Lesley Griffiths: ...cost-of-living crisis' and how it's just become part of our language, really, over the past few months. I was speaking with the Minister for Social Justice this morning. I know she's making urgent representations to the UK Government, and I'm sure she'll be very happy to update Members when those discussions have—. Well, they're not going to conclude, are they; I think they will...
Jane Hutt: ...in terms of the third sector, and this would affect even these rescue centres, about the fact that they are going to face high energy costs as well. I hope that you will support us in terms of representations to the UK Government that there needs to be support beyond April in terms of the costs faced by the voluntary sector. But we are looking towards supporting the county voluntary...
Mark Isherwood: ..., as an advocate for her—as I've done scores of times with constituents and public bodies; I'm sure you have also—she received a message from the local authority this weekend, stating, 'I'm not able to invite Mark to the meeting as I've been informed by higher management that if Mark has any issues regarding yourself or your son, he needs to access customer services.' I hope you'll...
Mick Antoniw: ...to fall at an alarming rate—with several police station schemes on the verge of collapse.' We know that in our Valleys, our advice deserts. 'Access to justice—including the fundamental right to representation at the police station—is in serious peril and the government is ignoring the threat.' It says the reckless decision is 'likely to prove to be a fatal blow to a criminal justice...
Heledd Fychan: Someone wrote to me this week: 'Nothing is getting better; everything is getting worse day by day. Even some of the handouts that I have received are just not making any difference. What will change for me and what promises can you make?' Well, it's extremely difficult, because, even looking at this budget, the questions that we are being asked are not going to be solved or addressed. There...
Rebecca Evans: Diolch, Llywydd, and thank you to all colleagues for what I think has been a really constructive set of comments and representations this afternoon. And I know that, once colleagues have had the chance to digest the full suite of budget information, there will inevitably be lots more questions and comments, so I'm more than happy to continue that dialogue as we move forward towards the...
Rebecca Evans: One of the things that I am disappointed not to be able to do is make further significant capital allocations. That was a matter of deep regret, that there was no further capital as a result of the autumn statement. Our capital budget will be 8.1 per cent lower in 2024-25 than in the current year. And, of course, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the London School of...
Mark Drakeford: Llywydd, I recognise the dilemma that Peter Fox points to. I want to, as he did, pay tribute to the fantastic work that voluntary organisations and the third sector carry out here in Wales. And it's not a surprise to hear that many of those organisations, where there has been some extra funding available, want to put that into expanding the services that they provide, given the significance...
Sam Rowlands: ...statement. The first is in relation to flexibility. You outlined the work that's being done to ensure more flexibility for council meetings, which is, of course, welcome, to encourage that broad representation and improve accessibility. However, it's crucially important that our local councillors don't lose the focus of the in-person nature of representation as well. Often, some of the...
Llyr Gruffydd: ...that surrounds these roles, unfortunately, and the way that the broader community—the perception that the broader community has of what some of these councillors do. But, whether we agree or not with their politics, we have to recognise that they have been willing to step up and to take that responsibility and that they are doing it for the very best reasons, whether we agree or not with...
Sioned Williams: ...since 2017, but far from being where we should be in terms of equality, of course. Although two councils are equal in terms of gender balance, the picture in other areas is unacceptable, where the representation of women is as low as 18 per cent. So, what specific steps is the Government taking to improve representation of women in local government? You mentioned in the introduction to...
Rebecca Evans: Thank you very much for those questions and the important point about women's representation in local government. We are absolutely far from where we should be in terms of the number of women who are taking on the role of councillors, but also council leaders. We have very, very few women council leaders in Wales, and that's something that we would want to see increased in future as well. I...
Sarah Murphy: ...their own time. They actually posted today their code of conduct that they've created, which includes being non-judgmental, respecting other's values, as well as no colourful language or vaping. Another wonderful young person that I'd like to highlight is Tyler from Cornelly, who, during the local government elections last year, took part in the pilot on voting from his school, Cynffig...
Lynne Neagle: ...due to hepatitis B and C by 65 per cent by 2030. A new hepatitis B and C elimination programme oversight group has been established to drive the elimination agenda here in Wales. The group includes representation from Welsh Government, Public Health Wales, hepatitis B and C health services and the third sector. The first action of this group was to agree on the content of a communication...
Mark Drakeford: ...whole of north Wales, and just as the Member has this afternoon, absolutely in line with his responsibilities, spoken up for his community and his constituency, so we receive similar letters and representations on the part of many other schemes across the whole of north Wales. So, the board must decide where its own priorities lie. And secondly, in that meeting, it was also agreed that the...
Julie James: As I was saying, the UK Government relies far too heavily on the RAB mechanism for funding these things, which adds costs to customer bills, rather than on general taxation. It is regressive and it places a disproportionate burden on those who can least bear it, which in itself slows progress towards the energy system we need. A different model of investment is desperately required. But...
Julie James: ...has huge potential to reduce emissions and support the economic transition, especially in energy-intensive industries. For some, hydrogen is seen as key in their road map to net zero. Transport is another potential area of use, particularly for some heavy goods vehicles, rail and potentially aviation, and, indeed, for ferries, as Rhun pointed out. And for the power sector, hydrogen can act...
Mark Drakeford: ...of the ministerial disability equality forum, chaired by my colleague Jane Hutt, at the end of November—a meeting that focused on the experience of people with disabilities, including a good representation of people who are themselves visually impaired, together with the chief executive of Transport for Wales and senior Welsh Government transport staff. That meeting will be followed up...
Lesley Griffiths: ...increase in the energy costs they're experiencing. I know the Welsh Government prepared a response to the UK Government's consultation that they had on the future of the EBRS, and that did include representations on behalf of not just the companies that you refer to, but also the energy-intensive sectors as well, and I know that the Minister is very aware of the concerns of stakeholders...
Jane Hutt: Thank you very much, Vikki Howells. And again, the representation across all constituencies—yours in the Cynon Valley—of volunteers running these projects, instigating these projects, and I want to put on record again my sincere thanks to all of the volunteers who are responding, helping to support their communities. Also, just to confirm, this goes back to our £1 million warm hubs...
