Mandy Jones: I thank Plaid Cymru for tabling this debate today. It's an interesting topic, which has had some raised profile over the period of the lockdown, and I do applaud the sentiments of 'local homes for local people' behind it. I must declare an interest in that I inherited my late father's house when he died, and I rent it out to a local family, and I note from the register of Members' interests...
Mandy Jones: Will the Minister make a statement on the future of the National Procurement Service?
Mandy Jones: Thank you, Minister, for this statement today. The work involved in the development of this framework is self-evident—[Inaudible.] Sorry, there's something in the background. The work involved in the development of this framework is self-evident, and I send my congratulations to your staff for bringing this forward in such challenging times. The framework is a wide-ranging and comprehensive...
Mandy Jones: I'd like to start by thanking Jack Sargeant for tabling this debate and the many Members of the Senedd who support the motion. I've heard some stuff about UBI, but I must admit that my brain usually switches off as soon as it's mentioned. It's always been locked away in the part of my head that says, 'Something for nothing? I don't think so.' So, in the interests of opening my own mind, I...
Mandy Jones: Will the Minister make a statement on pupils' return to school in North Wales?
Mandy Jones: Will the Minister make a statement on the take-up of online GP appointments in North Wales?
Mandy Jones: We have here yet another very impressive Welsh Government document. It has much to commend it, but, once again, I must say, it does read like every other Government document. That might be the result of integrated thinking and working. It may not. I'm deeply concerned about where we are. I thought total lockdown was reasonable, considering all of the circumstances, but I, and many of the...
Mandy Jones: On the face of it, I have no difficulty in endorsing and embracing point 1a) of this motion—why would I, why would anyone? However, I do think that the rest of point 1, and point 2, are worth questioning. Why does this motion refer to an international convention made in 1969 when the UK Government passed its own race relations Act in 1968, which has been reviewed over time? And the...
Mandy Jones: 2. Will the Minister make a statement on inward investment in the North Wales region over this Senedd term? OQ55649
Mandy Jones: Thank you, Minister. I follow the fortunes of the UK manufacturing industry, and there are some fabulous announcements coming out about new factories and technological advancements. In recent months, I've only seen one announcement relating to north Wales, about the excellent Wrexham-based Village Bakery. What is your department doing to ensure Wales, and especially north Wales, gets its...
Mandy Jones: Well, this is the week that Cineworld has announced that it is closing all of its cinemas across the UK, affecting 5,500 jobs. Staff will be made temporarily redundant. There are two sites in north Wales, in Llandudno and Broughton. My heart goes out to anyone affected by the decision. This announcement was immediately followed by Odeon announcing the same thing. I am particularly upset by...
Mandy Jones: Some in the Chamber may be aware that Wales is on the verge of gaining a world championship crown in rally driving. Can you hear me, Llywydd?
Mandy Jones: Thank you. I thought that something had gone wrong by the thing on the computer. Some in the Chamber may be aware that Wales is on the verge of gaining a world championship crown in rally driving. Whatever the outcome in November, our own Elfyn Evans of Dolgellau has demonstrated world-class driving skills and, once again, will put our clever and resolute country on the map. I'm sure that we...
Mandy Jones: I'm grateful to the Minister for her statement today and for consideration of the general principles of this Bill. I'd like to place on record my thanks to the committees that reported on this Bill. The reports are balanced and interesting. Once again, I'll declare an interest. I am what I call an accidental landlord—I inherited my father's house and I now rent the property out to a local...
Mandy Jones: Diolch, Deputy Llywydd. I'd like to start by paying tribute to all of our young people. Their lives, perhaps more than any of ours, have been turned upside down by lockdown. They've not seen their friends, they've had their usual routines taken away, they've had to get used to different ways of learning, of living and of being, and those doing exams this year have had a particular set of...
Mandy Jones: Minister, I know many assurances have been made about the Welsh NHS being open for business. However, I am hearing from constituents that even those working on the NHS front line cannot access routine procedures, like steroid injections for arthritis. If the NHS can't look after its own, Minister, how can it look after the wider public? Thank you.
Mandy Jones: I'd like to start this contribution by sending my condolences to the staff at Wrexham Maelor, who recently lost their colleague Wilbert Llobrera in a hit-and-run outside the hospital. My thoughts are with his wife and daughter. I've mentioned before how special measures have clearly become business as usual for the north Wales health board. You denied them then, you will probably deny them...
Mandy Jones: Can you hear me, Llywydd?
Mandy Jones: Diolch. Welcome to your new role, Minister. Our mental health is not just a matter for the health service, it's a matter for each individual, families and communities. I'm deeply concerned at the closure of gyms, which as well as providing the mental health benefits of exercise are mini communities within themselves, and also places of worship for communal prayer. Both establishments provide...
Mandy Jones: First Minister, the effect of the focus on COVID-19 by all health services in the UK has been well rehearsed in this Chamber, as we've just heard, but, once again, for the record, cancer charities estimate that referrals for cancer screening are down by 70 per cent. Now, even a lay person could see that the health service's focus on COVID—this is a disaster waiting in the wings. Now, recent...
