, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for North Wales and Transport
7. What plans does the Welsh Government have for the future of bus services in valleys communities? OQ60973
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for North Wales and Transport
Thank you very much for that answer. My other question, Cabinet Secretary, is on bus services. They are in dire need of attention and investment. Could you outline, please, how you plan for the bus Bill and its provisions to be funded sustainably? Could you…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for North Wales and Transport
Cabinet Secretary, a warm welcome to your role. Yesterday, you made a statement setting out your priorities, and you said, yesterday, that some of your priorities were working in partnership, listening and making changes. And I welcome that. Much of your…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for North Wales and Transport
Thank you, Llywydd. What is Cabinet Secretary in Welsh?
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 3
Thank you both very much indeed.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 3
Thank you very much. Marcus, what David was alluding to in his previous answer about the fact that the police were quicker to act—you were there, and so you saw how, arguably, the system, there are problems with how it's working. Do you think that there…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 3
On that, and before I come to Marcus—because I'm really keen to hear your views on this as well, Marcus—David, are you aware—? Would you point us to any examples in Wales or in other parts of the world, in Scotland or other parts of the world, where there has…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 3
Diolch. Well, David, you have already said that you agree with the fact that there needs to be a fresh, independent assessment of the different sites across Wales, looking at the unrestored sites, and how that could be costed and what needs to be done to look…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 3
Thank you.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 3
Thank you very much for that, David. And, Marcus, finally from me, in terms of what XR would like to see happen with this site, as you've already outlined very eloquently your concerns about the site, what would you like to see happen?
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 3
Okay, thank you, Marcus. David, are you concerned that the company could either abandon the site or could go into it or say that they've gone bankrupt, or—?
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 3
Thank you for that. And, Marcus, in the response that you've just given, you said that the original restoration plans are not going to happen. Do you feel that there's a sense of inevitability here that there's nothing that could be done to compel that…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 3
Thank you, David. Marcus, is that something that you'd agree with in terms of XR's position on this, in terms of the environmental harm, or any environmental harm that might be exacerbated by the full restoration that had been promised in 2007 not happening…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 3
And we'll come back to that, if that's all right. I'm struck by the phrase that you just used, David, because normally we'd say 'staring into the void' when we have this existential dread, but literally here we are staring into a void with all of the dread…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 3
That's really helpful. Thank you so much, Marcus. David, could you talk us through any discussions you've had, please, with the company—whether pushing them about restoration or asking any questions about the restoration?
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 3
Diolch yn fawr iawn. I was going to ask you some questions specifically about Ffos-y-fran. Firstly, Marcus, you've explained to us the involvement that you've had directly with the site and, as a result of that, with the company. Presumably, that is the…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 2
Diolch. I'm aware of time, so just one final question from me. In terms of your concerns that you've already outlined to us in your evidence about the inadequacy of the escrow funds, and also presumably a possibility that the company could abandon the site…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 2
And on that point, Daniel, you've said in your paper that you were advised that the operator, 'may have acted fraudulently in reporting that it intended to finance restoration and was in a position to do so, if it could be proven that the Director and company…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 2
No, no, not at all. And yet in spite of these—let's put it charitably—difficulties in engaging with the company, we're given to understand that the council is still keen to work with them on another restoration plan. Potentially, there's a suggestion that…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 2
Please.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 2
Diolch yn fawr iawn. Good morning. It's great to see you. It's really good to have your expertise with us. Thank you very much. We're going to be focusing on Ffos-y-fran, which I know is a focal point in all of our minds at the moment. Could you outline…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 1
Thank you.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 1
If you could let us know when you have that information later, that would be really useful, please. And finally, then, from me, to what extent do you think that the lack of either minerals planning knowledge or experience within the local authority has…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 1
[Laughter.] Thank you. Do you think that there should be at this stage with Ffos-y-fran compulsory purchase of the land, because the operator is not putting—? Do you think it's possible to drain this water out, or have we reached the point of no return now?
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 1
If I may, then—
