Jane Dodds: Diolch, Gweinidog. I wanted to ask you about the early progress with the mid Wales growth deal. I understand that some local authorities, including Powys, are concerned about the lack of revenue seed funding to kick start the capital projects identified as part of their programme that would give those communities and local government a real boost. The frustration is that projects are stalling...
Jane Dodds: 4. Will the Minister make a statement on the future of the Valley Greyhound stadium? OQ58270
Jane Dodds: Thank you very much for that response, Minister. I understand that Caerphilly council has decided to not continue with the existing number of animal welfare inspections at Valley stadium. Of the 10 planned inspections, six have been completed, but the remaining four are unlikely to be carried out. Data from Hope Rescue suggests that many dogs are injured at the track, and there are ongoing...
Jane Dodds: Can I start by thanking, firstly, the committee, Russell George in his chairing, and participants for their work in bringing this report forward? It's a really important report. Thank you so much. And can I welcome the Government's planned care programme and response to the report as well, published earlier this year? Firstly, I want to draw attention specifically to Powys Teaching Health...
Jane Dodds: Can I thank the Petitions Committee as well for bringing this forward? I do echo your points, if I may, Chair, around that fact that any hospital closure, any transition, any change or new location does produce anxiety and challenges. I present a balance here. I’ll be honest and say that I haven’t heard loud calls, in terms of people who have contacted me, in favour of us keeping...
Jane Dodds: 6. What assessment has the Minister made of the ability of children and young people in independently run residential care institutions to access an independent advocate? OQ58301
Jane Dodds: Diolch, Gweinidog. Thank you firstly for the Welsh Government's different approach to that of the UK Conservative Government in relation to removing profit from the care of children looked after. It's an important step forward, and I'm grateful to the Welsh Government for their support on this issue. As you say, Minister, in 2017 the Welsh Government committed themselves to ensuring that...
Jane Dodds: Good afternoon, Counsel General.
Jane Dodds: Thank you to Delyth for raising this very important issue.
Jane Dodds: I do think this opens up a wider debate that is needed here in Wales regarding our collective human rights. As you've said, many UN conventions were enshrined in EU legislation, and given the current Government's record on attempting to dismantle much of what is left of EU law, it would be, as you said, and as Delyth has alluded to as well, sensible for us here in Wales to take a more...
Jane Dodds: 1. Will the Minister make a statement on the number of looked after children and young people who are placed in unregulated and temporary accommodation? TQ651
Jane Dodds: Diolch, Gweinidog. Last night we heard about shocking, disturbing and sad interviews with children and young people in care, who endured exploitation, abuse, violence and threats in bed and breakfasts and hostels where they were placed. This is six years after the Welsh Government had promised to eliminate the use of all unregulated accommodation for children and young people in our care....
Jane Dodds: Thank you so much to Luke for bringing forward this debate. Diolch yn fawr iawn. You all know that I have a greyhound called Arthur. I've never been homeless, but if I had been in that situation, I don't know what choice I would make—either to sleep somewhere where I couldn't be with Arthur or to carry on being with him and, potentially, be out on the streets. That's the issue I want to...
Jane Dodds: Well, stop the press, the Liberal Democrats are in favour of rejoining both the single market and the customs union, and rejoining the European Union, at some point in the future. I have to say, it is, of course, a little bit disappointing that Labour support for the single market seems to have been abandoned, and I am, I'll say, very confused by their current situation, which seems to change...
Jane Dodds: Diolch yn fawr iawn, Llywydd. I've heard from small businesses, including the Welsh FSB, who are really struggling with the bureaucracy, the red tape, the additional financial burden caused by the Conservative's deal. Ultimately, it is the responsibility of Government to ensure that its citizens are well looked after, and we can only truly address the cost-of-living crisis by regaining access...
Jane Dodds: Of course I will.
Jane Dodds: Yes, thank you for that. We have rehearsed these arguments many, many times. And you're right to say that a very slight majority of people in Wales voted to leave the EU, but what they've seen is a raft of lies in terms of what they thought would be delivered to them and, therefore, we have to think differently. I will finish in a minute, if you'll allow me to move on. I was just touching on...
Jane Dodds: Good afternoon, Minister. Can I continue the theme of leaving the European Union? Just looking at the Conservatives' undercooked Brexit of a meal, I wanted to focus on the UK Government-introduced controls around the high-risk imports of animals, animal products, plants and plant products. Some industry representatives have warned that these controls would significantly increase costs on UK...
Jane Dodds: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Thank you so much to the Business Committee for choosing this motion. In the last three months, monsoon rains unleashed disastrous flooding in Bangladesh; brutal heat waves seared parts of south Asia and Europe; prolonged drought has left millions on the brink of famine in east Africa; and, close to home, look at what's happening here: we're experiencing extremely high...
Jane Dodds: Thank you very much, and I thank everyone who has taken part in this debate.
