Bethan Sayed: Will the Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government's progress in tackling homelessness in Wales?
Bethan Sayed: I just wanted to ask about this constant thing that you're saying, that there are negotiations happening. The Belgian MEP Philippe Lamberts used a swearword and said there were no negotiations happening at the moment—that there is no negotiation because there's no compromise on the backstop. There are no negotiations. Will you please stop lying in this Parliament that there are?
Bethan Sayed: Soundbites, spin, lies, chaotic debates, demos, slogans on buses, broken promises, half-sitting MPs, a distracting cwtchy dog. You name it, it’s probably all happened during this Brexit play. It would certainly give the The Thick of It a run for its money, anyway. But superficial spin and game playing is one thing in the yah-boo world of the asbestos-ridden Westminster Parliament, and the...
Bethan Sayed: I'd like to ask for an update on what's happened in terms of the discussions between the Welsh Government and Ineos on the potential for the creation of 500 jobs when Ford—. Well, Ford have said that they are to leave the Bridgend site. If that does happen, we're given to understand from the Financial Times that Jim Ratcliffe is interested in that site. I have to say that I do have some...
Bethan Sayed: The second request for a statement is—and I'm pleased the health Minister is here to hear me because I'm getting increasingly frustrated—about the fact that we are having no progress at all on the announcement as to what is happening with the eating disorders framework. I've been pretty tolerant, I think, in trying to wait for the outcome of the framework, but I've come to the point now...
Bethan Sayed: As you invited me, have you talked to some of those young people about why they're out on strike, instead of just tarnishing them because they're 'out on strike', which I think is deflecting from the real issue? They're campaigning about an issue that they care deeply about. Have you asked them why they're doing it?
Bethan Sayed: The movement towards greater environmental awareness is a long one and it's been building momentum since the 1960s and 1970s across the world, and the current, arguably, much bigger movement has come about after years of raising awareness and concerns. So, we've submitted this motion because younger people are right to be concerned about the environment that they are currently set to inherit....
Bethan Sayed: I'm not trying to distort the situation. You supported that and I'm saying that is totally fine, but don't dismiss another cause just because it's deemed to be a strike and something that you don't think is politically pertinent for young people to do. I'm running out of time, so all I would like to say is: listen to the young people when they bring those issues to us. Take them seriously,...
Bethan Sayed: Last week, the Scottish National Party Government okayed the cystic fibrosis drug Orkambi, which is something that I and others in this Chamber, I'm sure, will welcome. But also last week, Corbyn tweeted, and I quote: 'People with cystic fibrosis in England, Wales and Northern Ireland still don’t have access to the life changing drug #Orkambi…The government must act.' Well, I know he...
Bethan Sayed: 1. What is the Welsh Government doing to help those impacted by the closure of Thomas Cook? 341
Bethan Sayed: Thank you very much for that written statement. To start on a positive, I'd like to ask you if you'd join with me in praising Elaine Kerslake from Gilfach Goch, who arranged a whip-round on a flight that she was coming back from on Thomas Cook because she realised that the staff were not being paid. Therefore, would you want to praise her for doing that? But also would you join with me,...
Bethan Sayed: I was expecting Leanne to be called before me, sorry. Could we please have an update on complaints procedures and what people can do to get answers and better feedback and results when there are disputes with social services departments? I've had a number of cases from people in Bridgend who've had disputes with social services departments, which you appreciate I won't be going into here...
Bethan Sayed: Thank you, and apologies.
Bethan Sayed: It was just on the point you were finishing off in relation to the cost. So, I'm just wondering if you have managed to have any conversations about the tunnels with the UK Government. Of course, I appreciate that just giving the cost of insurance wouldn't be enough, and that you'd need—. It's a massive liability. So, are you able to tell us if you're pursuing those conversations?
Bethan Sayed: Thank you very much, Llywydd. It’s important for us in Wales that we have the ability to use the language of our choice in our everyday interactions with public services. Not only is it a basic right, but it’s crucial to building our sense of self and community. The Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 was an important milestone in the history of our language. The Measure, for the first...
Bethan Sayed: Thank you very much to those Assembly Members who contributed today, and well done to Caroline Jones, again, for practising her Welsh here today. It’s very important that we try to do so when we have the opportunity to do so. I have time, perhaps, just to explain some of the things that some Members had concerns about. I’d like to start, therefore, with this idea that Suzy put forward...
Bethan Sayed: I would agree that the public interest is integral here, which is why, in relation to the cystic fibrosis drug Orkambi, Vertex isn't only submitting an application for the drug, it's submitting a patient access scheme alongside that, which of course allowed for it to be okayed in Scotland. My question is: how often are these patient access schemes considered here in Wales alongside a drug...
Bethan Sayed: 7. How does the Welsh Government ensure appropriate work conditions in private companies that provide services on behalf of local government? OAQ54471
Bethan Sayed: Thank you for that reply. As you will know, Neath Port Talbot council—as did many other councils at the time—they spun off their leisure services to Celtic Leisure, and many of us warned at the time that eventually working conditions would spiral because of that. What we've seen recently, therefore, is Celtic Leisure saying that, if people don't agree to changes in their terms and...
Bethan Sayed: 1. What legal representations has the Counsel General made on behalf of the Welsh Government relating to the size of the prison estate in Wales? OAQ54520
