Vikki Howells: Carwyn Jones.
Vikki Howells: 6. Will the First Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government’s priorities for improving transport infrastructure in the Cynon Valley during this Assembly term?
Vikki Howells: Thank you, First Minister. It’s welcome news that work is progressing on the development of a cross-valley link in the southern part of Cynon Valley, thanks to the Welsh Government and RCT council working together and investing to improve local networks. Will you continue to work with the local authority to push forward this important infrastructure project, which has the potential to...
Vikki Howells: Leader of the house, please could we have a statement on land banking from the Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children? Land banking is a real problem in my constituency of Cynon Valley and across Wales, with prime sites in many towns and villages being held, thereby blocking the regeneration that could boost house building, create new jobs and improve our urban environment. I was...
Vikki Howells: The previous Member talked about one business; I would like to draw attention to the fact that 770 businesses have been created across Rhondda Cynon Taf, including in my constituency of Cynon Valley, thanks to EU funding, employing local people and contributing to the local economy. First Minister, do you agree with me that our continued membership of the EU and the support it provides are...
Vikki Howells: Many residents in my constituency of Cynon Valley are amongst the 1 million or so people across Wales who give freely of their time to improve their communities and the lives of their neighbours. Volunteers’ Week gives us an opportunity to say ‘thank you’ and to highlight their contribution. Will you join with me in offering congratulations to the 40,000 volunteers from across the UK...
Vikki Howells: 1. What actions is the Welsh Government taking to improve cancer detection rates? OAQ(5)0064(FM)
Vikki Howells: Thank you, First Minister. Last week was Cervical Screening Awareness Week, a Europe-wide project to raise awareness of the role of screening in tackling cervical cancer. While mortality rates for cervical cancer are dropping, there was also a slight decline in screening uptake, and I’m particularly concerned that one in three 25 to 29-year-olds don’t attend their smear tests. How can the...
Vikki Howells: 9. Will the Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government’s approach to preventing flooding in the Cynon Valley? OAQ(5)0007(ERA)
Vikki Howells: 6. Will the Minister make a statement on the future of Flying Start provision in the Cynon Valley? OAQ(5)0010(CC)
Vikki Howells: 13. How is the Welsh Government ensuring housing in Wales meets the needs of people with disabilities? OAQ(5)0009(CC)
Vikki Howells: Thank you. The risk of flooding to properties in Abercynon, Aberaman, Cilfynydd, Cwmdu and Ynysboeth in my constituency has been reduced through Rhondda Cynon Taf’s multimillion-pound flood alleviation programme, funded by the council’s capital programme, Welsh Government money and European regional development funding. Do you agree with me that these schemes to protect homes and families...
Vikki Howells: Thank you. Flying Start has had a transformational impact on the lives of tens of thousands of children across Wales, including in my constituency of Cynon Valley, during the last Assembly term. However, I know concerns have been raised about the geographical basis upon which support is allocated. How is the Welsh Government working with local authorities to ensure that help reaches those...
Vikki Howells: Thank you. I recently met with my inspirational constituent, Mia Thorne, aged just nine, who is an ambassador for Caudwell Children Wales. During our discussion, Mia highlighted concerns about inconsistencies in building regulations, for example regarding door width so that wheelchair users can navigate around their own home. How does the Welsh Government engage with disabled people to make...
Vikki Howells: First Minister, we know the importance of healthy lifestyle choices in reducing the risks of cancer, so it’s good to see from the results of the Welsh health survey 2015 that the number of smokers in Wales has decreased from 26 per cent to 19 per cent of the population, also meaning that the Welsh Government has exceeded its target for reducing smoking rates. The revisited public health...
Vikki Howells: 4. Will the First Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government's approach to increasing opportunities for adult education in Wales? OAQ(5)0113(FM)
Vikki Howells: Adult education can play a vital role in breaking the poverty cycle. That was the message from the Inspire! adult learners awards last month, at which I presented the life career change award. The new £22 million Coleg y Cymoedd building in Aberdare will provide an aspirational setting for adult education, but the challenge is also to ensure suitable provision of good-quality courses for...
Vikki Howells: Diolch, Lywydd. Three quick-fire questions for you, Cabinet Secretary: firstly, in view of the significance of the rail franchise and metro project for the south Wales Valleys, I was wondering what consideration you’ve given to locating the Transport for Wales team in the Valleys. Secondly, the metro project offers the opportunity to reconnect communities that have lost their public...
Vikki Howells: I recently met with a farmer in my constituency who’d cleared land to create a new woodland under the Glastir scheme. However, he was having problems because that land had since been invaded by Himalayan balsam, which is a problem throughout his farmland, and there was a possibility that that had actually crept down the hill from a Natural Resources Wales site as well. So, I was wondering...
Vikki Howells: I’ve recently been contacted by a constituent who is affected by young-onset dementia, and she was advised to give up work and put in an application for personal independence payments. My constituent was left feeling distressed and devalued as her assessment solely focused on physical capability and not her mental health needs. Do you agree, Cabinet Secretary, that this is unacceptable and...
