Janet Finch-Saunders: Cabinet Secretary, the recent parliamentary review of health and social care in Wales noted that the majority of the NHS Informatics Service’s 534 staff are currently involved in maintaining digital services and infrastructure rather than developing new systems. Now, given the widespread concerns—and we’ve discussed it here—about open data, collecting data and information sharing, for...
Janet Finch-Saunders: I certainly welcome the increased powers of the public services ombudsman under this Bill and the inclusion of the Assembly in the appointments process. I was very supportive of this when it came before committee last term and I look forward to scrutiny in our committee when it comes forward. We firmly believe that the ombudsman should be accountable to the National Assembly for Wales, not...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Will the Member give way?
Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you, Mike. I’m sure you’d agree with me, wouldn’t you? I’m very concerned about the return of mobility equipment when people have had operations in hospital. I know of two patients recently where, when they phoned up to say, ‘Can we return our equipment?’ ‘No, they’re no use to us. No, we can’t reuse them; just take them to your local tip’. I find that a complete and...
Janet Finch-Saunders: 5. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the review of designated landscapes in Wales? (OAQ51197)
Janet Finch-Saunders: Cabinet Secretary, I’m really interested in your thoughts on the Alliance for Welsh Designated Landscapes’s response to the review. The alliance has called for the report to be rewritten to provide traceability from the Marsden report, from the recommendations of which, of course—I’m looking at Dafydd; sorry, Dafydd—it was commissioned.
Janet Finch-Saunders: They have also—this is what they said now. They have also called for a clear reaffirmation of the Sandford principle. Will you commit to both of these proposals today?
Janet Finch-Saunders: Cabinet Secretary, such is the confusion now over the winding up of Communities First in our communities that a number of permanent vacancies are still being advertised online. What steps are you taking to ensure that taxpayers’ money is not being wasted on further recruitment processes for a scheme that you are technically winding down?
Janet Finch-Saunders: Encouraging the increased use of public transport must be near the top of any Government’s agenda. The benefits to the environment, economy, public health, are undeniable. Additionally, supporting our young people in accessing employment and education opportunities is essential to the growth and development of our future workforce. Our debate today—
Janet Finch-Saunders: I’ve only just started, sorry. Our debate today outlines a realistic, costed and positive policy. Indeed, one might realistically expect the Welsh Government to support this, given that it goes so far in meeting their objectives for young people, outlined in their ‘Prosperity for All’ document, and is a credible alternative to the current system. Just 15,000 young people aged 16 to 18...
Janet Finch-Saunders: 2. How does the Welsh Government ensure patient safety in Wales? (OAQ51245)
Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you, First Minister. In north Wales, however, we were shocked last week to learn that, of the 77 unintended or unexpected incidents resulting in patient deaths registered across Wales in the past 12 months, more than half of these fell within the Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health Board. Every single one of these cases will have been simply devastating to the family and loved ones...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Leader of the house, I would like to call for a statement on public procurement. The recent report of the Auditor General for Wales found that despite broad support for the principle of the National Procurement Service, less than a third of local authorities were satisfied with it, including the Welsh Government, despite being the host organisation. Just £149 million of an estimated maximum...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Diolch, Deputy Presiding Officer. Cabinet Secretary, I’m sure that you would agree with me—in fact, you’ve stated it many times here in the Senedd—that openness and transparency and good councillor conduct are key to engagement with our political democracy and to attracting people to have faith in our political system, ultimately then helping us to attract more people to stand as...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Do you think this kind of thing helps the public to have confidence in local government? As the Cabinet member—[Interruption.]—with responsibility for local government, will you investigate this blatant and utter disregard for due procedure and for making a mockery of the public questions available in some local authorities?
Janet Finch-Saunders: I’m sorry, Cabinet Secretary, but I don’t think you understand local government proceedings. This is time allocated to members of the public who are then able to come along and scrutinise what they are genuinely interested in. It isn’t for a political party, of any colour, to actually feed questions to people to do that in order that they might score some kinds of political points....
Janet Finch-Saunders: Well, that, to me, just says that you’ve abrogated your responsibility as a Cabinet Secretary. These issues—[Interruption.] These issues partly explain the lack of public trust in politics, and I want to ask you about candidacy now in Wales, which is at crisis point. In September, the Electoral Commission reported that 7 per cent—that’s 7 per cent—of all county and borough seats...
Janet Finch-Saunders: I thank the Chairman for those comments then, and for the work that the committee and everybody has done on this. We heard from a large number of witnesses throughout this inquiry, and I think what has stood out the most from it is the total lack of consistency experienced across Communities First in terms of outcomes, working partnerships and management. For some, we did hear positive...
Janet Finch-Saunders: 1. Will the First Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government's public procurement priorities? OAQ51299
Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you. First Minister, as you are aware, the number of people waiting more than a year for surgery in Wales has increased this year by 400 per cent. Now, in order to get those lists down, health boards are forced to procure some services and health treatments outside Wales. In my own health board, I am aware of several referrals to the Priory clinic for those wishing to access vital...
