Joel James: Dirprwy Lywydd, can I just confirm how long I have to speak?
Joel James: Perfect. Thank you. Firstly, I'd like to pay tribute to the hard work and dedication of my colleague Mark Isherwood in fighting continuously and rigorously for the introduction of a BSL Bill in Wales. I dearly hope that his work and the work of many others involved won't be in vain and that a BSL Bill will eventually be introduced, because truthfully, making statutory provision for the use of...
Joel James: Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd, and I'm absolutely delighted that the Welsh Government has supported the work of the Petitions Committee and has accepted its recommendations. I'm particularly pleased to see that this Government has recognised that, in order to provide clear and effective leadership and co-ordination for water safety and drowning prevention, there needs to be oversight from a...
Joel James: 3. What benefits has the First Minister's trip to Qatar during the World Cup brought to Wales? OQ58862
Joel James: 3. What benefits has the First Minister's trip to Qatar during the World Cup brought to Wales? OQ58862
Joel James: Sorry about that—
Joel James: —just a wardrobe malfunction there, sorry.
Joel James: Thank you, Llywydd—really sorry about that.
Joel James: Thank you, First Minister. The world cup has undoubtedly brought benefits through increasing the profile of Welsh football on the international stage, and I think we can all congratulate the Welsh team on their performance and look forward to one day seeing them—hopefully—in the world cup final. Despite our success, and I'm sure you will agree, it is with sadness that the competition took...
Joel James: 2. What action is the Welsh Government proposing to ensure more rigorous employment standards in Welsh fire and rescue services in light of the allegations against South Wales Fire and Rescue Service? TQ700
Joel James: Minister, as we know, inflation is having an adverse effect on every budget, and money allocated to help reduce the impact of flooding and coastal erosion is no exception. Given that the cost of materials that will be used in providing flood defences has risen considerably, budgets are going to be stretched and it's now more important than ever that funds are used efficiently. Can I therefore...
Joel James: Thank you, Deputy Minister. The ITV Wales news story on Monday evening reported that south Wales fire service has had at least two individuals who have fallen short of the exemplary standards promoted by the fire and rescue service. I think we can all agree that their abhorrent behaviour should never, ever be tolerated, and I would like to add my voice to acknowledge the bravery of the...
Joel James: Counsel General, as part of your assessment, have you considered the International Labour Organization's acceptance, which the TUC subscribes to, that minimum service levels are a proportionate way of balancing the right to strike with the need to protect the wider public? Secondly, yesterday, in her oral statement, your colleague the health Minister said that, and I quote, 'the impact on...
Joel James: I'd like to start by echoing the comments already made, and thanking John Griffiths for bringing this to debate and for all the work he does as Chair of the committee. As someone who has spoken numerous times in this Chamber about how important it is to protect our natural heritage, to protect buildings of community importance even if they do not meet Cadw's overly strict criteria, and to...
Joel James: Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd, and it's my pleasure to open this debate today in the name of Darren Millar. There are a number of very important reasons for bringing this debate forward on what is the national awareness day for less survivable cancers, with the main one being that we need to highlight both to the Welsh Government and Members across this Chamber that, tragically, Wales has the...
Joel James: 2. Will the First Minister make a statement on the impact on Wales of the recent transition to the new UK subsidy control regime? OQ58972
Joel James: Thank you, First Minister. I recently met with a business within my region who are developing technologies that will have a profound impact on helping to reverse the effects of climate change and are in the process of applying for Welsh Government funding, but it seems like the whole process is taking considerable time and much longer than previous applications, which is having a detrimental...
Joel James: 4. What discussions has the Minister had with the Minister for Climate Change regarding the use of genetic modification of plants for carbon sequestration? OQ58948
Joel James: Thank you, Minister. Whilst I acknowledge this Government's cautionary approach to genetic engineering, I believe that it is shortsighted to ignore the fact that this technology has the potential to solve many of the problems that we are currently facing. I also believe that there is considerable potential for the genetic modification of certain plants, that will not enter the food chain, to...
Joel James: Thank you. Well, you are quite right: we do have a precautionary principle, absolutely, at the heart of our policy in relation to genetic modification and gene editing, and, obviously, I don't think you were in the Chamber yesterday, but we had a debate on the LCM on the UK Government's Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill. New genetic techniques are powerful tools, but that power...
