, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy
Diolch, Cabinet Minister. In Blaenau Gwent, nearly three in 10 residents aged 16 and over have no formal qualifications, which is the highest proportion in the whole of Wales, while neighbouring Caerphilly has the fourth highest. I've seen first-hand the…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy
2. What discussions has the Cabinet Minister had with the Deputy Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education on supporting young people to develop the skills needed in a rapidly changing labour market in Blaenau Gwent Caerffili Rhymni? OQ64780
, Climate Change, Environment, Sustainability and Rural Affairs Committee
Wildfire resilience in Wales - evidence session with local authorities and Natural Resources Wales
Okay. Diolch.
, Climate Change, Environment, Sustainability and Rural Affairs Committee
Wildfire resilience in Wales - evidence session with local authorities and Natural Resources Wales
None of them had heard of it. So, are you going to take that away?
, Climate Change, Environment, Sustainability and Rural Affairs Committee
Wildfire resilience in Wales - evidence session with local authorities and Natural Resources Wales
It's still a year.
, Climate Change, Environment, Sustainability and Rural Affairs Committee
Wildfire resilience in Wales - evidence session with local authorities and Natural Resources Wales
When did it change?
, Climate Change, Environment, Sustainability and Rural Affairs Committee
Wildfire resilience in Wales - evidence session with local authorities and Natural Resources Wales
Dawns Glaw.
, Climate Change, Environment, Sustainability and Rural Affairs Committee
Wildfire resilience in Wales - evidence session with local authorities and Natural Resources Wales
It's just quickly tying in what you said about the Wales wildfire board. When we had FBU in just before you, they'd never heard of this Wildfire Wise campaign, which I think is quite concerning when they're the ones on the ground who are going to be tackling…
, Climate Change, Environment, Sustainability and Rural Affairs Committee
Wildfire resilience in Wales - evidence session with local authorities and Natural Resources Wales
Yes.
, Climate Change, Environment, Sustainability and Rural Affairs Committee
Wildfire resilience in Wales - evidence session with local authorities and Natural Resources Wales
Diolch, Gadeirydd. There are two areas that I just want to touch on. The first one, when you're doing your impact assessment, will you be looking at water quality? Something that I heard, as, obviously, we know that there's ash that's turned into sludge and…
, Climate Change, Environment, Sustainability and Rural Affairs Committee
Wildfire resilience in Wales - evidence session with local authorities and Natural Resources Wales
Just following up from the local government perspective, prior to the wildfires, I'm sure you couldn't have imagined the scale that it was going to be—I don't think anyone could have—but did you have plans in place, as local authorities, for the possibility…
, Climate Change, Environment, Sustainability and Rural Affairs Committee
Wildfire resilience in Wales - evidence session with local authorities and Natural Resources Wales
I guess, as well, with it being such a high percentage, 57 per cent, have you done formal assessments to determine what damage has been done by these wildfires yet? Or is that going to be a longer term plan? Because, obviously, it's quite significant, isn't…
, Climate Change, Environment, Sustainability and Rural Affairs Committee
Wildfire resilience in Wales - evidence session with local authorities and Natural Resources Wales
Yes.
, Climate Change, Environment, Sustainability and Rural Affairs Committee
Wildfire resilience in Wales - evidence session with local authorities and Natural Resources Wales
Thank you. In your written evidence, you noted that 57 per cent of UK land burnt by wildfires across the UK happened here in Wales. In your opinion, why was Wales so significantly impacted compared to the rest of the United Kingdom when it comes to wildfires?
, Climate Change, Environment, Sustainability and Rural Affairs Committee
Wildfire resilience in Wales - evidence session with the Fire Brigades Union
So, you guys weren't familiar with it at all, that campaign. No. Okay.
, Climate Change, Environment, Sustainability and Rural Affairs Committee
Wildfire resilience in Wales - evidence session with the Fire Brigades Union
I'll be really quick, because I'm conscious of the time. The Wales wildfire board manages public communication as well, and there's the campaign, the annual Wildfire Wise, which replaced Operation Dawns Glaw. I was just wondering how effective you guys found…
, Climate Change, Environment, Sustainability and Rural Affairs Committee
Wildfire resilience in Wales - evidence session with the Fire Brigades Union
Thank you. Just one last question on this. You've mentioned a few times how staffing is a massive factor, in the number of firefighters we have. Obviously, the conditions that a lot of the firefighters went through over the summer were horrific. You heard…
, Climate Change, Environment, Sustainability and Rural Affairs Committee
Wildfire resilience in Wales - evidence session with the Fire Brigades Union
Can I ask one more question?
, Climate Change, Environment, Sustainability and Rural Affairs Committee
Wildfire resilience in Wales - evidence session with the Fire Brigades Union
Just following up on that, and I guess you've kind of touched on it really, could you see this coming this summer? I'm guessing, as you were saying, the signs were there. Were you raising these concerns with those in the Welsh Government and the UK Government…
, Climate Change, Environment, Sustainability and Rural Affairs Committee
Wildfire resilience in Wales - evidence session with the Fire Brigades Union
Thanks, Chair. Thanks for coming here today. My first question is: how would you describe last summer for firefighters here in Wales?
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
Diolch, Brif Weinidog. Motor neurone disease, as you said, is such a devastating, rapidly progressing condition, and, for those people who are living with it, time is really critical. I lost my auntie to MND a couple of years ago, and I saw first-hand the…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
5. What steps is the Welsh Government taking to support people living with motor neurone disease in Blaenau Gwent Caerffili Rhymni? OQ64781
, Culture, Communications, Cymraeg and Sport Committee
Annual scrutiny session with the National Library of Wales
Very good. Thank you.
, Culture, Communications, Cymraeg and Sport Committee
Annual scrutiny session with the National Library of Wales
Obviously, I represent a constituency in one of the more deprived areas, and I think those areas sometimes feel like culture is quite out of reach; it's something that they might not feel like they've got access to as much as other people. You've touched on…
, Culture, Communications, Cymraeg and Sport Committee
Annual scrutiny session with the National Library of Wales
Just quickly, you said you were going to Ebbw Vale tomorrow, and I'm really pleased about that. I was just going to ask, actually, about what you do in terms of the Valleys. You mentioned Merthyr and Ebbw Vale, and that's really lovely to hear.
