Sarah Edwards

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1. 8. Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy: Update on the National Energy Strategy en

   Can I thank the Minister for today's statement? Plaid Cymru's manifesto policy establishes a clear presumption on undergrounding new electricity transmission cables up to 132 kV. I attended the recent Green GEN Cymru consultation in Llandovery, where all the plans showed miles and miles of pylons. One of my constituents reports that he received three different answers on the cost of undergrounding versus overgrounding from three different Green GEN officials: four times the cost, nine times the cost, and, 'I don't know because we haven't costed it'. If this is a proper business proposition, surely Green GEN should know what the cost is and not pure guesswork. Interestingly, the maps showed only a tiny amount of undergrounding near Llanarthne, where I believe several of Plaid's high-profile politicians reside. Minister, can you explain where you stand on undergrounding, as Green GEN does not appear to be listening?

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1. 2. Business Statement and Announcement en

   Trefnydd, I would like a statement from the Government regarding the threat to our most valuable industry, tourism. In Carmarthenshire, tourism earned, in 2024-25, £724 million, employing over 6,600 full-time employees. This is vital to Wales's economy, and we need to listen to the challenge it is facing. I believe this Government doesn't appear to be listening. A whole raft of taxation and regulation is having a serious impact on these businesses. Let's talk about the visitor levy, a tourist tax that is placing another burden on the industry. We are now faced with plans to turn Wales into a giant energy park, with hundreds of enormous wind turbines and pylons in our most beautiful countryside that attracts millions of visitors. Are you aware of the impact? Are you listening to the tourism industry? And what action are you taking to protect it? Diolch.

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

   Carmarthenshire's revised development plan allocates nearly 9,000 new homes within the county, and those new homes are needed and welcomed. However, the infrastructure to support them just does not keep pace. Glangwili is about to take on specialist critical care for the whole Hywel Dda area and people cannot see a GP or an NHS dentist. So, my question is: what can the Welsh Government or the local planning authority employ to ensure local infrastructure keeps pace with development? Diolch.

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1. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability cy

   2. Pa drafodaethau y mae'r Gweinidog Cabinet wedi'u cael gyda'r Gweinidog Cabinet dros Fenter, Cysylltedd ac Ynni am effaith peilonau ar gymunedau gwledig? OQ64568

   Official English translation

   2. What discussions has the Cabinet Minister had with the Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy about the impact of pylons on rural communities? OQ64568

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2. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability en

   Farmers in Carmarthenshire have reported Green GEN Cymru contractors arriving on their land without warning, with one recent incident reportedly requiring police attendance. This is causing real anxiety and frustration among farming families. Will the Minister raise these reports urgently with the Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy and stand up within Government for the rural communities affected? Diolch.

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1. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Education and Welsh Language en

   As a Welsh language learner, I'm delighted to have the opportunity to learn Welsh in the Senedd.

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2. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Education and Welsh Language cy

   Sarah Edwards ydw i, a dwi'n dysgu Cymraeg.

   Official English translation

   I'm Sarah Edwards, and I'm learning Welsh.

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3. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Education and Welsh Language en

   Can the Cabinet Minister comment on what provisions are being set out by the Welsh Government to upgrade Welsh language learning facilities in my own constituency of rural Carmarthenshire? Diolch.

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1. 2. Business Statement and Announcement en

   Trefnydd, I would like to call for a Welsh Government statement that clearly outlines how it will balance its renewable energy objectives. Parts of my constituency are deeply affected by large-scale windfarm developments. I have written questions on this issue and I note your manifesto commitment for undergrounding. I wish to put on record my constituents' huge ongoing concerns about the visual and economic impact of wind turbines. The impact of extensive windfarm developments on Wales's natural landscape could be potentially catastrophic. As part of that statement, will the Government also include a comprehensive impact statement examining the economic, environmental and social consequences of planned wind energy developments across Wales? Such an assessment would help provide transparency on the long-term implications for rural communities, tourism and energy infrastructure. Diolch.

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1. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability cy

   2. Pa drafodaethau y mae'r Gweinidog Cabinet wedi'u cael gyda'r Gweinidog Cabinet dros Fenter, Cysylltedd ac Ynni ynglŷn ag effaith amgylcheddol peilonau yn Sir Gaerfyrddin? OQ64323

   Official English translation

   2. What discussions has the Cabinet Minister had with the Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy regarding the environmental impact of pylons in Sir Gaerfyrddin? OQ64323

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2. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability en

   Constituents impacted by proposed pylons across Carmarthenshire continue to tell me that they feel ignored by the very decisions being made about their communities. This also includes the environmental impact of proposed pylons, in which we see loss of habitat, disturbance during construction, and pylons often eroding natural landscapes and scenic views. In your role as Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability, you have a role in the environmental impact side of pylons. In light of this, what specific action will you take to ensure pylons don't ruin the natural landscapes and scenery that our constituents love and call their home? Diolch.

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1. 1. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy en

   Cabinet Minister, the way you support small businesses of all kinds, including co-operatives, is by ensuring that they aren't overtaxed. Will the Minister give thought to Reform's policy of reviewing the business rates regime, with a view to cutting tax on small and high-street businesses? Diolch.

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

   2. Pa asesiad y mae'r Gweinidog Cabinet wedi'i wneud o effaith yr ardoll ymwelwyr ar economi sir Gaerfyrddin? OQ64201

   Official English translation

   2. What assessment has the Cabinet Minister made of the impact of the visitor levy on the economy of Carmarthenshire? OQ64201

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

   Diolch. Given that the Government has stated that the visitor levy is designed to create sustainable tourism in Wales, could you quantify exactly what sustainable tourism entails, and how much is it going to cost to achieve this, as the feedback from my constituents suggests that we need an impact study on the negative effects of this tax on visitor numbers?

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

   9. Pa gynlluniau sydd gan Lywodraeth Cymru i adolygu ei chanllawiau i awdurdodau lleol ar osod ceblau trydan o dan y ddaear? OQ64151

   Official English translation

   9. What plans does the Welsh Government have to review its guidance to local authorities on the undergrounding of electricity cables? OQ64151

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

   Cabinet Minister, the Welsh Government's independent advisory group accepted that more work is needed on the costs of cable ploughed underground transmission lines, and its community representative declined to endorse the report because of this. Do you accept that decisions on new grid infrastructure should not proceed until those cost comparisons have been properly concluded? Diolch.

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1. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness and the Constitution cy

   2. A wnaiff y Gweinidog Cabinet gadarnhau pryd oedd y tro diwethaf y cynhaliodd Llywodraeth Cymru adolygiad sylfaenol o strwythur, gallu ac effeithiolrwydd gwasanaeth sifil Cymru, ac a oes ganddi unrhyw gynlluniau i gomisiynu adolygiad o'r fath? OQ64140

   Official English translation

   2. Will the Cabinet Minister confirm when the Welsh Government last conducted a fundamental review of the structure, capability and effectiveness of the Welsh civil service, and whether it has any plans to commission such a review? OQ64140

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2. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness and the Constitution en

   The Welsh civil service sits within the UK-wide Civil Service Commission framework. But that governs only whether appointments follow due process, not whether the institution is fit to deliver for Wales. The UK Government sits within that same framework and commissioned the Maude review anyway. In 27 years of devolution, no Welsh Government has done the equivalent. What evaluation has the Minister made of committing to an independent, externally led, publicly published review of the civil service's capability, or can he explain whether there is some alternative work under way?

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1. 1. Questions to the First Minister en

   First Minister, constituents affected by the proposed pylons tell me they feel ignored and excluded from the decision-making process. Will you commit today to meeting with those residents, listening to their concerns and ensuring that their voices are properly heard before any further decisions are taken?

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