Vikki Howells: What work is the Welsh Government undertaking to tackle fuel poverty in Wales?
Vikki Howells: Cabinet Secretary, former service personnel can often have difficulty in accessing new employment opportunities, despite the wealth of transferrable skills that they possess, and I’m sure you’re aware of recent media coverage about this issue. You alluded, in your answer to David Rowlands, to help that the Welsh Government provide in this area. I wonder if you could expand on that for us,...
Vikki Howells: Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. The Welsh Government’s code of practice and commitment to ensuring ethical employment opportunities among businesses in receipt of public funding offer clear objectives for how the private sector can help end modern-day slavery. Now, businesses like the Co-operative Group are leading the fight by offering paid work placements to victims of modern slavery...
Vikki Howells: I’d like to congratulate the AMs in whose names this debate is tabled today. For my contribution, I’d like to address my comments to the second part of the motion, dealing with electric vehicles. The number of electric and hybrid vehicles on Welsh roads has increased dramatically in recent years, with nearly a twenty-fivefold increase in the four years between 2012 and 2016. This is...
Vikki Howells: 3. What work is the Welsh Government undertaking to tackle fuel poverty in the Cynon Valley? (OAQ51248)
Vikki Howells: First Minister, despite the progress being made in reducing fuel poverty in the Cynon Valley and across Wales through the Welsh Government’s suite of practical actions, it seems unlikely that fuel poverty will be eliminated by the previous stated target of 2018. Does the Welsh Government plan to review the fuel poverty strategy in light of that, and, if so, what lessons will be drawn from...
Vikki Howells: Diolch, Dirprwy Llywydd, and thank you, Cabinet Secretary, for your statement today. It’s really positive to hear about the response to your call for bids, and I look forward to the release of the full list of successful applicants. I know you can’t share too many details yet, but it’s really good to hear about the inclusion of small-scale foundational businesses in this programme,...
Vikki Howells: First Minister, how does the Welsh Government plan to use procurement levers in the context of the Valleys taskforce delivery plan to create jobs and boost prosperity in the northern Valleys?
Vikki Howells: First Minister, flexible working patterns could provide one key to alleviating pressure on our motorways and trunk roads at key times. What work has the Welsh Government done to speak to big employers about the benefits of flexible working?
Vikki Howells: How is the Welsh Government improving early diagnosis rates of cancer in the Cynon Valley?
Vikki Howells: Cabinet Secretary, I've been having some interesting discussions with Rhondda Cynon Taf Council about their work with Welsh Government on the pilot project that you referred to, and I'm quite surprised that the directly elected Member for the Rhondda appears not to know that RCT council has been engaging in that pilot. I know that RCT believes that this could improve standards, enhance...
Vikki Howells: Cabinet Secretary, I'm sure you will be aware tha,t a few weeks ago, Cwm Taf health board and their partners Rocialle and 1000 Lives Wales won the collaboration award at this year's Made in Wales Awards for their development of a pack aimed at speeding up clinical responses to sepsis. Will you offer Cwm Taf and its partners congratulations on this significant achievement? Do you agree with me...
Vikki Howells: 7. How is the Welsh Government prioritising support for mental health services in Cynon Valley during this Assembly term? OAQ51317
Vikki Howells: First Minister, I'm really glad that supporting innovative ways of delivering mental health services is also a strand of 'Our Valleys, Our Future'. Cwm Taf university health board has the highest number of people taking antidepressants—one in six of the population—and that actually reaches a staggering one in three in the town of Mountain Ash in my constituency of Cynon Valley. I recently...
Vikki Howells: 7. What discussions has the Counsel General held regarding access to justice in Wales? OAQ51336
Vikki Howells: Thank you Counsel General. I'd like to join others in congratulating and welcoming you to your new role. As you've stated there in your answer, I can see you understand that the introduction of tribunal fees and continuing increases in court fees have alarmed many professionals in the sector. Alongside this, advice centres, which provide straightforward advice to people, have closed across...
Vikki Howells: As a member of the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee I’d like to place on record how important I thought this report actually was. My thanks to all those who came to give evidence to our inquiry. Since being elected, one of the thorniest issues I’ve had to deal with in my postbag relates to internet provision to domestic properties. One such example relates to the village of...
Vikki Howells: Will the First Minister make a statement on the role that improving public transport links plays in enhancing employment opportunities in Wales?
Vikki Howells: First Minister, how does the work of Rent Smart Wales help towards supporting the most vulnerable members of our society who live in private rented accommodation?
Vikki Howells: The recent FSB Wales report on self-employment in Wales provides a useful snapshot of the current state of entrepreneurship and self-employment in Wales. The report reminds us that the number of self-employed people in Wales has grown by 15,000 between 2007 and 2016. So, nearly two out of every five new jobs created in Wales are actually self-employed. And across the UK, self-employment rates...
