Jack Sargeant: For the record, in 2018 I became a proud White Ribbon ambassador, and I very much welcome today's statement from the Minister. But, I want to start with a statement and a simple message that cannot be said enough: it is men that have to change if we are to tackle violence against women and misogyny. Deputy Presiding Officer, we've heard today from the Minister and Members across the Chamber...
Jack Sargeant: Thank you very much, Llywydd. On behalf of the Petitions Committee, thank you for the opportunity to introduce this important debate.
Jack Sargeant: This petition was introduced by Craig Shuttleworth in June and reached 10,000 signatures before the end of July. Llywydd, that tells me that a lot of people in Wales, and across the world, love red squirrels. And while it isn't the focus of today’s debate, I do wish to mention petition P-06-1225, 'Make Natural Resources Wales undertake and publish annual wildlife surveys before felling...
Jack Sargeant: Diolch yn fawr, Deputy Presiding Officer. I want to thank Craig Shuttleworth and all the signatories of this petition for putting this topic on the agenda today. I think it was clear from the contributions made by all Members that there is a clear cross-party consensus, and from the Minister's response, not only to why we do need to act to protect red squirrels, but also what action needs to...
Jack Sargeant: Diolch yn fawr, Deputy Presiding Officer. Minister, you will know, clearly, that I have been trying and working very hard to bring a community bank branch to Buckley in my constituency, and I think it’s worth noting that the undertaking of starting Wales’s first community bank and opening a branch is a bold one and a welcome one. So, I am very grateful to you and your officials, but also...
Jack Sargeant: I'm very grateful to my colleague, Sam Rowlands, for raising this important question today. Can I agree with him and the Minister, for what she has said also? Minister, you'll be very aware that I am extremely passionate about the positive contribution that brewers and local pubs can bring to our local economy, and excellent breweries like those in Flintshire, Hafod and Polly's, or the...
Jack Sargeant: 1. What consideration has the Counsel General given to the recommendations made by Sir Christopher Bellamy's independent review of criminal legal aid? OQ57418
Jack Sargeant: I thank the Counsel General for that answer. Counsel General, I am sure that you agree with me, and with Sir Christopher Bellamy, that the legal aid system needs huge investment to nurse it back to some level of health after years of neglect from various Westminster Governments. But, if we look beyond the scope of Sir Christopher Bellamy's review, we have seen how hard it is for ordinary...
Jack Sargeant: I'm very grateful to be able to speak in today's debate, and I thank Rhun ap Iorwerth for bringing this forward, and I put my comments in line with the Chair of the Health and Social Care Committee as well. If I may, I'd like to focus my comments, following a recent discussion with the Royal College of Occupational Therapists. The Royal College of Occupational Therapists have recently...
Jack Sargeant: I really welcome today's statement from the Counsel General and the work behind this statement, from both the Counsel General and the Minister for Social Justice. I think Members of this Senedd, no matter what political home we find ourselves in, should recognise and welcome a Government that is seeking to retip the scales of justice towards ordinary people, and this is something certainly...
Jack Sargeant: 4. What discussions has the Minister had with the Minister for Social Justice regarding supporting employers who are considering trialling a four-day working week? OQ57469
Jack Sargeant: I'm very grateful for your answer, Minister, and as we've discussed this afternoon, there is a four-day week pilot being launched in the UK, in partnership with the think tank Autonomy and 4 Day Week Global. Could I stress the importance of these trials to learn, and could I ask you, Minister, what conversations both you and the Minister for Social Justice have had with the think tank...
Jack Sargeant: Thank you very much, Llywydd. On behalf of the committee, thank you very much for the opportunity to present this debate on this important petition.
Jack Sargeant: As Members will know, the recent change in the cervical screening arrangements in Wales has been of significant public interest. This petition to the Senedd, titled 'Reinstate cervical screening to every 3 years' gathered 30,133 signatures in just three days, and a similar petition on the change.org platform has so far received over 1.2 million signatures. Llywydd, to put this into...
Jack Sargeant: Diolch yn fawr, Deputy Presiding Officer. Diolch, Weinidog, for your response to today's debate, in particular for setting out some of the science behind the decision by Public Health Wales and answering some of the questions from Members. And, of course, thanks to Members. I do think that it's right to say that, unfortunately, the outcome of today will not always be satisfactory to some....
Jack Sargeant: On behalf of the committee, I'd like to thank Joanne Stroud and all of those who have supported this petition, and I thank the Minister and all Members for their contributions today. Thank you very much.
Jack Sargeant: I'm very grateful to my good friend from across the Chamber, James Evans, for tabling today's debate, and I genuinely believe bus services are and public transport is part of the wider key pillar of the wider initiative to create the green new deal that we need to see and deliver and act upon here in Wales, and the motion itself is a good motion, but I think anyone with a cursory knowledge of...
Jack Sargeant: I thank the Minister for this important statement. Llywydd, if I may, I want to start by welcoming the appointment of Derek Vaughan to this role. Derek will bring a wealth of experience to the role, and I think it's a fantastic appointment. Minister, one question from me. Do you agree and can you confirm today that one of the priorities for those who are looking to strengthen our relationship...
Jack Sargeant: Building connectivity is about designing and building transport networks that are responsive to the needs of our communities. This means we do need to regulate the bus industry in a way that places community need and networks at the heart of our decision making. But we know, Minister, that the current regulations brought in under Thatcher's Government were based solely on profits. They stop...
Jack Sargeant: As many Members will know, ACEs and a trauma-informed approach are an area and a topic that I'm passionate about. Just last year I wrote a piece co-authored with Charlotte from Platfform, a mental health charity, about the need for a kinder and more trauma-informed approach in all of our public services. I know many Members share this interest with me, and I do often reflect, as the Prif...
