Marc Jones

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1. 1. Questions to the First Minister cy

   6. Pa gamau mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i wella gwasanaethau trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus mewn ardaloedd gwledig yn Fflint Wrecsam? OQ64787

   Official English translation

   6. What action is the Welsh Government taking to improve public transport services in rural areas of Fflint Wrecsam? OQ64787

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2. 1. Questions to the First Minister en

   Diolch, Lywydd. Diolch, Brif Weinidog. Residents in rural Flintshire villages such as Llanfynydd and Penyffordd feel increasingly frustrated by the lack of reliable bus services. They're sporadic at best, and they're also under threat. For any vibrant community, that simply isn't good enough. This is about more than bus timetables; this is about people's independence, it's their ability to get to hospital, to get to work, to see friends and family, to live their day-to-day lives. Some of you might think that Fflint Wrecsam is an urban area, but I can tell you there are rural pockets in my constituency that feel as excluded and isolated as any in Wales. For some, especially the elderly, these barriers of transport can leave them feeling isolated with limited options to get around. So, will the First Minister outline what work is being done with Transport for Wales to protect and improve rural bus services to ensure these communities can access public transport easily and effectively?

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1. 4. 90-second Statements en

   There aren't many tougher games than rugby league, but imagine trying to play it in a wheelchair. That's what the Cymru wheelchair rugby league squad is going to be doing later this month as it heads out to Australia to compete in the world cup. As you can imagine, they've had to overcome many obstacles to get this far. I went to support them during their last practice session held in my constituency earlier this year, and they'd just been told their shirt sponsor had pulled out, leaving them £10,000 short of vital funding to get there. But these men and women, because it's a mixed squad, like a challenge, they embrace it, and they didn't flinch when it came to raising this £10,000. They set about raising it via a crowdfunder to put Cymru on their shirts rather than a sponsor. I kind of like that, so I thought I'd support it as well. I'm delighted to inform this Senedd that they hit their target last week, they hit their £10,000, and everyone gets to go on the trip of a lifetime. It's a measure of their determination to succeed regardless of the challenges life throws at them. And just to make it extra spicy, their first game in the world cup is against England. So, I'm sure you'll join me in wishing them all the very best in that game. Diolch yn fawr iawn.

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1. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

   Diolch. Mi wnaf i gadw hwn yn fyr.

   Official English translation

   Thank you. I'll keep this short, then.

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2. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

   3. Sut mae'r Gweinidog Cabinet yn gwella gwaith ymgysylltu â'r gymuned ar gynlluniau datblygu lleol? OQ64665

   Official English translation

   3. How is the Cabinet Minister improving community engagement on local development plans? OQ64665

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3. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning en

   Diolch yn fawr iawn. In December 2023, Wrexham councillors were forced, under threat of imprisonment, to vote for a local development plan that was not fit for purpose. The plan was based on population projections that were spectacularly wrong. Following a lengthy court battle, brought by councillors, including me, against the previous Welsh Government and housing developers, the High Court quashed the council's decision to adopt its LDP. To cut a long story short, to suit the Llywydd, the LDP has now been withdrawn and the council is preparing a new plan. As a former councillor, I want to improve the planning system throughout Wales by ensuring greater community engagement and involvement in the process. To test that, will the Minister consider Wrexham as a pilot scheme to ensure that the local voice is heard loud and clear in the planning process, and that we never again see local elected representatives threatened with jail for standing up for their communities? Diolch yn fawr.

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4. 8. Reform UK Debate: Access to HMOs and social housing for foreign nationals en

   I want to focus on the HMO element of this debate. My family and I live next door to a HMO and have done for the past 15 years. One in five of the homes in our street is a HMO. HMOs are private houses, not subsidised, and it's odd that a political party that professes to be for the free market should seek to limit that housing market. But I'll come back to why this is such an odd debate. In a past life, I was vice-chair of planning on Wrexham council, and the issues of HMOs have been a hot potato for more than a decade—not for the reasons stated by the people over there, but because an overconcentration of HMOs can impact a community in terms of overdevelopment, highway matters and waste disposal. Houses in multiple occupation are a small but integral part of the housing mix. They provide accommodation for people who can't afford a house or a flat, and there are loads of reasons for that. Let's hope that no-one here loses their job or income. Let's hope that no-one here has a health issue. Let's hope that no-one here has a messy divorce, a breakdown in the family or, God forbid, is forced to flee domestic violence or coercive control. These are all issues that can lead people to look for a housing option that suits them temporarily. I won't go into other issues, because Kiera Marshall and Peter Fox have very eloquently mentioned them, but I'll mention one: students living away from home are living in HMOs. Does the Member want to prevent all foreign students from having accommodation? Do you? Perhaps you can talk to the vice-chancellors about what that would do to our Welsh universities. As it happens, the owner of the HMO next to me is a responsible landlord, but there are unscrupulous landlords who are cramming in as many people as possible to maximise profits. That's the real issue with HMOs. In the wrong hands and without sufficient oversight, they become dumping grounds for people with very real problems of substance misuse and mental health issues, but without any support. You don't care about that, obviously. You're just concerned about the people who look and sound different to you. People in my town are paying £87.50 a week for a shared room. There are eight other people in the house, with no communal space, apart from a family kitchen and a small back garden. That's not the fault of tenants, it's the fault of those unscrupulous landlords who fail to treat tenants as human beings. And these are working people, not on benefits. They're nurses, they're care workers, they're people I hear getting up at 6 o'clock in the morning to go to the industrial estate. I said earlier that this focus on a certain type of housing was odd. I think we know why—people have told us why very eloquently. The track record of the party involved is all about seeking to divide and rule, fuelled by hatred, not compassion. Since the UK Government moved from housing asylum seekers and refugees in hotels—I believe there's one hotel in the whole of Wales now—those who were busy rioting, burning and hating outside those hotels have looked for a new focus, and they've found it, haven't they, in HMOs. Like those unscrupulous landlords, they don't see the people who live in HMOs as human beings; they see them as inferior, as problems. What we've seen today is people deliberately conflating foreign nationals with asylum seekers, deliberately conflating people on benefits with foreign nationals. It's a mess of a debate. It's scaremongering and demonising for clickbait and social media. It's not a serious proposition; it virtue signals their hatred for people who look different, who sound different. It could be written in crayon.

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1. 2. Questions to the First Minister cy

   3. Sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi lleoliadau cerddoriaeth annibynnol a llawr gwlad i ffynnu? OQ64587

   Official English translation

   3. How is the Welsh Government supporting independent and grass-roots music venues to thrive? OQ64587

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2. 2. Questions to the First Minister en

   Diolch, Brif Weinidog. I'd like to declare an interest as co-founder of Saith Seren, an independent music venue. Many grass-roots venues are struggling. We've seen the closure of some much-loved venues across Cymru. We must do more to support this sector. As you mentioned, the 30 per cent business rates cut is a huge step in that direction. It's a great start, but there are more steps that can be taken, I believe, by the UK Government. Last week, I attended an event with Music Venue Trust, which highlighted the issue of value added tax. In my constituency, we've got some great grass-roots music venues, such as The Rockin' Chair in Wrexham and the Tivoli in Buckley. I'm sure you're familiar with both. They provide opportunities for artists to grow and to support creative and economic growth. However, VAT rates are a significant pressure on these venues. In light of this, does the First Minister agree with me that we must urge the UK Government not only to review the VAT threshold faced by this sector, but also to consider a zero-VAT rate on ticket sales?

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1. 1. Questions to the First Minister cy

   6. Pa ystyriaeth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi’i rhoi i sicrhau bod costau adfer safleoedd lle mae gwastraff wedi’i waredu’n anghyfreithlon yn cael eu talu gan y rhai sy’n gyfrifol, yn hytrach na chan drethdalwyr?​‌ OQ64553

   Official English translation

   6. What consideration has the Welsh Government given to ensuring that the costs of remediating illegally dumped waste are paid by the people responsible, rather than by taxpayers? OQ64553

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2. 1. Questions to the First Minister en

   Diolch, Brif Weinidog. In Fflint Wrecsam, you may be aware that communities continue to deal with both the historic legacy of illegal waste dumping and the current active sites that are causing ongoing problems for residents in my constituency. Time and again, we see the companies responsible for these environmental crimes avoid accountability by entering liquidation and walking away from the costs of remediation. This leaves local communities to deal with the consequences and risks shifting the burden of cleaning up onto the public purse. How will Welsh Government work with the UK Government, local authorities and relevant public bodies to address this ongoing issue?

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3. 2. Questions to the Counsel General cy

   Mae hwn yn teimlo ychydig bach yn od, gofyn cwestiwn i'r dyn drws nesaf. [Chwerthin.]

   Official English translation

   This feel slightly strange, asking a question to the person next to me. [Laughter.]

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4. 2. Questions to the Counsel General cy

   7. Pa gyngor cyfreithiol y mae'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol wedi ei roi i Lywodraeth Cymru ar ddatganoli cyfiawnder? OQ64506

   Official English translation

   7. What legal advice has the Counsel General provided to the Welsh Government on the devolution of justice? OQ64506

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5. 2. Questions to the Counsel General cy

   Diolch, Gwnsler. Mae'r angen i ddatganoli cyfiawnder wedi ei ddangos droeon yn y Siambr yma gan y Comisiwn Annibynnol dros Ddyfodol Cyfansoddiadol Cymru a chan Gymdeithas y Cyfreithwyr. Dŷn ni'n gwybod bod y system bresennol yn gwaethygu canlyniadau i bobl Cymru. A dwi wedi cael braw, a bod yn onest, fod 40 y cant o'r cyllid yn dod wrth Lywodraeth Cymru, er nad ydy cyfiawnder wedi'i ddatganoli. Dydy hynny ddim yn gynaliadwy. Felly, ydy'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol yn cytuno efo fi fod datganoli cyfiawnder yn angenrheidiol i wella'r canlyniadau i'r rheini sy'n mynd drwy'r system?

   Official English translation

   Thank you, Counsel General. The need to devolve justice has been outlined several times in this Chamber by the Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales and by the Law Society. We know that the current system deteriorates outcomes for people in Wales. And I've been frightened, truth be told, that 40 per cent of the funding comes from the Welsh Government, although justice has not been devolved. That isn't sustainable. So, does the Counsel General agree that devolution of justice is vital to improve outcomes for those who go through the system?

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1. 2. Business Statement and Announcement en

   We've already heard about historic dumping from my colleagues here today. I want to ask the Trefnydd for a statement about ongoing illegal waste dumping taking place across Fflint Wrecsam. Unlawful waste dumping has been taking place in at least 16 sites across the constituency, centred on locations in and around Coedpoeth. Natural Resources Wales has the powers, under section 59 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, to address unlawful waste disposal and require remediation. However, despite enforcement action reportedly being taken by NRW to date, residents remain deeply concerned about the situation and about the apparent lack of progress in halting the dumping and protecting the surrounding environment. How is the Welsh Government working with NRW to help tackle this issue and its impacts on local communities?

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1. 3. Business Statement and Announcement cy

   Drefnydd, mae ysgol Penley wedi cau ei phwll nofio o ganlyniad i gostau rhedeg. Mae hyn yn golygu bod rhai o'r naw ysgol yn y clwstwr yn methu â chael mynediad at wersi nofio a rhai'n methu fforddio bws i'r pwll nofio agosaf. Dwi'n gwybod bod y Llywodraeth yn deall pa mor hanfodol ydy'r gallu i ddysgu nofio i blant, fel sy'n amlwg yn yr ymrwymiad i gyflwyno rhaglen genedlaethol nofio a diogelwch dŵr ac 20 o wersi nofio a diogelwch dŵr i bob disgybl ym mlynyddoedd 4 a 5. Mae'r ffaith bod y pwll nofio yma ar gau i ddisgyblion yn achos o bryder mawr i'r gymuned. A gawn ni ddatganiad gan y Gweinidog perthnasol ynglŷn â sicrhau nad oes yr un plentyn heb fynediad i wersi nofio oherwydd toriadau ariannol?

   Official English translation

   Trefnydd, Penley school has closed its swimming pool because of running costs. This means that some of the nine cluster schools cannot get access to swimming lessons and some can't afford a bus to go to the closest swimming pool. I know that the Government understands how essential it is to teach children to swim, as is clear in the commitment to introduce a national swimming and water safety programme and 20 swimming and water safety lessons for all pupils in years 4 and 5. The fact that this swimming pool is closed to pupils is a cause of great concern for the community. Could we have a statement from the relevant Minister on ensuring that there are no children left without access to swimming lessons due to financial costs?

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1. 1. Questions to the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice cy

   5. Pa gamau mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i leddfu tlodi plant yn Fflint Wrecsam? OQ64320

   Official English translation

   5. What steps is the Welsh Government taking to alleviate child poverty in Fflint Wrecsam? OQ64320

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2. 1. Questions to the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice cy

   Diolch, Weinidog Cabinet. Fel dŷch chi wedi'i ddweud, mae Wrecsam wedi ymuno â chynghorau Abertawe, Casnewydd a Merthyr Tudful i ehangu'r cynnig gofal plant i bob plentyn dyflwydd oed yn dilyn y buddsoddiad o £55 miliwn gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Ar hyn o bryd, mae bron 8,000 o blant yn Wrecsam yn byw mewn tlodi, ac yn amlwg bydd y roll-out yma'n help garw i rieni'r ardal, a dwi'n falch bod y Llywodraeth yma yn mynd i'r afael â'r broblem ar frys. Dyma'r gwahaniaeth mae Llywodraeth Plaid Cymru yn medru ei wneud. Felly, pa asesiad mae'r Llywodraeth wedi'i wneud ar effaith y cynnig gofal plant ar leddfu tlodi?

   Official English translation

   Thank you, Cabinet Minister. As you've said, Wrexham has joined with Swansea, Merthyr Tydfil and Newport councils to expand their childcare offer to every two-year-old following that investment of £55 million by the Welsh Government. Currently, nearly 8,000 children in Wrexham live in poverty, and it's clear that this roll-out will be a great help to parents in the area, and I'm pleased that this Government is addressing this problem as a matter of urgency. This is the difference that a Plaid Cymru Government can make. Therefore, what assessment has the Government made of the impact of the childcare offer on alleviating poverty?

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1. 4. Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care: Improving Leadership and Performance at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board cy

   Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Gaf i gychwyn drwy ddatgan diddordeb? Mae fy ngwraig i'n gweithio fel nyrs ym Metsi Cadwaladr. Mae’r sefyllfa ym mwrdd iechyd Betsi Cadwaladr yn adlewyrchiad clir o wendidau systemig sydd wedi datblygu dros gyfnod hir o dan y Llywodraeth flaenorol. Mae yna fethiant dros ddegawd a mwy i sicrhau bod gofal yn cael ei ddarparu yn y lle cywir, yn enwedig mewn lleoliadau cymunedol, sydd wedi arwain at bwysau sylweddol ar ysbytai ac, yn anffodus, at ganlyniadau gwaeth i gleifion. O ganlyniad, dŷn ni wedi gweld patrwm cyfarwydd yn datblygu: diffyg capasiti yn y gymuned, galw cynyddol ar wasanaethau mewn ysbytai cyffredinol ac yna'r angen i ymateb i argyfyngau yn hytrach na'u hatal nhw. Dydy o ddim yn syndod, felly, fod Betsi Cadwaladr unwaith eto mewn rhyw fath o fesurau ychwanegol, sy'n tanlinellu'n glir nad ydy'r dull blaenorol wedi bod yn ddigon cadarn nac yn gynaliadwy. Mae'r datganiad yma yn arwydd clir fod y sefyllfa bresennol yn mynnu mwy o her, mwy o graffu ac yn fwy na dim byd, mwy o atebolrwydd clir. Dwi'n falch bod y Llywodraeth yma'n barod i wynebu'r realiti mor fuan yn eu tymor ac i edrych o'r newydd ar y fframwaith presennol er mwyn cryfhau llywodraethiant ac ailsefydlu atebolrwydd. Weinidog Cabinet, dydy hyn ddim yn ddim byd newydd, nac ydy? Dŷn ni'n gwybod ein bod ni wedi bod yn ymgyrchu ers degawd a mwy i wella safonau iechyd yn y gogledd.

   Official English translation

   Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd. May I begin by declaring an interest? My wife works as a nurse at Betsi Cadwaladr. The situation at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board is a clear reflection of the systemic weaknesses that have accumulated over a long period of time under the previous Government. There's been failure for over a decade to ensure that care is delivered in the right place, particularly in community settings, which has led to significant pressures on hospitals and, unfortunately, to worse outcomes for patients. As a result, we've seen a familiar cycle developing: a lack of capacity in the community, increasing demand on services in general hospitals, and then the need to respond to emergencies rather than prevent them. It is, therefore, no surprise that Betsi Cadwaladr is once again subject to some kind of additional measures, which clearly underlines that the previous approach has not been sufficiently robust or sustainable. This statement is a clear sign that the current situation demands further challenge, further scrutiny and, above all, further accountability. I'm pleased that this Government is ready to face this reality head-on so soon in its term of office and to look afresh at the current framework in order to strengthen governance and re-establish accountability. Cabinet Minister, this is nothing new, is it? We know we've been campaigning for a decade and more to improve standards of healthcare in north Wales.

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2. 4. Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care: Improving Leadership and Performance at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board cy

   Mae yna gwestiwn ar ei ffordd.

   Official English translation

   Yes, there is a question on the way.

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3. 4. Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care: Improving Leadership and Performance at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board cy

   Ond a gaf i hefyd ddweud: dwi'n mynnu eich bod chi'n gwrando ar lawr gwlad; fuasai fy ngwraig i ddim yn maddau imi petaswn i ddim yn dweud hynny. Plis gwrandewch ar lawr gwlad; nhw sy'n gwybod orau sut i ddelio efo hyn. Y cwestiwn fuasai, felly: wnewch chi egluro sut yn union y bydd yr escalation yma yn sefydlu diwylliant newydd o arweinyddiaeth gadarn, tryloywder ac atebolrwydd hirdymor er budd cleifion ledled y gogledd? Diolch yn fawr.

   Official English translation

   But may I also say that I demand that you listen to the grass roots; my wife wouldn't forgive me if I didn't say that. Please listen to those working on the ground; they know best how to deal with this. The question, therefore, is: will you explain how exactly this escalation will establish a new culture of robust leadership, transparency and long-term accountability for the benefit of patients across north Wales? Thank you.

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1. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Finance cy

   1. Pa gamau y mae'r Gweinidog Cabinet wedi'u cymryd tuag at sicrhau fformiwla ariannu teg i Gymru? OQ64219

   Official English translation

   1. What steps has the Cabinet Minister taken towards securing a fair funding formula for Wales? OQ64219

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2. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Finance en

   Diolch, Weinidog. The Wales Governance Centre has argued that long-standing procedural issues relating to the operation of the Barnett formula should be resolved. Its report on fiscal funding highlights that the UK Treasury remains judge, jury and executioner when disputes such as on HS2 and national insurance contributions take place. It also found that Wales's relative spending is higher for devolved public services, such as health and education, than it is for services that remain reserved to the UK Government, such as rail infrastructure and justice, where spending is below a population-based share. Will the Cabinet Minister outline what discussions she has had with her UK counterparts on fiscal reform? Diolch yn fawr iawn.

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1. 6. Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy: Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy Priorities en

   As Plaid Cymru's economic strategy outlined, Wales has a wealth of small businesses and a relatively high proportion of large firms, especially in the economic powerhouse that is Fflint Wrecsam. It's clear that supporting microbusinesses to scale up has been an issue in Wales, and the business support available is fragmented. The plan for a new development agency is therefore very welcome and will have real benefits in supporting the growth of Welsh businesses, improving their export functions, while also supporting international investment in Wales. Could the Cabinet Minister therefore outline the work being undertaken to establish this agency, and how it will ensure that foreign direct investment works with and for Welsh businesses and communities?

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