John Griffiths: Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. I think the challenges are abundantly clear, as we’ve heard from others, and have been apparent for some time, but no doubt will be coming ever more apparent because of the ageing society that we have, because of the pressure that brings on the health service. We’ve talked for quite some time, haven’t we, in terms of trying to be more preventative as far as the...
John Griffiths: I very much welcome Tata’s statement today, and indeed your response, Cabinet Secretary, here in the Chamber. I think Tata’s statement is testament to the very strong ‘Save Our Steel’ campaign of the steelworkers and the trade unions representing them, and indeed the role played by our Welsh Labour Government here and yourself as Cabinet Secretary, and of course many Assembly Members...
John Griffiths: Diolch yn fawr, Lywydd. I intend to give Jane Bryant two minutes, Llywydd, and Mohammad Asghar a minute to speak in this debate, following their requests. I’m very pleased to have the opportunity of this short debate, which I hope to use to highlight the ways that well-thought-through regeneration plans can help reinvigorate a city like Newport and give the city, and indeed its wider...
John Griffiths: Many communities in Wales and beyond have had similar experiences to those of Newport over the last few decades. The changing nature of work and the decline of heavy industry has seen a fall in traditional jobs, and these changes have questioned how we will prosper again. So, I welcome the opportunity to use this debate to highlight how this challenge is being met in Newport and how a...
John Griffiths: May I join other Members in welcoming this statement today and the focus that it brings to child poverty and reducing child poverty? Could I begin, Cabinet Secretary, by thanking you for the attendance of your staff at a recent meeting in a community centre in Newport East to discuss the future of Communities First and tackling poverty programmes, which was very useful? Two matters that came...
John Griffiths: 7. Will the Minister make a statement on Welsh Government policy to improve the environment in the inner urban areas of Newport? OAQ(5)0079(ERA)
John Griffiths: When Charles Hendry held an event here on the tidal lagoon, Cabinet Secretary, it was clear that there’s a very strong consensus of support across the political parties and, indeed, in Wales in general. Now that Charles Hendry has submitted his report last week, I think, to UK Government, will you continue to make Welsh Government support apparent to UK Government and also emphasise the...
John Griffiths: Cabinet Secretary, you’ve mentioned road traffic emissions and it’s clear that they play a very significant part in terms of air pollution and the impact on human health. Diesel emissions are particularly significant. Would you agree with me that—? Hopefully, we’ll get to electric vehicles as quickly as possible, but before we do that, there are other practical steps that may be taken...
John Griffiths: I thank the Cabinet Secretary for that answer. Cabinet Secretary, we’ve had recent good news in terms of the quality of the Wales coast path and the advantages it brings to Wales. It was always envisaged that the coast path would be connected to urban areas through circular routes. I wonder if you could tell the Assembly what progress has been made in terms of those hopes and plans and...
John Griffiths: In terms of the outreach effort, Cabinet Secretary, I know that it’s important to address the issues that Gypsy/Traveller families have in the round, including better educational attainment and better school attendance. I know that that effort involves not just work in the schools, but also within the community and the whole-family approach. In terms of the whole-family approach and...
John Griffiths: Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. I am pleased to inform Members today that the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee is launching a call for evidence for our forthcoming inquiry on human rights in Wales. Over the summer, we consulted stakeholders about what they felt should be our strategic priorities. A number of organisations, including Stonewall Cymru, Children in Wales and the...
John Griffiths: I thank Sian Gwenllian very much for those points, and very much agree that gender equality will be absolutely central to the work of the committee and that many of the important protections in place come from the European Union. And, obviously, Brexit, and what’s proposed by UK Government, will be very relevant to the work of the committee and consideration of how we can not just safeguard...
John Griffiths: I thank Mark Isherwood for those points. What we’re doing today, of course, is launching our inquiry and inviting evidence to come forward. I’m sure a whole host of organisations will raise many matters and I’m sure many of them will be on the ground that Mark Isherwood has set out today because, obviously, these matters are very relevant to human rights here in Wales. So, we look...
John Griffiths: I thank Gareth Bennet for those points. I think it will be a valuable part of the committee’s work to get out and about to engage with people in Wales to get a better idea of what they think about human rights in Wales and how it impacts on their everyday life, as the Member has suggested. Of course, here, in the Assembly, we know that devolution has very much taken a rights-based approach...
John Griffiths: Will the Cabinet Secretary give an update on the regional organisation and delivery of local government services?
John Griffiths: Cabinet Secretary, I wonder if you would agree that the prospects for good pupil engagement are greatly enhanced if parents and the wider community are engaged closely with their local schools, and, if so, whether you will work to devise a mechanism or system by which we can be confident that there will be good-quality community-focused schools consistently delivered right across Wales.
John Griffiths: Thank you for taking the intervention. In Newport, Minister, as I think you’re aware, we have a Fit for Future Generations group bringing together all those sectors you mentioned to try and get a more active local population. Is that the sort of initiative that the well-being bonds might support in due course?
John Griffiths: Could I first mention, as many have, air pollution in terms of emissions from vehicles, and particularly diesel engines, which, as we know, are very damaging to human health. I’ve mentioned before in the Chamber that I met with Calor, as an organisation, who talked about conversions from diesel to Calor gas, particularly perhaps for taxi fleets, but this could be applied more generally and...
John Griffiths: I welcome this opportunity to contribute to the case for recognition of this contaminated blood scandal and tragedy and its ongoing consequences to support the campaign for justice by affected families and Haemophilia Wales and the need for full answers as to how it was allowed to happen. Dirprwy Lywydd, my constituent Lynn Ashcroft’s husband, Bill Dumbelton, was a haemophiliac and one of...
John Griffiths: 3. Will the First Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government's progress in achieving a more physically active Wales? OAQ(5)0420(FM)
