Julie James: I think the whole situation with bus transport is a fraught one. We are indeed spending an enormous amount of money on bus transport right across Wales, not just in the north of the country. Once we have the bus regulation powers devolved to Wales, we will have to have, I think, a fundamental look at how we use that subsidy money, including both revenue and capital subsidies, because I think...
Julie James: Yes. Grants and contracts totalling more than £3.7 million have so far been allocated to Mudiad Meithrin for the 2018-19 financial year. This includes an additional £1 million to expand Welsh-medium early years provision across Wales.
Julie James: I've some sympathy with what the Member's saying as my own parents are Welsh speaking, as he knows, and I'm not Welsh speaking as they didn't teach it to me as a child and I've singularly failed to get any better at it than knowing my colours and numbers, I'm ashamed to say. So, I think there's a lot to be said for bringing up your children bilingually. Cymraeg for Kids provides advice and...
Julie James: I'm not absolutely certain whether that specific is, but I know that the review of Welsh in education strategic plans undertaken by Aled Roberts in 2017 included recommendations to strengthen the strategic relationship between local authorities and Mudiad Meithrin to ensure growth at local authority level to contribute to the Welsh Government target for 2050 and to ensure the system for...
Julie James: The Member's quite right, we did put the additional £1 million in—invested it—to enable them to respond to the challenge set out in 'Cymraeg 2050' to make rapid progress in expanding Welsh-medium early years provision. We've delivered to over 2,000 groups so far during 2017-18, providing support and advice to enable families to use more Welsh. The Member's absolutely right—there's real...
Julie James: Leaving the European Union will affect every community in Wales. In particular, jobs, business and public services in Islwyn, and, indeed, across Wales, will be critically dependent on securing full and unfettered access to the single market and a customs union, which are our top priorities.
Julie James: The Member makes a very important point, and, of course, we've been in extended negotiations with the UK Government about the respect for the devolution settlement as indicated in the EU withdrawal Bill. We will be looking to bring forward a Bill—the continuity Bill—and I'm very pleased, myself, to see Steffan in the Chamber this afternoon. We'll bring forward that continuity Bill to...
Julie James: Well, Professor Minford is a little of an outlier amongst economic professors. Actually, in fact, I think he is entirely alone in his analysis of Welsh economic prospects without the EU. Our economic analysis shows that, over the long term, our economic output could be up to 8 per cent to 10 per cent lower than otherwise if we leave the single market and are forced to trade under World Trade...
Julie James: Yes. I am very happy to categorically say that. We've never made any bones about the fact that we need to stay inside those arrangements. It's disastrous for research of all sorts—not just clinical research—across Wales and across the UK to be outside of those far-reaching partnership arrangements for that cutting-edge research. So, I'm very happy to say that that remains our position and...
Julie James: Diolch, Llywydd. There are three changes to this week's business. The Cabinet Secretary for Finance will make a statement shortly on the JMC(EN) held last Thursday, and in order to accommodate this, I have postponed the statement updating the Assembly on the UK inquiry on infected blood until 13 March. Finally, the Business Committee has agreed to postpone tomorrow's short debate until next...
Julie James: The Member makes a very good point. Gigabit services are already widely available today across the UK, Wales and north Wales. Businesses that require gigabit speeds can access them, but of course, they come at a price. There is a real issue with the market price for gigabit services, but unfortunately the Welsh Government is not the controller of that. It's a matter for Ofcom to address those...
Julie James: Well, the Assembly has only just passed the tax regulations. We had a full and frank debate about it at the time. I think that it would be far too early for a statement to be brought forward on regulations that have only just been passed. I'm sure the Cabinet Secretary will bring forward a statement once we've had a good period of time for the regulations to show what they do in Wales and...
Julie James: Those are two very interesting points. The first one on the procedure on the continuity Bill, which I'm also going to call it, because the title is indeed very long and complicated, is that we will be looking to table a motion next week, to get the Assembly to agree that it should be treated as an emergency Bill, and that will also have a debate on the scheduling of that Bill, rather than the...
Julie James: Yes, that's a very serious and important point. We'd very much like to see the university employers and unions negotiating a settlement to this dispute if at all possible. The Welsh Government has made it clear that if needed we're prepared to facilitate that process in Wales, and whatever it takes. The Cabinet Secretary for Education is meeting union leaders and representatives of...
Julie James: The Member's quite right—apprenticeships in Wales are a very important issue. But I have to point out at this point that one of the biggest issues is the minimum wage regulations that the UK Government impose on apprenticeships, which are very low indeed, and which are a matter of some concern. We are looking to see what we can do to support vocational forms of education through grant...
Julie James: Yes, the Member's quite right, I am answering a series of questions tomorrow—I believe he might be one of them—on this very point. And as soon as we have got full details of the Superfast 2 scheme, I will be announcing it. But just to reiterate my previous point, it will not be a one-size-fits-all, and we are looking to modify it across Wales to suit particular communities. If the Member...
Julie James: David Rees makes two very important points, as always. I believe the NSA matter is still a matter for the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, and he's indicating his willingness to keep you informed as the matter progresses. In terms of steel, of course that's an issue that affects almost every community in Wales, and continues to do so. It's a very important point. I'm sure the Cabinet Secretary...
Julie James: The Cabinet Secretary is indicating he's happy to write to you and keep you informed.
Julie James: Yes, I think a lot of us have a lot of sympathy with the UCU employees. I understand that the talks broke down on the casting vote of the chair. So, it was hardly a good discussion even at that point. I think we take the firm view that we need to get them back into the negotiating arrangements, to get the vice-chancellors to come to that table with an open mind and to get the very best deal...
Julie James: The Member makes an important point. Air quality is a very important matter throughout Wales. We've recently announced the clean air plan for Wales and that will include a clean air zone framework to ensure the consistent and effective implementation of clean air zones by local authorities, improvements to local authority reporting and the establishment of a national air quality assessment...
