Nick Ramsay: Thank you for your answers, Minister. There's very little I can add actually to the excellent points that have just been made by Mike Hedges in his question, other than to reiterate some of those issues. As you said, the health risks of loneliness and isolation were there prior to the pandemic. So, in many ways, those issues have been exacerbated by the pandemic, and it's not just for older...
Nick Ramsay: Afternoon, Minister. Minister, do you think it's possible for us to do more—for Welsh Government to do more—to reach out to people suffering, or potentially suffering, from mental health issues in rural areas? As I sit here now, by the wonder of Zoom, I can see through the window passers-by walking by in my village. But I spoke to a constituent earlier who lives in one of the more deeper...
Nick Ramsay: Thank you, Minister, for that answer regarding flood defences. As I think all Members are aware, the flooding has posed major challenges in rural communities, including those in my constituency, and I'd like to pay tribute to those in the communities who've come together and supported those that have been worst affected by the floods. Can I ask you, in villages in Monmouthshire, the flooding...
Nick Ramsay: Monday 22 February marked the start of Fairtrade Fortnight, an important movement within the country, given that Wales became the first Fairtrade Nation on 6 June 2008. At the heart of fair trade is localism, and I'm proud to be a member of the Abergavenny Fairtrade Forum, which is a vibrant and enthusiastic team. The forum was founded in 2007 and has been very active since then. Over the...
Nick Ramsay: Trefnydd, the First Minister said earlier in First Minister's questions that £42 million—I think that was the figure he gave—has been earmarked in the final budget for tackling mental health issues in Wales. I wonder when we could have a breakdown of that spending, please. I'm particularly interested in the role that sport can play in helping with mental health issues. Also, an issue...
Nick Ramsay: 2. Will the Minister make a statement on the effect of recent flooding on the trunk road network? OQ56342
Nick Ramsay: Diolch, Minister, for that answer. As you drive along the M4, as I have done over recent times, the electric signs often display the notice that the A4042 at Llanellen is closed. I've raised this part of the trunk road network with you on many occasions before. I know that, in previous answers, you've said that there has been a degree, I think, of remedial work—or negotiations with the...
Nick Ramsay: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I'm delighted to, once again, be able to raise the issue of motor neurone disease in the Senedd, and I've agreed to Mark Isherwood and Dai Lloyd that they can have a minute of my time. In 2014, I held a short debate on the plight of people living with motor neurone disease and called on the Welsh Government to recognise some of the challenges that people in Wales are...
Nick Ramsay: Now, I'm sure that the Minister and the Members present listening this evening understand that home adaptations can help mitigate these risks and ensure accessibility requirements are met. For people living with motor neurone disease, these adaptations range from smaller aids, such as very basic adaptations, grab rails or ramps, which are commonplace, to then more complex, expensive changes,...
Nick Ramsay: 4. Will the Deputy Minister outline the contribution of the voluntary sector and volunteering during the pandemic? OQ56401
Nick Ramsay: Can I concur completely with the sentiments just expressed in terms of the need of providing a sustainable steel industry across Wales? Can I widen this out into the fortunes of the wider Newport economy and south-east Wales economy—the Monmouthshire economy, I should say—both of which are dependent on a modern sustainable transport infrastructure? I wonder if you could update us on the...
Nick Ramsay: Can you hear me now?
Nick Ramsay: Good. I'm not sure what is going on. [Laughter.] Gremlins in the system. Okay.
Nick Ramsay: Diolch, Deputy Minister, I would agree with that. Throughout Wales we've seen acts of true heroism, with people getting involved in their local communities, supporting those who have been lonely and isolated. According to Age Cymru, loneliness and isolation are a daily reality for many older people: 75,000 older people in Wales have reported always or often feeling lonely. I've raised the...
Nick Ramsay: Two issues, if I may, Trefnydd. Firstly, can I add my voice—including Darren Millar, actually, last week—to those calling for the reopening of garden centres across Wales? Now that COVID-19 cases appear to be below the number that originally triggered the lockdown, if we are going to look for businesses to reopen first in the shorter term, then garden centres, I think, should be at the...
Nick Ramsay: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I wasn't going to speak in this debate, but it would have been the first final budget in living memory that I hadn't contributed to, so Mike Hedges spurred me on. Mike Hedges said that reducing tax and increasing expenditure are incompatible. Of course, he will agree with me that they can be compatible over the longer term, providing that the economy is stimulated and...
Nick Ramsay: 2. What progress has been made in delivering home adaptations for people with disabilities? OQ56399
Nick Ramsay: Minister, can I widen out this question as to the way in which you use evidence in policy decision making? You'll know that the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales has called on the Welsh Government to be more transparent in showing the carbon impact of all Government policies and spending decisions. How have you responded to that? Do you keep accurate figures in terms of the carbon...
Nick Ramsay: Thank you, Minister. I don't think there's much I can add, really, to the previous questions by Rhun ap Iorwerth and Angela Burns, but I'm pleased that the debate that I brought forward to the Chamber last week has kicked the ball rolling, or raised the profile of this issue. As you know, last week I led that debate in the Senedd Chamber, and you answered very comprehensively. Something I...
Nick Ramsay: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I wasn't expecting to be called quite so quickly, but I've got my papers together. Can I thank the economy committee for bringing forward this excellent report, with the daffodil on the front, as Russ George said? It's a really good read. I'm obviously not a member of the committee, but as a former Chair of what was then the Enterprise and Business Committee back in...
