Sioned Williams: I want to pick up on the points that Janet Finch-Saunders made towards the end of her contribution, because I'm sure you're aware, Minister, of the serious concerns raised by Welsh Women's Aid about the impact of the Act, in its current form, on Welsh specialist VAWDASV services and, by extension, on survivors. Whilst supportive of many of the positive elements of the new Renting Homes...
Sioned Williams: Thank you for the statement, Minister. According to the World Health Organization, a billion people, or 15 per cent of the global population, have some sort of disability. Marking International Day of People with Disabilities not only is an opportunity to ensure that we remember the importance of securing equality and fair opportunities for people here in Wales, but also for the billion...
Sioned Williams: 2. What consideration has the Minister given to the impact of the autumn statement on the Welsh Government financial support that will be available for local authorities in South Wales West? OQ58788
Sioned Williams: Yes, I'd agree, Minister. Our local authorities are facing huge financial pressures, and I'd like to echo what Huw Irranca-Davies said about the importance of engagement not only in those briefings, but I know, in Neath Port Talbot, the council is going out into all the communities of the local authority area to have public meetings so that people fully understand what's at stake here and to...
Sioned Williams: Diolch, Llywydd. A UK-wide public consultation on the interim service specification for specialist gender dysphoria services for children and young people closed recently on 5 December. Although published by NHS England, the proposed changes will impact on young patients who are the commissioning responsibility of NHS Wales. Concerns have been raised by Stonewall and others that access to the...
Sioned Williams: Diolch. Of course, the service we have in Wales here is for people who are over 18, isn't it? That's the difference. I recently met with the British Medical Association to discuss their 'Sexual orientation and gender identity in the medical profession' report, which highlights that LGBTQ+ doctors are regularly suffering abuse and discrimination. While it is concerning that this is even taking...
Sioned Williams: How does the Welsh Government promote the use of the Welsh language in South Wales West?
Sioned Williams: 2. What support is the Welsh Government offering to businesses in South Wales West in light of the cost-of-living and cost-of-doing-business crisis? OQ58888
Sioned Williams: Diolch, Weinidog. The cost-of-living crisis, high inflation and rising energy costs in particular all pose huge threats to businesses in the hospitality sector especially—a sector that employs 200,000 people in Wales. And while I welcome the inclusion of more support on business rates in Welsh Government's draft budget yesterday, albeit with the caveat that perhaps support could be more...
Sioned Williams: Gender-based abuse and prejudice and hatred towards women in our front-line services are totally unacceptable. These are the services that are supposed to protect us and serve the public, and they are therefore supposed to represent the very best principles in our society. So, we cannot permit a service that has such close contact with the public and that has such a safeguarding role to hold...
Sioned Williams: The main thrust of our recommendations concerns improving support for a particular group of women, who are too often neglected and even invisible to society. I have certainly heard evidence that will stay with me forever about the experience of survivors from migrant communities. We looked at what can be done to ensure these women are seen, are heard, are supported, and are able to feel safe....
Sioned Williams: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Child poverty exists in every part of Wales. It not only exists, but it stains our communities, because child poverty causes serious and lifelong harm to the outcomes of those who are our nation’s future, and the longer a child remains in poverty, the more profound the harms will be. How many times have we heard the shocking statistics that create those harms...
Sioned Williams: There will be a refreshed strategy next year, but there’s no mention of targets, and, given the answer the Prif Weinidog gave yesterday to my colleague Peredur Owen Griffiths regarding the need for a child poverty strategy, I must say I’m slightly worried about that too, and the Government’s commitment to it. The Prif Weinidog said that he wanted his 'civil service colleagues and those...
Sioned Williams: Diolch, Llywydd, and I want to thank all Members for their contributions to the debate this afternoon. I agree with the Minister for Social Justice that the UK Government holds key levers, not all the levers, but key levers for tackling poverty, those powers over tax and welfare systems. She said that progress in tackling child poverty in Wales continues to be hindered by decisions taken in...
Sioned Williams: What is the Government's strategy to ensure accessibility for disabled people in the health service?
Sioned Williams: 5. What is the Welsh Government doing to shorten waiting times in the health service in South Wales West? OQ58932
Sioned Williams: Diolch, Brif Weinidog. A constituent of mine from Morriston has been suffering with knee problems for 15 years, and has been waiting for five years, almost to the day, for two partial knee replacements, being in constant pain the whole time, and having had to give up her pub as a result. When I highlighted my constituent's case in a letter to Swansea Bay University Health Board, they said...
Sioned Williams: A constituent of mine fell and broke her ankle recently, and she lives near a large A&E unit in Morriston Hospital and a minor injuries unit in Neath Port Talbot hospital. She went to MIU, thinking that the waiting times would be less. That's something that is guidance on many websites, but it was appointment only. She was told she'd have to go to Morriston and the wait for an x-ray, she was...
Sioned Williams: Than you for the statement, Minister. I am pleased with the emphasis that you placed on the ability or lack of ability of different groups to cope with the cost-of-living crisis and increased prices. Women, of course, are one of those groups: 46 per cent is the number of single-parent households living in poverty—it's a shocking figure, two times higher than the general poverty rate in...
Sioned Williams: Turning now to the UK Government's energy bill support scheme, I share your concern, Minister, that BEIS's latest statistics suggest 33 per cent of the vouchers provided up until December haven't yet been redeemed. This is very concerning, because these households are some of the most vulnerable, usually on low incomes, and can already be in debt to their supplier. Has BEIS published a...
