, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Culture and the new relationship with the European Union: Evidence session with the Welsh Government (8)
Jeremy.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Culture and the new relationship with the European Union: Evidence session with the Welsh Government (8)
So, we'll move straight on to item 2. We are looking once again at culture and the new relationship with the European Union, and we have an evidence session with the Welsh Government. I'll ask our witnesses this morning to introduce themselves for the record…
, 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. We have received apologies from Laura Anne Jones, who is one of our new members on the committee. I'd like…
, Plenary
Legislative Consent Motion on the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill
Diolch, Llywydd. Llywydd, my committee has reported on the first three memoranda for this Bill. It is with regret that I must report that time has been against us and we were not in a position to consider the fourth memorandum for a UK Bill that has serious…
, Plenary
Business Statement and Announcement
The Redhouse building in Merthyr Tydfil has been forced to close its doors. I'd appreciate a statement setting out the importance of keeping venues like this open. The building is vitally important for residents. It was the town hall, more recently it's been…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Road map to Bus Reform - Technical briefing
Great, thank you so much. Diolch.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Road map to Bus Reform - Technical briefing
That would be wonderful, please. And with that, if you're aware of it, do you know what the particular other models are that TfW is hoping to learn from? I know I've spoken about London, but are there other international examples, where you think, 'Either…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Road map to Bus Reform - Technical briefing
Diolch. Good morning. When you were answering one of Carolyn's questions earlier about how you've engaged with passengers, you had spoken about how you're particularly focused on those passengers who are reliant on bus services, and that's absolutely…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 5
Thank you very much.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 5
Thank you for that. I was going to ask you how you understand that the company intends to use that money. If you're not able to answer that, could you instead tell us, please, whether you think that the system that we have for the use of escrow accounts that…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 5
It's quite high. Thank you very much for that. Before I ask my final question, presumably you'd be unable answer on specifics about the escrow account that's involved at Ffos-y-fran. If so, I'll ask a different question.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 5
Thank you very much. I appreciate that you said that you don't have authorisation to speak specifically about the site at Ffos-y-fran. Can I ask, then, with your expertise, what risks you could see in an opencast site that fills with water, where this hadn't…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 5
Diolch, Cadeirydd. Bore da, Hugh. Looking specifically at the Ffos-y-fran site, I'm aware that you've been working with Merthyr council looking at restoration. Could I ask, with your expertise on minerals planning, what your views are on the plans that are on…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 4
Thank you all so much.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 4
Thank you so much. And briefly, if I may, Sue and Owen, not just with Ffos-y-fran, but looking at the map of how this has happened in other sites as well, do you feel that there should be a body that has ultimate responsibility for when something goes wrong?…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 4
No, no, Chris, not at all. The first few questions were very much focused on Ffos-y-fran, but on this final question I would really like to hear everyone's thoughts, please. Firstly, to Chris and Alyson, if the Ffos-y-fran site is abandoned—. I know; plan for…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 4
So would we. Thank you very much. Now to my final question. Actually, I'd appreciate hearing all of your thoughts on this, please.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 4
I enjoyed those. Could you talk us through why you would query it?
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 4
Thank you for that. In your paper, you question the restorations costs of £125 million, and you said that that figure is unverified, unsubstantiated and inherently untrustworthy. Could you talk us through that—?
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 4
Are you concerned that Merthyr (South Wales) Ltd could either abandon the site or, well, go into administration?
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 4
And the gap, then, between what had been promised and what now seems to be potentially on the table—would you be concerned about—? Well, no. I won't lead you on it. What effect do you think it would have on the community and nearby residents other than the…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 4
No, no. That would be very useful for us ahead of the next meeting, please.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 4
If you could share that, even if you just sent us a photograph of that leaflet, before the council appear before us, that would be—
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 4
You use the phrase 'fait accompli'. What would your view be about the suggestion that the restoration plan could now be amended to incorporate a void of water? What effect do you think that would have on the community?
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 4
Diolch. Can I say at the start how much I admire the campaigning work that you've all done? I'm just so appalled that you've had to do it. My questions are going to be focusing on Ffos-y-fran. Chris and Alyson, you've talked a little bit already about the…
