Jenny Rathbone: Will the First Minister explain why no funding has so far been allocated to investing in public transport solutions to the congestion on the M4 around Newport?
Jenny Rathbone: I agree with a lot of what Llyr is saying, that we, to some extent, are being bounced into this, and I think, in the light of David Attenborough's powerful speech, as already mentioned by Andrew R.T. Davies, what he said in Katowice really does force all of us to look deep into what we ought to be doing and what we're not actually delivering on. Because we've just had a discussion about...
Jenny Rathbone: 1. In light of warnings from the Welsh Local Government Association about the impact of cuts to local government funding, what discussions has the Cabinet Secretary held with the Cabinet Secretary for Local Government and Public Services regarding the safeguarding of local services? OAQ53050
Jenny Rathbone: What is the Welsh Government doing to establish centres for women offenders in Wales as a matter of urgency?
Jenny Rathbone: Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. Obviously, the additional funding that was made available last week for local government is very welcome, but, in terms of how it translates into money going to Cardiff Council, it's £1.5 million, in the context of Cardiff Council having to look for potential cuts of £34 million. So, it remains a very challenging landscape for local government. And I wondered...
Jenny Rathbone: However challenging the situation is in Wales, it's nowhere near as challenging as for pupils in England, where schools that have been found to be in special measures are simply being hung out to dry because they are obliged to be taken over by academies, and academies are simply walking away. They don't even get inspected by HM inspectors, so it's absolutely ridiculous for people on the...
Jenny Rathbone: Will you take an intervention?
Jenny Rathbone: You've got a long shopping list of things you'd like more money put into. Could you tell us what you think should receive less funding in order to pay for it?
Jenny Rathbone: 8. What action is the Welsh Government taking to increase the production of fruit and vegetables in Wales? OAQ53096
Jenny Rathbone: 4. How will the Welsh Government's review of gender equality help to improve outcomes for Welsh women found guilty of criminal offences? OAQ53097
Jenny Rathbone: What is the Welsh Government doing to improve the well-being of Gypsy and Traveller children?
Jenny Rathbone: Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. We currently produce 60 per cent of our own food and a lot fewer fruit and vegetables are produced in this country. Whilst we have absolutely no idea what the outcome of the Brexit negotiations is going to be, it seems to me that we need to prepare for the possibility of the worst-case option of a 'no deal' Brexit, which, of course, would instantly cut us off...
Jenny Rathbone: Thank you. I look forward to that statement. Leader of the house, I'm sure you'll be aware that women are currently discriminated against at every level of the criminal justice system. They're more likely to be arrested for offences that would warrant a warning if they were men, more likely to be refused bail, simply because they can't find anybody who is prepared to stand bail for them,...
Jenny Rathbone: Thank you for your statement. As you say, we need more action and fewer words. Penal policy has been dominated by the Daily Mail for too many years, not just under the Conservative Government, but under previous Labour Governments as well. So, we know that the current system doesn't work, because, if we send people to prison and they are simply learning new skills as a criminal and then...
Jenny Rathbone: Mark Drakeford.
Jenny Rathbone: I also have met my Cardiff Central representative, Gwion Rhisiart, and I'm very impressed with the three priorities he has, which are to understand better the importance of apprenticeships and job opportunities for young people, focusing on school transport, including active travel, and also the opportunities for the speaking and learning of Welsh in English-medium schools—very excellent...
Jenny Rathbone: David Attenborough has galvanised the British public to focus on the amount of plastics ending up in the ocean, imbibed by our sea life and ending up in our stomachs if we eat fish. So I'm glad the UK Government is considering a tax on plastic packaging, targeting those that contain less than 30 per cent recycled material or that are difficult or impossible to recycle, such as plastic...
Jenny Rathbone: The Environment Agency is now investigating exporters who've made false claims on thousands of tonnes of non-existent plastic waste, and a £50 million industry appears to have been penetrated by criminal gangs. Self-reporting invites fraud and error, and there's clearly inadequate oversight of what's happening to our waste. We simply cannot tolerate our rubbish being dumped on desperate...
Jenny Rathbone: Well, I'm very pleased that Members from across all four parties have supported this proposal. I didn't look at food specifically, because I think a lot of it is to do with getting the public on side and getting them to eat real food at all. So, I haven't addressed food waste, and I haven't yet worked out a way in which we could apply EPR to food waste, although it's a very interesting area....
Jenny Rathbone: 6. What powers does the Welsh Government have to protect Cardiff's cultural heritage from developers? OAQ53141
