Tom Giffard: Diolch yn fawr iawn, Llywydd. Good afternoon, Deputy Minister. Last week, the climate change Minister told the Senedd that Welsh Government officials wouldn't make the 2,500-mile journey to Sharm el-Sheikh for the COP27 conference in an effort to limit their air miles. Can you confirm how many air miles you accumulated on your recent trip to New Zealand?
Tom Giffard: Not bad. [Laughter.] The total round trip was 22,000 miles.
Tom Giffard: It makes me wonder though what you learnt by making the trip, and what you couldn't have learnt on Zoom if you followed the logic of your climate change Minister. Or is it just another example of the typical virtue-signalling hypocrisy we've become used to from the Welsh Labour Government? Nevertheless, one thing I hope you will have seen out there is that, in New Zealand, 47 per cent of boys...
Tom Giffard: Thank you. You mentioned that the scheme isn't that different, but, as I've already demonstrated, I think the results are quite stark between New Zealand and Wales. It's interesting you mentioned as well foreign trips. We haven't heard from the Deputy Minister since the Welsh Government decided not to send you to attend Wales's game against Iran next week in the world cup in Qatar. First we...
Tom Giffard: Faecal calprotectin tests are a really effective way of diagnosing irritable bowel syndrome, or the need for further examination for things such as Crohn's and colitis, which I know you've just been discussing. IBS is common, affecting up to 25 per cent of the UK population and, in general, it can be managed in primary care. However, as the symptoms can be difficult to differentiate from...
Tom Giffard: Trefnydd, in your initial answer, you mentioned the importance of reducing the risk of floods in the first place, so I wanted to draw your attention to the flood defences at Newton beach in Porthcawl. Residents living on Beach Road there have contacted me, worried about Natural Resources Wales's shoreline management plan, which says, and I quote: 'the short term policy is to hold the line,...
Tom Giffard: Swansea city centre has seen welcome investment from the local council, Welsh Government and UK Government in recent years, mostly as a consequence of the Swansea bay city deal. The investment, worth around £1.3 billion, has helped deliver things like the new digital arena in Swansea and other projects, with the aim of making the city a more attractive place for workers and employers. But...
Tom Giffard: We know that there's a clear correlation between poor academic performance and persistent deprivation. The Education Policy Institute said, and I quote: 'Persistently disadvantaged pupils experienced still larger disadvantage gaps, with those in England suffering a persistent disadvantage gap of 23 months and those in Wales experiencing 29 months. With little sign of these persistent...
Tom Giffard: Will the Minister provide an update on school absence rates?
Tom Giffard: Diolch, Llywydd, and you look as youthful as ever. [Laughter.]
Tom Giffard: 1. Will the First Minister provide an update on patients' access to their GP? OQ58800
Tom Giffard: I'm grateful to you, First Minister, for your answer. I've been getting increasing correspondence from constituents in Porthcawl concerned about the availability of an appointment with their local GP. And whilst I understand Porthcawl medical practice is working as hard it can to meet patient demand, they've said, and I quote: 'Diagnostic and monitoring work historically performed at...
Tom Giffard: I found Thursday one of the most difficult days I've had as a Senedd Member. I sat and read every page of the report, and it made me incredibly sad, but it also made me quite angry, if I'm honest with you, reading about the failings and the lack of information sharing. We hear very often about a multi-agency approach—well, I think that multi-agency approach simply didn't work in this...
Tom Giffard: Can I thank the Deputy Minister for the statement?
Tom Giffard: Can I also say that it was wonderful to hear you speaking Welsh at the start? It was very nice to hear.
Tom Giffard: The guidance that was released earlier today is to be welcomed, where I'm sure the Deputy Minister sought to provide clarity for public bodies, such as local authorities, to understand better the issues of public commemorations. Can I also associate myself with your remarks in particular about who is missing, because I think that is an entirely valid and fair point? I think non-white people...
Tom Giffard: Minister, in your prepared answer there, you called on the Chancellor to invest in people and public services. Well, I think we can call on you to do the same. You've had £1.2 billion extra from the UK Government, on top of a record settlement that existed already. So, how much can local government expect? We know that investment in social care leads to better health outcomes, to savings in...
Tom Giffard: I'm grateful to you for that. You'll be aware that the Penprysg railway bridge is something that benefits from the UK Government's levelling-up fund, and your MP colleague Chris Elmore has put his name to that. Are you saying that's the wrong decision?
Tom Giffard: As a member of the committee, can I pay tribute to and thank all those that gave evidence to us on the committee during the inquiry, and, as Delyth has done, thank the clerks and the research team for ensuring that the inquiry was held in a timely and positive manner? Some of us needed their help more than others. It's surely no coincidence that this report is debated during what's been a...
Tom Giffard: Yes.
