Delyth Jewell: We welcome the announcement about eradicating homelessness. I think one of the positives that could come from this crisis is the realisation that housing is a right for life and not just an emergency stop during a pandemic. I would also really welcome the constructive way that you've worked, Minister, across parties in approaching this crisis. The crisis has also shown that homelessness has...
Delyth Jewell: Thank you for that, Minister. A further issue I wanted to raise was the support that's offered to people with no recourse to public funds. Now, that status is a legacy of Tony Blair's attempt to appease the Daily Mail all those years ago, and it has left a long and bloody legacy. We know that Shelter Cymru and others have been writing about the problems it's caused migrant women since at...
Delyth Jewell: Minister, in Plenary a month ago in response to Siân Gwenllian, you confirmed that you were aware of concerns that a proposed clause within the curriculum and assessment Bill could have a detrimental impact on the gains that have been made in terms of Welsh-medium education, and that you would look carefully at the situation. However, it doesn't appear that there's been any change in the...
Delyth Jewell: 'I am so tired of waiting, Aren't you, For the world to become good And beautiful and kind?' I saw those words by Langston Hughes on Twitter a few days ago. Someone was quoting them in despair at how bleak our world seems, because we are facing many crises. Aside from the scourge of racism, COVID-19 threatens the future of our most vulnerable. So far, the impacts of the virus have been...
Delyth Jewell: Oscar was always very warm. On my first day in the Senedd, I was walking with the Llywydd and we bumped into the Conservative group. Everyone shook my hand, but Oscar came right across to me and gave me a hug. He worked closely, of course, with two of my predecessors, with Steffan Lewis, who worked in his office, and with Jocelyn Davies, who was a fellow regional AM with Oscar. Last night,...
Delyth Jewell: I'd like to request a statement explaining three distinct but related matters about care homes. The first is the rationale behind the initial decision by the Welsh Government to refuse COVID-19 tests for asymptomatic residents leaving hospital before going back to care homes. Given the number of deaths and grieving families that resulted from the policy, there's clear public interest in...
Delyth Jewell: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Minister, as we move out of lockdown, there is a risk of seeing local outbreaks—
Delyth Jewell: Can you hear me if I speak here, Minister?
Delyth Jewell: No. Can you hear me now?
Delyth Jewell: Okay, I'll get closer to the—. So, Minister, as we move out of lockdown, there's a risk of seeing local outbreaks emerge, as has happened in Ynys Môn; there could be no option but to impose local lockdowns. I'd ask what specific support you're giving Ynys Môn to help them with the current situation that they're facing and, more generally, if there will be a policy of providing extra...
Delyth Jewell: Right, thank you, Minister. I welcome what you've just said. As you alluded to in your answer there, local authorities are playing a key role in the test, track and protect system, but it's been observed that another element should be added to that system, and that is 'support'. It's clear that low wages, insecure work and poor—well, the failures in the welfare system, have significantly...
Delyth Jewell: Thank you. Diolch. Finally, Minister, local authorities are working with health boards to co-ordinate antibody test programmes for NHS staff and teachers. No care home residents or staff have so far got those antibody tests. Now, I understand, in Gwent, cases of COVID-19 in hospitals have decreased significantly, but in the last week there were new cases in 29 care homes. Now, there may well...
Delyth Jewell: 'Education is...the soul of a society as it passes from one generation to another.' Those are the words of G.K. Chesterton, and it's true: the lessons we teach our children and young people should reflect our society's values, and they should be rooted in the stories of our past—the good and the bad. Whilst there is a lot that Plaid Cymru welcomes in the new curriculum, we feel fervently...
Delyth Jewell: There is so much for the children of Wales to take pride in, so much to weep for, so much to regret. But, these are all their stories, and in order to learn from our own histories as a nation, then the children of Wales have to understand those histories. After all, the word 'Cymru' means a mixture, people coming together. Diverse stories of multiple colours—that's what we all are. And if...
Delyth Jewell: 1. Will the First Minister make a statement on reducing the risk of COVID-19 infections in factories and other closed settings? OQ55438
Delyth Jewell: I thank the First Minister for his response. I wrote to Kepak and Merthyr council on 1 April this year expressing my concerns about a lack of social distancing and hygiene procedures in their factory in Merthyr after a constituent had raised alarms with me. The constituent was concerned that, unless proper regulations were put in place, an outbreak of COVID-19 could happen there, a concern...
Delyth Jewell: 3. Will the Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government's plans to expand Welsh-medium education provision in the Merthyr Tydfil area? OQ55422
Delyth Jewell: Thank you for that response, Minister. Rhieni Dros Addysg Gymraeg have been in touch with me on their campaign to tackle the lack of Welsh-medium provision in the area. At the moment, there are only two primary schools and no secondary school at all, which is utterly unfair on the children in the area. RhAG want to see a Welsh-medium secondary school established, as well as an additional...
Delyth Jewell: 1. Will the Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government’s plans for future improvements to the M4 around the Brynglas Tunnels area? OQ55468
Delyth Jewell: I thank the Minister for his answer. I'm sure that the residents of Newport will be pleased to see further progress in this area, and a proposal that will alleviate the congestion in the area while at the same time respecting the Senedd's commitment to reducing our carbon output. Now, Minister, last week, Boris Johnson said that his UK Government intends to allow a bypass to be built over the...
