Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you. Of course, with regard to family drug and alcohol courts, during the Public Accounts Committee earlier this year, Albert Heaney, director of social services and integration, Welsh Government, advised that the judiciary regard them as being very positive, and a good approach that can be very helpful to families. Similarly, last October, the Commission on Justice in Wales called for...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you. As I've mentioned here numerous times, storm Ciara very sadly hit my constituency on 9 February 2020. Now an emergency funding relief scheme was announced on 18 February, and the First Minister stated, 'We will make urgent financial support available to people whose homes have been flooded and, in particular, help families who do not have insurance cover'. Now, four weeks...
Janet Finch-Saunders: I think I've got—
Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you. I think my next question is more directed to the health Minister. Sadly, there is good reason to be concerned too about front-line health staff. I've received correspondence from a Welsh general practitioner who has highlighted a lack of personal protective equipment and masks for front-line staff, but also people such as receptionists, nurses and housekeeping staff. He has rightly...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you. One in 17 adults in Wales work in the social care sector. The United Kingdom Homecare Association has advised that it is important for social workers to understand that home care visits could take much longer than the usual expected time whilst dealing with people who are unwell, and warn that the situation was potentially extremely serious, particularly with regard to having...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Diolch Llywydd. Of course, spokespersons are to scrutinise and challenge you, Minister, and I've done my fair share of that over the past few years. But I would like to put on record my thanks to you, as our health Minister, for the hard work, obviously, going on behind the scenes and the plans that you are putting in place and also for keeping us, as Members, updated and keeping the public...
Janet Finch-Saunders: 3. What discussions has the Minister had with the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs regarding access to emergency financial support for residents affected by recent flooding? OAQ55202
Janet Finch-Saunders: 2. What legal advice has the Counsel General given to the Welsh Government in relation to the possibility of establishing family drug and alcohol courts in Wales? OAQ55203
Janet Finch-Saunders: 3. Will the Commission make a statement on what advice is given to Assembly Commission staff in relation to the containment of coronavirus? OAQ55196
Janet Finch-Saunders: Through you, Trefnydd, could I ask the Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales for a statement on arrangements being put in place in relation to coronavirus on public transport? Public-funded transport such as the flights between Cardiff and Anglesey, TrawsCymru buses and Transport for Wales trains are, of course, places where a significant proportion of people are in an enclosed...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Will you explain, First Minister, why you have betrayed the businesses in Llanrwst, why they've had to wait a month and they've still not seen a penny, and what measures will be taken to improve this access to much-needed funding? It is a disgrace.
Janet Finch-Saunders: First Minister, of course you will be aware that a number of businesses in Llanrwst were flooded out on 9 February as a result of storm Ciara, yet it was only 4 March 2020 when the Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales directly announced financial support for businesses. That was nearly a month after the event. Some have ceased trading, some are awaiting insurance payouts, and some...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Will the First Minister make a statement on the funding of hospices in Wales?
Janet Finch-Saunders: Now, I'm all for prevention and early intervention, and appreciate that many of you are too, such as the ministerial advisory group, which has reinforced moves towards prevention. Importantly, the Public Accounts Committee's report highlighted that there is an opportunity to better use preventative spending to secure better long-term outcomes for our children. However, there is still room for...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Care-experienced children and young people in care are some of the most vulnerable in our society. Nearly two thirds of those individuals are in care, sadly, because of abuse or neglect. Now, there is a declared interest already across the floor here in supporting looked-after children, whilst also, too, looking at safely reducing those numbers. Even the First...
Janet Finch-Saunders: We could all have a brilliant banquet with the fine food and drink produce that emanates from Aberconwy. We have award-winning gins, wine, meat, seafood, cheese, chocolate and so much more on offer, so it just goes to show the incredible potential that food tourism has in Aberconwy, and, indeed, across north Wales. Now, according to 'The Food Tourism Action Plan for Wales 2015-2020', food...
Janet Finch-Saunders: I am. Floodgates for properties that were affected would have been a really good mitigation of risk, and they're asking for them, going forward. So what steps will you take now to help ensure that NRW actually do their work and hold that responsibility very importantly to work with Welsh Government, to work hand in hand with our local authorities, and just to take a more proactive approach?...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Okay, thank you. Now, as you know, constituencies across Aberconwy have been devastated, in particular, by storm Ciara. Now, lack of presence and a more robust, proactive approach by NRW has caused considerable concern within my constituency, and you'll be aware that on Saturday, I held a meeting and we are establishing—. I think it was 121 people who turned up, very, very concerned, very,...
Janet Finch-Saunders: 6. What steps is the First Minister taking to improve flood management in the Conwy Valley following recent storms? OAQ55155
Janet Finch-Saunders: One issue that continues to be raised with me by businesses in Aberconwy is the skills shortage. This is a Wales-wide problem, with 92 per cent of senior business leaders reporting difficulties in hiring workers with the required skills. So, to stimulate skill growth, I have previously called for the creation of an institute of technology in north Wales. Despite the UK Government having...
