Julie James: Diolch, Llywydd. After this business statement, the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport will make a statement on the economic action plan. Otherwise, business for the first three weeks of the new term is shown on the business statement and announcement found amongst the meeting papers, which are available to Members electronically.
Julie James: Thanks for those very important remarks. Actually, it's very important, of course, that people understand how they can best help themselves in these matters. The health Secretary was here listening to you, and I know he takes these issues very seriously. I'm sure he'll update the Senedd in due course.
Julie James: I know that the health Secretary has been working very hard with the dementia community to put together the new dementia strategy for Wales, and indeed this came up in a business statement only a couple of weeks ago, when he confirmed that the strategy would be published in the new year. I'm sure he'll take into account the matters that you've raised in regard to this important service when...
Julie James: I don't share the Member's definition of any town in Wales as a cinderella town. I'm sure all the towns in Wales are equally important, both to Wales as a whole, all of its communities and to the people who live therein. I don't see any reason why we should allow the Member to continue with such a description.
Julie James: Yes, in terms of the Wales for Africa thing, I very much welcome Patrick. Patrick is the fourth Ugandan student to benefit from a two-year scholarship at Atlantic College under this great scheme, funded by the volunteers at Vale for Africa. Indeed, we were both at a reception for Atlantic College quite recently in the Senedd, and it was great to meet some of the parents and students and some...
Julie James: The environment Minister, who I think is responsible, is new in post and I'm sure she'll be bringing that statement forward as soon as she's able to in her portfolio. I'll certainly remind her of that.
Julie James: Absolutely, I'm very much looking forward to celebrating the seventy-fifth anniversary of the NHS at events in Tredegar, of course—the home of the NHS for the whole of the United Kingdom—and indeed celebrations right across Wales. The year 2018 provides us with an excellent opportunity to celebrate the people's decision to make a national health service for all of the people, and...
Julie James: Well, the consultation is a matter for NRW. I'm sure that flood prevention is very important in every area of Wales. It causes real catastrophic damage, and as we approach winter we need to be really prepared for winter preparedness. It's actually really important to take it very seriously indeed. If the Member has specific problems with the consultation, I suggest he writes to the...
Julie James: In terms of your first request for a statement, I know the Cabinet Secretary himself experienced some considerable difficulty getting down from north Wales, as did a large number of other Members in the Chamber, and he's indicated his willingness to bring forward a statement about what can be done in the terms the Member outlined—what couldn't have been avoided, what might be avoided in...
Julie James: I share the Member's concern about the steelworkers' pensions, and I was actually very alarmed at some of the stories. I've no idea of the—. I haven't had any chance to corroborate some of the stories, but I also have constituents affected. I'd be very happy to broker a meeting between you, the Cabinet Secretary, and any other Members with a constituency interest in this, to take the...
Julie James: Diolch, Llywydd. I very much welcome the opportunity today to debate the 'Equality and Human Rights Commission Wales Committee Annual Review 2016-2017'. I very much welcome the EHRC's annual review and reaffirm the Welsh Government's commitment to work with the commission to address the vital issues it highlights. We've already aligned the key objectives of our strategic equality plan for...
Julie James: Diolch, Llywydd. I'd like to thank Assembly Members for participating today. One Member in particular has, perhaps inadvertently, strongly demonstrated why it is important that the Equality and Human Rights Commission continues to have a strong and distinct presence in Wales to combat the sort of prejudice and discrimination that, unfortunately, we've heard in the Chamber. I must say I have...
Julie James: Certainly.
Julie James: I take that point, but I do think the Member ought to also realise that some of the austerity impacts that they're having on the ability of people who live independently, for example, with disability and so on, are very much impacting on the services that they require. But I'm more than happy to work with him on identifying any areas in which he thinks we can invest to save, because...
Julie James: Diolch, Llywydd. There are three changes to this week's business. The Minister for Children and Social Care will make a statement shortly on the consultation on legislation to remove the defence of reasonable punishment, directly after this business statement. This will be followed by a statement by the Counsel General on the Welsh Government prosecution code, and finally, the time allocated...
Julie James: Thank you for that question. The Cabinet Secretary is indicating to me that he will ensure that officials liaise properly with both the Member and the residents to ensure the situation is resolved satisfactorily.
Julie James: On that second one, the Minister is indicating to me that it should be with them today. So, hopefully, that will be resolved very shortly. In terms of the flooding statement, I'm sure the Minister responsible will be bringing forward a statement on the general arrangements for flooding and its review after the winter period, which is normal when we look at it. If the Member has specific...
Julie James: The Member raises a hugely important point, and I know in her short debate the issues arising from the book and so on were very comprehensively gone through. I think the Cabinet Secretary at the time, the late Carl Sargeant, went through all of the actions at that time that we'd taken, both to learn from past abuse and to act to ensure we prevent similar mistakes reoccurring. I think it's...
Julie James: In terms of the first request for an oral statement to follow the written statement, the Member, of course, will have plenty of opportunity to question the Cabinet Secretary during his oral Assembly questions, which will be occurring later this month. But I understand that he's also making an oral statement generally on transport later this month, which will afford an opportunity for the...
Julie James: Well, thank you for those three very interesting topics, Simon Thomas. So, in the spirit of largesse in the new year, I'm going to say that we welcome all three of them. We're very happy to bring forward a debate on matters to do with the NHS. There are a number of issues that I know the Cabinet Secretary wanted to talk about generally in the Chamber anyway, and he's certainly heard some of...
