Item 2 is the business statement and announcement, and I call on the Trefnydd, Jane Hutt, to make that statement.

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

Trefnydd, I'd be grateful if we could have a statement from the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning on the next steps for the Celtic free port and for the free-port programme more generally. The Celtic free port will have an enormous impact on my constituency and, indeed, right across south Wales, providing thousands of jobs and attracting billions of pounds in public and private investment. Now, the Welsh Government has a significant role to play in the development of the free port, and it's crucial that we know what work is being done behind the scenes to develop the free port in order that we can better understand where the free port is in terms of issues like planning consents and, indeed, creating jobs. Therefore, I'd be grateful if we could have a statement from the Cabinet Secretary on this transformational project, and indeed the whole free-port programme, so that we can track the progress being made and learn more about the next steps forward. Diolch, Llywydd.

Diolch yn fawr, Paul Davies. Well, I know the questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning are an appropriate place as well to raise this, but I'm sure that the Cabinet Secretary, who has heard that question today, will be very willing to, as you say, update on this transformational development in terms of the Celtic free port, and indeed the wider free-port developments.

Trefnydd, I'd like to request a statement on the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015, because yesterday marked 10 years since this Senedd passed that Act. Since then, there's been international coverage, there's been a great deal of interest in the Act, but we do know that there are still some challenges in implementing the Act. We see it being challenged in the context of planning, for example. We're still seeing that child poverty is increasing here, although we have had this Act in place for 10 years. So, I think it's an opportunity for us to reflect on some of the successes as a Senedd, but also to look at the next decade in terms of this important legislation.

Thank you very much, Heledd Fychan, for your very important question to all of us in the Chamber.

I would be very happy to table—find a way and time to table—an oral statement, because we are very proud that Wales has led the way on the future generations Act and the commitment to the well-being of future generations. We work, obviously—. He's very independent, the future generations commissioner, and we value that independence, as do the people of Wales, but we will be marking the tenth anniversary throughout 2025. Indeed, there are events happening all the time. On Thursday, I'm engaging in Light up the Future, future design of the well-being of future generations Act. And I think, with his 'Cymru Can' initiative, Derek Walker has been very pertinent and inspiring for Wales and in the world. So, yes, we will find a date to table that statement.

I'd like to ask for two statements today. Could we have a statement by the Cabinet Secretary for housing on how the Welsh Government works with housing developers to ensure that housing in Wales is built to the appropriate standards? The St Edeyrns estate in my constituency is a new housing estate with over 1,000 properties, a new primary school and some retail units; it's a really lovely community in north Cardiff. But, over the past few years, constituents have continuously come to me for help as there are not enough bins, the roads are still not adopted by the local council, pavements and roads have not been finished to a proper standard, and it's also been reported that plumbing has not been fitted correctly in the houses, and, in one instance, a hair bobble was used as a washer as part of the plumbing. So, could we have a statement to say what the Welsh Government does to ensure that the developers are held to a very high standard?

I'd also like to ask for an update from the Welsh Government on the ways that we are supporting credit unions in Wales to counteract the appalling debt interest rates that were revealed by Michael Sheen in his programme, Michael Sheen's Secret Million Pound Giveaway. I know that Cardiff & Vale Credit Union are doing excellent work, and I'd like to congratulate them on winning the prestigious consumer credit award, but we know that people who are often hardest hit by the sky-high rates of interest are those who are also working very hard, often have multiple jobs. So, I think we should do all we can to support people who need the credit unions, and I'd value an update from the Welsh Government about what we're doing to support credit unions. 

Thank you very much, Julie Morgan, and thank you for that question about the way in which housing is developed. We need more housing, as you say, in Wales, both now and for the future, but it has to be a key principle—it is a key principle—of our national planning policy that the quality of the development must not be sacrificed as a result. And that is about the place where housing is built; we need good design, but we need sustainable places where people can live, work and socialise, and I'm sure many of us across this Chamber are very much aware of the circumstances where there hasn't been that engagement with the natural and built environment, between people and places. You'll be interested that we're working with the UK Government and other devolved nations on the development of a UK-wide statutory new homes ombudsman service that will provide dispute resolution between purchasers and new-build developers. But we want this to be embedded in the planning policy design in terms of how new buildings and the public realm fit together in terms of the relationship with the surrounding area. So, thank you for that important question.

And thank you for the question about credit unions and the role that they can play. It is interesting that we have provided funding to ensure that credit unions can actually support those who have not been able to get credit from anywhere else, and that's where the Michael Sheen programme, of course, exposed the horrendous situations that people can get into when they go to those high interest rate, secondary debt market lenders, and the interest rates just increase and increase. So, we're very pleased that, actually, Cardiff & Vale is one example that have taken on the ways in which we're supporting credit unions through these loan arrangements, and have also not only helped those people in getting support for credit, and it may be credit that's needed for something that they weren't anticipating, and that happens in people's lives, in terms of employment, personal circumstances, needs in terms of households.

But thank you also for congratulating Cardiff & Vale, which won the consumer duty award for leadership in consumer finance. And I think that's a real testament to the ethical nature of credit unions, putting customers first, addressing customer needs and focusing on positive customer outcomes.

Can I call for a statement from the Cabinet Secretary with the responsibility for the trunk road network in Wales? Unfortunately, on the A494 in Denbighshire, there are projects that were outstanding that were paused and shelved as a result of the moratorium on investment in new capital projects. One was the Lôn Fawr/Corwen Road junction, which the former First Minister visited to see for himself the dangers at that particular site, in Ruthin. And the other is the Maesgamedd junction in Gwyddelwern, which was also shelved, even though it had been on the schedule for capital investment for decades.

In addition, the A494 saw another fatality in Llanferres over the weekend, between Llanferres and Loggerheads. It is a dangerous road; there are safety issues that need to be addressed. Constituents are asking that these junctions be given a priority, and that the speed limit, particularly in Llanferres all the way through to Loggerheads, be reduced and average-speed cameras installed to prevent the sorts of terrible accidents—life-changing accidents and deaths—that we've seen in recent years.

Thank you very much, Darren Millar, for drawing attention, in your question, to those particular issues in terms of the management of our trunk roads. I know that the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, coming together on those points, will want to respond to you and hear the evidence of the particular issues that are affecting people at this point in time.

Cabinet Secretary, several weeks ago my colleague Julie Morgan raised the issue of the contaminated blood scheme and raised a number of concerns about what seemed to be UK Government's failure to properly implement the recommendations of Sir Brian Langstaff with regard not only to the scheme and its independence, but also the speed at which payments were being made, and you indicated at that stage that there would be a Government statement. Could I ask if it's possible for that Government statement to be expedited? There's a lot of concern amongst the Haemophilia Wales group with regard to this.

Thank you, Mick Antoniw, for raising that question. And, indeed, I can report back that the Cabinet Secretary, Jeremy Miles, on 3 March, met with the Minister for the Cabinet Office, Nick Thomas-Symonds, and Ministers from Scotland and Northern Ireland, to discuss the arrangements to support people infected and affected by the infected blood scandal. And, of course, all those infected and affected by this terrible healthcare scandal are encouraged to register on the Infected Blood Compensation Authority website for regular updates, which include information about the next steps.

But I think it is important that there have been concerns raised about timeliness, as you said, from those who are affected. And, indeed, the infected blood inquiry chair, Sir Brian Langstaff, has now gathered additional evidence, and plans to publish a further report, and that’s going to consider the timeliness and adequacy of the UK Government’s response on compensation.

And can we also recognise Haemophilia Wales? And, of course, we have Julie Morgan here as well, and yourself, Hefin David and others across the Chamber, who have raised these issues. And I recognise that Haemophilia Wales, with Lynne Kelly, the chair, is one of the 27 organisations to submit a statement.

Can I suggest that when there is this report on the update, as Sir Brian Langstaff is engaged in this, that we then bring this back in an updated statement to the Senedd?

Trefnydd, could I ask for an urgent statement from the First Minister regarding the ongoing situation in the United States of America regarding a woman who has found herself detained in the country due to a visa irregularity? Now, we are all aware of the deeply unfair situation facing this young woman from my constituency, indeed from my village, who has found herself detained in the United States due to this visa irregularity. This is a distressing case, and it is vital that everything possible is done to support her.

The Welsh Government maintains several overseas offices in the USA to foster good relations and promote Wales on the world stage. Given that, I must ask: have any of these offices raised this case with the relevant authorities, to intervene and assist this young woman in any way they can? I fully understand that matters relating to visas are reserved to the Home Office, and issues for UK citizens overseas fall to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, but given that Wales has this presence in America, I would welcome a statement from the First Minister to ascertain if any action has been taken to date, and to ask what can be done by the Welsh Government to support this young woman, and, if possible, to make representations on her behalf.

Well, thank you very much, Peter Fox, for raising this question regarding this very unfortunate situation, where this woman has been detained in the United States. And thank you for raising this in the Chamber. I will, of course, explore this with the First Minister and our international relations officials, to see if they are aware. Of course, this is reserved to the UK Government and to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, but with the connections that we have, of course, to the UK Government, we will follow this up.

Trefnydd, I would like to request an oral statement from the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care outlining what the women’s health implementation group actually achieved before being disbanded in 2024, as well as an update on its replacement, the women’s health strategic network.

I’m alarmed at the testimonies of women who experience endometriosis, living not just in my region of South Wales West, but broadly within Wales. At an event hosted by Endometriosis UK and Fair Treatment for the Women of Wales, I heard first-hand how frustrated many women were with an average diagnosis time of nine years, 11 months, which is compounded by the fact that waits before receiving an appointment are utterly unacceptable. We are forcing women to live for years in horrendous pain.

Therefore, Trefnydd, could we have an update from the Cabinet Secretary on how the women's health strategic network will help to reduce these totally unacceptable waits for endometriosis care? Thank you.

Thank you very much, Altaf Hussain, for raising that question. Of course, this is something that the Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Well-being is now leading on, our women's health plan. Endometriosis and addressing the needs, the clinical needs, the wider needs, of those women experiencing and suffering endometriosis is high up on the agenda. As you know, that will lead to the appointment of more endometriosis nurses. But I will share with her your concerns in terms of the women's health strategic network, the circumstances, and how this will have an impact on the work that we all want to do—and I know this is very much supported across this Chamber—to support those experiencing endometriosis. And of course, it is something where there is this new pill that's coming into consideration, and we need to look at that of course. So, thank you for raising that.

Trefnydd, Monmouthshire County Council will roll back their provision of school buses for children, starting in September, meaning that many learners in rural areas will have to rely on public transport or their parents' cars. But, unfortunately, in Monmouthshire, we're in a situation where a lot of public buses are often late, and sometimes don't even turn up, causing many young people who want to get to school to wait hours each side of school in the wet and the cold. I don't know if I have to declare an interest: my son is included in that. Many parents have already contacted me with major concerns about their children's well-being and safety, and I'm sure you'll agree with me that it's no start to a school day. I believe we have a responsibility to provide safe, reliable transport to schools, and especially at a time when we're trying to tackle soaring absenteeism, unreliable transport just isn't helping. I'm well aware of the ambition to save the council money, but the Welsh Government and council both have a responsibility to ensure that children get to school safely and on time. Children's welfare should be our No. 1 priority. So, Trefnydd, please can I have a statement updating the Senedd on learner travel policy, particularly in light of these concerns? Diolch.

Well, I think you'll be very glad to hear—and I'm sure you've seen that from the business statement—that we're having a debate next week, Laura Anne Jones, on learner travel.

I'm going to ask for a Government statement on Welsh Water—another example of the failure of privatisation. Currently, the major issue I'm receiving from constituents via e-mail is the increase in water bills, which are being described by many as 'eye-watering'. Can the statement outline any influence the Welsh Government have over Welsh Water and water bills? In 2021, chief executive Peter Perry received £892,000 in total remuneration. A previous chief executive said it was the going rate in the private sector. As Vincent Kane asked the previous chief executive, 'Who else can I get water from?'

Can I also ask for a statement from the Welsh Government on biodiversity and the introduction of apex predators? At the pinnacle of every food chain sits the apex predator. These formidable creatures are the top predators in the ecosystem, which means they have no natural enemies and play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance. The number of apex predators has reduced. Where we do not have the apex predators, rats, gulls, and, in Australia, rabbits, increase rapidly, causing huge environmental problems.

Thank you very much, Mike Hedges, for your questions too.

I think it's very important, the issue around water bills, and you do address that today, as we seek to support those who have low incomes in households. I would say, and there has been some discussion already this afternoon, that Dŵr Cymru does operate a social tariff. We have been calling for a social tariff in terms of our energy suppliers, and I'm meeting our energy suppliers next week. So, I think there are ways in which we must ensure that customers are aware of the social tariff, and, in fact, they've been piloting wider ways in which they can support vulnerable customers. But thank you for raising that again, and I know the Cabinet Secretary, the Deputy First Minister, is also mindful of these issues in his liaison relations with the water companies that serve Wales.

And you do raise important issues relating to biodiversity and also the apex predators. Just in terms of the apex predators, I understand that this is about ensuring that we have a really careful balance of the ecosystem restoration and that we balance that with public concern, so that any interventions are evidence based and sustainable. And that does include how we actually help deal with managing rats, and you’ve mentioned seagull populations, which can also be an issue. We know that fewer rats will be attracted to a site if food sources, such as spillages around refuse collection areas, are removed and supplies are protected by storing them in secure containers. There are many ways we know, in terms of just managing our waste, in terms of putting outdoor rubbish bags in metal bins where that might be appropriate to stop rats, and keeping gardens free from debris. This is something where, of course, property owners have a legal responsibility for taking steps within the law to control rodents. But this is important in terms of biodiversity and making sure, as we balance the ecosystem restoration, that we acknowledge these issues.

Can I just draw attention to the Nature Networks programme? The Nature Networks fund has had a significant positive impact, with 90 projects funded and over £54 million awarded since 2021, working with NRW and the National Lottery Heritage Fund. This is important about resilience, the protection of protected land and marine sites, but also biosecurity, engaging with those other important third sector organisations, like RSPB, looking at non-native invasive mammalian predators, particularly rats. And also, the project includes Jinx, a three-year-old working cocker spaniel and the UK’s first conservation detection dog.

Horse racing is a vital part of Wales’s culture, economy and sporting heritage. Our three racecourses—Chepstow, Ffos Las and Bangor-on-Dee in north Wales—attract thousands of visitors each year, supporting local businesses, creating jobs and boosting tourism. The Welsh contribution to the sport has been big this year, with Welshman Lorcan Williams winning the champion hurdle with Golden Ace at Cheltenham last week, and Rebecca Curtis and Sean Bowen also bringing wins home for Wales.

The industry contributes millions to our economy, and it’s the third largest sport after football and rugby, yet it faces challenges from competition with other racing jurisdictions due to rising costs. During the pandemic, the Welsh Government rightly provided financial support to help the sector survive, but, as we look to the future, we must ensure it thrives. Increased investment in facilities, prize money and infrastructure will help secure its sustainability and maintain Wales’s place in the racing world.

The recent announcement on the banning of greyhound racing has reasonably caused a lot of anxiety in the industry that they could be next. So, given the cultural and economic importance, will the Welsh Government confirm its continued support for horse racing and its growing industry in Wales? Thank you.

Well, I can assure you that the Welsh Government recognises the importance of horse racing in Wales, and can we congratulate those Welsh horsemen and women on their success recently? But obviously then we need to see that in the context of all the welfare standards that we would expect.

I thank the Trefnydd.