Gareth Davies: Thank you very much to the First Minister for addressing the Senedd this afternoon, and congratulations on forming a Government, and to the Llywydd for your re-election to your post last week. It's an absolute pleasure to address the Senedd for the first time as the first Conservative Member of the Vale of Clwyd, and I'd like to thank my predecessor, Ann Jones, for representing the...
Gareth Davies: Minister, one of the biggest tragedies of the pandemic has been the impact that it has had upon those living in our care homes. They have been separated from their families, unable to hold their grandchildren, denied physical contact with loved ones. This has been particularly hard for those suffering from dementia, often unable to understand why their families have abandoned them. The...
Gareth Davies: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, and thank you very much to the Deputy Minister for her statement this afternoon. I can’t think of a better way to highlight Carers Week than to discuss the support that we give to unpaid carers in Wales. As someone who’s spent their last 11 years working in the NHS and in close partnership with social services, I know first hand that without unpaid...
Gareth Davies: Minister, there is no denying that Wales's cultural sector has taken a hammering as a result of the measures to curb the spread of COVID-19. Many theatres dropped the final curtain for the last time 15 months ago and, sadly, far too many will never see the footlights switched back on. Music venues and comedy spots also face an uncertain future. I welcome the easing of restrictions, but, for...
Gareth Davies: Minister, social prescribing has a unique role to play in prevention as a whole, particularly when it comes to social care. Keeping the body active can prevent falls, and keeping the mind active can stave off the onset of dementia. I welcome the actions taken by Betsi Cadwaladr and the local authorities in north Wales in developing Made in North Wales, which helps co-ordinate social...
Gareth Davies: 3. What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the impact that the pandemic has had on the ability to recruit future health and social care staff? OQ56607
Gareth Davies: Thank you, First Minister. As you are no doubt aware, the UK Parliament's Health and Social Care Committee, in their damning report, stated that NHS staff and care staff are so burnt out that the future of health and social care services are at risk. Whist their report relates solely to England, I dare say things are not much better on this side of Offa's Dyke. Even before the pandemic hit...
Gareth Davies: How does the Welsh Government plan to ensure the provision of sufficient affordable and social housing across Wales?
Gareth Davies: Will the Minister provide an update on the provision of medical education in north Wales? Transferred for written answer by the Minister for Health and Social Services.
Gareth Davies: Thank you very much to the Deputy Minister for your statement this afternoon, and I hope it wasn't a traffic jam that caused your delay this afternoon, as that would be slightly ironic. I'm sure you'll agree with me that most roads are necessary, and we will not address the climate emergency by simply banning road building. In order to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, we must look at the...
Gareth Davies: Minister, whilst I welcome any resources set aside to help those with adverse childhood experiences, it's abundantly clear that Wales is not doing enough to limit adversity in the first place. We know that, although poverty is not an ACE in and of itself, poverty is an additional stressor that can lead to neglect or abuse of a child. Sadly, nearly 30 per cent of our children live in poverty,...
Gareth Davies: Excuse my slightly grainy image. I hope it doesn't affect the sound quality at all. Minister, I welcome moves by your Government to improve animal health and welfare. We must do all we can to ensure we maintain the highest welfare standards here in Wales. One of my constituents in the Vale of Clwyd has raised concerns surrounding the keeping of livestock in a residential setting. Raising and...
Gareth Davies: I'm really proud of the fact that my constituency voted overwhelmingly to leave the EU. At the time in 2016 of the referendum, the Vale of Clwyd had a Labour Assembly Member who disagreed with the outcome of the vote, and like her colleagues on the Labour and Plaid benches, they did all they could to undermine Brexit. Aberavon, Alyn and Deeside, Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Clwyd...
Gareth Davies: Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer, and thank you to the Deputy Minister for your statement this afternoon. It's deeply disappointing that fair pay for social care workers is such a long way off. I'd have thought, Deputy Minister, with my party pledging to pay staff in social care at least £10 per hour, and Plaid Cymru pledging to increase the pay in real terms, that introducing...
Gareth Davies: 6. What steps is the Welsh Government taking to promote cohesion between Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities and the residents of the Vale of Clwyd? OQ56698
Gareth Davies: Thank you for that answer, Minister. Denbighshire County Council has, for many years, struggled to find suitable locations for residential and transit Gypsy and Traveller sites. They have explored multiple sites that have turned out to be unsuitable to all concerned. However, Minister, Gypsy and Traveller sites have been secured across north Wales by neighbouring local authorities. Will you...
Gareth Davies: Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer, and I'd also like to thank the Business Committee for giving me this fantastic opportunity to address the Senedd this afternoon and bring forward this proposal. It’s a great honour, as one of the Parliament’s newest Members, to be bringing forward the first proposal for legislation of the sixth Senedd. The fact that this proposal has had...
Gareth Davies: Thank you very much again, Deputy Presiding Officer. I want to thank everybody this afternoon for their fantastic contributions. Janet Finch-Saunders talked about the legislation that has been a priority of the Welsh Conservatives for some time now, further protection of rights, elderly people being in isolation, and the great community support from Llandudno rotary club, and others in the...
Gareth Davies: Thank you to the Counsel General for your statement this afternoon. But it's disappointing not to see legislation on older persons' rights in your programme. You may remember, during my Member's legislation debate last week, your Government indicated that, although you support my proposals for a rights-based approach to services for older people, you'd be bringing forward your own...
Gareth Davies: Thank you to the Deputy Minister for your statement this evening. Rebalancing care and support is something that all of us in this Chamber can get behind. We started the journey with the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014, and the commitment to integrate health and care. It's high time we accelerated the journey towards person-centred care and co-production of health and care....
