Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you, First Minister. Now, of course, I have had to raise concerns on this, because between 28 November and 4 December, Conwy had 62.3 cases per 100,000; obviously, compare that with Neath Port Talbot with 621.7—10 times more severe than Conwy county. Now, according to the latest COVID-19 biweekly local authority review report, published last week, the rate per 100,000 amongst those...
Janet Finch-Saunders: On behalf of the Petitions Committee, I would like to thank Lynne Neagle for bringing this important debate forward. We have received petition P-05-1035, 'Allow birthing partners to be present at scans, the start of labour, birth and after the birth'. This was submitted by Hannah Albrighton, having collected 7,326 signatures. The petition highlights that: 'Due to COVID-19 there has been...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Diolch, Llywydd. The petition we are debating this afternoon collected 6,017 signatures and calls for an independent inquiry to be held into the terrible flooding earlier this year. This petition was submitted by Councillor Heledd Fychan, who represents the Pontypridd Town ward on Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council. February 2020 saw some of Wales’s worst flooding on record. On 16...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Diolch, Llywydd. I wish to thank the petitioners and all those others who have highlighted their own personal experiences of the devastating floods and shared these not only with our Petitions Committee, but with our Members here today. Thank you for all Member contributions on such an important issue. I wish to thank the Minister for her response and acknowledgement of the funding that's...
Janet Finch-Saunders: The residents of Aberconwy are right to query how it is fair that Conwy county, with a rate per 100,000 almost nine times lower than Neath Port Talbot, is being subjected to exactly the same prohibitive restrictions. In fact, Darren Millar's amendment, highlighting that a Wales-wide approach is not reasonable or proportionate given that COVID is circulating at different rates in different...
Janet Finch-Saunders: First Minister, recent correspondence from my constituents shows that this period has, understandably, taken a negative toll on the mental health of the population's most vulnerable. This correspondence, of course, is indicative of a larger scale and immediate problem that is facing the Welsh public as a whole. In fact, the results of a recent survey by Swansea and Cardiff universities...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Deputy Minister, the pandemic has had a profound impact on the way our constituents meet their loved ones, their support networks, and indeed how they conduct their business on a daily basis. A stable digital broadband connection is now more important than ever, so that people can feel part of an inclusive and cohesive community. You'll be aware of the recent Red Cross report, calling for...
Janet Finch-Saunders: 5. Will the Minister make a statement on the impact of COVID-19 on animal welfare in Wales? OQ56041
Janet Finch-Saunders: Diolch, Llywydd. I have to say, in looking forward to the publication of the White Paper today, I do have to echo and endorse some of the comments by my colleague Llyr Gruffydd. These White Paper proposals fall short of providing the framework required to meet the principles and ambitions that our Welsh farmers deserve. We've all known the result of the Brexit vote, and, on the quick reading...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you, Minister, but considering the time that has elapsed since your very first consultation, I am dismayed by the lack of substantive detail in this document, and such little acknowledgement of the time and energy that our farmers have put in to responding to you previously on many other consultations. And reading the document—albeit very quickly—today, it does not reflect the input...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you again. Minister, in dealing with the national minimum standards for agriculture, your White Paper states: 'Further, more detailed, consultation on the scope of the National Minimum Standards will accompany this secondary legislation.' So, there's a feeling that you are once again leaving the details until further down the road. Now, considering that you are intending to make these...
Janet Finch-Saunders: There's going to be very little time for farmers, once again, to engage if they feel they're not being listened to. So, all I do is make a plea, again, after what's been a horrendous year for all of us, make a plea that you listen to the farmers and you make our food producers and our farmers the most integral part of any agricultural Bill going forward. Thank you.
Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you, Minister. During this COVID-19 pandemic, of course, we've seen an increase in demand for and the selling of puppies from various sources. Now, UK-based Google searches for puppies near where I live have increased more than six times and the number of licences issued for the commercial import of dogs more than doubled to 12,733 from June to August 2019 in the same three-month period...
Janet Finch-Saunders: First Minister, you will be aware, I hope, that Britishvolt signed a memorandum of understanding with you and your Government in a bid to build the UK's first large-scale electric vehicle battery factory here in Wales. Now, despite the Vale of Glamorgan site being the initial favourite and the Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales informing us in October that he was in regular...
Janet Finch-Saunders: 3. What steps will be taken by the Commission to review the structures of and expenditure on its engagement teams in light of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic? OQ56100
Janet Finch-Saunders: Will the Minister make a statement on support for teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Janet Finch-Saunders: I think my question leads on nicely from my colleague Mandy Jones's question. I would like to endorse her grateful thanks to all our staff. I think it's been remarkable how everyone has adapted so well.
Janet Finch-Saunders: Diolch, Llywydd. I have been making some enquiries about the Commission's expenditure on engagement teams. Now, in 2019-20, £1.3 million was spent on staff for the visitor engagement, the customer relations, the visitor experience, and four other engagement teams that currently exist within the structure of the Senedd. Now, despite the pandemic, the forecast expenditure in November for...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Now, this debate is going to cover three large petitions referred to the Petitions Committee at the end of last year. The committee has asked for them to be debated together because they all concern the impact that lockdown, and other coronavirus restrictions have had on people's ability to be able to train and take part in sport and physical activities....
Janet Finch-Saunders: We also note that, under the alert levels published by the Government late last year, gyms, golf courses and other leisure facilities can now remain open at all levels except in level 4. I believe that this clarity is welcomed by many users and operators, though, of course, it comes as scant consolation at the present time with alert level 4 measures in place in all of Wales. Now, the second...
