Laura Anne Jones: Firstly, I think it’s quite frankly appalling that we have a mere 30 minutes to debate something that is so fundamentally important, in the last week of recess.
Laura Anne Jones: There is so much wrong with the code in its current form, and the guidance, which is of extreme importance and a guide to our teachers. This vital guidance, initially missing, this Government published late last night. To be scrutinised properly, a mere 30-minute debate is an insult to the Senedd, the parents, teachers and children across Wales. Deputy Presiding Officer, before I attempt to...
Laura Anne Jones: Because of the target you set yourself, Minister, which you outlined at the beginning of your contribution, how are you working with the UK Government and local authorities to increase the take-up and educate on heat pumps in Wales, please? Thank you.
Laura Anne Jones: Diolch, Llywydd. Presiding Officer, this Welsh Government and Scotland wanted to flex their devo muscles and take decision making on this pandemic into their own hands, so the Welsh Government should therefore stand by their decisions and have the courage in their convictions to be open to and have no problem with being properly scrutinised on these decisions. Whether decisions they made...
Laura Anne Jones: It seems a shame to have to use some of my contribution to reiterate this, but I feel like it needs saying, and I'd like to start by thanking Andrew R.T. Davies for making sure the Senedd is respected when presenting new restrictions by suggesting the parliamentary recall today, and I thank the Llywydd for allowing that return. I find it concerning that those in Labour, who are advocates for...
Laura Anne Jones: Can I just reiterate calls that we don't put a cap on the number of people going for parkruns, then, please, Deputy Presiding Officer, because that doesn't seem to be in kilter? Thank you.
Laura Anne Jones: Thank you, First Minister. It has been incredibly concerning for all the women of Wales, regarding the move from three years to five years between cervical screenings, as you can see from the sheer number of people who have signed that petition, up to over 1 million now. I must admit my own panic initially, when hearing the news, having lived through the Jade Goody effect—I don't know if...
Laura Anne Jones: Diolch, Llywydd. Minister, happy new year. My colleagues Gareth, Russell and Mark have comprehensively asked most of what I wanted to cover, and our shared concerns, and Alun Davies too, who I don't often find myself agreeing with. However, on this case, I do, and I'd like to reiterate calls for that road map out of restrictions. There does need to be more of a comprehensive road map out of...
Laura Anne Jones: What steps has the Welsh Government taken to ensure children are educated in school this term?
Laura Anne Jones: I'm looking for a statement, business Minister, from the education Minister, please. With time now running out with one of the biggest seismic changes in education for a generation, I'm concerned about what I'm hearing on the ground amongst teaching staff—how unprepared they feel at the moment due to the multiple disruptions because of restrictions, and of concerns about the distinct lack...
Laura Anne Jones: 6. Will the Minister outline a timeline and targets for job creation through inward investment in Wales? OQ57462
Laura Anne Jones: Thank you for your response, Minister. The chief economist's report in 2020 highlights that the growth in productivity and inward investment has been very sluggish in Wales since the 2008 financial crash. The Welsh Government's approach has focused more on pet projects, with big promises but little return on economic development, for example your disastrous enterprise zones, a failure to...
Laura Anne Jones: Minister, whilst I understand that COVID has put the NHS in Wales under immense pressure, as it currently stands, hospitalisations for COVID are stable. With this in mind, Minister—. I'm contacted by constituents on a daily basis, as I'm sure we all are, with constituents in pain wondering how much longer they can go on. Minister, for example, an 83-year-old gentleman with osteoarthritis...
Laura Anne Jones: I welcome the chance to debate this in the Senedd today, particularly during cancer awareness week, as Jack Sargeant has just pointed out, and given the strength of feeling on this from women, and in support of women, on these significant changes that have taken place. And I thank Jack Sargeant and the Petitions Committee, the Government and the Llywydd, for allowing this to come forward at...
Laura Anne Jones: I find it very concerning that the decision to extend the time between cervical cancer screenings from three to five years wasn't given the right, careful promotion that was needed to ensure that half of the population of Wales were educated properly on these hugely significant changes. The way that the news was broken to women the length and breadth of our country was shameful, with a snappy...
Laura Anne Jones: —to improve life chances for women who develop cervical cancer, and I fear that this extension of two years will not contribute towards saving more lives. There's still so much more to be done. I will reiterate now, Deputy Presiding Officer, the calls I made last week to the First Minister and this Government, and I strongly urge them, and Public Health Wales, to launch a public awareness...
Laura Anne Jones: I'm pleased to have the opportunity to contribute in this important debate, as we've endured yet another round of damaging and senseless restrictions. The First Minister and the health Minister's approach on messaging since the omicron variant arrived in Wales has been chaotic and contradictory. It has increased fear and it could be argued that it was a political decision in some respects....
Laura Anne Jones: [Inaudible.]—without releasing any evidence. Yes, I will.
Laura Anne Jones: Another rugby one?
Laura Anne Jones: No, I do take that these things are a fine judgment, as I outlined earlier, and it is difficult—they are difficult decisions, balancing the harms. But it was clear from the figures, Huw, that the hospitalisations were down and the figures were coming that way. If you looked at the evidence of what's happening in London with the same variant, and in South Africa, there was a clear trend of...
