Carwyn Jones: I think that’s absolutely true. Chwarae Teg is part of that plan. It has a three-year strategic plan to promote equality. There are other tools at our disposal as well. For example, ‘Talented Women for a Successful Wales’ was commissioned by the chief scientific adviser with the aim of obtaining up-to-date data and current thinking on dealing with the long-term problems of insufficient...
Carwyn Jones: The decision on the inpatient perinatal mental health unit is a matter for the health boards and the Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee. But since 2016, the Welsh Government is investing an additional £1.5 million a year for all LHBs to provide community-based specialist perinatal mental health services.
Carwyn Jones: Can I just explain the situation? In the last three years, fewer than five women have been admitted to an inpatient unit in Wales. That’s the issue. The problem then, of course, is that you cannot run a specialist unit on those numbers. It can’t be done. No accrediting body will allow you to run a specialist unit on that basis. It can’t be a specialist unit with those numbers. I agree...
Carwyn Jones: Thank you, Llywydd. Members will know that the Prime Minister of the UK has this afternoon written to the President of the European Council formally declaring the United Kingdom’s intention to leave the European Union, as required under article 50 of the treaty governing the EU. So, today marks the end of easy rhetoric and the beginning of serious negotiation. Gallaf ddweud, Llywydd, fy...
Carwyn Jones: Well, we look to work with elected Governments, of course, where we can. But in terms of some of the questions that the leader of the Welsh Conservatives has raised, the problem—. He is right to say there’s been engagement; I’ve met with the Prime Minister and the engagement with David Davis has been good. I’m more than prepared to accept that. It’s not been good consistently across...
Carwyn Jones: A number of questions there that were asked of me by the leader of Plaid Cymru. First of all, one of the ironies of the argument that I’ve heard from the Prime Minister is that the Scottish referendum should not take place because people don’t really know what they’re going to be voting on. Well, that’s exactly what happened last year. People were asked whether we should be members of...
Carwyn Jones: Well, I have to say to the leader of UKIP: he describes the day as the day of the return of democratic self-government; if Scotland votes ‘out’ in a referendum, I wonder if he would say that about Scotland. But, it’s a strange point to make in that regard. The UK never lost its sovereignty. It always kept its sovereignty. It’s a sovereign state and it still shares its—. It always...
Carwyn Jones: I can say to the Member that guarantees are in place until 2020 but not beyond. That’s the problem. Beyond that, there are no guarantees of a single penny and that’s why we need certainty with regard to that. Michael Gove, I’m afraid, represents a section of the Conservative Party who are minimal government enthusiasts. They will sit quite happily on the right wing of the Republican...
Carwyn Jones: Well, I’m more than happy, assuming a meeting is possible, but it’s absolutely right to say that, in keeping with what the Prime Minister said this afternoon, that we are not leaving Europe. It’s hugely important that we retain and strengthen our ties with organisations across Europe—that is in Wales’s interests and it’s in the interests of all people across Europe to co-operate...
Carwyn Jones: Yes, I do, and he will have heard me say many times it’s my belief that any treaty should be ratified by the four Parliaments and not just by one, for any number of reasons, including the fact that any agreement may well affect areas that are wholly devolved, such as agriculture and fisheries. It wouldn’t be right in principle for us to be bound by something that we had no role in...
Carwyn Jones: Well, it’s always unwise for a politician to suggest that they can represent the views of every single individual, ranging from the far left to the crazy right in that regard. But I think what she would’ve wanted to say is that she would look to represent people as widely as possible; it’s not for me to talk on her behalf. Nothing was said about what financial commitments there might...
Carwyn Jones: Can I say this afternoon that we won’t be supporting the request for a debate this afternoon, not because we have any problem with a debate, but our belief is that the debate should take place next week? There are good reasons for this. First of all, we will have the White Paper—or Members will have the White Paper—tomorrow. That will provide more information, although some of the...
Carwyn Jones: Diolch, Llywydd. I can say that there are few benefits to ageing, but one of the pleasures of serving as a founder Member of the Assembly is having seen the institution grow and develop over nearly 20 years. And, having served for 10 years, Claire has provided leadership for more than half of the National Assembly’s existence, but she will leave, of course, a significant imprint behind. The...
Carwyn Jones: Yes. We’re committed to continuing to improve child health in Wales. ‘Taking Wales Forward’ included a commitment to implement our Healthy Child Wales programme, which was launched last October. That programme includes a range of preventative and early intervention measures to help parents and children make healthy lifestyle choices.
Carwyn Jones: Absolutely, it’s a priority for us. In terms of closing the attainment gap we’ve seen, that gap has been closing. We’ve seen, of course, the pupil deprivation grant and the way that has worked for the benefit of so many young people. We’ve seen the foundation phase and the benefits that gives to children in terms of developing skills early that will stand them in good stead for the...
Carwyn Jones: Well, we are developing a new child health plan at the moment, and that will look at the priorities that we should pursue and those that the health service should also follow. As part of that, we must ensure that the data that we have are robust, and this will be considered during the development of that plan.
Carwyn Jones: It’s a very good example of good practice. I can almost see the school from where I live; it’s very, very close to me. We know that the school nurses do an excellent job. We know, for example—the Member mentions immunisation—that our childhood immunisation rates remain at the top of international benchmarks. We know that, in 2016-17, the childhood flu immunisation programme was...
Carwyn Jones: In new housing developments, we would expect local authorities to provide those open areas—and I’ve seen them, not just in my own part of the world, but across Wales. Where new houses are built, there is space for children to play, there are often facilities for children to play on as well, and cycle paths, which are increasingly included as part of developments, as they should be. The...
Carwyn Jones: A cross-border protocol is in place to ensure relevant patients have access to appropriate services, and all associated matters are handled in an agreed and consistent manner.
Carwyn Jones: Geographically, Shrewsbury is closer, and so we would prefer services to be based in Shrewsbury. But it’s important to ensure that services are safe and sustainable, which is something, of course, that we’ve had to deal with ourselves. I know, for example, with ophthalmology and neurology, that the health board—Powys, that is—has secured alternative provision for ophthalmology...
