Yr eitem nesaf, felly, fydd y datganiad a chyhoeddiad busnes, a dwi'n galw ar y Trefnydd i wneud y datganiad hynny. Lesley Griffiths.

Diolch, Llywydd. There are three changes to this week's business. Firstly, the Minister for Economy will make a statement on the free-port programme in Wales. To accommodate this, the statement on the taxi and private hire vehicle White Paper has been withdrawn. Finally, the legislative consent debate on the Procurement Bill will consist of two motions rather than one. Draft business for the next three sitting weeks is set out on the business statement and announcement, which can be found amongst the meeting papers available to Members electronically. 

Trefnydd, can I call for two statements this week? The first is from the Deputy Minister for Climate Change in relation to his transport responsibilities and seeking an update on the blue badge scheme in Wales. I've had a number of constituents who've been coming forward with concerns about the renewals process for the blue badge scheme. I appreciate that it's only right that these things are reviewed periodically, from time to time, but some of the evidence that they're having to provide seems a little bit ridiculous. I had one constituent who was asked to take a photograph of her walking aid in order to see whether she was eligible for a blue badge. Of course, she did point out to the person asking her for a photograph that she could take a photograph of anybody's walking aid and send that across, but, for whatever reason, that's what she had to do. Clearly, there needs to be some stricter guidance, with some common sense, to make sure that these obstacles can be overcome. 

The second statement that I'd like, please, is from the Deputy Minister for the armed forces on veteran welfare in Wales. I know that this is an issue that the Welsh Government takes very seriously. I met with the Royal British Legion last week, and was alarmed to hear that the number of veterans coming forward for support from their welfare officers has fallen quite significantly post the pandemic. There appears to be no explanation as to why that is the case. Of course, it may be that demand is just generally lower, but given the cost-of-living pressures that we're seeing across Wales at the moment, I really don't believe that that is the case, and I think it requires some further investigation. We know that the Royal British Legion has resources that it wants to make available, and SSAFA and other organisations have resources that they want to make available to support veterans, particularly in their old age. Therefore, I would be grateful if the Minister could commit to working with those organisations to try and do what they can to promote the opportunities that are there. 

Thank you. In relation to your second point, the Deputy Minister is in her seat and has heard your questions. I'm sure she is, and will continue to be, committed to working both with the third sector and any other service provider or organisation in supporting our veterans.

Regarding the blue badge scheme, I am aware that, obviously, the system was looked at holistically—it was probably about three years ago now—and it came forward with a new scheme. I do recognise some of the points that you made from my own constituency mailbag. I will certainly ask the Deputy Minister to update us if there is something further he is able to tell us. I do think there is a difference between local authorities and the criteria that they use, and it could be that it needs to be looked at to make sure there is a level playing field across Wales. 

I'd like to ask for a statement, please, setting out how the Government will urgently increase capacity in community hospitals. A few weeks ago, I raised concerns with the First Minister that ambulances were in effect being used as waiting rooms because of a lack of hospital beds. I've been contacted by a constituent this week whose story, I think, has highlighted another way in which that lack of beds is affecting patients, which is that a lack of capacity in community hospitals means people are being kept in hospitals further away from home for a longer period of time than is necessary. My constituent's wife, who has lung cancer, collapsed at home, and there were no ambulances, so he drove her to the Grange. After waiting for hours on a trolley, she was moved to another unit, but even after she was assessed and she was stable, she couldn't be released, because they were told that there were no beds available in Ystrad Mynach or in Ebbw Vale for her continued treatment and rehabilitation. My constituent said, 'It's real people's lives who are being blighted by this situation', and I agree with him. Could a statement please set out how the Government will get to grips with the serious lack of capacity in community hospitals that's delaying people getting to where they need to be?

Thank you. We know, not just in our community hospitals, but in our district general hospitals as well, that delayed transfers of care are causing a great deal of consternation with bed capacity. Obviously, this is something that the Minister for Health and Social Services is looking at across the piece. 

I would like to ask for a Government statement on the future of the Heart of Wales railway line. I'm told by constituents that trains are regularly cancelled, and that, during summer, they are overcrowded. Can the Government outline its plans for the Heart of Wales railway line?

I would also like a Government statement on how the Government decides on funding to support tourist businesses. Surely, if a tourism operator has a good commercial idea, they should be able to raise money from the financial markets. My concern is that Welsh Government money that could be better spent is supporting these businesses. In Swansea East, £4 million is being given to a zip wire company, at a cost of £40,000 per job.

The Deputy Minister for Climate Change recently issued a written statement on the Welsh Government's plans for improving rural transport. This confirmed that we would be submitting a proposal shortly to the UK Government's union connectivity fund to develop plans to increase capacity across the Cambrian and Heart of Wales rail lines, and, in doing so, increase cross-border connectivity. I know that the Deputy Minister recently met with Transport for Wales and the Heart of Wales Line Travellers' Association regarding the performance of the line and the importance of Transport for Wales making sure that they provide very clear information to passengers about any disruption to the services.

The methodology applied in deciding investments in relation to tourism is very comprehensive, and it follows a strict code of governance. The due diligence process involves a combination of both Welsh Government investment analysis and expert advice and support commissioned from an outside body.

Minister, can I ask for a statement about the terms and conditions of Welsh Government funding grants? The reason why I ask for this is because Blaenau Gwent council has missed out on nearly £250,000 of funding, which it was going to use for a bus infrastructure project. The project's contractor had been unable to deliver the project within the funding timescale, due to unforeseen circumstances, meaning the money now has to be sent back to the Welsh Government. It now leaves the council in a rather difficult situation, and the project, ultimately, in limbo. One of the things the Welsh Government could do to stop something similar happening again is perhaps having an 'exceptional circumstances' clause—just as an example. Please can we have a statement about what steps the Welsh Government can take to make the grant funding process for Welsh councils easier? Because it would be a shame to see great projects fail because of rigid processes that will only disadvantage the people of Wales in the long term.

The Welsh Government allocates a great deal of funding to local authorities, on a great number of schemes, so I'm not aware of the particular grant that you refer to. But I'm sure the Member would expect—and it is, indeed, the case—that there are very strict criteria, and it's not something that you can just leave to chance. I would think that it's probably best to write to the Minister directly about that specific grant you refer to.

Mae'r clociau wedi eu troi ymlaen ac mae'r gwanwyn o'n blaenau ni. Mae hynny'n destun llawenydd, ac yn rhywbeth sy'n codi calon nifer ohonom ni. Mae'n ddechrau'r tymor twristiaeth traddodiadol, ac wrth gwrs mae hynny'n dod â phob math o fuddiannau a chyfleoedd i rannau helaeth o Gymru. Ond mae yna rai cymunedau lle mae'r adeg yma o'r flwyddyn yn golygu cychwyn ar drafferthion parcio, problemau sbwriel, gwersylla anghyfreithlon, a phwysau difrifol ar isadeiledd lleol. Yr wythnos diwethaf, mi ges i gyfarfod â chynghorau cymuned Capel Curig a Betws-y-coed, ynghyd â phartneriaid yn cynnwys Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru, parc cenedlaethol Eryri, yr Ymddiriedolaeth Genedlaethol ac eraill, i drafod rhai o'r heriau a'r gofidiau yma. Gaf i ofyn felly am ddatganiad gan y Gweinidog sy'n gyfrifol am dwristiaeth ynglŷn â beth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru'n ei wneud i gefnogi'r cymunedau yma, efallai drwy helpu i wella isadeiledd, sicrhau bod gan y partneriaid perthnasol adnoddau angenrheidiol i ddelio â'r problemau, a hefyd help i amddiffyn ecoleg yr ardaloedd yma? Oherwydd mae hynny'n rhywbeth sy'n cael ei ddifrodi gan rai ymwelwyr anghyfrifol, sydd nid yn unig ddim yn parchu'r rheolau ond yn aml iawn yn torri'r gyfraith. 

Thank you. You raise a very important point. Obviously, while we want to see tourism absolutely boom here in Wales, unfortunately, as is often the case, the minority spoil it for the majority. I know the Deputy Minister has recently taken tourism into her portfolio and is looking at a variety of issues around tourism, and I'm sure she'll be very happy to update us via a written statement.

Good afternoon, Minister. It is reported that the chief executive of Dŵr Cymru is to receive a bonus payment of nearly £0.25 million. This is despite sewage being in our rivers and our seas, and our beaches being in a terrible condition. I wonder if I could ask for a statement, please, from the relevant Minister on the performance of Dŵr Cymru, as well as the payment of bonuses to senior staff in the public sector. Diolch yn fawr iawn. 

Thank you. Welsh Ministers do not have a formal role in determining executive pay for Wales's water companies, but the Welsh Government does monitor pay and performance, and we do expect relevant remuneration committees to reflect very carefully on performance and delivery against the breadth of current water sector and environmental challenges that need to be addressed—and you pointed one out immediately. I think we should also remember the way that Dŵr Cymru was set up. I think they should bear that in mind when setting these bonuses that you referred to. 

Could I ask for two statements, please? The first is on the support that's available for swimming pools to get us through the runaway costs that they are facing at the moment. Swimming pools tend to be something of a money pit to run at normal times; at the moment, they're under intense pressure. Some of the public pools in my area have contacted me to ask the question, which is a genuine question—. Apparently, there has been additional money—new money, according to the Chancellor—announced for distribution via Sport England to pools within England for the next 12 months. So, they're asking—I have to say they're quite sceptical about this—whether we can hear from the Welsh Government whether there are any consequentials that we'll be able to pass on to pools here. I don't expect you can answer now, Trefnydd, on that, but a statement on it would be really welcome. 

The second statement I'd like to ask for is one on the money that has now been clawed back to the UK Treasury—the £155.5 million. I know the committee has reported on this, but the precedent in previous years has been to be flexible in this. I understand that the finance Minister made suggestions to the Treasury to actually change this into capital from revenue spending. This was declined, and several options were declined. We have, in effect, lost £155.5 million. I would like to see a statement on that, how we can avoid this in future, and why it was clawed back from Wales, when, actually, the amount was significantly bigger in some UK Government departments. I'd like to see a statement on that. Thank you, Trefnydd. 

Thank you. In relation to the additional funding for swimming pools, as you say, the UK Government budget did announce further funding for that. As a Cabinet, we are looking at the additional funding that came forward from the spring budget, and obviously decisions will be made collectively.

In relation to the £155 million, obviously that was our money. As a Government, we had plans for how to spend that money, and the rules were changed. In relation to what you were saying about UK Government departments, you're quite right: departments in Whitehall returned about £25 billion to the Treasury. If you look at the Department of Health and Social Care in England alone, they returned £18.6 billion to the Treasury. If you think about what our Barnett consequential share would have been of that funding, we would have had an additional £1 billion. But we didn't return that £1 billion, because we spent more in Wales. Our offer to businesses during the COVID pandemic was much more generous, for example, and we also spent better, avoiding the scandals of those dodgy PPE contracts. 

Trefnydd, could I ask for statement this afternoon from the Government in response to the recent Daily Telegraph survey on the town of Rhyl, which claimed it was one of the least desirable seaside towns in Britain to visit, describing it as having 'no past, no arts or entertainment, no fun'? Even in the past, it's been described as 'Costa del Dole' and 'Blackpool after a neutron bomb', which is quite a nasty way to describe Rhyl, really. Being from the local area, I beg to differ with a lot of those statements, as there are a lot of attractive features in the town. I would encourage anybody to visit the town themselves to see what it's got on offer, including three miles of unspoilt beaches, a sea life centre, SC2, 1891, to just name a few. But generally, how are we ever going to turn round Rhyl's fortunes with this sort of attitude? I know it's had its problems over the years, but there has been a lot of work locally to try and turn things around. What is the Welsh Government's response to this article? Do you accept that such stories don't help Rhyl at all? What partnership working is the Welsh Government undertaking with the likes of Denbighshire County Council, local tourism boards and the public to attract people to visit the town? And what efforts are being made by Welsh Government to invest in seaside towns such as Rhyl to ensure a more buoyant economy and to create well-paid, sustainable jobs in the area to give local people opportunities? Thank you.

Well, I don't read The Daily Telegraph, and I'd advise the Member not to either. I think you make a serious point about Rhyl and, as somebody from north-east Wales, I know Rhyl very well. And you're quite right—some significant funding has gone into the regeneration of Rhyl, and certainly your predecessor, Ann Jones, always ensured that, for whatever money was around, Rhyl was absolutely at the top of every Minister's list when they had a look. I visited Denbighshire County Council last year. We did a day of visits, and I spent a significant part of that day in Rhyl, and it was very pleasing to see the investment that had gone into a number of significant investments—looking at the market, for instance, and the other plans that Denbighshire council has for it. And, alongside that, not just making it a pleasant place to visit, if you look at the funding that's gone into, for instance, flooding defence, because I think that's very important when we talk about seaside towns. 

Trefnydd, I'd like a written statement, please, on rail infrastructure funding. I'd like to know how much money has Wales lost over the years due to the delay in the electrification of the Great Western rail line, the fact that HS2 and probably the Northern Powerhouse rail are classified as England-and-Wales projects. Last week, I raised during First Minister's questions the upgrading of the Cardiff west junction in Canton to enable four trains an hour to run through all Cardiff stations. This is the responsibility of Network Rail and UK Government. Since then, it has been pointed out to my office that this originally was included in the Department for Transport Network Rail Cardiff area resignalling and renewal project 2012-15, but, for whatever reason, it didn't happen. They said they were going to do it between 2012 and 2015, but we're still waiting in 2023. Can we please have it set out how much we have missed out on and why we are missing out on this money? The answers we're receiving back from the UK Government are becoming more and more weak, and that is to put it mildly. Diolch yn fawr, Trefnydd.

Thank you. Well, as you know, the Welsh Government continues to press for the UK Government to call Northern Powerhouse rail exactly what it is, and that's an England-only project, and the same with HS2. I think it would be interesting for Members to see the significant funding that we haven't received in Wales, and I will certainly ask the Deputy Minister, if he has all that information to hand, to update Members in a written statement.  

I would like a statement from the Minister for rural affairs, please. Currently, as she is aware, we are in lambing season and we're still having far too many dog attacks on sheep. I know that, recently, Dan Jones from the Great Orme in Llandudno and other farmers have approached me about the horrific sights and scenes that you see. There needs to be more education, really, for dog owners. There needs to be more education. I know that, in the days when we had dog wardens, they would go in and liaise with pupils so that they could go home and say, 'We need to have our dogs on leads at all times.' I was just wondering—. The north Wales rural crime division are amazing, but they've only got so many resources and they can't be everywhere. What do you think in terms of more actions that we can do so that people realise you do not wander around sheep with your dogs running loose, and also if your dogs are missing and are not at home, that they're not potentially exhausting and chasing sheep until, ultimately, the sheep die, and sometimes, often, the lambs? Thank you.

Daeth y Dirprwy Lywydd (David Rees) i’r Gadair.

Thank you. The Member raises a very important point and something that concerns me greatly, and we have done some significant work in relation to it. You mentioned the north Wales rural crime team, and I absolutely agree, along with the other two across the country, that they do some excellent work. And, of course, we've got Rob Taylor, our rural wildlife crime commissioner, who just yesterday—I don't know if Members will have picked it up on social media—was doing a significant piece of work on a farm in the Vale of Glamorgan, and he's very happy to go anywhere to help educate people in relation to responsible dog ownership, something that I obviously publicise as well. I'm continuing to have discussions with my UK Government counterparts to see what legislation they could perhaps bring up to date, because some of the dog legislation that we have is incredibly outdated and certainly, I think, the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, but not all dogs that attack lambs, of course, are dangerous, so it is really important that we use every tool that we have in the box.

Diolch i'r Trefnydd.