will have the greatest impact. We heard from Natasha Asghar earlier that there is demand right across Wales for a pipeline of schemes to be developed, and there is some concern that the reprioritisation by the Government to put an emphasis on potholes, which I think we all support, should not come at the expense of the active travel fund, which is a long-term commitment for preventative work, and these things take time to stitch together. So, now is a time to refine our approach, not abandon our approach, and I'd be grateful for a proper chance in Government time to debate this more fully.

Diolch yn fawr, Lee Waters. Can we, as we always do, pay tribute to your work, as the instigator, I have to say, of the active travel Act, but also for the issues that you have taken forward consistently throughout your working and political life? I think the Audit Wales active travel report was important, as you say. Many of the issues were already recognised. They've been raised by the cross-party group, I understand, on the active travel Act, back in 2022. So, just taking on board the points that you've made, you will be aware, of course, of the active travel delivery plan 2024-27. That was developed very much in response to the cross-party group findings published earlier this year, and it is about how this is implemented along with the roll-out of the national travel survey. But I think we're in an excellent position now with Transport for Wales—looking to the Cabinet Secretary for transport—supporting local authorities and also the corporate joint committees to deliver those improvements. We need community engagement in planning and design and schemes to support the right opportunities for more making trips by foot and by cycle, but also very helpful to make that connection also with access to public services as well.

Diolch i'r Trefnydd. We're out of time on this business statement, even though I have at least three more speakers wanting to contribute. Could I just suggest to political groups that, if you have speakers calling for statements, and you have many down for the day, that those other speakers in your groups could just ask for one statement rather than one, two or possibly three statements? That would have enabled me today most definitely to have called all speakers from all groups. Just a little point for the future.