Vikki Howells: Diolch, Llywydd. AMs from all parties came together today at an event organised by the Wales Environment Link. This was held in support of the Show the Love campaign. We know the risks posed by climate change to the world around us. It’s affected the behaviour, abundance and distribution of all manner of flora, fauna and fungi around the world, but also here in Wales. But it is not too...
Vikki Howells: In rising to speak in support of this motion today, I will focus my remarks on the experiences of my constituents—my constituents who live not just on unadopted roads, but, as so many of my colleagues here have stressed today, on unadopted estates. I want to talk about the impact that the failure of developers to bring these estates up to adoptable standards is having on my constituents....
Vikki Howells: Yes.
Vikki Howells: I couldn't agree with the Member more. If you take a school, for example, if a school was performing badly and not delivering results for its pupils, then action would be taken to ensure that it was brought up to standard. But in terms of the private sector, we don't have these powers currently, but we do have the ability through the planning review to look at this, and I think it's...
Vikki Howells: 3. Will the First Minister outline the Welsh Government’s plans for its food and fun school clubs this summer? OAQ51822
Vikki Howells: Thank you, leader of the house. It was a real privilege for me, last summer, to visit the lunch and fun club in Penywaun in my constituency and see the positive benefits that this initiative was having, and that's threefold: it's in terms of providing two hot meals a day to all pupils who are eligible for free school meals; providing fun educational activities; but also I was...
Vikki Howells: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Cabinet Secretary, I'd like to welcome your announcement today, particularly the boost in funding available centrally for infrastructure investment. During recess, I and my colleague Dawn Bowden had a wonderful day trip where we were actually allowed to go through the Abernant railway tunnel that links our two constituencies, and you'll recall that I raised a...
Vikki Howells: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. February 2018 is LGBT History Month. This important annual event gives us a chance to reflect on LGBT+ history, noting how far we have come in terms of promoting equal rights and diversity, but also the challenges and barriers we still have to overcome. The year 2018 marks the hundredth anniversary of the Representation of the People Act 1918, so it's perhaps no...
Vikki Howells: Will the First Minister outline how the Welsh Government intends to improve economic performance in the northern valleys during this Assembly term?
Vikki Howells: First Minister, I've been contacted by a number of constituents who are also concerned about the future working of the grant. My constituents are not concerned as to where this funding comes from, whether it's Welsh Government or local authorities. All that concerns them is that they will be given the same level of support. So, what can the Welsh Government do to monitor this new system to...
Vikki Howells: I welcome the chance to debate Estyn's annual report today. Having spent 16 years in a classroom as a secondary school teacher, I know all too well the anticipation caused by an upcoming inspection. It is therefore a welcome change to now be in the position of considering the work of Estyn in turn. Despite the disruption, school inspections have a critical role to play. They shine a light on...
Vikki Howells: I've lived in my constituency for my whole life, and I'm pleased to say I can't remember the time that there was last a travelling circus with wild animals, because they're certainly not welcome in Cynon Valley. But, despite that fact, I've had a deluge of correspondence from constituents since I've been elected to this place on this very issue of banning the use of wild animals in circuses....
Vikki Howells: First Minister, I'm sure that one thing that every AM in this Chamber would agree on is the need to increase people's engagement in the democratic process and increase turnout at elections. I know that one idea that's been considered as part of the Welsh Government's package of reforms is electronic voting. In framing my supplementary today, I wanted to cite an example where electronic...
Vikki Howells: I'd like to speak in support of this Bill. It's an important Bill designed to tackle a social evil that has been with us for far too long. It's also a Bill to which a commitment was made in the 2016 Welsh Labour manifesto, a manifesto that I was proud to be elected on. I want to thank the Members of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, the Finance Committee and the Constitutional and...
Vikki Howells: I think that the Bill has to be seen as part of a suite of measures, really, to tackle that, which we wouldn't have time to go into today. But placing this under annual review would also help to reassure those of my constituents who've contacted me about the Bill. It would enable us to monitor its effect. It would also allow us to keep an eye to see if there are any problems caused by our...
Vikki Howells: 7. What legal representations has the Counsel General made on behalf of the Welsh Government in relation to its new economic contract? OAQ51909
Vikki Howells: Counsel General, it's welcome that the new economic contract will require businesses to do the right thing and deliver on Welsh Government priorities like fair work and decarbonisation. It is a legal relationship with these businesses, and they must be clear what is expected of them, and the Welsh Government must also be protected if these are not met. What steps are you taking to ensure...
Vikki Howells: Thank you, acting Presiding Officer. For my short debate, I want to consider the problems caused by land banking. I will explore how the Welsh Government’s proposals for a vacant land tax could tackle these, and I will use examples from my constituency to illustrate what may seem like elevated principles of land ownership and finance. I'll also be giving a minute of my time to David...
Vikki Howells: My thanks to Clixx Photography of Aberdare for their work in putting the film together. The first site, and in many ways the most prominent site, is the Phurnacite site. Located in Abercwmboi, this is spread over a huge 168 acres. The sharp-eyed amongst you may have noticed the football pitch on the right hand side of the screen a few seconds in. I think that usefully shows the scale of the...
Vikki Howells: I think these sites also highlight some of the problems caused by land banking that I mentioned earlier. I'm going to focus on the first site, the former Phurnacite site, to illustrate this. Firstly, the site being kept in its present condition stops it being redeveloped. That means that 500 new homes cannot be built. This means that plans to develop land for economic purposes and to provide...
