, Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister
Topical Scrutiny
I didn't create the group; the group was created and we were all added in. The point is if Ministers are prepared to share information about each other in a way that directly compromises each other and the trust that exists, that does go to collective…
, Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister
Topical Scrutiny
I was surprised that the topical question was permitted. On the statement that had been made on the Tuesday, we were all told, 'This is a statement and there is no response to it.' We then essentially had a response to it the next day, and a response in a…
, Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister
Topical Scrutiny
Wednesday afternoon was very difficult for everyone. I do recognise that. I've been very clear from the outset that asking Hannah to leave the Government was not easy. You know people for years, and then you have to make choices about them. I think a good…
, Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister
Rural communities
I think there are opportunities, and part of the challenge is in changing the nature of a service. So, if you’re used to your children going on a service that is only for schoolchildren, some parents will be concerned about having other adults on there. And…
, Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister
Rural communities
Yes, we're taking seriously the recommendations and how we take forward the recommendations of the review, and the aim is to improve the consistency of delivery across Wales. So, there is already really good practice across a number of local authorities about…
, Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister
Rural communities
Thank you. I think, at present, there's only one proposal to close a school, and that's on Ynys Môn; that's the only rural school proposal that is being taken forward by a council in Wales. We changed the school organisation code, to strengthen it, in 2018…
, Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister
Rural communities
And the evidence that underpins the move is that this will allow more of those people to have the right care at the right time to save more lives.
, Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister
Rural communities
Wherever they are in the country, they are the right people.
, Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister
Rural communities
That is what's important: the right people are the people who need the service.
, Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister
Rural communities
—and that is what is important, because—
, Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister
Rural communities
And that underpins the case, Russell, and that's the challenge here. The case is underpinned by reaching more people, more people who can gain a greater benefit—
, Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister
Rural communities
But we come back to the central point, don't we? This isn't about money. This is about what is the appropriate model to make sure that people have the best possible service with greater coverage at a time when that can make a difference. And the evidence that…
, Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister
Rural communities
Let me answer the question. That's why we introduced the service in the first place; the Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service is there to deliver and to deal with that. And as it started, we've had evidence of how the service has worked, but also…
, Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister
Rural communities
I think the starting point is: how do you deliver a better service, a better service that can get to more people in need, to have better outcomes and to save more lives? That's why—
, Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister
Rural communities
I think it's always attractive on a surface level to say if you have a specific plan it will deliver outcomes in one area of the country. I think the evidence for that is pretty poor, actually. When you look at what you actually deliver and how you bring…
, Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister
Rural communities
Our challenge is, though, Russell, that, as we sit here, with all the challenges and the strains we've had, we know we do have issues to resolve in rural Wales as well, and the commitment of the Government is that we're serious about doing that.
, Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister
Rural communities
We need to be able to deliver ‘A Healthier Wales’, and, if we do that, we'll deliver for rural and for urban Wales, because the models of care we look at need to take account of where and how people live. That's our big challenge, and it's not just a rural…
, Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister
Rural communities
On the challenges of recruiting and retaining a workforce, we have a Wales-wide and UK-wide challenge on recruiting and retaining staff, and it's about how we both deliver incentives to try to persuade people to come to Wales, or to stay in Wales, and we also…
, Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister
Rural communities
Bore da, Russell. It's good to see you here, after your transport challenges. I'm aware that there was an accident earlier on.
, Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister
Rural communities
Alacrity. The Alacrity Foundation—the work that we've joint funded. And one of the projects that I think is genuinely exciting is one of those projects that looked at, in different parts of Wales, not just generally, talking about the coverage that an…
, Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister
Rural communities
And she is intending to be back in work come September, I hope. Everyone wishes her well following her recent operation and recovery through the summer. Look, on the other two broad points, I think there was a point around the superfast programme and also…
, Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister
Rural communities
I'll deal with the last series of points, first, which is essentially a repeat of—from a different perspective—the point around what's the balance that we get for housing need in different parts of Wales and housing use, the balance between permanent…
, Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister
Rural communities
Although Wrexham is fabulous. I should make that clear, in case anyone thinks there's a—[Inaudible.]—absolutely not.
, Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister
Rural communities
This is about the balance, isn’t it? Thinking about your first question about the balance of what is possible to do, and where and how we do it and what our reserved and devolved responsibilities are, and I agree with you, actually, that we can help to…
, Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister
Rural communities
Yes, digital connectivity is one of the essential enablers, not just for economic life, but for lots of things we now take as standard. So, it’s not just about the economy and public services, it is about how people expect to live their lives in their own…
