, Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister
Economic strategy for coastal and rural communities
Thank you. First Minister, in a previous answer, I think, on the national forest you were talking about, it raised questions on the possibility of fruit trees being part of the national forest, and I know Jenny wants to pursue the question on food production…
, Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister
Economic strategy for coastal and rural communities
And we'll move on to some aspects of digital infrastructure, and over to Jack.
, Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister
Economic strategy for coastal and rural communities
Jenny, and then I'll bring Peredur back in.
, Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister
Economic strategy for coastal and rural communities
Then, Jenny, you can come in after that, okay? You've just said, First Minister, that the plans are published and the recommendations available and the Welsh Government will be looking at them. Do we have an indication as to when the Welsh Government might be…
, Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister
Economic strategy for coastal and rural communities
Can I ask one question?
, Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister
Economic strategy for coastal and rural communities
Thank you. We move on to rural communities now, because tourism obviously has a major impact on those communities, but there are many other issues. So, over to Peredur on that.
, Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister
Economic strategy for coastal and rural communities
Just one final question, since you're talking about local authorities. And funnily enough, we've had a statement from the local government Minister on joint corporate bodies today. Clearly, one question will be raised in this: as part of the research, are you…
, Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister
Economic strategy for coastal and rural communities
Okay. We'll move on to other themes now, and obviously, clearly, tourism is an important part of both of those communities. Over to Russell.
, Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister
Economic strategy for coastal and rural communities
Just on that point, is there any Member of the Cabinet that actually has responsibility to oversee, to ensure that the collective is being achieved?
, Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister
Economic strategy for coastal and rural communities
Thank you, First Minister. We have several themes within our remit for the session this afternoon. Before we go into those, perhaps I can just ask a generic question as to how the Welsh Government is now taking forward any strategy to improve the lives of the…
, Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister
Economic strategy for coastal and rural communities
We move on to agenda item 2, which is the evidence session with the First Minister. This first part of the evidence session will be based upon the theme of economic strategy for coastal and rural communities. Can I welcome the First Minister this afternoon to…
, Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister
Introductions, apologies and substitutions
Good afternoon. Could I welcome everyone to this afternoon's meeting of the Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister? To remind Members, the meeting is bilingual and simultaneous translation is available. If you're joining via Zoom, then the…
, Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister
Motion under Standing Order 17.42 to resolve to exclude the public from the meeting
Item 4 on our agenda is a motion under Standing Order 17.42 to resolve to exclude the public for the remainder of this meeting. Are Members content to do so? I see they are, and therefore we'll now move into our private session.
, Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister
Ministerial scrutiny session—Topical matters
We've come to the conclusion of our allocated time, First Minister, so can I thank you for your attendance this afternoon and for the answers? And as you are aware, you will receive a copy of the transcript for accuracy purposes, and if there are any…
, Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister
Ministerial scrutiny session—Topical matters
Sam, final question.
, Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister
Ministerial scrutiny session—Topical matters
Jenny.
, Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister
Ministerial scrutiny session—Topical matters
Okay. Moving on to Ukraine, can I put on record, I think, the appreciation of all Members for the efforts the Welsh Government have been putting in place to support the refugees that will be coming to Wales in, hopefully, the near future? What stage are you…
, Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister
Ministerial scrutiny session—Topical matters
Can I, then, before we move on to the next question, since no-one else is asking one, raise two points, perhaps, from me? Obviously, this week we've seen the Ockenden report on Shropshire services, and there'll be Welsh families that will have suffered within…
, Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister
Ministerial scrutiny session—Topical matters
Delyth, did you want to come in here?
, Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister
Ministerial scrutiny session—Topical matters
Can I push that a bit further? Because it's not just a response to the climate emergency. I think it was Delyth Jewell that raised the question earlier on the cost-of-living issue and public transport. Has the cost-of-living crisis changed the thinking behind…
, Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister
Ministerial scrutiny session—Topical matters
I'm sure we won't tell anyone, First Minister. [Laughter.]
, Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister
Ministerial scrutiny session—Topical matters
Jenny.
, Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister
Ministerial scrutiny session—Topical matters
If we move on to the topical questions in this session, we'll have perhaps reduced time, but I'm sure we'll cover them anyway. I'll go over to Sam Rowlands for the first one.
, Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister
Cost of living
Thank you. That concludes our session on the cost of living, though I'm sure, First Minister, you will continue to be questioned on the cost-of-living crisis because it's not going away, and it is, as we started out saying, very fluid and happening amongst…
, Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister
Cost of living
A quick one, yes.
