Sam Rowlands
Group Fflint Wrecsam · Welsh Conservative · Wales
“Diolch, Llywydd. Cabinet Secretary, you'll be aware that general practice is under immense pressure. More than 100 surgeries in Wales have closed since 2012, making it more difficult for people to access a GP in their local area.”
“Frankly, at this point, in response, Cabinet Secretary—25 years of Labour Government here in Wales, 25 years of responsibility for delivering health services, 25 years of ensuring that GP practices are able to function to the best of their ability—it seems that a lack of responsibility is being taken on your side of this Chamber here toda…”
“As ever, it's a pleasure to take part in this debate, which celebrates the many small businesses up and down Wales. But, sadly, it's a difficult time for far too many of those small businesses, for the hard-working people who run them, the members of staff and for customers who want thriving high streets.”
“It seems to me to stem from some sort of inherent hostility or suspicion, or some sort of jealousy of private business and free enterprise. The Labour Government's budget was as clear an example as you'd ever see of that suspicion and hostility towards business.”
“Thank you for the intervention, Mabon ap Gwynfor. We on these benches agree that the Barnett formula does need looking at to make sure that Wales is getting the right level of funding that it absolutely deserves, but I suppose the nationalists would want to argue that money raised in Wales is enough from Wales to deliver the services that…”
“Of course, Cabinet Secretary, you acknowledged there the value that GP practices have in our communities in supporting people up and down Wales, but that value needs to be followed by an offer that is adequate to meet the demand at their doors.”
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“I’m aware time is flying, Llywydd, so I would encourage fellow Senedd Members to look back at this motion and to take a commonsense measure to boost business across Wales. Diolch yn fawr iawn.”
“Thank you for the intervention, Mabon ap Gwynfor. We on these benches agree that the Barnett formula does need looking at to make sure that Wales is getting the right level of funding that it absolutely deserves, but I suppose the nationalists would want to argue that money raised in Wales is enough from Wales to deliver the services that it needs, when it clearly isn’t. That’s why it’s important to be part of a strong United Kingdom so we can do what we need to do for the people of Wales. On this side of the Chamber, Llywydd, we also believe in free enterprise, lifting the burden of excessive regulations, to help entrepreneurs and business owners grow and develop so people can flourish in whatever it is they choose to endeavour in.”
“There’s another risk here, Llywydd, and the risk is that sometimes, I believe, this Government in particular only sees itself as a service delivery body, forgetting the fact that actually Government is much broader than that. Part of Government’s job of course is to set the environment for people to set up enterprises and to flourish in whatever enterprises they seek to carry out.”
“It seems to me to stem from some sort of inherent hostility or suspicion, or some sort of jealousy of private business and free enterprise. The Labour Government's budget was as clear an example as you'd ever see of that suspicion and hostility towards business. The Cabinet Secretary is laughing here, but it's highlighted in the amendment here today, in front of us. The amendment from the Labour Government describes the rate relief as a 'cost of £1 billion'—a cost, forgetting entirely that that £1 billion described as a cost here is money raised by these tax-paying businesses, and tax-paying businesses that are doing their best to run their businesses. We have to remember it’s not Government money, it’s taxpayers’ money that is being spent.”
“As ever, it's a pleasure to take part in this debate, which celebrates the many small businesses up and down Wales. But, sadly, it's a difficult time for far too many of those small businesses, for the hard-working people who run them, the members of staff and for customers who want thriving high streets. And let's not forget why it's difficult for those businesses at the moment. We've got a British Labour Government who have hiked up employer national insurance and put pressure on business like never before. And we've got a Welsh Labour Government here imposing the highest business rates in Great Britain, clearly demonstrating that the Labour Party is no friend of business whatsoever. And it's no accident, if they're very honest about this.”
“Of course, Cabinet Secretary, you acknowledged there the value that GP practices have in our communities in supporting people up and down Wales, but that value needs to be followed by an offer that is adequate to meet the demand at their doors. You've mentioned that the offer made at the moment is in line with what was expected in the past, but you know, clearly, that what's on the table is not adequate to meet the demands that they're facing. So, are you confirming today that you will return to the table with an adequate offer that acknowledges the calls made by the BMA's Save our Surgeries campaign and respects and truly values the contribution that GPs make in our communities and to the NHS here in Wales?”
“And of course, at the moment, you’re trying to put in place a new contract with GPs through the general medical services contract. Now I understand, from speaking to GPs, that they believe that the offer that you're making to them at the moment is wholly inadequate and shows disregard for the long-standing issues and pressures they continually raise with myself and Members across the Chamber, and the ballot they have on the offer at the moment is likely to be rejected. So, what is your plan to address a rejection vote of the contract offer that you have in place for GPs at the moment?”
“Frankly, at this point, in response, Cabinet Secretary—25 years of Labour Government here in Wales, 25 years of responsibility for delivering health services, 25 years of ensuring that GP practices are able to function to the best of their ability—it seems that a lack of responsibility is being taken on your side of this Chamber here today. It's pretty clear that many practices will be unable to afford the national insurance increases that have been chosen to be put in place by the Labour Government in Westminster. And they have acknowledged that they're going to reduce their staffing and services as a result. So, we've had over 100 GP surgeries close in the last 12 years. Capacity and delivery of services is going to be more difficult because of the Labour Government's choices.”
“Diolch, Llywydd. Cabinet Secretary, you'll be aware that general practice is under immense pressure. More than 100 surgeries in Wales have closed since 2012, making it more difficult for people to access a GP in their local area. It's clear that GP practices are under even more pressure thanks to the Labour Government's increase on national insurance contributions, which is, as I'm sure you'd acknowledge, a tax increase on working people and businesses. Indeed, a GP in this place last night explained that that national insurance increase alone to his practice is going to cost an extra £50,000 a year to be able to meet. The BMA, the British Medical Association, have warned that this measure risks undermining the financial stability of general practices and the quality of patient care that they can provide.”
“So, to finish, Deputy Presiding Officer, I've said in this Chamber before about the importance of long-term thinking, and I think this is the perfect example of a policy area that really needs that. That link between health and social care is not just difficult for health systems here in Wales, but across the world, and I'm sure, Cabinet Secretary, you'd accept that this is a good place to start in your description and your statement here today, but there needs to be that clear, long-term plan, including investment in technology, workforce planning, collaboration across health boards and service providers, and an enhanced public communication, as well as monitoring of performances, so that we all can see the ambulance service that we want to see, that you want to see, and that the ambulance service wants to provide for residents across Wales.”
“Indeed, the chief executive of the Welsh ambulance service said in that committee meeting earlier this year that 'the single biggest challenge...which emerges from the pressure across the rest of the urgent and emergency care system, is one of handover delays at the emergency department.' And as that quote demonstrates, tackling this will take a whole-health-system approach, including, of course, social care; it's not isolated just to ambulances. So, Cabinet Secretary, I wonder if you could expand on the plans that you have in formulating a plan with the Minister for social care to make sure the entire flow is functioning efficiently and effectively, so those ambulances aren't having to wait around for those handovers for unnecessary lengths of time.”
“You mentioned in your statement, Cabinet Secretary, that a big part of the challenge remains within areas outside of the ambulance service's control. I would suggest most of the challenges remain outside of the ambulance service's control, and especially handovers at emergency departments, ambulances just sitting on the tarmac and unable to move patients on to the next phase of care. It's not what the ambulance service want to do, it's not what patients want to have, and I'm sure it's not what you want to see either, Cabinet Secretary.”
“I do, though, think it's really important—and I hope you'll be able to respond on this point—that we have clear targets in place to ensure there's proper accountability and transparency, because, indeed, any potential changes to targets can be concerning in themselves, because, of course, meeting targets shouldn't be seen as a pinnacle, but a base from which to build, and any change in target system could be seen as Welsh Government trying to get out of achieving the high standards that the people we represent expect to be met. So, I'd appreciate, Cabinet Secretary, if you could outline your continued support of the right clear targets for the same purpose of both accountability, transparency, but also for performance improvement as well.”
“I'm sure, Cabinet Secretary, you'd acknowledge that these are intolerable situations, not just for those impacted directly, but their families and healthcare professionals who are trying to support in those situations as well. So, I support much of your statement today because it's absolutely right that improvements are found, and that the appropriateness of existing frameworks are reviewed to understand where the right changes can be made and ensure that clinical evidence with best outcomes for patients is central for this review.”
“But, of course, it is still well below the 65 per cent response time target for red calls to arrive within eight minutes, and, indeed, this target has not been met since the summer of 2020. We're aware, of course, COVID was rife at that point, but we all too often hear those horror stories of seemingly endless waits for ambulances and then endless waits when those ambulances actually get to hospital. There's certainly an inconsistency across Wales with both of those issues as well. We heard of a reporter who waited eight hours with her father, who had a stroke, parked at Grange University Hospital in Cwmbrân, with upwards of 15 ambulances, or the injured rugby player in Carmarthenshire recently who waited for an ambulance for six hours, when the hospital was only a few miles away.”
“Thank you for the statement today, Cabinet Secretary. I was pleased to be part of the Senedd's Health and Social Care Committee, which published the recommendations that you've referred to today. I certainly welcome your approach to the committee's recommendations as well, and I am also grateful to receive the briefing that you referenced today as from officials and staff from the Welsh ambulance service. I'm sure we'll all agree in the Chamber here that ambulance response times aren't where they should be, and it's also fair to acknowledge that the most recent numbers show that 50.4 per cent of red calls received that response, which you mentioned, within eight minutes in October, which is an improvement on the numbers from September.”
“So, I'd like a statement outlining the Government's view on outdoor safety and, in particular, how it may be able to support rescue services here in Wales.”
“Trefnydd, I'd like to call for a statement on outdoor safety, particularly in relation to rescue services. The cross-party group for outdoor activities met on Friday, in Llanberis, which is the busiest mountain rescue station in the whole of the United Kingdom. Last year they had over 300 call-outs, and they've already had more call-outs so far this year than the whole of last year put together. In their words, their service is not sustainable. It's completely volunteer-run, with no Government funding whatsoever, with each call-out lasting, at times, hours, with lots of people involved, often dealing with traumatic and sometimes, sadly, tragic situations. Of course, if they don't provide that voluntary service, the responsibility sits with police services. They say they're at breaking point.”
“Will you take an intervention? Thank you. It's not, perhaps, usual in a short debate to have an intervention, but it just struck me, as you were speaking there, that one of the most important social structures we have is that of family. I wonder whether at times we have been guilty as politicians of neglecting, perhaps, the importance of strong, secure family structures—whatever that family structure may look like. Families come in all sorts of different shapes and sizes, and none of them are perfect, but I wonder whether you would reflect with me in that sometimes we perhaps don't always provide enough focus on strengthening and supporting families to be the best that they can be, to help tackle some of the very issues that you've raised there.”
“I'm also interested to hear, if these numbers do increase—they're fairly limited numbers at the moment—whether you would expect the health board to bring this procedure back in-house, as it were, in north Wales, and how that's going to be monitored to ensure that, actually, if things do change in the future, perhaps the clinical advice is reconsidered to be either safer or more appropriate back in Betsi Cadwaladr health board, even when the numbers may shift. Thank you.”
“So, I want to acknowledge the clinical advice on this specific treatment and recognise also, as you've outlined, that whilst it's important to that particular group of people, it is a limited number of people that this will directly affect every year. My concern is perhaps how this type of decision making forms part of a broader strategy and plan for working across the border, and whether decisions like this are perhaps knee-jerk at times and not necessarily part of the broader plan and thinking of a health board.”
“I also want to acknowledge, Cabinet Secretary, the clinical advice that the board has received on this specialist treatment and recognise that where it is clinically right to do so, working with health boards and health trusts in England can be at times the right thing to do. You'll recognise the number of times I've raised that point in this Chamber, that cross-border working is at times the right thing to do, because we do need to look at ways to tackle waiting lists here in Wales, and cross-border working is part of the important strategy to do that, in my opinion, especially when the treatment can be done either more safely or more quickly in other parts of the NHS across the United Kingdom.”
“Can I thank Rhun ap Iorwerth for tabling this topical question here today, and also thank the Cabinet Secretary for his initial response to Rhun ap Iorwerth, but also support the Member in his broader concerns around vascular services in Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board? The Member has already laid out those concerns that we receive as Members of the Senedd from our constituents that we represent, and he's absolutely right to share them again here today. I also support the Member in some of the challenges that some of our constituents are likely to face in terms of access and travel with this particular procedure.”
“It makes a lot of common sense to use the capacity that's in our NHS across the UK when it's available so that people can be off those waiting lists sooner rather than later. I would urge you and your colleagues to not allow ideological reasons to prevent this from taking place, because we need to make sure that people are seen as quickly and as easily as possible. Diolch yn fawr iawn.”
“I'm not sure if some of your colleagues will approve of that, but it's something we've long called for, that cross-sector collaboration to tackle waiting lists here in Wales. However, there was no mention today of what we would call the cross-border collaboration. You will remember, Cabinet Secretary, the First Minister and Secretary of State for Wales announced this much-vaunted proposal that the UK Government would help the Welsh Government reduce waiting lists. I imagine it wasn't necessarily your idea, but it would be useful if you could provide the Senedd with an update on this and how we'll be seeing Welsh patients helped by sending them to hospitals in England or wherever is available to get those surgeries, those operations, those treatments delivered sooner rather than later to patients up and down Wales.”
“That is another short-term measure, which I know you would acknowledge, but there does need to be some serious long-term thinking behind the way in which health services are delivered in the future, because otherwise these announcements will become far more regular. In your statement, I welcome the focus on digital transformation. That is a long-term measure that will make a significant difference. I also welcome the focus on the neurodevelopment assessments. Far too many people, sadly, are waiting for those at the moment. So, extra money will go some way to improve those. It was also pleasing to see you encouraging health boards to commission activity from across sectors, including the private sector.”
“I certainly welcome today, Cabinet Secretary, the focus, along with some money to support some changes here, but it's clear that it's systemic failure that is taking place at the moment, not something that a few million pounds here or there is going to fix. There still seems to be no plan for systemic change. For that reason, I suspect we aren't going to see the sustained positive change that both you and I would want to see. You acknowledge in your statement, Cabinet Secretary, that these are short-term measures and will not be enough on their own, so I accept that you acknowledge that. Of course, you recently announced the 50-day challenge to try to improve hospital discharge and community care.”
“That's why we quote those numbers—so we remember all those people who are struggling to get the treatments that they need. There are other statistics. The 95 per cent target for patients spending fewer than four hours in accident and emergency in Wales has never been met. The 95 per cent target for patients waiting fewer than 26 weeks in Wales hasn't been met in more than 10 years. The 75 per cent target for cancer patients to start treatment within 62 days of cancer being suspected has never been met in Wales. There are many more of these sad statistics that people in Wales are facing every day.”
“You outlined a number of statistics there where there are areas of improvement in Wales, but currently there are a staggering 619,200 individual patients awaiting treatment here in Wales. In terms of patient pathways, there are around 800,000 open pathways at the moment. We must remember we are a country of just over 3 million people. Those numbers are quite staggering. Some of the worst waits, those two-year waits, have increased now for five consecutive months, with 24,000 people waiting more than two years for treatment in Wales, compared with just 124 people in England. Those statistics are quoted often by me and others to demonstrate the extent of Welsh Labour's failure, but behind each statistic, of course, is a person, a life changed by pain and put on hold because they're unable to get the treatment that they need.”
“Thank you for the statement this afternoon, Cabinet Secretary. May I just join you at the outset in your closing remarks and acknowledging the desire of our NHS staff to see the improvements and the commitment that they put in every single day up and down Wales to see the services delivered that our residents and constituents want to see? You opened in your statement today, Cabinet Secretary, acknowledging that waiting lists are a priority for both the public and Government, and that’s absolutely right. Time and time again, I am approached—as I'm sure you are, and others in this Chamber—by residents and by constituents concerned about the waiting times that they and their loved ones are facing. The statistics speak for themselves.”
“I met with a hospice just last week, in north Wales—a typical hospice—who outlined to me that the recent change in national insurance contributions is going to cost them £130,000 a year alone, and, including the change in the national minimum wage and the differentials, it will put an additional pressure on their budget of around £400,000 a year, just to stand still to deliver those excellent services that they seek to deliver. So, I think it would be really helpful if the Cabinet Secretary could provide that statement on the future funding and sustainability of those really important hospices here in Wales, so that we can see them function to the best of their ability in the future as well. Thank you very much.”
“Can I call for a statement from the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care on the future funding and sustainability of hospice care in Wales? You'll know, Trefnydd, that the vast majority of work undertaken by hospices, which is absolutely fantastic, is done on a charitable basis, with around 24 per cent of funding being received on the clinical side of the work that they do, so the vast majority of the work they do is done through raising charitable funds.”
“They added that many practices would be unable to afford these increases and would have to reduce their staffing and services accordingly. I'm sure that you take these warnings incredibly seriously. So, I want to know what representations you're making to the UK Government to ensure that exemptions and support are in place, so that we can see GPs in our communities in the future.”
“Thank you for your response, First Minister. Clearly, Labour's hike in employer national insurance contributions, you'll be aware, equates to a tax increase on working people and businesses by an average of £25 billion a year, from next year onwards. Clearly, it is disappointing that Keir Starmer has chosen to break a manifesto commitment and to tax working people in this way. And as you've pointed out, this is going to have a negative impact on health service providers across Wales, particularly in general practice. I had the privilege yesterday, with colleagues, of meeting with the British Medical Association and some of its GPs. They warned that the British Government's policy risks undermining the financial stability of general practices and the quality of patient care they can provide.”
“6. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog ddatganiad am sut y bydd penderfyniad Llywodraeth y DU i gynyddu yswiriant gwladol cyflogwyr yn effeithio ar ofal iechyd yng Nghymru? OQ61878”
“I'm wondering, in your analysis, how you expect waiting lists to be reduced as a result of this 50-day challenge. Diolch yn fawr iawn.”
“And, actually, what we do need to see, of course—and I think you would agree with this—is a longer term plan, to ensure that people aren't in hospital longer than they need to be. So, I'm interested to know, at the end of this target challenge that you've put in place—I think it runs up to the end of the year, which is what's been described—how those health boards, local authorities and others will be held accountable and supported to ensure that these discharges happen in a timely manner. And my final question—sorry, Llywydd—is just understanding your expectation around the impact on waiting lists more broadly. Because of course this will, and should, create more capacity in our hospitals, to ensure that people are treated who are on existing waiting lists.”
“But I wonder if you could comment on which of those 10 points you think will make the biggest difference to this 50-day target that you've set. I think that would be helpful for us to understand the elements within that 10-point plan, and which would make the biggest difference. I'm also interested to understand where this 50-days number has come from, and whether you knocked around some other numbers as to which might be the most effective target to aim for—whether it's clinical evidence or the evidence you have to ensure that that 50-day target is something that is either achievable or realistic for health boards working with social care services to reach. I agreed with Mabon ap Gwynfor's point around the risks of this being seen as a short-term moment.”
“I'm grateful to Mabon ap Gwynfor for bringing this question to the Senedd here today. I'm grateful, Cabinet Secretary, for your response to Mabon ap Gwynfor just now as well. Also, I just wanted to put on record again my gratitude to those health and care workers who are now going to face the winter pressures and the challenges that face them. And we all know in this Chamber that they are doing their best, and want to do their best, to ensure that people are discharged at the most appropriate time, and, hopefully, for more people, that will be faster than it has been over recent years. I heard your comments in terms of the elements within the 10-point plan, and I understand, Cabinet Secretary, that the desire here is to seek some consistency, not necessarily to reinvent the wheel across Wales.”
“But there is some good news and there are other organisations, whether they're third sector or private sector, who have the capacity and are willing and able to provide support and capacity to unblock some of these blockages that we’re seeing at the moment. But they’re sharing with me that they’re experiencing, here in Wales, some unique resistance to engaging with these other sectors, so that those blocks can be unblocked very, very quickly. So, I wonder if you’ll commit today, First Minister, to make a statement that outlines Welsh Government’s commitment to working both cross-sector and cross-border to ensure that capacity is created, so that patients aren’t waiting for these undue lengths of time in A&E.”
“I’m grateful to Jane Dodds for raising this question in the Chamber here today, because I’m sure far too many of us around this Chamber have similar horror stories to that which Jane Dodds just outlined. Indeed, one of my constituents, Mr Binns, shared with me his 27-hour wait in A&E whilst experiencing severe chest pains, and I’m grateful to you, First Minister, for acknowledging that that’s not acceptable and that we need to see that change. As you’ve outlined in your response to Jane Dodds, there are systemic issues at play here, and the whole system needs a certain level of concentration and effort to change.”
“So, I'd be grateful to hear from the Cabinet Secretary his views on how the grouping together of general practice and the service they deliver works and will work in rural areas, and whether there should be a greater piece of work to ensure that our rural communities have GP surgeries that are accessible. And the second point, briefly, is we haven't perhaps mentioned enough of the mental health challenges in some of our rural communities, particularly with our famers and farm workers, and I'd be keen to understand the Cabinet Secretary’s views on where mental health services can provide additional, perhaps, specific support to some people in our rural areas, particularly to farmers, who are feeling a real pressure at the moment, to ensure that they are supported in the most appropriate way. Diolch yn fawr iawn.”
“I'm grateful to James Evans for tabling this short debate for today as well. Two points I just want to make, briefly. The first is in relation to general practice, and what we've seen across Wales in the last 12 years is more than 100 GP surgeries closing, over, as I say, the last 12 years in Wales. And when it's been raised previously in this place, previous Cabinet Secretaries or Ministers have pointed towards a strategic aim of creating these health hubs, which absolutely work really well in towns and cities where transport links work well, but, in our rural areas, clearly, getting to and from your GP surgery can be a real challenge at times, especially with public transport in some areas being really limited.”
“We recognise 'that the increase in employer national insurance contributions will make it harder for businesses to employ and retain staff.' That is a fact. We express 'disappointment that the UK Government’s budget has failed to deliver either the electrification of the North Wales main line or Barnett consequentials from the HS2 project for Wales.' So, in short, Dirprwy Lywydd, this budget we heard last week is anti-growth, anti-business, will produce higher debts, higher taxes, and is against the working people of Britain and Wales. Diolch yn fawr iawn.”
“We were grateful, finally, to the Cabinet Secretary for his views on things, but, sadly, his focus on facts I think risked slipping into the Trumpian phrase of 'alternative facts'. Because his challenge was around the facts laid out in our motion here today. And we're going to stick by our motion here today because they are factually correct. I'll read these out here now to Members across this Chamber. On this bench, we believe that 'the UK Government’s Autumn Budget breaks Labour’s manifesto commitment to not raise taxes on working people.' That's been highlighted here multiple times today. We regret 'that many pensioners will have to choose between eating and heating as a result of the withdrawal of winter fuel payments.' That's a fact.”
“I'm not going to perhaps suggest whether he was accurate in his risk assessment at all, but he was absolutely right to challenge the issue around business rates and the multiplier effect and to support our high streets. Because without our high streets functioning well, and the impact of the business rates multiplier on those high streets—if that is not dealt with soon, then we see a real problem ahead. Alun Davies certainly was boring when he started talking about the financial framework, but was right to raise that point because it is an issue that does need dealing with, to ensure that services can be delivered properly here in Wales. We were grateful, of course, to the—I was going to say 'First Minister'; I do apologise.”
“James Evans particularly pointed out that the new DEFRA Secretary had previously pledged no changes to agricultural property relief before Labour made that screeching u-turn just last week, leaving our farming communities in the lurch. And we must remember, as James Evans and Laura Anne Jones both pointed out in particular, that our farmers are working hard to protect our environment and provide food on the table for people up and down Wales, and we need to protect them as much as possible. Lee Waters of course did his best to defend the Labour Party's policy on this, but I think was unable to do so adequately. I was grateful to Luke Fletcher for his honesty at the risk of being boring.”
“It's an interesting intervention. Clearly the Member has forgotten again that Welsh Government is responsible for funding councils here in Wales, so councils up and down Wales are having to deal with those challenges with a Welsh Government funding formula punishing councils in north Wales, which all Members in north Wales I'm sure would rally behind, to see more funding into those local authorities. Hefin David's contribution started to threaten to sound a bit like a young Mark Isherwood taking a trip down memory lane, and then the real Mark Isherwood thankfully intervened to put him right on the additional consequences of previous Labour Governments. I was grateful to James Evans and to Laura Anne Jones for their contributions, reminding us of the impact on farmers in Wales that this budget will have.”
“I'm grateful for the intervention from the Member for Clwyd West, because Janet Finch-Saunders was also keen to highlight this point about the lack of announcements for the rail investment.”
“I'll be willing to hear more from the Cabinet Secretary in the future on that, and all the Cabinet Secretaries, on the portfolios they represent—the impact that increased national insurance will have on the third sector and charity sector. Carolyn Thomas was keen to highlight the last 14 years of challenge within different sectors here in Wales, sadly forgetting that nearly all the ones that she mentioned—housing, health, the environment, transport, local government, education—all those areas are the responsibility of the Labour Welsh Government here in Wales.”