Delyth Jewell: Thank you for that, Minister. You mentioned in your previous answer about COVID-19 and the effect that that's had on so many aspects of the housing market. Now, it's clear that the restrictions that have been in place this year have been experienced differently by different groups of people. We've spoken about this many times. But, the difference reflects wider inequalities in our society....
Delyth Jewell: Free school meals aren't just about feeding hungry children—they're about access to education, children's ability to concentrate in lessons, and ensuring well-being, health and attainment. The pandemic we're all living through has forced us to confront many injustices so ingrained in our society they've come to appear endemic. A third of Welsh children are living in poverty, and as the...
Delyth Jewell: 3. Will the Counsel General provide an update regarding the Welsh Government's plans to challenge the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020 in the Supreme Court? OQ56089
Delyth Jewell: Diolch, Lywydd. I thank the Counsel General for that answer that he gave to my colleague, Dai Lloyd. I also thank him for making plans to bring forward this challenge against the Act's unacceptable provisions in relation to devolution, which, of course, I'd urged him to take in September. I note what he just said in terms of the written statement that we can expect next week. But I wonder...
Delyth Jewell: I'd like a statement, please, from the Government explaining why so many people who are in their 80s and 90s and who are housebound have been invited to appointments for vaccinations in mass vaccination centres, when they were never going to be able to get to those appointments. I've been contacted by numerous constituents, primarily in Caerphilly, but I'd wager that it's probably happening...
Delyth Jewell: 2. What consideration has the Minister given to supporting people affected by the coronavirus in South Wales East when formulating the Welsh Government's budget for 2021-22? OQ56117
Delyth Jewell: Thank you, Minister. You told the Finance Committee last week that there's around £800 million in reserves that will need to be spent in the current financial year if the UK Government continues to refuse to allow you flexibility to carry it forward. You mentioned then that you expect to use some of this to give further support to business, and that you are also considering giving more...
Delyth Jewell: 5. What assessment has the First Minister made of the impact of an increase in council tax on the finances of people in South Wales East who are facing financial difficulties? OQ56164
Delyth Jewell: I thank the First Minister for that answer and for those points. However, many families and individuals in my region have faced real financial hardships even though they don't qualify for council tax support as it is available. A recent report by the Bevan Foundation found that nearly a quarter of households have seen their incomes fall since the start of the pandemic, while at the same time...
Delyth Jewell: I welcome this statement. I note that a large aspect of the Burns plan requires investment from the UK Government; that's come up a number of times this afternoon. Given that the historical underinvestment in Welsh rail infrastructure by the UK Government shows no sign of abating, what would the Deputy Minister say is the contingency plan if they do refuse to provide the money that we need? I...
Delyth Jewell: Generally, Plaid Cymru welcomes this White Paper. Our understanding is that it will apply to new buildings only and won't be retrospective in terms of older buildings. So, can we have it on the record that the Government also wants to tackle problems in a retrospective manner too, because many people are living in flats that aren't currently safe? And I know that the Minister feels the same...
Delyth Jewell: 3. Will the Minister make a statement on the number of patients in South Wales East waiting more than 36 weeks for treatment from their referral? OQ56152
Delyth Jewell: Thank you, Minister. According to research by the South Wales Argus, over 32,000 patients had waited beyond the 36-week period in Gwent up to October, which was the latest date when they had figures available. One of the key reasons for the delays is that not enough staff are available due to being off sick or self-isolating. According to the British Medical Association, the Welsh Government...
Delyth Jewell: I'd echo the points made about the bravery and dedication of the Aneurin Bevan health board staff—they are a credit to our communities. I wanted to raise an issue about administering the vaccine in the area, please. Some constituents have got in touch with me because they are caring for an elderly relative, and the elderly relative has been called to get the vaccine but they as a carer have...
Delyth Jewell: I'd like a statement from the Government, please, about its ongoing commitment to protecting biodiversity. Biodiversity erosion poses grave risks, of course, to human health, and increases the risk of pandemics, and it has an important role to play in preventing runaway climate change. There's a specific situation happening in my region, which is causing concern among biodiversity advocates....
Delyth Jewell: 4. What analysis has the Counsel General made of the restrictions the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020 places on the Senedd's ability to legislate now that the transition period has come to an end? OQ56192
Delyth Jewell: I'm grateful to the Counsel General for that response. It's clearly unacceptable that we have now lost the power to ban the sale of single-use plastics and to legislate in this area, so I do hope that the Counsel General is successful in the court proceedings. I'm interested in the fact that the Counsel General said in an external address recently, on the basis of the proceedings, that the...
Delyth Jewell: Flooding can be devastating enough when it happens once to a community—the clean-up, the high costs, the insurance companies who often find loopholes and too often refuse to pay—but another aspect I'd like to draw attention to is the psychological effects that flooding wreaks on those affected by it. In February last year, the residents of Edward Street in Ystrad Mynach were woken in the...
Delyth Jewell: 4. Will the Deputy Minister make a statement on the role of specialist support services in supporting survivors of domestic violence during the pandemic? OQ56241
Delyth Jewell: Thank you for that answer. As you'll know, of course, this crisis and the associated lockdowns have led to an escalation of risk for women who are either in abusive relationships or are fleeing them. But there is an equal crisis looming that is related to the funding of the specialist support services that are literally, or figuratively then, a lifeline for these women. Funds were received...
