Eluned Morgan
Welsh Labour · Wales
“Dwi ddim yn meddwl bod y carbon border adjustment mechanism —. Nid taclo sero net yw nod hwnna. Mae e ychydig yn wahanol. Mae e i wneud yn siŵr nad oes yna ddim anghyfartaledd yn y farchnad, i wneud yn siŵr nad yw pobl ddim yn gamio'r system.”
“Wel, un o'r pethau dwi'n benderfynol o'i wneud yw sicrhau ein bod ni'n dod â rhestrau aros o'r bobl sy'n aros hiraf i lawr, felly mae hwnna'n un o'r pethau. Ac yn amlwg, yn wythnosol, dwi'n gofyn am updates ar beth sy'n digwydd; mae e'n anodd, achos mae niferoedd yn dod ymlaen ar y rhestr o hyd.”
“Wel, mae resilience yn issue nid jest yn sir Fôn, ond ar draws y wlad. Mae hi wedi bod yn anodd, achos mae maint y cyfalaf rŷn ni wedi'i gael yn y gyllideb yn y blynyddoedd diwethaf wedi bod yn gyfyngedig.”
“Wel, dwi’n meddwl yn yr achos yna, efallai—. Cawn ni weld beth sy’n digwydd post 2027. Gallwch chi weld bydd y tegwch yna yn y system. Os ydych chi’n mynd i greu dur fan hyn, a'i fod e’n haws ac yn tsiepach i fewnforio dur, ond dydyn nhw ddim yn parchu’r amgylchedd tra'u bod nhw’n ei greu e, yn amlwg, wedyn, bydd hynny’n creu lefel gwell.…”
“Wel, mae strategaeth glir gyda ni, ‘ A Healthier Wales ’, ac yn honno mae yna dair elfen glir. Un yw symud pethau i mewn i faes atal; sicrhau ein bod ni’n gwneud mwy yn agos yn ein cymunedau ni; a hefyd symud i wneud lot mwy yn ddigidol a moderneiddio.”
“Ydyn. So, un o’r pethau ŷn ni’n eu gwneud nawr yw dŷn ni wedi rhoi £50 miliwn yn ychwanegol eleni, a beth ŷn ni wedi'i ofyn yw: beth ŷn ni’n gallu ei gael am £50 miliwn? Felly, dŷn ni ddim yn rhyddhau’r arian yna tan fod pobl yn cyflwyno ac yn dangos i ni’r hyn maen nhw wedi ei wneud. Mae e’n anodd, achos mae lot o’r rhestri aros yna.”
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Every one of 198 lines we hold for Eluned Morgan, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 1 of 4.
“Wel, dwi'n meddwl bod y ffaith bod gyda ni transparency nawr, fod pobl yn gwybod beth yw'r categori maen nhw i mewn, doedd hwnna ddim yn bodoli ychydig flynyddoedd yn ôl. Doedd dim syniad gyda chi beth oedd effeithlonrwydd y tŷ. Felly, rŷn ni wedi symud pethau ymlaen. Dwi'n hapus i fynd i ffwrdd ac edrych ar hwnna. Os ydych chi wedi gwneud gwaith arno fe fel pwyllgor, byddwn i â diddordeb mewn edrych arno fe.”
“Wel, beth rŷn ni'n ei wneud yw rhoi mwy o arian i mewn i'r NHS, ac mae'n sylweddol. Yn amlwg, fe fydd yna arian ychwanegol eleni—mae'r £50 miliwn yna. Ac roedd yna arian ychwanegol i wario ar bethau fel diagnostic equipment . So, mae hwnna'n mynd i brysuro pethau, yn mynd i gyflymu pa mor gyflym rŷn ni'n gallu gweld pobl. Wedyn, wrth gwrs, mae arian ychwanegol ar gyfer y flwyddyn nesaf—tua £400 miliwn ychwanegol. Felly, mae hwnna i gyd yn arian ychwanegol nad oedd yna o'r blaen.”
“Beth ŷn ni’n ei wneud yn gyffredinol yw rŷn ni’n rhoi rhan fwyaf o’r arian rŷn ni’n ei gael yn yr NHS, rŷn ni’n ei roi e’n uniongyrchol i fyrddau iechyd ac mae i fyny iddyn nhw i weld beth yw’r ffordd orau i roi’r ddarpariaeth yna. Os maen nhw eisiau defnyddio ASH, mae cyfle gyda nhw i wneud hynny a buddsoddi’n uniongyrchol. Os maen nhw’n meddwl bod ASH yn gwneud gwaith gwell na maen nhw’n ei wneud yn uniongyrchol, mae cyfle gyda nhw i wneud hynny.”
“Wel, mae strategaeth glir gyda ni, ‘ A Healthier Wales ’, ac yn honno mae yna dair elfen glir. Un yw symud pethau i mewn i faes atal; sicrhau ein bod ni’n gwneud mwy yn agos yn ein cymunedau ni; a hefyd symud i wneud lot mwy yn ddigidol a moderneiddio. Felly, mae’n ddiddorol, mae’r adroddiad maen nhw wedi ei gael yn Lloegr yn dweud mai dyna beth ddylen nhw fod yn ei wneud. Rydym ni saith mlynedd i mewn i’r strategaeth yna eisoes, ac rŷn ni wedi gweld lot o waith atal eisoes yn digwydd. Mae peth o’r gwaith atal yna ŷch chi’n sôn amdano nawr yn digwydd tu fewn i’r NHS.”
“Os ŷch chi'n edrych ar gyfartaledd, pa mor hir mae pobl ar gyfartaledd yn aros, mae e tua 21 wythnos. Dwi’n meddwl bod hwnna, yn amlwg, os ŷch chi mewn lot o boen, yn amser hir. Ond dwi’n meddwl ei fod e’n bwysig hefyd ein bod ni’n edrych ar y cyfartaledd mae pobl yn aros. Fel dwi’n dweud, mae yna lot o bethau lle dyw pobl ddim yn byw mewn poen, mae e jest yn rhywbeth maen nhw eisiau cael gwared arno, maen nhw eisiau cael eu gweld, ac felly maen nhw’n gallu aros tamaid bach yn fwy o amser.”
“Ydyn. So, un o’r pethau ŷn ni’n eu gwneud nawr yw dŷn ni wedi rhoi £50 miliwn yn ychwanegol eleni, a beth ŷn ni wedi'i ofyn yw: beth ŷn ni’n gallu ei gael am £50 miliwn? Felly, dŷn ni ddim yn rhyddhau’r arian yna tan fod pobl yn cyflwyno ac yn dangos i ni’r hyn maen nhw wedi ei wneud. Mae e’n anodd, achos mae lot o’r rhestri aros yna. Mae yna broblem arbennig, fel y gwyddoch chi, yn Betsi, felly rydym ni’n trio canolbwyntio ar yr ardaloedd hynny. Felly, fe fydd hi’n anoddach mewn rhai rhannau o’r wlad na rhannau eraill.”
“Yn sicr, ac, ar ben hynny, dwi wedi ei gwneud hi'n glir fy mod i eisiau i iechyd menywod i fod yn flaenoriaeth i mi—ac ŷch chi wedi clywed yr wythnos yma, rŷn ni wedi cyhoeddi, ein bod ni'n mynd i gael women's hubs ym mhob rhan o Gymru—a hefyd iechyd meddwl, a sicrhau bod pobl yn cael eu gweld mewn amser penodol tu fewn i iechyd meddwl.”
“Felly, mae pobl yn gallu byw gyda phroblem am flynyddoedd sydd ddim yn achosi poen iddyn nhw—mae'n rhywbeth sydd ddim yn neis, ond dyw e ddim o reidrwydd yn achosi poen. Yn amlwg, felly, dwi'n meddwl bod y peth iawn i'w wneud yw dweud y gwnawn ni ganolbwyntio ar y pethau pwysicaf, y pethau urgent , ar y cancers , ac ar y rhestrau hiraf. So, ŷch chi'n gallu cadw ni at hynny.”
“Wel, un o'r pethau dwi'n benderfynol o'i wneud yw sicrhau ein bod ni'n dod â rhestrau aros o'r bobl sy'n aros hiraf i lawr, felly mae hwnna'n un o'r pethau. Ac yn amlwg, yn wythnosol, dwi'n gofyn am updates ar beth sy'n digwydd; mae e'n anodd, achos mae niferoedd yn dod ymlaen ar y rhestr o hyd. Mae'n bwysig i fi ein bod ni'n canolbwyntio ar y bobl sydd wedi bod yn aros hiraf. Mae rhaid ichi gofio wastad bod blaenoriaeth wastad i bobl, er enghraifft, gyda chanser, a phobl sydd yn e mergencies; so maen nhw’n cael eu gweld gyntaf, ac felly mae yna berygl bod pobl sy'n aros hiraf jest yn dal i aros. Ac mae yna berygl bod pobl yn gwneud y pethau sydd mwyaf rhwydd i'w cael drwy'r system; dŷn nhw ddim o reidrwydd y mwyaf pwysig i'w cael drwy'r system.”
“Mae hwnna'n hollbwysig. Os nad ydych chi'n gallu cadw beth sydd yna—. Ac mae'r un peth yn wir yn ein hysbytai ni. Byddai fe'n grêt petasem ni'n gallu adeiladu ysbytai newydd, ond mae'n rhaid inni gadw'r rhai sydd gyda ni i fynd. Felly, mae wastad gyda ni—. Mae'n rhaid inni wneud penderfyniad ynglŷn â beth rŷn ni'n ei wneud—cadw'r hyn sydd gyda ni, neu adeiladu rhywbeth sydd yn mynd i fod efallai lot yn fwy costus yn y tymor byr. Felly, rheini yw'r galwadau mae'n rhaid inni eu gwneud fel Llywodraeth.”
“O beth dwi'n ei ddeall, rŷn ni wedi buddsoddi eithaf lot yn y cysylltiad yna gyda'r ynys. Rŷn ni'n gwybod bod lot o waith wedi cael ei wneud ar y pontydd eisoes.”
“Wel, mae resilience yn issue nid jest yn sir Fôn, ond ar draws y wlad. Mae hi wedi bod yn anodd, achos mae maint y cyfalaf rŷn ni wedi'i gael yn y gyllideb yn y blynyddoedd diwethaf wedi bod yn gyfyngedig. Er hynny, rŷn ni wedi gwario lot o arian ar strwythurau a'r infrastructure yn ein cymdeithas ni, ond wrth gwrs mae strwythur fel hwnnw yn gostus tu hwnt. Beth sy'n dda nawr yw bod gennym ni lot fawr o gyfalaf ychwanegol. Yn amlwg, bydd lot o hynny yn mynd ar yr NHS, felly mae angen resilience tu mewn i'r NHS, yn ogystal ag ar ein rheilffyrdd ni ac ar ein heolydd ni. Yn amlwg, mae'n rhaid inni sicrhau bod y resilience yna mor gryf ag y mae'n gallu bod tu mewn i'r cyfyngiadau cyllidebol sydd gennym ni.”
“Dwi wedi cael cyfle i gwrdd â Nick Thomas-Symonds, sy'n gyfrifol am drefnu'r reset yna—mae e wrthi—ac roedd cyfle gyda fi wedyn i ddweud yn glir beth oedd ein blaenoriaethau ni o ran beth y byddem ni eisiau ei weld y tu mewn i'r reset yna.”
“Wel, dwi’n meddwl yn yr achos yna, efallai—. Cawn ni weld beth sy’n digwydd post 2027. Gallwch chi weld bydd y tegwch yna yn y system. Os ydych chi’n mynd i greu dur fan hyn, a'i fod e’n haws ac yn tsiepach i fewnforio dur, ond dydyn nhw ddim yn parchu’r amgylchedd tra'u bod nhw’n ei greu e, yn amlwg, wedyn, bydd hynny’n creu lefel gwell. Ond efallai beth welwch chi wedyn yw bod mwy o ddur yn cael ei greu yma, ond efallai bydd y targedau—. So, bydd y net ar draws y byd yn gostwng, ond, actually , efallai y gwelwch chi bod mwy yn cael ei greu fan hyn achos bod y balans yn well. Felly, mae’n ddiddorol. Bydd e’n ddiddorol i weld sut mae hwnnw’n gweithio allan. Dwi ddim yn siŵr os ydyn ni’n gwybod eto.”
“Dwi ddim yn meddwl bod y carbon border adjustment mechanism —. Nid taclo sero net yw nod hwnna. Mae e ychydig yn wahanol. Mae e i wneud yn siŵr nad oes yna ddim anghyfartaledd yn y farchnad, i wneud yn siŵr nad yw pobl ddim yn gamio'r system. Felly, dyw e ddim o reidrwydd yn ymwneud gydag ymdrin â net sero, ond i wneud yn siŵr nad oes yna ddim annhegwch. A dyna'r broblem nawr. Beth sydd wedi digwydd yw, yn amlwg, mae gyda chi’r c arbon adjustment mechanism y tu fewn i’r EU, ac maen nhw’n dweud, ‘Os ydych chi’n dod mewn fan hyn, mae’n rhaid i chi dalu trethi ychwanegol, os nad ydych chi wedi gwneud hyn a hyn’. Mae Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig yn mynd i gyflwyno eu carbon border adjustment mechanism eu hunain erbyn 2027. Felly, bydd hwnna yn creu mwy o degwch yn y farchnad.”
“Wel, dwi ddim yn meddwl ei fod e ynglŷn â chyllideb. Dwi'n meddwl bod lot o hyn i wneud â ble mae swyddogion yn gwario'u hamser nhw. Ydyn nhw'n gwario eu hamser nhw ar ysgrifennu strategaethau, neu ydyn nhw'n gwario eu hamser nhw yn gwneud yn siŵr bod pethau'n cael eu delifro?”
“Diolch yn fawr. Mae'r achosion yna yn annerbyniol, ac mae'n bwysig ein bod ni yn rhoi pwysau ar y gwasanaeth ambiwlans ac ar y bwrdd iechyd i wella'r sefyllfa. Ond, wrth gwrs, mae lot o bwysau. Mae'n anodd iawn i gael pobl allan o ddrws cefn yr ysbytai, a dyna beth rŷn ni'n trio ei wneud, a hefyd atal pobl rhag mynd i mewn yn y lle cyntaf, gofalu amdanyn nhw yn eu cartrefi. Dwi'n falch o ddweud bod bwrdd iechyd Hywel Dda wedi gweld gwelliant o 10 y cant o ran galwadau coch, o gymharu gyda'r un mis y llynedd.”
“Ein bwriad yw rheoli pobl ag anghenion gofal brys yn y gymuned a gwella’r cynlluniau ar gyfer rhyddhau. Bydd hyn yn golygu bod mwy o ambiwlansys ar gael mewn argyfwng. Yn ddiweddar, rŷn ni wedi lansio'r her 50 diwrnod, cyhoeddi canllawiau newydd ar drosglwyddo cleifion o ambiwlansys, a recriwtio 26 o glinigwyr i ddarparu cyngor o bell o ganolfannau cyswllt 999.”
“Just to give you an example, there are more than 2,400 pollinator sites, 800 food-growing sites, and 700 community orchards, as well as 86 therapeutic gardens for mental health and well-being. All of that is something to celebrate. We all need a boost, it's just coming up to Christmas, go and have a look at what's happening in your local environment in this space.”
“Thanks very much, Carolyn. I don't know how you keep an eye on so many things—you seem to be all over everything—but thank you very much for hosting that event tomorrow because I think it is something we should celebrate. I think everybody should have a look at what's going on in this space in relation to our implementation of the Local Places for Nature programme. The great thing is this is the fifth year that it's in place, and it's great that One Voice Wales is taking a lead on some of this. The projects are community partnerships, and that's the key thing: it's about the community getting involved. As I said, there are 20,000 volunteers, and this is really changing people's lives. So, it is something we should celebrate, and it's making a difference not just to those people, but also, clearly, to biodiversity.”
“Many of you here will have seen first-hand the benefits in your local communities. More than 4,000 green spaces have been created or improved for nature and growing food, transforming our towns and the lives of countless volunteers, and let's not forget the volunteers. The social and economic outcomes are currently being independently evaluated alongside a biodiversity assessment.”
“We're trying to increase training places for all members of the dental team, and let's be clear: we're interested in the whole dental team, not just in dentists. That is difficult to achieve in the current financial crisis and, obviously, it takes time for people to come through the system. But I'm very pleased to see that already we've increased the number of people doing dental therapy, and also we're just seeing the first graduates to qualify from the Bangor University dental hygiene programme.”
“Thanks very much. We're challenged when it comes to dentistry. It's not something that's unique to Wales, but I'm really pleased to see that the change in the dental contract in Wales has made a difference, particularly if you compare it to the situation across the border. If you just look at your region, 69,000 people who previously could not see a dentist have now seen a dentist, and that is a—[ Interruption .] Would you like to me answer? Sixty-nine thousand people have seen an NHS dentist. So, it is important, I think, to recognise that a new dental contract has been signed. The details of that contract will be made available soon, but I hope it will address some of the issues that you are concerned with. There is an issue also around workforce.”
“Rŷn ni wedi ymrwymo i ddiwygio contract deintyddol y gwasanaeth iechyd yn seiliedig ar egwyddorion atal, risg, angen a mynediad. Mae trafodaethau ar gyfer contract newydd wedi dod i ben yn ddiweddar. Bydd y contract newydd hwn yn creu system sy'n fwy apelgar i ddeintyddion ac yn decach i gleifion.”
“It's not just women; men have a responsibility here too to call it out. Don't be a bystander; make sure you're calling it out, whether that be in the workplace, on public transport, in the NHS. That is the key thing. We all have a responsibility to stop this from happening.”
“Thanks very much. Well, public services should be a safe place, and it's really important that we lead by example in Welsh Government and in the organisations that we finance. We have a zero-tolerance policy in relation to this and I want particularly Welsh Government workplaces to be a model of safety and respect. I don't think people quite understand the impact that this has on people's lives and women's lives. We're talking sleepless nights, we're talking real stress and vulnerability and a real feeling of people feeling uncomfortable and feeling a little bit powerless, particularly if there's a power relationship. And it is something that I think almost all women have experienced, and it is something that we've got to take on. It's important that men call out this behaviour.”
“I'm really pleased to say that we have a conference series for public sectors leaders that promotes practical action to prevent and respond to workplace harassment, and that aligns with the Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023. Compliance with law, though, as I say, is just the starting point; it's a cultural shift that we need to see, and we've been disseminating, for example, TUC Cymru's toolkit through the networks that we have.”
“Thanks very much, Hannah, and I think it's important to note that actually the vast majority of people who work in our public sector behave incredibly well, and in a decent way. But anybody who conducts this kind of unacceptable behaviour should be chased out of town, frankly. It is not acceptable in our public sector today for us to have this situation in relation to sexual harassment. The case that was quoted by you was certainly unacceptable, and you know I would endorse what Jason Killens has said as the chief executive: these people must be sacked. But, of course, we've got to change a culture before we get to that, and I think it's really important for people to recognise that sexual banter is not acceptable, but actually that whole tone within workplaces needs to be shifted.”
“We work in social partnership to promote inclusive working environments in all sectors, so that women and, indeed, all workers, can work free from the limitations imposed by a sexist culture and the fear of bullying, sexual harassment and discrimination.”
“But the UK Government has made it clear that the money will be reimbursed in relation to people who are directly employed in the public sector, and GPs are not.”
“Thanks very much. I think it is important to recognise that they're actually seeing more people than ever more before. So, there's a 0.9 per cent increase in people being seen this year compared to last year. When it comes to the national insurance contributions, clearly, we've heard loud and clear that they are concerned about the situation. Don't forget that the health service has already been given a significant uplift as a result of the budget. That doesn't come from nowhere, that's got to come from somewhere, and some of that comes from an increase in national insurance contributions. Now, we recognise that there are specific issues in relation to GPs; clearly, we'll continue conversations with them around that.”
“Certainly, when I was health Minister—I'm sure Jeremy will do the same thing—when you hear about them, you get on the phone and you say, 'I hear this is not going well', and you chase them down. I'd encourage you, as Senedd Members, to get in touch with the local health boards to make sure that you're standing up for your constituents, because the contract has been signed. Most GP practices across Wales are doing exceptional work, but it is important that we chase down those are who not complying with those new rules.”
“Thanks very much. I think, first of all, we've got to recognise the amount of work that GP practices undertake. It is quite, quite remarkable that they see 1.6 million people every month in a population of 3 million. The scale of this work is quite, quite remarkable. And in Swansea bay, I think they're delivering exceptional access to their patients. Some of that is because, actually, there's been a new contract. There's been a new GP access contract. They've signed up to the contract. Ninety-seven per cent of practices told us they were achieving that commitment, supporting more equitable access arrangements across Wales. But you're right, there are some—and we all know who they are—practices that are not doing what they should, and you're absolutely right, I think it's important that we chase those down.”
“Swansea Bay University Health Board serves around 383,000 people and employs just under 12,500 people. I expect the health board to work with its partners, through the pan-cluster planning group, to develop an increasing range of primary care services in line with the primary care model for Wales.”
“Thanks very much. I welcome the fact that RCT have been revising their LDP and consulting on this. The closing date was 16 April and they've now been moving on with what happens next. Obviously, they have to comply with the planning needs and policies of the Welsh Government. All LDPs are subject to statutory processes, which include several stages of consultation. Welsh Government, as you said, made it very clear that we thought that the Llanilltud Faerdref and Efail Isaf projects should be removed from the plan. I don’t think it would be appropriate for me to comment further on individual plans and policies, because that statutory process is still under way.”
“Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council consulted on their local development plan preferred strategy earlier this year. The Welsh Government, as a statutory consultee, made formal representations to the emerging plan, which are publicly available on the Welsh Government website.”
“So, as I said, Keir Starmer picked up the phone, offered support, and we, of course, will be going back to ask for more money in relation to coal tips and I'm very confident that he will be forthcoming, as he was last time.”
“We've been asking for money from the UK Government for four years, and nothing was forthcoming until we had a Labour Government. And we were really pleased that the Labour Government answered our request for £25 million, which is what we asked for, because we recognise that this is a 10 to 15-year project, it's not something you can put in place overnight, and there will be limits in terms of being able to absorb additional money, because there will be limits in terms of expertise, equipment. So, if they gave us the money, it'd be very difficult for us to use it all up because of the lack of expertise, which we need to build up.”
“They were back on their feet the next day, because of some of the investment we put in, because the floors were able to resist flooding, because the sockets had been raised up, because they'd been given protection by local authorities in terms of storm protection. And they were open the next day. Last time, it took them about two weeks. So, that building in of resilience—. Sometimes, I think we're going to have to accept that it'll be very difficult to protect every property. Climate change is not going anywhere; if anything, it's going to become more difficult. So, we do need to recognise that we'll need to adapt to a changing climate. And clearly, there is a limit to budgets; if you spend it on this, you're not spending it on something else.”
“Thanks very much. The rain this time, in some parts of our communities, was more intense and more frequent. The river levels were higher than they were under storm Dennis, and yet, despite that, far fewer homes were affected, so I do think that we need to acknowledge that that investment is making a difference. I accept that people need better warning, and that is something, clearly, that will need to be discussed with NRW and the Met Office. There will be times when it'll be difficult for us to protect every property in Wales. With the changes in climate, that is going to be very, very difficult. But what we can do is to build resilience, and it was really interesting in Pontypridd yesterday to speak to some of the shop owners who had been flooded out.”
“I accept that that is very little comfort to the people who were affected, and I know how devastating, just before Christmas, this must be for them, but we did learn lessons, and we have put in massive investment.”
“Thanks very much. I've got a sign in my office; it says, 'Less chat and more do', and that's what we did. After the last flood, we got on with it, investing £300 million. Yesterday, I was pleased to be able to go and see some of the investment and what a difference that was making: real-time identification of where the floods were hitting, where the blockages were coming, looking at those culverts—massive, massive investment in the culverts—and local authorities being able to monitor in real time, being able to send JCBs in to dig out any of the debris that had built up, which was then able to be removed, saving those thousands of properties. The system improved hugely, compared to what happened under storm Dennis. That is not a small amount of money.”
“And I think that it is important to note, particularly in places like Rhondda Cynon Taf, for example, where last time about 2,000 homes were affected, that, this time, around 150 homes were affected. That is a significant number of people who were protected as a result of the investment that went in by the Welsh Government—thousands of people protected because of that investment. And I think that that is something. Clearly, it's of no comfort to the people who were flooded out, and clearly we're trying to stand by and with them in these very difficult days for them.”
“Well, thanks very much. I think that the first thing to say is that it was really notable that Keir Starmer actually picked up the phone and spoke to both me and Andrew Morgan, the leader of the Welsh Local Government Association, on Sunday night, something that hasn't happened before, to offer that support. Clearly, we're working through at the moment the impact, not just on homes, the number of homes, which amount to around 400 now across Wales, but also to businesses and infrastructure. So, we will need a little bit of time to work through that. But I was very grateful that he reached out and offered that support, and, clearly, we will be getting back to him on that. But, in terms of lessons learned, since storm Dennis, we have invested £300 million in defences to try and support people.”
“And I'm pleased to announce that £1,000 will be given to households who don't have insurance, £500 to those who do have insurance, which will replicate the kind of support that was put in place following storm Dennis.”
“Thanks very much. Well, I know that Natural Resources Wales issued 131 alerts and warnings, including two severe flood warnings, with over 95,000 messages sent and 46,000 plus customers being reached. So, they did quite a lot. The question is: could they have done more? And that is something, clearly, that will need to be analysed. I think it is important also to recognise that, actually, we did learn a lot of lessons as a result of storm Dennis, and massive investment has been put in place. In relation to support that the Welsh Government can give, I'm very pleased that the finance Secretary has been working very hard over the weekend to identify additional funding.”
“Local government have stepped up. It was very clear, visiting Pontypridd yesterday, speaking to the council there, that there were people there who’d gone way above and beyond the call of duty on the weekend, trying to protect people’s properties. Clearly, there will be lessons learnt, as we learnt them last time, and we will need to work with Natural Resources Wales in terms of seeing if there could have been better warning. I’ve called a meeting next week with local authorities and NRW to assess the situation.”
“Thanks very much. It’s been a devastating weekend for many, many families across Wales, where we’ve seen in particular those impacted for the second time, after storm Dennis. They’ve seen storm Bert really create havoc in their homes and destroy lots of the property that they care about. I am particularly saddened to hear about the death of Bryan Perry, who lost his life in Conwy. Obviously, I’m sure we’d all here like to extend our sympathies to his family. The Deputy First Minister will be making a statement later in the afternoon in terms of the detail of the response. I’d like to thank him for his tireless work over the weekend, along with the north Wales Cabinet Secretary, who was also on visits. I think it’s probably worth also putting on record how important it was in terms of the response of the emergency services.”
“I think it is important to recognise that the UK Government is serious about investing in Wales and is interested in making sure that we see growth in our economy, which, in turn, will help us to support the public sector.”
“Thanks very much, Alun. The difference between this Government and the last Government is the difference between night and day. The amount of additional money that will be coming into our coffers in order to support public services is something they’ve already demonstrated. They’ve even demonstrated it in this financial year, where we’ve been able to give above-inflation pay rises to people in the public sector—something that’s been difficult to do for years and years and years under the Tories. And now we’ve got a budget settlement for next year where, for the first time, we’ll be looking at a situation where we won’t be having to think about cuts and cuts and cuts, which is the situation we’ve been in year after year after year. So, thank you, Alun.”