Joyce Watson: I now call on the Minister for Education and Welsh Language, Jeremy Miles.
Joyce Watson: Will you take an intervention?
Joyce Watson: Will you take an intervention?
Joyce Watson: I call on Tom Giffard to reply to the debate.
Joyce Watson: I now call the Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport, and Chief Whip to reply to the debate—Dawn Bowden.
Joyce Watson: And that concludes today’s proceedings and brings them to a close.
Joyce Watson: 3. What discussions has the Welsh Government had with the UK Government regarding the competitiveness of Welsh ports? OQ59232
Joyce Watson: I welcome the progress on Northern Ireland, or the Windsor protocol, but I share your concerns that the deal agreed last week could have a negative impact on Welsh ports, and that includes Fishguard and Pembroke. Brexit has done a good job in boosting French ports at the expense of UK ports. It's far easier now, of course, to bypass Welsh ports, and we can't afford any further decline. The...
Joyce Watson: Will you take an intervention?
Joyce Watson: I just wondered, within those figures, and that meeting that you had with the housing association, whether they mentioned the disastrous budget that has increased people’s mortgages by up to £600 a month, by Liz Truss’s ideologically driven budget that people are still suffering the consequences of. They must surely have mentioned that.
Joyce Watson: 10. What is the Welsh Government doing to help attract tourists to Mid and West Wales? OQ59226
Joyce Watson: What, on this question?
Joyce Watson: Thank you for that answer, Deputy Minister. Of course, our region has everything to offer, from stunning beaches to the international dark sky reserve in the Brecon Beacons, which, of course, will be celebrating its tenth anniversary this year. And that, I'm sure, is why Wales will, this year, welcome the highest number of cruise ships ever, with 91 ships expected to call at our ports in...
Joyce Watson: Thank you very much. And just on the point that you're making, there's no suggestion in this report whatsoever that this will go wider, or open the door. This has actually focused quite rightly on the petition, which is about a phased ban being introduced for greyhound racing in Wales. And just while we're on it, we've got to be balanced—
Joyce Watson: —and we've heard that there are people who are good owners and people who are awful owners, but you'll all know the song 'Another One Bites the Dust', and another one, and another one, and that is relevant here; it doesn't matter how good an owner you are, the fact is simply that greyhounds are dying on the racetracks in the name of entertainment.
Joyce Watson: 1. Will the Minister provide an update on Welsh Government actions to bring empty homes back into use? OQ59269
Joyce Watson: 8. What is the Welsh Government doing to help students with cost of living pressures? OQ59270
Joyce Watson: I would like two statements, the first being on the Welsh Government's response to the National Police Chiefs' Council—NPCC—report released today, that said that nine out of 10 complaints about violence against women and girls by police officers in England and Wales were dropped over a six-month period. But, of the resolved cases, only 13 of those officers were sacked, according to the...
Joyce Watson: Thank you, Minister, and I'm delighted that all of the local authorities in my region will be taking part in this scheme, and Gwynedd already accepting applications. It's desperately needed. Can I ask, have you had an opportunity to read the latest report from the Bevan Foundation on the private rental market in Wales finding that only 32 properties advertised across Wales were available at...
Joyce Watson: Thank you for that answer, Minister. I'm sure that, like me, you are concerned by the news over the weekend that one in five students at Russell Group universities have considered dropping out over the cost of living. I returned to education as an adult, and at the same time trying to raise a young family. It was difficult enough then. I haven't got a clue how people are going to cope now....
