Julie James: Formally.
Julie James: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. In rising in this debate, I'm delighted to do so. I'm actually very grateful to UKIP for bringing the debate forward. It's a matter of extreme importance to all of us. I too also need to make a declaration of interest as I am one of the women affected, having been born in the 1950s. Fortunately, like Caroline Jones, I'm still in work and so not so badly...
Julie James: I think that many Members have also pointed out that it's not the issue about transition to equality in state pension age that's the question here; it's the manner in which the changes were communicated, the speed with which they were done, and the removal of the transitional arrangements in 2011 that we have a serious problem with. The UK Government has a responsibility towards the women...
Julie James: Diolch, Llywydd. I just want to be absolutely clear that the Government abstained in the vote to take forward this emergency debate, not because we don't think this is a very important subject—because clearly it is a very important subject of the deepest and most profound significance—but because we believe that international affairs and decisions about whether to launch military action...
Julie James: Diolch, Llywydd. There are no changes to this week's business. Business for the next three weeks is shown on the business statement and announcement, found among the meeting papers, which are available to Members electronically.
Julie James: Well, the Cabinet Secretary has heard your obviously heartfelt sentiments on the subject. It is a consultation and we do need to wait until the outcome of the consultation so that we get all views before responding.
Julie James: On the first point, I'd very much like to see a Labour Government in the UK, and, of course, what we'd then have is a reversal of the choice austerity policies and a renewal of the proper funding arrangements for Wales, which would, of course, allow us to put a public holiday in. In the current circumstances of the billions of pounds taken out of the Welsh Government's budget, on any real...
Julie James: Yes, indeed. Mike Hedges makes an extremely important point. The UK Government has chosen to protect taxpayers from exposure to all of the costs of waste and decommissioning liabilities of new nuclear power plants through the Energy Act 2008. Our understanding is that the total decommissioning costs within the funded decommissioning plan, including the contingency, are estimated to be around...
Julie James: Well, I'm sorry to hear the Member feels that way. The Minister is here, listening to his point of view. Our point of view is very different to that. We think this is the start of a long process. There will be lots of opportunities to scrutinise the policy as it goes through, including regulation and legislation. So, I'm sorry he feels like that. No disrespect is intended to this Chamber. The...
Julie James: Delayed transfers of care are lower this year than they have been in the past and, of course, because of this Government's policy to jointly fund social care and the NHS, we have a great deal fewer problems with this than we see elsewhere. But all western Governments have this problem; it's not a unique problem to the Welsh Government. The Welsh Government has worked extremely well across the...
Julie James: I agree entirely with the Member that we owe an enormous debt of gratitude to our veterans. The Cabinet Secretary for public services did set out his views on the matter very plainly and, of course, the Member will have opportunities to question him, during his own question time, on any further action necessary. But I would like to underline what he said, which is of course that we all...
Julie James: On that first one, the Cabinet Secretary for Local Government and Public Services is in the process, I know, of a complex discussion with the UK Government about the department of justice policy in Wales and the interaction of various parts of that. And I'm sure that once those discussions are at a point where he can update the Chamber, he'll be very pleased to do so. I don't he's quite at...
Julie James: Yes, well, that's very timely, actually, as it happens, because we have announced a rapid review of gender-focused policy, and I put the terms of reference for that in the Members' Library last week. So, we're hoping to bring forward the first proper results from that, including differing arrangements, where necessary, for monitoring and evaluating and taking things forward, such as the...
Julie James: The Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport is considering the findings and recommendations of the inspector's report, following the public local inquiry, before making a decision on this. We acknowledge there has been a delay, but there is a large volume of correspondence as part of the statutory process and it has taken much longer than expected to consider it. However, we want to...
Julie James: Yes, I'm absolutely delighted to acknowledge that contribution, not least to my own life. Many of the hymns that I know and love are as a result of attending Baptist chapel with my grandmother, and singing my heart out, three times a day on a Sunday, when we were privileged to be spending a day with her. So, I have very fond memories of that. And, indeed, I am very happy to acknowledge the...
Julie James: I also heard the reports of this on the news and I know the Cabinet Secretary is aware. The board were at great pains to say that they were of the view that they had not done anything that was untoward. I know the Cabinet Secretary is looking into it and if there is anything that requires looking into, I know he will update Members accordingly.
Julie James: Well, yes indeed. I'm sorry that I didn't get to the event, because I very much would have liked to have been there. Of course, we're immensely proud of our links with Africa and the Wales for Africa programme. I'm not actually aware of any specifics around Zimbabwe, but I'm more than happy to look into that for the Member. Our efforts on behalf of Africa, through the Wales for Africa...
Julie James: Yes. I think it's a matter of some shame actually that there isn't a statue of a historical named Welsh woman in Wales. When these things are pointed out to you it becomes clashingly obvious, but it is obviously completely unacceptable. I am planning to bring forward a statement on a number of issues, including statues, plaques and so on, during this term—before the summer recess—and I...
Julie James: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I move the motion to approve the Digital Government (Welsh Bodies) (Wales) Regulations 2018. The Digital Economy Act 2017, which received Royal Assent in April 2017, grants new powers to public authorities to share data with other public authorities to improve the delivery of public services, identify and take action on debts owed to the public sector, and...
Julie James: Yes. Independent general practitioner contractors and health boards will employ GP locums where there is a service need. GP practices must ensure that they are appropriately qualified and registered.
