James Evans: Firstly, I'd like to thank the Government for bringing forward this debate. For me and for many, this week is the most important week that we have the whole year. It's a time when we can all come together to reflect in silence on the huge human sacrifice that has been given by so many so we can be in this Chamber in peace, freedom and democracy. My area of Brecon and Radnor is steeped in...
James Evans: I'd like to thank Jack Sargeant for raising this vitally important question. As he did, I'd like to take this moment just to thank Joyce Watson for all her long-continued work in this area; she's an absolute champion for the White Ribbon campaign. Peer-on-peer sexual harassment in our schools is totally unacceptable, and it's happening up and down Wales. This was found in the recent...
James Evans: There is much to welcome in this report and I'd like to thank the committee and its members, led by my colleague Paul Davies, for their work on producing this fantastic report. As the report points out, there were fearful predictions of mass unemployment during the pandemic, but, thanks to the UK Government's furlough scheme, mass unemployment was avoided in Wales due to the UK Government. I...
James Evans: As a newish member of this committee, it really has been an eye-opener for me, being a part of the committee, to the legislative process of the Senedd and all the inter-governmental working and the sheer breadth of the work the committee does. I'd just like to put on record my thanks to our Chair, Huw Irranca-Davies, for the excellent work he does chairing that committee, and to our...
James Evans: First Minister, a recent freedom of information request showed that, in Powys, there are around 4,500 households waiting for social housing. I'm sure you'll agree with me that that's extremely worrying. I'm sure those individuals and those people on that waiting list, like I do, want to know today what you and your Government are doing to fix this problem, because, as you said earlier,...
James Evans: Diolch, Llywydd, and thank you for your statement, Minister. I do wholeheartedly agree with your comment that this is a team Wales approach and it does need a number of stakeholders and agencies to come around the table to address water quality, because no one part of the blame can be put on one party. I was quite pleased in your statement that you've got a task and finish group looking at...
James Evans: I can see we're over time, so I'll be as short as I can. Horse-racing for me has been a lifelong passion. My mother was an avid horse-rider, my grandmother was an avid horse-rider, and my great grandmother rode horses right until her ninetieth birthday, so I've had a great interest in this sport from a very young age. Unlike other Members, I'm sure, like Jack Sargeant, I don't tend to win a...
James Evans: 7. Has the Welsh Government considered any additional uses for the land at Gilestone Farm other than the proposed lease to the Green Man festival? OQ58744
James Evans: I'd like to thank the Minister for your answer. There is huge concern in my area about the £4.25 million purchase by the Welsh Government of Gilestone farm and the due diligence around that, and the potential future land use for that area. Currently, I'm aware that you're in discussions with the owners of the Green Man festival, but local people would like me to put an alternative solution...
James Evans: 3. What has the Minister done to reduce the carbon footprint of her department in the past year? OQ58745
James Evans: 2. What steps is the Minister taking to ensure education is delivered in a face-to-face format? OQ58743
James Evans: Thank you for that, Deputy Minister. We all accept in this Chamber that there is a massive issue with climate change, and no-one can deny that. Your Government often talks about tackling the climate emergency. Indeed, the Welsh Government refused to go to the recent COP27 in Egypt, as the Minister stated, due to concerns over the carbon footprint. That is a very moral decision. However, Welsh...
James Evans: Minister, I would like to thank you for your answer. I was deeply concerned to read that the Liberal Democrats in charge of Powys County Council are considering forcing children to miss one day a week of school in favour of so-called virtual education. I'm sure you'll agree with me that this puts a huge amount of pressure on parents and pupils. And I hope you'll also agree with me—and I got...
James Evans: Minister, ensuring our farmers have a viable future is very important, but one sector in particular that is facing huge pressure is our poultry industry, as they are managing avian influenza and a massive rise in energy costs. Can you please outline what steps the Welsh Government is taking to support our poultry farmers to make sure that they have a sustainable, viable future in the poultry...
James Evans: Businesses are up and down in my constituency, and they play a huge part in my community. I'd like to list them all, as Luke Fletcher did, but after my contribution last year, I had some e-mails from people who were quite upset that I didn't mention them, so I think it's probably best that I don't. Just to say, there are a number of businesses, north and south, east and west in my...
James Evans: In your response, Minister, to my colleague Natasha Asghar, you outlined that the Welsh Government had identified ways in which we could address rural public transport. As you're well aware, rural public transport in my area is a massive issue, and if you could please give a bit more detail about the areas that you said you've identified, I'd be very grateful. Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd.
James Evans: Do you think it is a shame that we have to have this debate today? These things are coming forward because of a poorly thought-out policy brought forward by the Welsh Government just to keep their chums in Plaid Cymru happy.
James Evans: Trefnydd, I'm asking for a ministerial statement from the Deputy Minister for sport on the proposals by the Liberal Democrat administration in Powys County Council to close leisure centres and pools across my constituency over Christmas and the new year, and potentially up to April and beyond, without any consultation with local residents. This will be devastating for people in my...
James Evans: Before I start, I want to put on record that my group have no objection to the regulations, but we do have objections to the way that the Welsh Government has presented these to the Senedd today. Is it right that we as Senedd Members have to vote on poorly worded regulations that are, in fact, defective? The Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee, which I sit on, identified 34...
James Evans: Minister, I was alarmed to read that ONS statistics show that the average price of a pint of beer has gone up 9 per cent compared to last year, and more than 50 pubs a month are now closing across the UK, compared to around 30 pubs a month last year. Pubs are the heartbeat of many communities in Brecon and Radnorshire, and they play an important social role for many people. So, I'd like to...
