Dawn Bowden: ...the lowest levels of identified Welsh speakers in Wales. I want to see that change and I've been supportive of Welsh language services and learning opportunities that are provided in Merthyr, most notably at Canolfan Soar that you visited with me only recently. Despite the relatively low level of Welsh speakers, I've received representations from a number of constituents who were offended...
Vikki Howells: Earlier this year, we commemorated the centenary of the Representation of the People Act 1918. More than 5 million mainly working-class men received the vote, and nearly 8.5 million women also became voters. But these women did not receive the franchise on an equal basis. Rather, under that Act, new women voters had to be over 30 years of age. They or their husbands also had to meet stringent...
Llyr Gruffydd: ...Welsh Government published their revised child poverty strategy in December 2015, and after evaluating the strategy and assessment, a progress report was published in December 2016. However, it's not clear how this strategy is being utilised, nor how, today, it's shaping this current Government's thinking. 'Taking Wales Forward', the Government's foundational strategy is seen as the new...
Russell George: Thank you, First Minister. I've been contacted by a former constituent who's written to me to say that he feels disenfranchised at not being able to vote in Welsh elections. He was born in Wales and raised locally and has extensive family in mid Wales. He moved from mid Wales to Shropshire, where his job took him, and then went to work abroad. Contacting the election office in Powys,...
Jane Hutt: ...seven to 21 say that gender stereotypes affect their ability to say what they think. Fifty-two per cent of women report being sexually harassed in the workplace. We know we have a responsibility, not just the Welsh Government but here in this Assembly, to address the Me Too issues that have come out this year. One in three women in Wales will experience physical or sexual violence at some...
Paul Davies: Minister, I've received representations from constituents who have concerns over the over-zealous cutting of roadside verges, especially on the A40 from Fishguard to Haverfordwest road, which is destroying local flora and has knock-on effects on local wildlife. I understand that the Welsh Government is introducing a new green corridor initiative for roadside verges. But can you tell us what...
Julie Morgan: I thank the Cabinet Secretary for that response. Has the Cabinet Secretary had any indications from local authorities that they would consider moving to a proportional representation system for local elections? And would he agree that such a system would be a fairer system and may help increase interest and participation in local elections?
Leanne Wood: I've received many representations from schools in the Rhondda regarding the funding crisis that they face in this financial year and, of course, for the foreseeable future. Treorchy Comprehensive School alone has lost nearly £0.25 million in this financial year, with no corresponding drop in pupil numbers. Then we have the state of some school buildings. One I visited recently posed a clear...
Carwyn Jones: ...committed to doing everything it can to reduce the pay gap. Women hold 40 per cent of senior civil service posts in the Welsh Government. Now, of course, the pay arrangements of senior staff are not in the control of the Welsh Government, they're not devolved, but there is a commitment on our part to achieving 50:50 representation across the senior civil service by 2020. So, what measures...
Jane Hutt: ...playing field?' Can we be confident that we will have the influence to safeguard these rights? The Women's Equality Network, which I've mentioned already to the First Minister today, is making representations to the UN Convention on the elimination of discrimination against women. They're making these representations in a report this week. It's calling on the UK Government to enshrine the...
David Rees: ...You, therefore, haven't been consulted on a contribution into that paper. It talks about a joint committee that may oversee work going on, but it doesn't reference the Welsh Government in terms of representation on that joint committee; it talks about other actions. Do you really have confidence that they're going to listen to us in the negotiations going on? We know that they should be in...
Jane Hutt: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I'm pleased to speak in this debate today on behalf of the Finance Committee on the financial implications of the Childcare Funding (Wales) Bill. Firstly, it's worth noting that our scrutiny of the Bill has been limited to the financial information provided in the regulatory impact assessment, which sets out the costings for administering the scheme, and not the cost...
Ken Skates: ...transport budgets alone. The figure includes funding for around 125 Safe Routes in Communities schemes, and about 70 local transport fund schemes that focus on active travel. But that money does not include the wider improvements that we've funded as part of road safety schemes, speed limit reductions and integrated transport schemes. And now that the plans are in place, we are...
Rebecca Evans: ...to come forward with their plans as well. It is important, as you say, that housing first takes a collaborative approach, which is why the ministerial task and finish group does contain or include representation from across Welsh Government, but also those organisations that work with young people and vulnerable people; the justice service is involved and so on. So, we will continue...
Helen Mary Jones: Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. Since returning to this place, I've received a number of representations from local authorities in my own area, particularly in my own region and particularly in Powys, who contend that—and this will not be a new point made to you, I'm sure—the current formula creates difficulties for people in rural areas. For example, if you are a family on low wages living...
Siân Gwenllian: ...McAllister. I very much hope that we will move immediately to introduce the rest of the proposals. Like Jane Hutt, I'm disappointed that recommendations 10 and 11, in relation to increasing equal representation in terms of gender, aren't being brought forward at this point. But I do understand the background to that, of course. Quotas and job-sharing are an excellent way of providing women...
Jeremy Miles: ...to introduce this Bill. The Wales Act 2017 has brought new powers in this area, and it's right that they should be used to make our legislature more effective, accessible and diverse in terms of representation.
David Lloyd: Leader of the house, back in May I raised under the business statement the fact that I had received representations from trainee doctors in Wales in the field of histopathology who, for some time now, have faced a pay gap of some £40,000 over the course of their training when compared to their English counterparts. The Welsh Government is aware of the pay gap due to correspondence between...
Caroline Jones: ...wheelchair to catch a bus so that he can meet his friends and live as independently as he wishes. But very often there is insufficient room on the bus to take him, so he waits in all weathers for another bus to come along; he waits hopefully that this will happen. So, this desperately needs addressing. The previous framework, although far from perfect, was widely welcomed, as it outlined...
Dawn Bowden: I too have had discussions with Vertex, and I've made representations to you about a particular constituent of mine, who I know is very concerned that her daughter, who's only about seven years old, can have access to this drug. But, in my discussions with Vertex, I've been, like you, hugely frustrated—they seem to understand what the process is, but, for whatever reason, are not engaging...
