Laura Anne Jones: We aim to please, Llywydd. I nominate Russell George.
Laura Anne Jones: Business Minister, it's all very well the education Minister announcing a seismic change in education's handling of the biggest crisis that they've faced to the press first—announcing this massive shift in responsibility and any chance of blame for getting rid of the masks, bubbles and social distancing to individual schools. Could the Minister ask the Minister to please make an urgent...
Laura Anne Jones: 2. In light of comments made by the Minister at a coronavirus press briefing on Monday, what steps is the Welsh Government taking to support schools, colleges and universities across Wales with the implementation of their own COVID-safety rules in the next term? TQ559
Laura Anne Jones: Minister, a recent article in The Lancet highlighted the high number of deaths from coronavirus in prisons, and this is despite offenders being locked in their cells for up to 23 hours a day to stop the spread of the virus. This will be of particular concern in areas around open prisons in Wales, such as the Prescoed prison in Usk in my region of South Wales East. Would the Minister please...
Laura Anne Jones: I thank the Counsel General for that answer and the written statement that he has made on the issue. However, Deputy Presiding Officer, his view has been denied by the UK Government, who argue that nothing within the Act changes the legislative competence of the Senedd. And the divisional court ruled that the Government's attempts to overturn the Act using courts rather than the political...
Laura Anne Jones: I would say 'Thank you', Minister, but that didn't get the clarity that I know that the sector want and the pupils and parents also want. Minister, there seems to be an upward trend that you and your Government want to address the press first before coming to the floor of this Chamber, which is the right due-process thing to do when doing major policy changes within this particular education...
Laura Anne Jones: Yes. Finally, on masks, Minister, you should be taking a national lead on that. Masks in classrooms are just not necessary any more. There's no impact apart from on the child's well-being and the ability to communicate in class; your own scientific advisers have said they're doing more harm than good. So, Minister, please, can you come to this Chamber with a full statement giving clarity?...
Laura Anne Jones: Diolch, Llywydd. Can you hear me? Yes. Diolch, Llywydd. Firstly, can I thank James for bringing this important issue to the Chamber? Llywydd, I live a stone's throw away from the River Usk, and very close to the River Wye, both beautiful rivers that I would like to stay clean and protected. But the way in which these regulations are being implemented has once again shown that the Welsh...
Laura Anne Jones: Business Minister, it was hugely disappointing that the Welsh Government were unsuccessful in ensuring fairness is at the heart of any body that they fund. Disappointment was felt across this Chamber from all parties that the sports Minister, although recognising the blatant unfairness in the reorganisation of women's football here in Wales and, to her credit, getting the Football Association...
Laura Anne Jones: Diolch. Minister, can I begin by welcoming your statement? I really do, although it does lack some details. The sector, parents and the Welsh Conservatives have been calling for weeks for flexibility in the implementation, so I'm pleased that this Government has listened to these calls and that now the new curriculum stands the very best chance of achieving its aims. Following on from...
Laura Anne Jones: Minister, right across my region of South Wales East, communities have been shaped by Wales's industrial past and present. I'm pleased therefore to see the statement reaffirming your support for Wales's steel sector, and recognising the vital role that it will play in securing our low-carbon future. But, Minister, from an educational angle—and you've already touched on it from my...
Laura Anne Jones: First Minister, while Caerphilly has the second highest rate of new cases of the variant, as you've just outlined, thanks to the vaccine, this is not currently leading to a spike in the Aneurin Bevan health board area, with only seven admissions testing positive for COVID-19. You've just said to us now there are 760 cases in the whole of Wales, out of a population of 3 million. First...
Laura Anne Jones: Diolch, Llywydd. Minister, firstly can I start by thanking you for your written statement last week? I really welcome the fact that you listened to my concerns, our party's concerns, and those, most importantly, of the educational sector, and have now yourself taken the decision to remove masks and bubbles in schools across Wales from September, with local authorities being able to adapt if...
Laura Anne Jones: Thank you, Minister. And now moving on to a more pressing concern that I have before the summer recess, and that is that last week—. We agree, as you kindly referenced last week, that this has been a really tough year for teachers and heads and that we want them to have a full summer off. And it's to this end that I remain concerned about contact tracing, Minister. Because we don't want a...
Laura Anne Jones: So, Minister, just to confirm, just quickly on that one, are you saying that teachers and heads will not be continuing doing that contact tracing? And, if I could just move on to my third and final question, it is fair to say that local authorities have been prioritising education now at the expense of other services, particularly during this pandemic, due to the common understanding of its...
Laura Anne Jones: I thank the Member for raising this today and bringing up such important issues that do need to be raised and talked about in the Senedd. Ensuring high standards of care for our most vulnerable children should be something that we could all support in this Chamber. When you look at the statistics on the impact of living in care on children and young adults, you understand why this is so...
Laura Anne Jones: Thank you, Llywydd. I thank Plaid Cymru for bringing this debate to the Chamber today, as it does highlight the dire need—the real need—to tackle poverty here in Wales, and the need to protect and look after children in need. It is very hard to concentrate and get a good education when your stomach is rumbling, and that's why I think there is now universal support for free school meals...
Laura Anne Jones: I'd firstly like to start by thanking Buffy for giving me a minute in this debate, and also thank her for bringing up this very important issue. Deputy Presiding Officer, as with many health conditions, postpartum PTSD is often misdiagnosed. It may not even be reported at all, or just written off as something you'll get over or forget about. We've come a long way in how we talk about and...
Laura Anne Jones: First Minister, just on the back of that, quickly, I'd like to say, moving forward now, we need to make sure that the Government—it's absolutely paramount that they're forthcoming with any risk assessments on any proposals such as the ozone machines. First Minister, on safety, due to the massive disruptions over the last year, our emphasis needs to be on keeping children in the classroom as...
Laura Anne Jones: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Thank you for that statement, Minister. I welcome and support the decision that you've come to that 12 to 15-year-olds should have the opportunity now to be vaccinated, and it's also great to see the importance of keeping our children in schools and educated in schools as being a factor in making that decision. It is paramount, obviously, that we keep our...
