Angela Burns: Diolch, Llywydd. Cabinet Secretary, following the July publication of the Welsh Government response to the parliamentary review, I note you indicated that the regional partnership boards are to be responsible for directing change and that you intend to issue guidance. Could you please tell us when will this guidance be forthcoming on the transformational change, and, considering that the...
Angela Burns: So, given what you've just said about the role that you see the regional boards performing, can you explain then how that ties in to the national transformation board? Will they be the ones who are responsible, ultimately, for the transformation of the national health service? And, as I'm sure you are aware, business process re-engineering is a highly defined skill and it takes a lot of...
Angela Burns: Actually, I'm really glad to hear you say that you're not going to expect every single bid to be successful, because the key to being able to achieve this recalibration of the NHS is that we've got to be prepared to accept failure, and there will be some failures along the way in all of these projects. But you are talking about the projects—you're talking about the transformation fund and...
Angela Burns: Thank you for taking an intervention, because I think, actually, the one thing that we haven't mentioned is the role the media play, and I think it's vital that the media desist on some of the ways that they portray people, politicians, refugees, so that these good role models, these good stories, the broadening of our understanding and the acceptance of different ways of life are portrayed...
Angela Burns: Leader of the house, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services published a written statement on 25 September concerning the doctors and dentists review body and their pay recommendations. Whilst it was good news to see that there's going to be an increase across this portion of the NHS and that, also, I was delighted to read the written statement, I do believe that we need a full...
Angela Burns: 2. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on changes to the pay of doctors and dentists in Wales? 214
Angela Burns: Thank you very much for that answer. And thank you for accepting, Presiding Officer, the topical question. I would like to have been able to have had a statement on this where we could have actually asked you some questions, because, like you, I welcome the increase in the pay award to doctors and dentists in Wales, but there are a couple of areas that need some clarity. We've seen a 4.6...
Angela Burns: I'd like to thank the Chair of the committee for putting this forward in such a measured and balanced way. We are talking about 40,000 signatures. Behind each and every signature is a voice. We are talking about 40,000 voices who have been striving to be heard for over a decade; 40,000 tired and very frustrated voices, who live in constant fear because they never seem to be able to impact...
Angela Burns: Will you take an intervention?
Angela Burns: Thank you. It was actually just a point of clarification, because I can accept, in a way, your commentary that you say that you don't want to comment on these detailed plans because you might have to make a final decision at some point in time. That's on the one hand. On the other hand, though, the health board will not be able to proceed with their multimillion pound—Rhun said £350...
Angela Burns: Will the First Minister provide an update on the current phase of the capital programme for Wales?
Angela Burns: I'd like to just talk about the NHS in Wales—I didn't realise you were responsible for the one in England as well. Your figures do sound absolutely superb, First Minister, and I don't quarrel with the improvements, where the improvements are. However, of course, those improvements aren't universal. As you know, the £50 million that was given last year, a chunk of it had to be recouped,...
Angela Burns: Thank you for your statement today, Minister. It's welcome news. There is a steady increase in the number of people living with HIV in Wales, which reflects, actually, an increase in survival and new diagnoses—both of which are to be welcomed—and we believe that PrEP plays an important role in reducing these new diagnoses. I have two areas of questioning. Not all people have had equal...
Angela Burns: Will the First Minister outline the Welsh Government's plans to fund local government over the coming financial year?
Angela Burns: Thank you, Presiding Officer. First of all, I would like to put on record how incredibly sorry I am for the affected families. A moment of maximum joy is what they should have been feeling, but it turned to events of terrible despair, and we are appalled by what's happened. In July of this year, a young couple came to see me. It's an appalling situation. They are part and parcel of what's...
Angela Burns: Will the Leader of the House provide an update on the progress of digital transformation across Wales’s public sector?
Angela Burns: Leader of the house, on 18 July, I raised my concerns with you that organisations with proven track records in the UK and throughout Europe for their work on digitising and streamlining public services were struggling to gain access to the Welsh Government. You said in response, and I quote: 'I'm very happy to be the conduit into Government if anybody's experiencing that difficulty. Deputy...
Angela Burns: 3. Will the First Minister outline how the Welsh Government monitors the effectiveness of spending by local authorities? OAQ52796
Angela Burns: 'An easy and lazy option when it comes to local government is to blame austerity and the Tories.' Gosh, First Minister, it sounds a bit like you and your Government. Let me read it again: 'an easy and lazy option when it comes to local government is to blame austerity and the Tories. It too often ignores other factors, such as poor decision making, when it comes to both budgets and service...
Angela Burns: Storm Callum did, indeed, wreck homes, businesses and stole lives, and my deepest sympathies go to the family and friends of the young man, Corey Sharpling, who lost his life. But I also have to say that the landslide that took this young man's life also saw some truly heroic efforts, and I would like to publicly pay tribute to two Carmarthenshire County Council workers, because, on that road...
