Tom Giffard: Thank you, Deputy Minister. And as this is my last question to you before our summer recess, can I wish you and your officials a very happy, and, hopefully, peaceful recess as well? And it's also the last number of questions to you before two key events: first of all team Wales in the Commonwealth Games, which I'm sure you'll join me in backing, and, second of all, whilst we won't be at the...
Tom Giffard: This week, we sadly lost who, I think, is our greatest ever Briton. She was a leader of our nation, but also a mother, a grandmother and a great-grandmother—a badge that she wore very proudly until her very last day with us. She was someone who spanned generations, acting as a bridge with the past, as well as simultaneously evolving as times did. I know that people across Wales are feeling...
Tom Giffard: First Minister, public service broadcasters are at the heart of the creative economy in Wales, boosting the television production sector, creating jobs and nurturing talent all across Wales and the rest of the UK. Aside from their economic contribution, they bring people together right across our country. Our public service broadcasters come into their own particularly at moments when our...
Tom Giffard: Can I thank the Minister for her statement? I must admit, I did have to check who the Minister was with responsibility for tourism today, because it's the finance Minister, yet again, who is making another announcement from the frontbench on the Welsh Government's approach to tourism, rather than the economy Minister who is responsible for it. Indeed, the economy Minister, responsible for the...
Tom Giffard: Minister, we're only too aware of the pressures facing our schools, thanks to the crisis in the cost of living at the moment, and a recent survey by NASUWT found that teachers are providing money, food and clothing to help children and families with cost-of-living pressures. It also said that nearly seven in 10 teachers saw that more of their pupils were lacking in energy and in concentration...
Tom Giffard: Can I thank the Minister for his statement today? I think much of it is to be welcomed. But I think it would be remiss of me not to say that, at the beginning of your statement, you mention that workforce well-being must be at the forefront of all that we do, and yet, since 2011, we've seen 7,000 more pupils enter the classroom and 4,000 fewer teachers to teach them. And that teacher shortage...
Tom Giffard: Can I thank the Minister for bringing this statement to the Senedd today? What an incredible opportunity that we have here. What a historic moment in our history to see Robert Page and the rest of team Cymru at our first world cup since 1958—our first world cup in 64 years, I think. Qualification was secured back in June in a game that I think you were at, and I was certainly at,...
Tom Giffard: The Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Bill, which will enshrine the principle of socially responsible procurement into law, establishes that procurement should be about more than simply who provides the cheapest product, but also the best. One way you can achieve this is through localised food supply chains, which, of course, provides opportunities for growth for local...
Tom Giffard: 4. What progress is the Welsh Government making towards meeting its target for building new homes in South Wales West? OQ58500
Tom Giffard: I thank the First Minister for his answer. I'm sure you agree with me, First Minister, that it's really important that people, particularly younger people, can get on the housing ladder and afford to buy their own home. One symptom of increased house prices that can make it unaffordable is the lack of supply in the market in the first place. Swansea Council, in 2019-20, promised to build...
Tom Giffard: May I thank the Deputy Minister for her statement? We all know of the importance and historic nature of our heritage sites across north-west Wales. Of the four world heritage sites in Wales, two of them are in north-west Wales, and I and my party are proud of the rich cultural history of Wales. The two world heritage sites located in north-west Wales, as you said, are the slate landscape of...
Tom Giffard: The world’s fastest zipline is now situated over Penrhyn quarry, with attractions located within the slate mines at Blaenau Ffestiniog—attractions within the world heritage site bringing over a million visitors each year. Since the creation of ZipWorld in 2013, over 400,000 visitors have visited the attractions annually, according to the latest figures published in 2019. There’s been...
Tom Giffard: Would the Minister agree that outcomes are what matters, and Wales, sadly, has the worst child poverty rate of all the UK nations? To add to this picture, I'm sure you're aware of a recent report by Loughborough University that showed child poverty in Wales had risen by 5 per cent between 2019-20 and 2020-21. On the other hand, the picture in the UK as a whole is a 4 per cent drop. So, why...
Tom Giffard: Diolch, Llywydd. Can I thank all Members and the Minister for their contribution to today's debate? Llyr Gruffydd told me in the tea room earlier that this debate would be a major event in and of itself, and I think he was proven quite correct. [Laughter.] To summarise some of the contributions, Paul Davies in his opening remarks referred to the magnificent achievement of team Cymru, and I...
Tom Giffard: Absolutely.
Tom Giffard: I'd expect that. [Laughter.]
Tom Giffard: I never said that there was a grand conspiracy, but what I thought was very important was that the Welsh Government is open when it spends taxpayers' money so that we can decide whether that money was well spent. I don't think that that's a novel concept. Luke Fletcher spoke excellently, I thought, about the culture, heritage and the language being the most powerful selling points, and...
Tom Giffard: Can I thank Sam for giving me some time to contribute to this debate, and for tabling it in the first place? I think what speaks in abundance, I think we can all agree, is that Sam Rowlands has a clear passion for north Wales and for the area that he represents. You’re a really strong advocate for it, and I really think that came through in your remarks on behalf of the people of Wales’s...
Tom Giffard: 7. What is the Welsh Government doing to encourage tourism in Wales? OQ58548
Tom Giffard: First Minister, I noticed on Friday that you and Adam Price—I think you both got along then—launched your tourism tax consultation with members of the industry present. In that meeting, I’m told you both sought to explain your plans, but then left before you could take any questions. Well, I’ve spoken with some of those tourism industry professionals, and the one thing above all else...
