Jane Dodds: Diolch, Brif Weinidog. I want to state firstly my thanks to all of those working in social services and social care who have worked, and continue to work, tirelessly to protect the most vulnerable in our society, especially throughout the pandemic. But I do want to raise again the need, in my view, for an independent inquiry following the terrible, tragic death of Logan Mwangi, looking at our...
Jane Dodds: Good afternoon, Trefnydd. To continue the transport theme, could I please request a statement from the Deputy Minister for Climate Change on discussions in relation to the renewal of the north-south air link? I understand that the value of the contract with Eastern Airways totalled almost £3 million between 2018 and 2021; subsidy ended up being about £142 per passenger in 2019. I'm aware...
Jane Dodds: Counsel General, good afternoon. I'd like to ask a question with regard to the UK Government's policy on sending asylum seekers potentially to Rwanda. I really wanted to concentrate on children who are incorrectly age assessed as adults. We've heard worrying concerns on top of that, which is that police, doctors and police stations are actually undertaking something called sexual maturity...
Jane Dodds: In 1997, my mother was one of the north Wales representatives on the National Assembly advisory group. She talked then—and I concede that I wasn't really paying much attention—about the importance of a real democracy for Wales. So, 25 years later, I stand here to say that now is the time for us to refresh that vision of a real democracy for Wales; a democracy that is connected to the...
Jane Dodds: Of course I will.
Jane Dodds: Thank you for that intervention, and my response to you is that, actually, people in Wales know their local authority very, very well, and that's what the committee had been considering to date. That's what the discussions were focused on. There was no mention at all of the proposal to bring forward Westminster constituency boundaries.
Jane Dodds: The other issue where I differed with the majority of the committee was on the electoral system. The Welsh Liberal Democrats have long argued for elections to be held using the single transferable vote method, giving meaningful power and choice to voters, ending party control through closed list elections, and ensuring that Members are more accountable to their constituents than to their...
Jane Dodds: I have resisted commenting on the concerns raised to date, and I'm always wary about discussing the reform of health boards, particularly mindful of the significant disruption that reorganisation would have in the aftermath of COVID-19. Betsi is one of three health boards that are in our region, and although I do get casework from the other health boards, it has to be said the ones from Betsi...
Jane Dodds: Deputy Minister, I've heard from a number of carers in my region who are coming under significant financial pressure and are not sure that they will be able to continue with their work in the sector because their wages just don't keep up with their bills, particularly their fuel bills. I recently heard from a domiciliary care worker who has worked as a carer for more than 30 years. This carer...
Jane Dodds: Minister, it is teeth again. Like many in this Siambr, you'll know that I have repeatedly raised the issue of access to dentistry in mid and west Wales over the last year. I am grateful to you for the funding to support an additional dentist in Llandrindod Wells, although, sadly, there have been no expressions of interest in the role since February. I understand, Minister, that part of the...
Jane Dodds: Good afternoon, Minister. Last week, I hosted a vigil to mark five years since 72 people lost their lives in the Grenfell Tower fire, and many more people lost their homes as well. I was grateful to all the Members of the Senedd and campaigners who joined us. I wonder if I could ask about an issue concerning the relationship between the Welsh Government and your colleagues in Westminster. It...
Jane Dodds: I want to thank Llyr Gruffydd, and the committee, and NRW officials for their work, too. Llyr, Huw and Delyth have touched upon elements in my contribution.
Jane Dodds: Because I wanted to focus on rivers, and we've heard from both Huw and Delyth and Llyr about rivers. I want to just briefly mention the River Wye, which is in the region that I cover. It continues to deteriorate, along with the River Usk, which is in a terrible condition, and in July 2020, 45,000 fish were found dead in the River Llynfi. I'm particularly concerned, as we've heard from the...
Jane Dodds: Yes, of course. I do apologise. Sorry, I didn't see that.
Jane Dodds: Thank you, Jenny. A really good point. Intensive poultry units have been granted planning permission in Powys, and I have, for a number of months, well before the new administration in Powys took control, been asking for the cumulative effect of IPUs on our river pollution. However, it is really important that we're clear. There are three issues, and both NRW and all of the agencies concerned...
Jane Dodds: Good afternoon, First Minister. It was excellent to hear you on the radio this morning too. And may I also thank Joyce Watson for the work that she has done in this field?
Jane Dodds: Can I just bring the focus back to children and child protection? They are, as you've said, and as Joyce has said as well, other victims of domestic abuse that we need to have at the forefront of our minds. I want to pay tribute to all of those who are working to protect children—our midwives, our health visitors, our schoolteachers, those working in education, and our social workers as...
Jane Dodds: Thank you very much to you, Minister, and to the other Minister as well, the Deputy Minister, and to the people in your department who have worked so hard on this. I could speak for hours on this, and I realise I've only got one minute, so I'll speak very, very quickly. I'm fully in support of this pilot, as you will know. I met with a group of care-experienced young people a couple of weeks...
Jane Dodds: Good afternoon, Minister. I'm sorry that you're going to have to address this circle of people again. Thank you for your statement, Minister, and thank you also for meeting with homeowners and myself a few weeks ago—I'm very grateful. There are a few matters that I just wanted to raise. I know from correspondence with you and your officials in the last few weeks that you are due to bring...
Jane Dodds: 2. What are the Minister’s spending priorities for Mid and West Wales for the next 12 months? OQ58269
