Janet Finch-Saunders
Group Bangor Conwy Môn · Welsh Conservative · Wales
“Local small businesses, like the Black Boy Inn in Caernarfon—that's a really good pub, by the way, the Black Boy Inn, and it's not in my constituency—point out that they are central to preserving the heart and soul of our towns. If we abandon them, what future are we giving our cultural hubs?”
“I've got to thank them; they really are very good at policy and supporting our small businesses, and it needs saying. There will be an overall increase in taxes for small businesses of £24.5 billion a year from 2025-26.”
“Copper is critical to the manufacture of much of the green technology, such as wind turbines, electric vehicles, solar panels, and the electrical infrastructure. Copper is also essential to support the transition away from fossil fuels, and I've been round a mine in Anglesey recently that does gold, silver, bronze, iron ore and copper.”
“This is going to be really harmful to Wales, where small and medium-sized enterprises account for over 99 per cent of businesses and 63 per cent of private sector employment. I've said it before and I will say it again: the raising of NICs heightens the tax wedge between what employers pay to hire workers and what employees receive.”
“'Small Business Saturday'—say it loud and say it proud. The UK Labour Government's decision to increase employer national insurance contributions is going to be a devastating blow to our businesses, which are already grappling with soaring costs. It's rather like déjà vu here.”
“Too often, I stand here and it's a challenge for the Welsh Labour Government to even understand this, and it shouldn't be. Our small businesses see what happens here, they hear what happens here and they feel what your policies are doing to them.”
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“I'd like to thank Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council for their response to our report. They have agreed, crucially, to recommendation 22, which concerns waste water. On this, I would just say that Ffos-y-fran made it clear to us that concerns over contaminated water being discharged were unwarranted. They have signed up to all of the Natural Resources Wales regulations and agreements. As we were told, they're not behind on anything, so maybe this should be seen as good practice when remediating these sites. This scheme has shown me that with the right people and with dedication, our opencast mines can be turned into new environments and new opportunities for flora and fauna to thrive.”
“The UK's autumn budget has offered Wales a mere £25 million for coal tip safety—better than nothing—but nothing towards opencast restoration. In the grand scheme, it simply isn't enough. The reclamation scheme at this one mine is expected to cost around £15 million, with the key objective of the scheme being to implement a progressive, cost-effective and sustainable restoration scheme. It will be interesting to see who signs this off. But I've seen first-hand the expertise and dedication of those carrying out these works, and they mean it with goodwill. What was fascinating for us as a committee was to learn that where they've actually done some of the remedial works, they're seeing great crested newts and other biodiversity; interesting new grasses are growing and, long term, there are peregrine falcons nesting there now.”
“They agree on the importance of ensuring that policies relating to mining activities are robust and I'm glad to see the Welsh Government's response to our report reflecting on the acceptance of some of our primary recommendations. We need to ensure that these are robust, up-to-date and offer appropriate protections for local authorities and the communities, with the goal of preventing the negative impacts of opencast mining from being repeated. However, I'm disappointed to see that, in rejecting recommendation 4, this stops short of making the Coal Authority's best practice guidance recommendations into statutory requirements, ensuring that they themselves do not become financially responsible. Clearly, this is going to become a sticking point for many years to come.”
“However, when speaking on site, it's fair to say that we cannot go backwards now; it would simply cost too much to extract the amount of coal, to bring back all the equipment in to extract, so it's how well the site is restored. And again, as Llyr has said, it's important that the community is involved. So, they need to restore the site. I understand that a figure of £15 million has been allocated by the company to do this. However, it's fair to say that the council, the UK Government and the Welsh Government need to be involved by supporting this project and working with the mine owners. Collaboration is key on sites like this.”
“Prior to that, it's fair to say that, during committee, we'd taken evidence, and I was very concerned when there was talk of pollution on the site, with the waters that had gathered in the pits that they've actually started to improve—the deep mines, I should say. Mining some of the highest quality coal in the world, 11 million tonnes of this was carefully extracted since 2008 to provide cleaner coal for energy and steel making. The mine was closed after a nine-month extension was refused, resulting in the sad reality that Wales must now import impure and dirty coal from abroad, potentially causing more harm now to our environment than would otherwise have been done, should Ffos-y-fran have remained operational.”
“As has already been mentioned, our committee were very lucky last week to visit the Ffos-y-fran opencast mine above Merthyr Tydfil. This was an extremely informative and enjoyable visit, actually, where we were taken through the incredible work that is already ongoing to restore this opencast mine back to a site of historical value, but also one where there will be environmental benefits and biodiversity as well. My heartfelt thanks to Chris Barber, operations manager for Merthyr (South Wales), for hosting us at the site and to Jon Stoddard, the principal landscape architect from Richards, Moorhead and Laing Ltd, who are charged with undertaking these comprehensive works.”
“I believe this situation can be, potentially, as dangerous as coal tip safety. So, with around 20 privately owned reservoirs in Wales classified as high risk, wouldn't it be wiser now, Cabinet Secretary, as part of the new reservoir approach that you will be developing with the UK Government, to take a more proactive approach, which sees the state and the private owners co-operate together? It's not something that private landowners will or can do on their own. And then we've got the orphan reservoirs, and then we've got other reservoirs, owned by Dŵr Cymru and things like that. So, do you think you could almost have a task and—I don't like 'task and finish group', but a taskforce, to make sure that there's a cohesive approach to this?”
“I'm aware of conveyancing methods whereby, sometimes, they don't always inform, when you're buying land, of your obligations regarding culverts, ditches and whatever, but also too with reservoirs. Now, between 2019 and 2021, £0.5 million of taxpayers' money was spent on orphan reservoirs. I find this fascinating, because it just baffles me how people can walk away from responsibilities, and then these reservoirs are classed as orphan reservoirs. It bothers me why, under Land Registry rules, you can't find out who owns them. And also, only £20,000 has been allocated to NRW's reservoir regulation team for their work in relation to the private reservoirs. There isn't a single penny of support for owners of private reservoirs, despite the costs that could be involved, and, more, the significant risk to whole communities.”
“Now, the written statement outlined the ambition to create a modern approach to hazard management and updating regulation and enforcement. There are concerns, though, for funding. NRW alone has 20 high-risk reservoirs, and they've already spent £2.68 million in 2019-20, and £3.72 million in 2020-21 on only 10, and they were essential safety projects. That's averaging out at around £600,000 per reservoir. Bearing in mind the phenomenal costs that can be associated with making our reservoirs more substantial, do you stand by your comments to the Senedd last month that every private owner of a reservoir now needs to know that they have these responsibilities, and, with them, the liability?”
“Now, there’s been much talk about coal tip safety, and, really, what I’m very concerned about—. My own constituency saw a dreadful disaster in Dolgarrog. You announced last week by written statement that you will be co-operating with the UK Government to reform reservoir safety. Bearing in mind that there are over 20 privately owned and high-risk reservoirs in Wales, why was this not brought before our Senedd for scrutiny?”
“Diolch, Llywydd. The risk and cost of increased rainfall due to climate change are rising without doubt, with extreme weather events becoming more frequent. Last winter, Natural Resources Wales issued 483 flood alerts—a 16 per cent increase on the previous year. UK winters are now 10 per cent wetter. Increasing rainfall is, though, putting increased pressure on our reservoirs. Earlier this year, the Rapidan Dam in Blue Earth county, Minnesota failed due to intense flooding, leading to urgent evacuation of nearby residents. Similarly, here in the UK in 2019, thousands of people were evacuated from Whaley Bridge because part of a reservoir wall had collapsed, and, a decade ago, a whole village in Gwynedd had to be evacuated due to a landslide that caused a crack in a nearby reservoir.”
“And can I just also say that, during wars, we've seen several horses carrying men that sadly died—that's why people wear, now, the purple poppy—and also dogs that were killed during the war? May we never forget any of them; we will remember them all. Diolch.”
“Oh, the blind veterans in Llandudno, I wanted to mention those. Their veterans were out; it was a cold day, wet and windy, on Sunday, and they were there. They have to try to learn to rebuild their lives after sight loss. This armed forces charity is a trusted source of support for serving personnel. Founded in 1885, we're extremely proud of their long-standing heritage and all the work they do. By fostering dialogue, compassion and justice, we can honour the memory of those who fall by working toward a world where future generations live free from the devastation of war. The greatest tribute we can pay to the fallen is to build a world worthy of their sacrifice and a world that becomes at peace and remains at peace.”
“Thousands went through the church to see all these hand-made poppies and the work that has been contributed to by people from around the world. One hundred and ten and 80 years ago, a generation rose to face unimaginable challenges. They were ordinary people who displayed extraordinary valour, sons and daughters, fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, friends and fellow citizens. Some left their homes and loved ones to serve on distant battlefields, others laboured tirelessly on the home front, supporting their nation's efforts in every way, all playing their part, united by a common purpose: to protect our values of liberty, justice and peace. The same is true, sadly, today, as men and women from Wales and across the UK continue to answer the call of duty. For many, the first step through the doors of their—.”
“Llandudno has been home to the longest yarn, and that was a month-long Llandudno tribute from 2 to 27 October 2024 to the war effort behind the D-day landings of 1944. This was every community under Allied control, including those in today's Commonwealth countries, formerly under British Empire rule, who played a vital part in pushing back against the Nazi forces, which ultimately hastened the end of world war two in Europe and won peace at that time. There's been a modern-day, three-dimensional equivalent of the Bayeux tapestry depicting D-day in 80 panels on tour throughout the UK and the United States of America, a full-sized knitted Churchill AVRE tank, a gown of poppies, stunning D-day-themed post box toppers, and it was just the whole exhibition.”
“Today, as we did on Sunday, as we did yesterday, the eleventh of the eleventh at 11 a.m., we all come together to show our respect and to honour the sacrifices of countless brave men and women who gave their lives for our freedom. One point two million British personnel lost their lives during the first and second world wars, and my colleague Darren Millar has eloquently said about the numerous wars we've seen since. We must not only remember, but we need to learn from their sacrifice. Across Wales, several of us took part in ceremonies surrounded by symbols of remembrance, the poppies, the wreaths and the solemn silence serving as powerful reminders of the profound cost of war and the lasting legacy of courage. Here in Llandudno, we have seen remarkable displays.”
“The statement in September mentions progress on the building safety (Wales) Bill to enhance safety in multi-occupied buildings and to regulate construction. However, the legislation will not be actually introduced and finalised until 2026. That's eight years after Grenfell and two years from now. So, Cabinet Secretary, please will you accelerate this process? Finally, I am aware that Celestia's board of management have desperately requested to see the three tender submissions for the remediation works to be carried out at Celestia. Will you take it upon yourself to ensure that that management board is given the ability to see those three tender submissions for the remediation works?”
“Do you know, Cabinet Secretary, I've been working on this now for about four years, prior to my colleague Mark Isherwood? And it has to be said that I am still now being contacted regularly by people who say they feel they're in a desperate situation, they say the situation makes it impossible for them to be able to put up a fight, they are completely despondent. And let's not forget—these people are living in unsafe, at-risk-of-fire properties, and they're unsellable, and they are stuck in that situation. In the four years, we've been promised about the contract, we've been promised lots by the Welsh Government. I realise you are new in portfolio, but only 2 per cent of these buildings have completed the required safety work.”
“It's fair to say I agree with Llyr Gruffydd. In Aberconwy, I'm repeatedly now being told that children are having to wait a considerably long time. I raised this issue a year ago and Lynne Neagle, at the time, mentioned that it was not correct, that people were not waiting over 12 months, even. Well, we've seen that health boards across Wales have reported significant rises in referrals to neurodevelopment services. In the Betsi board, the waiting list for ADHD or autism spectrum disorder assessments surged from 2,753 in February 2022 to 5,163 by December 2023, the highest in Wales. So, with this in mind, First Minister, what are you thinking of doing to bring these numbers down quickly, and will you consider collaborating with English treatment centres to reduce these waiting times?”
“Without this transport, some patients are forced to then pay for expensive taxi alternatives, and we’ve got poor bus services across the same areas. Indeed, recently, Cabinet Secretary, I’ve even had appointments falling far outside our county, some as far as Liverpool—urgent heart appointments and things—and, again, arranged transport, only for it to be cancelled. It’s completely unacceptable. These services must be preserved and protected to ensure that those in rural areas—often among the most vulnerable—can access the medical treatment they need without having to spend extra on unnecessary taxi journeys. And, also, how much is it costing in resources for all the failed appointments, where the consultant is waiting for the patient? Their health should never be at risk as a result of something like this.”
“I thank James Evans for bringing this important debate here, and also for allowing me a minute. A new problem that’s started affecting Aberconwy constituents, and indeed Betsi Cadwaladr patients, is the Welsh ambulance service cancelling appointments for people very near to the time of their appointment. This leaves patients really concerned, upset, and feeling that they’ve missed an appointment in the first place. They need that appointment, and these are often people living in remote rural communities. These services are a vital lifeline to many in the Conwy valley. Aberconwy covers from Llanfairfechan to Penrhyn Bay, the Conwy valley, right up to Capel Curig and Dolwyddelan. It’s a huge swathe of rural isolated parts.”
“Right, okay. We are now left with the challenging task of mitigating the impacts of this budget. Yesterday, you were really pleased that you're putting all this money into the public sector and that it would grow the economy. The only way you grow the economy is by supporting your businesses who employ more workers, who pay more tax. That tax pays for your public services. End of. It's a disastrous budget and I, for one, will never support it. Diolch.”
“The budget's effects on inflation, investment and real wages mean that Wales, despite its ambitions and resilience, will be left more vulnerable to both economic and environmental setbacks. During the—”
“Yes. And no commitment to improve the north Wales main line. Ironically too, the only place they do seem to be teaming up is to double down on the attack on our farmers: a callous commitment to extract funds from hard-working farming families, many of whom lack the liquidity to cough up a 20 per cent inheritance tax, and will be forced to sell their land to meet their obligations. Can we just be serious for a minute? It has seen the tragic instance of one farmer taking his own life in despair at the prospect of this budget. Labour's economic plans, characterised by rising taxes and increased borrowing, threaten both immediate economic stability and long-term growth. The OBR has downgraded growth by 0.7 per cent over the next five years, and debt is now projected to reach £3 trillion within two years. That's £3,000,000,000,000.”
“With the cost of living still high, and inflation now on the rise, household budgets will be squeezed even more, making it more challenging for families to cover everyday expenses, increasing reliance on welfare services—maybe that's what you're happy with—and placing further strain on already stretched resources. The fairytale that two Labour Governments would lead to a more Wales-focused agenda is utterly debunked by this budget. Yesterday, I witnessed here the First Minister and the Cabinet Secretary for finance trying to justify this shambolic first attempt of a budget. At a time when we face energy insecurity, there has been no commitment to the Wylfa project, which was well under way by the previous UK Conservative Government. There is no commitment—[ Interruption .] Behave.”
“The budget's own architect, the Rt Hon Rachel Reeves, explained: 'It will mean that businesses will have to absorb some of this through profits and it is likely to mean that wage increases might be slightly less than they otherwise would have been.' Already, my business owners in Aberconwy take home much less than the national median rate. This policy is going to exacerbate regional economic disparities and drive more Welsh workers towards economic hardship. The OBR has warned that this budget is likely to stoke inflation further, by keeping it above the 2 per cent target until 2029. This will have catastrophic consequences for living standards across Wales.”
“A Government that saw a growth in our economy during a Brexit transition, a global COVID pandemic and the war in Ukraine, and faced up to the shocking crisis we are now seeing in the middle east. When Labour came into power, they took over the fastest growing economy in the G7, with inflation down to its lowest level, and interest rates, for those with savings, increasing. We are now facing, as a result of this budget, a tax burden that is now projected to reach 38.2 per cent of GDP by 2028-29—the highest level since the late 1940s. This is largely a result of a £25 billion increase in national insurance, affecting both the employers and workers too, because the burden gets passed down to employees through lower wages.”
“Last week’s first attempt at a budget by the UK Labour Government was a sad realisation that we are in for a painful five years, or one term, shall we say. This must surely be described as a budget of broken promises, with a plethora of measures that contradicted their own manifesto pledges by the Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister. He misled, he lied, and he failed to deliver what he had promised the electorate, in writing, in his manifesto, whilst betraying our country, its people and, in particular, the people of Wales. Most concerning for Wales, of course, is the unprecedented increase in the tax burden. So much for Welsh Labour's constant criticism of the previous Conservative Government. Yes, they were in power for the last 14 years. Thank goodness.”
“Also, what resources will you be able to provide to headteachers and schoolteachers, because, clearly, any time spent changing nappies is time away from the classroom? Obviously, there is some guidance needed on this now, because it's an ever-growing problem. Diolch.”
“Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. A new report released last Friday by Child of the North and the Centre for Young Lives explains that in 2022-23 a third of children were not considered school-ready, with concerns around speech and language development and arriving to school whilst still wearing nappies. Even a report from some 10 years ago revealed that at least half of primary school staff observed an increase in children unable to successfully take themselves to the toilet during the day. In speaking with my own headteachers locally, concerns of children arriving in nappies now are growing. Over half of children who are not school-ready perform below expectations in their key stage 1 reading assessment, so there is some direct correlation here. What guidance, Cabinet Secretary, can you provide to parents and families?”
“7. Pa gymorth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei ddarparu i ysgolion o ran plant bach sy'n mynychu'r ysgol mewn cewynnau? OQ61782”
“So, will you, Cabinet Secretary, perhaps work with or send out guidance notes to local authorities to almost suggest to them that one way they could lower the increase in temporary accommodation spend would be by turning some of these commercial units back into lovely homes, and that planning authorities should see it now as a new direction for some of these town centres? Diolch.”
“I thank my colleague Adam Price for raising this really important issue, because for years we've discussed the shortage of affordable homes. I will declare an interest in this matter and refer Members to my declarations of interest. We have so many empty properties in our constituencies within town centres. One only has to look at towns like Bangor and Caernarfon; those high streets now look really sad because there are so many closed-down properties. It's a fact that the commercial market is shrinking and many ground-floor retail properties are suitable for easy conversion back to homes, but this is of course dependent on an innovate-thinking local authority planning department. Too often, such applications struggle to obtain the necessary change-of-use class allowing conversion to make these homes.”
“Yes. You've let down our farmers, you've betrayed our small businesses, you've robbed our pensioners. How can you, Cabinet Secretary for finance, tell me and my group here that this is a good budget? Remember, the Labour Government inherited the fastest growing growth in the G7—”
“In the wake of storms, additional monitoring is now required, with new technology involving drones and other specialist equipment being employed. The reality is that addressing this could cost considerably more than £25 million; I think a figure from the benches over there was around £300 million.”
“Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. Now, look, you can pat yourselves on the back if it makes you feel better, but the reality is that this budget is so bad for the people of Wales, and actually the UK, that it's had the thumbs down already from many within our finance institutions and our constituents. Now, much has been said today about the fact that you're having this money—over £25 million, is it, for the coal tip safety? You've had 25 years to deal with it. It's been your responsibility for 25 years, so, arguably, you're getting £1 million per year in overdue payments. There has been a mammoth task, with the Welsh Government setting up a taskforce, including the Coal Authority, 14 council areas, as far as Wrexham and Pembrokeshire, and Natural Resources Wales to examine and survey the tips.”
“Ask the National Farmers Union Cymru, the Farmers Union of Wales, Gareth Wyn Jones, if you don’t believe me. What discussions will you have with UK and Welsh Government colleagues about the detrimental impact that inheritance tax rules are set to have on your ability to deliver on the green jobs and growth priority that you have set yourselves? Diolch.”
“Thank you, Counsel General and Minister for Delivery. One of the four Welsh Government priorities the First Minister committed the Welsh Government to was driving forward progress in green jobs and growth, creating green jobs that tackle the climate crisis and restore nature, while making families better off and accelerating planning decisions to grow the Welsh economy. There is one sector more than any other that provides over 50,000 green jobs, supports families the length and breadth of Wales, and helps sustain and enhance our environment, and that is agriculture. Your colleagues in London have, without doubt, launched an assault on the future of family farms. Jo Stevens MP, Secretary of State for Wales, is wrong when she claims that the new inheritance tax rules will only impact the wealthiest farmers.”
“2. Pa drafodaethau y mae'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol wedi'u cael gyda chydweithwyr yn y Cabinet ynghylch effaith cyllideb Llywodraeth y DU ar gyflawni blaenoriaethau Llywodraeth Cymru? OQ61784”
“The evidence is clear to me and to many others working really hard to look after our nature recovery, and actually bring about actions to protect these species. Given the spend you have allocated to the climate change budget and to this in particular, will you work closely with other Members in this Senedd, so that that £100 million doesn’t just go and is wasted, as we often see with Welsh Government money, but it actually does what it says it’s supposed to do and we stop the nature decline here in Wales? Diolch.”
“One hundred million pounds is a lot of money and let’s hope that it goes where it should do, to actually stop the nature decline in species that we’re seeing. Wales has seen now that freshwater species populations have declined by 20 per cent, with over 2 per cent of assessed species now extinct, and that’s including 11 bird species. At lunch time, I was proud to attend and speak at a Friends of the Earth Cymru event to celebrate their fortieth anniversary. They look to us as politicians, and you as a Government, to stop paying lip service to your climate and nature recovery emergency. In the last climate change report, Lord Deben himself raised his concerns about marine conservation. Environmental governance doesn’t even exist in Wales.”