Joyce Watson: I’d like to call Simon Thomas.
Joyce Watson: I’d like to call Rhun ap Iorwerth.
Joyce Watson: I now call on the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths.
Joyce Watson: I thank you and I will now call on Huw Irranca-Davies to reply to the debate.
Joyce Watson: I call on the Minister for Lifelong Learning and Welsh Language to reply to the debate. Alun Davies.
Joyce Watson: Thank you all. That ends proceedings today.
Joyce Watson: What is the Welsh Government doing to support the growth of businesses in Mid and West Wales?
Joyce Watson: 9. Will the Minister provide an update on the Superfast Cymru scheme? OAQ(5)0095(EI)
Joyce Watson: I thank you for that answer. This has been a significant investment by the Welsh Government, with European money, for the people of Wales. There is another £20 million earmarked for the next phase. Clearly, delivering Superfast Cymru does remain a top priority of this Government, and it has helped businesses grow, expand and develop within my region. But could you tell me, Minister, how many...
Joyce Watson: 7. Will the First Minister make a statement on the outbreak of avian flu in Wales? OAQ(5)0351(FM)
Joyce Watson: I look forward to that statement later today. It was the case that, during the Christmas break, there was a wigeon—that’s a type of duck for those who don’t know it—that landed in Llanelli wildfowl wetland centre. I want to praise here the actions that were immediately taken by that wetland fowl centre in closing their doors to the public for nine days because, as a consequence of...
Joyce Watson: I don’t wish, Cabinet Secretary, to delay the debate or lengthen the debate by asking all the questions that have already been asked, so I’m going to focus in on just two areas. One of them has been mentioned, but it’s about how we let the public know about the mechanisms for reporting, because not all the public who may come across something they think could possibly be suspicious will...
Joyce Watson: 4. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the budget allocation to the environment portfolio? OAQ(5)0075(FLG)
Joyce Watson: 5. What is the Welsh Government doing to support school children during the summer holidays? OAQ(5)0077(EDU)
Joyce Watson: I thank you, Cabinet Secretary, for that response. As you know, in recent years many of my constituents have been catastrophically affected by flood events caused by severe weather, and many still remain at risk because of where they live. Therefore, the £33 million capital funding that has been allocated for flooding schemes, in addition to the £150 million innovative coastal risk...
Joyce Watson: I’m really pleased with this scheme and whilst I recognise that £500,000 isn’t a huge amount of money, it’s money that’s very welcome, and I see that that is for this year and this year alone. So, my question is that I hope you’ll be able to continue this through the course of this Assembly. You talk about the continued enrichment that children within communities enjoy through...
Joyce Watson: Diolch, Lywydd. I will be talking today about loneliness, and I’m pleased to allow time for both Eluned Morgan and Mark Isherwood to make contributions and I look forward to hearing the Minister or the Cabinet Secretary response. I was prompted to table this debate by two things. First, an e-mail that I received before Christmas from the British Red Cross. The charity has teamed up with the...
Joyce Watson: It is a truism that, at Christmas, we feel more together with other people, but more alone when we’re lonely. So, these stories struck a chord. Before her untimely death, Jo Cox helped gather evidence about loneliness in different parts of society: children who are desperately sad, new mums, isolated disabled people, men suffering from depression, and older people. And her work lives on,...
Joyce Watson: 3. What is the Welsh Government doing to reduce food waste in Welsh households? OAQ(5)0373(FM)
Joyce Watson: You’re right, First Minister, that food waste has reduced by 12 per cent, and it has saved 105 tonnes of carbon a year over that same period. However, even with that 12 per cent reduction, there has been 188,000 tonnes of food worth £70 million thrown away by Welsh households in 2015. Given that 50 per cent of that food waste comes from households, it is clear that reducing the amount of...