Gareth Davies: 5. What steps is the Welsh Government taking to promote awareness of men's health issues? OQ58180
Gareth Davies: I appreciate your response, First Minister. Thank you. This week is Men's Health Week, marked right up until Father's Day on Sunday. It is hoped that it will help spur men into thinking more about their health. And, really, we're particularly bad at looking after our own health, especially when it comes to mental health. First Minister, the theme of this International Men's Health Week is the...
Gareth Davies: It's a pleasure to take part in this debate this afternoon. I've really enjoyed listening to the contributions, even though I don't agree with everything that's been said. I'm also a big tv and radio fan, so it's really good to take part in this this afternoon. So, a free and open press in the news media is essential for democracy to thrive. One only has to look at what's happening in Russia...
Gareth Davies: No, absolutely not, and I think modern technology and the accessibility of S4C, not only in Wales and across the UK, is actually something to be proud of, and the fact that we can actually promote our Welsh language on a wider scale than what we would have been able to do 20, 30 years ago. So, I think you're wrong to say that, really. And I think we have to work together with other parts of...
Gareth Davies: Will you take an intervention?
Gareth Davies: Currently the Welsh football games are only available to Welsh language channels that are free to air, such as S4C, and in the English language it's on Sky Sports, which is obviously pay per view. So, do you know how much it would cost, then, to bring English language Welsh football into the public sector, the television sector?
Gareth Davies: Diolch yn fawr iawn, Llywydd, and good afternoon, Deputy Minister. Last week, the First Minister told this Chamber that there was no need for an independent inquiry into children’s social services in Wales, despite similar inquiries taking place in the other UK home nations and despite calls from many of the experts in the sector. The First Minister pointed to the wealth of advice and...
Gareth Davies: Well, I'm disappointed by that answer, Deputy Minister, and we'll have to agree to disagree on the need for that review. And we have a duty, an obligation, to protect our children from harm, to protect them from adverse experiences. There are still far too many children being treated for alcohol or drug addiction. The number of people being treated for foetal alcohol syndrome are not held...
Gareth Davies: Thank you for that answer, Deputy Minister. I think the aspiration is what we need. Of course we want to protect 100 per cent of children in Wales, but going to 70 per cent and adopting a policy that's accepted in other UK nations would be step in the right direction, and I strongly recommend that the Welsh Government do reconsider this. Many of your colleagues, here and at Westminster,...
Gareth Davies: 7. Will the Minister outline the actions the Welsh Government is taking to improve mental wellbeing across the Vale of Clwyd? OQ58179
Gareth Davies: Thank you for that answer, Deputy Minister. During this Men's Health Week, I wanted to raise an issue directly impacting the mental well-being of my constituents, which is the Denbigh Men's Shed. We're all aware of the fantastic work undertaken by Men's Sheds in creating places where loneliness and isolation are addressed in a friendly environment, and where men can chat and enjoy each...
Gareth Davies: 3. What steps is the Welsh Government taking to improve public transport in the Vale of Clwyd? OQ58226
Gareth Davies: I appreciate your response, Minister. My inbox has been flooded with correspondence from gravely concerned constituents regarding local transport matters. Transport-related problems now total the second highest category of my casework. The problems that my constituents have to endure range from inadequate and infrequent bus timetabling, especially in more rural areas of the constituency, to...
Gareth Davies: Hopefully, I can add a bit of sense to the debate after the previous contribution. I'm very grateful for the opportunity to speak on this debate this afternoon. As highlighted in my question to the Minister for Climate Change earlier this afternoon, this topic is of major concern to my constituents in the Vale of Clwyd. It's staggering that just 53 per cent of people in Wales live within...
Gareth Davies: Yes. Of course, yes.
Gareth Davies: Well, I’m glad you manged to finally—[Interruption.] I'm glad you finally managed to correct yourself there, but I’m a Senedd Member, and my job is to deal with what’s devolved to the Welsh Government, and what’s devolved to the Welsh Government is public transport for Wales. Hence the reason my contribution is tailored towards the infrastructure that is run from here in Cardiff,...
Gareth Davies: Will the Member take an intervention?
Gareth Davies: What would be your assessment, then, of the working people that the rail strikes affect? So, people trying to get to work, students, nurses, doctors, people who make a difference to people's lives on a daily basis who can't get to work. And during a cost-of-living crisis have to actually travel further and spend more money on their travel.
Gareth Davies: I was wondering if you could clarify those comments that you just made there about Senedd Members not being aware of funding for Wales.
Gareth Davies: Could you elaborate on that a bit more, because I don't understand what you said?
