, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Papers to note
The only thing that we need to do in public this morning is to note a number of papers that we have received, and we do want to note these on the record publicly. Perhaps some members of the public and organisations who have written to us will be aware that…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Introductions, apologies, substitutions, and declarations of interest
Good morning. I'd like to welcome Members to this meeting of the Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport and International Relations Committee. Are there any declarations of interest, please? There are none. We will move on immediately.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Annual scrutiny of Transport for Wales
Thank you. That's really helpful. Finally, from me, if I have time, Cadeirydd, on fares, could you talk us through, please, how you are balancing the need to increase revenue from the farebox with affordability and if there's any detail on the fare…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Annual scrutiny of Transport for Wales
Well, I think that is quite exciting, actually, so, thank you. And would you—? I agree with your approach that the emphasis here should absolutely be on those areas, the places, that are more remote. Would your intention be to see if some of those changes in…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Annual scrutiny of Transport for Wales
No, of course. That's useful, I think, because people who are travelling on the trains just think of it as being down to TfW, and maybe there isn't that recognition of further up the supply chain. So, it's useful that you've got that lever available to you…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Annual scrutiny of Transport for Wales
That's really useful. Thank you very much. You've alluded already to some of the problems with rolling stock, and, in your paper, you talk about the need to hold the manufacturers to account for delays in every way possible. Could you talk us through what…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Annual scrutiny of Transport for Wales
Diolch, Cadeirydd. Prynhawn da, bawb. I wanted to ask you firstly about rail performance, please. Data has suggested that performance has declined in recent rail periods, although it had improved at the beginning of the year. What are the main reasons for…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Education
Thank you for that response. As you've mentioned, local authorities are now adapting the distances in their free transport policies that were more generous than the statutory position. This will have a greater impact on areas like the Valleys, where children…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Education
1. What discussions has the Cabinet Secretary had with the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales about home-to-school transport provision in South Wales East? OQ62165
, Plenary
Legislative Consent Motion: The Water (Special Measures) Bill
There are a number of things that we agree on, Dirprwy Lywydd, in this Bill, yet we have a fundamental issue here in terms of the framing of how this has been presented here, that certain things can only be done by working with Westminster. That, we believe…
, Plenary
Legislative Consent Motion: The Water (Special Measures) Bill
The Water (Special Measures) Bill does contain several provisions that could strengthen our collective efforts to reduce water pollution in Wales, particularly by enhancing the powers of regulators such as Ofwat. I'll focus first on the policies. The new…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip: Holocaust Memorial Day 2025
Diolch, Llywydd. We owe it to Jewish people everywhere never to forget the horrors of what happened during the Holocaust, and, of course, all those other communities affected so horrifically during that time. We owe it to them too to ensure that antisemitism…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care: Access to Primary and Community Care Services
The Cabinet Secretary will be aware of the difficulties that a lot of patients in the Rhymney valley and throughout the south-east are having in getting doctors' appointments in those surgeries that are being run by eHarley Street. This private company is…
, Plenary
Statement by the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs: Restoring nature in Wales
I welcome this opportunity. I thank the Deputy First Minister for the statement. There are lots of good things that are in the offing, certainly. I do welcome many of the things that the Deputy First Minister mentioned in the statement. Of course, we must…
, Plenary
Business Statement and Announcement
I'd like a statement, please, on quarry planning legislation. The Bryn quarry at Gelligaer has reportedly continued blasting operations despite their planning consent running out at the end of last year. They've applied for an extension, but that hasn't been…
, Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for Delivery
Okay. Thank you for that. I declare an interest, Llywydd, because my mother was born in the 1950s. I would like to pay tribute to those campaigners who fought for justice and fairness for women born in the 1950s, some of whom are in the public gallery this…
, Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for Delivery
5. Will the Counsel General provide an update on discussions with law officers regarding the plight of women born in the 1950s refused their state pension by the UK Government? OQ62145
, Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for Delivery
Thank you again, Llywydd.
, Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for Delivery
That's really useful. Thank you so much for that. Not all of our industrial legacy, of course, in the Valleys is visible. There are many of these contaminated sites of land, where companies, decades ago, dumped chemical waste. Now, Ty Llwyd quarry in…
, Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for Delivery
3. What legal advice has the Counsel General provided to the Welsh Government regarding its powers to take action over forever chemicals in former industrial sites? OQ62144
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Motion under Standing Order 17.42 to resolve to exclude the public from the remainder of this meeting and for the meeting on 29 January 2025
Okay. I'll just wait to hear that we're in private session.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Motion under Standing Order 17.42 to resolve to exclude the public from the remainder of this meeting and for the meeting on 29 January 2025
I propose, under Standing Order 17.42, that we exclude the public from the remainder of this meeting, and also the meeting on 29 January. Are you content to do so?
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Papers to note
Thanks very much for that. Just to add to what Heledd said on item 6.4 on the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, I'm very aware that members of the public have written to us on this in terms of the impact that this decision has had on their children, and…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Papers to note
Members, we move straight to item 4, namely papers to note. We have a number of papers to note in your packs—item 6, sorry, papers to note. Are you content to note these? Is there anything that anybody would like to say on the record? I'll go to Heledd.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session with the Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership
Thank you very much, and thank you to the witnesses online as well.
