Laura Anne Jones: 7. What action will the Welsh Government take to support the Welsh heritage sector before the next parliamentary election? OQ55800
Laura Anne Jones: First Minister—. Can you hear me?
Laura Anne Jones: Fine. I had some problems with my buttons then. First Minister, so that people in Caerphilly and Wales can prepare, there appears to be some sort of confusion that I hope you can clarify for us this afternoon. One of your Ministers has spoken out saying that there'll be another firebreak in January and February—another firebreak lockdown. Could you confirm or clarify the Government's...
Laura Anne Jones: Thank you, First Minister. The COVID pandemic has obviously hit the heritage sector hard. National Museum Wales and the National Library of Wales are both institutions that have seen a drastic loss of revenue from the lack of visitors, or from no visitors, but this on top of significant reductions in grant-aid funding before the pandemic outbreak. The national museum and the national library...
Laura Anne Jones: Business Minister, on the back of something my leader's already touched on today, and on the fact that I've been inundated with e-mails and calls since last Thursday, I'm just asking you, and begging the Government, to please bring forward the statement that they were meant to do today on the economic recovery plan. It's absolutely vital that businesses know what they're doing in the course...
Laura Anne Jones: Just done it. Thank you. Firstly, thank you, First Minister, for your statement, and thank you, Presiding Officer, for letting me sneak in at the end here. I'll try and keep it brief. I just want to firstly say, First Minister, I'm delighted that Alun Davies and Delyth Jewell have both also recognised the dire need to reopen the ERF phase 3 fund for businesses who were applying for £150,000...
Laura Anne Jones: Thank you, Minister. I just want to start by thanking Helen Mary Jones for giving this Senedd another opportunity, following on from yesterday, to get across to the Government just how important it is to reopen phase 3 of the economic resilience fund—the business development grant side of it, as you've outlined, which is different to the other—and to reopen it quickly, Minister. Because...
Laura Anne Jones: First Minister, yes, that's very welcome news about the vaccine, but, as you say, people need to continue to act sensibly, and obviously safety comes first. But I have a question for you that I probably did not make as clear as I should have done last week, and that's on football. So, it affects clubs that have come to me from Caerphilly, South Wales East and, of course, it affects the whole...
Laura Anne Jones: As Monmouthshire County Council's armed forces champion and as a granddaughter of a major myself, I know the importance of recognising the works, needs and commitment of our armed forces. It is appropriate, therefore, that today, on Armistice Day, we recognise the enormous debt we owe to those serving and who have served in our armed forces. They serve our country with dedication, at the risk...
Laura Anne Jones: First Minister, we'd also, on these benches, like to extend our congratulations to—I believe it's baby Poppy's parents and also welcome the hospital, which, of course, is hugely beneficial to all my constituents across South Wales East. There have been many concerns that people have been inboxing me about recently, because doctors have come out and said that they're concerned about the...
Laura Anne Jones: Thank you, Deputy Minister. I welcome this statement today on Interfaith Week, which aims to build on good relationships and working partnerships between people of different faiths and beliefs. Over generations, we have built a successful, multiracial, multifaith democracy. This week provides a focal point for interfaith activity, so that more people are aware of its importance and are able...
Laura Anne Jones: First Minister, following on from John Griffiths's question, I'd like to say that I've also been contacted by a number of worried parents in the Newport constituency area, because, currently, as it stands, there are 1,000 pupils isolating from Caerleon Comprehensive School, my old school. Years 7, 8, 9, 12 and 13 are all off at the moment, which is beyond comprehension really. Obviously, year...
Laura Anne Jones: Business Minister, could I please ask for a statement from the education Minister clarifying the Welsh Government's position on keeping children in schools as much as possible right up until the end of this term? It was encouraging to hear the First Minister share my concerns over year groups in some schools in some authorities being arguably off unnecessarily because of not using the track...
Laura Anne Jones: Minister, the success of the new curriculum will be heavily dependent on how well teachers and other school staff have been able to prepare for its introduction. Given that almost half an academic year was missed earlier this year, and we are now seeing whole year groups being taken out of school on a large scale—. For example, 1,000 pupils in Caerleon Comprehensive School are currently...
Laura Anne Jones: 7. What measures is the Welsh Government taking to improve road safety in Monmouthshire? OQ55985
Laura Anne Jones: I'm with Delyth Jewell on this. News that taxpayers face the extortionate amount of money that has been spend on this dualling from Hirwaun to Dowlais, after construction costs increased by 25 per cent in less than a year, is truly shocking. It's an extortionate amount of money to be spending on such a project and I completely agree with Delyth Jewell on that. This follows your breaking of a...
Laura Anne Jones: Thank you. First Minister, can you provide an update on plans to improve road safety on the A4042 in Llanellen? There's a spot where there's a humpback bridge over the Usk, and I know there are footways leading up to the bridge on both sides. Any walkers are forced into conflict with vehicles by having no option but to walk on the carriageway. This is the only section of the A4042 between...
Laura Anne Jones: Thank you, Deputy Minister. I welcome this statement today on the international day of disabled people, which aims to identify and address the discrimination, marginalisation, exclusion and inaccessibility that many people living with disabilities face. It was back in 1992 that the United Nations called for an international day for celebration of people living with disabilities to be held at...
Laura Anne Jones: Well, we'll try, Llywydd. In response to the—
Laura Anne Jones: In response to the First Minister's responses to my esteemed colleagues earlier, yes, this is a public health emergency, yes, lives are at stake, and yes, these are difficult decisions. We all recognise this and we all understand this. So, rather than wasting time making ridiculous accusations across this Chamber earlier, when you were here, First Minister, we could have found time today to...
