Lesley Griffiths: I don't think there's a need for an oral statement. I think you've done absolutely the right thing. I was aware of the meeting this morning. Clearly the data will help, because we certainly haven't seen patronage return to bus services post the COVID pandemic as was there pre the COVID pandemic. So, surely, if they get the data, they will be able to see, and if you say the data is there, then...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. I will certainly ask the Minister to provide some clarity via a written statement. You're absolutely right that the whole point of having that policy of free prescriptions is to keep people well and to make sure that those who are employed are able to stay in employment. If we do have this disparity, I think you're quite right; you don't want to see that inconsistency or a postcode...
Lesley Griffiths: It's an ongoing piece of work to make sure that computers talk to computers and health boards talk to health boards here in Wales. It is absolutely vital that patients don't have to repeat their story every time they go to a different hospital, for instance. I know there were some difficulties between Wales and England, but as far as I was aware those systems should be able to talk to each...
Lesley Griffiths: Diolch, Llywydd. Antibiotics are a fundamental foundation for modern healthcare systems, enabling us to effectively treat most bacterial infections, in both people and animals. Their discovery and development have revolutionised not only healthcare, but also wider society. Infections and procedures that would have been fatal in the past are now treated routinely. Antibiotics are a precious...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you, Sam, for your very positive response to the report. I think you're right. You do have to be very brave, and certainly when I was health Minister it was an area that I was really keen to look at. I remember we had a very small project on one hospital to see how we could reduce antibiotic use, and I think you have to have that sort of focus on a small area to then see how you can...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you very much. It is new money. As I say, more details will be worked up, and it's from that programme. You ask about the assessment in relation to our sewage. That wouldn't be a piece of work that, obviously, my department would do, but Public Health Wales, I know, is doing some extensive work to address AMR in Wales. I mentioned that we're applying 'one health', because it's very...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. Information about sector-specific uses is published annually in the veterinary AMR and sales surveillance report, and if you look at it, you will see that, I think, the poultry and the pig sectors are the two sectors that have the highest uses of antibiotics currently. But I don't believe it's helpful to view the issue solely from that perspective; I think it's important to take...
Lesley Griffiths: Diolch, Llywydd. There are no changes to this week's business. Draft business for the next three weeks is set out on the business statement and announcement, which can be found amongst the meeting papers available to Members electronically.
Lesley Griffiths: Obviously, this is a developing situation, and the Minister has meetings, and I'm sure she will update us in due course.
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. With regard to your second question, the class 175 trains are planned to be withdrawn from use here later during this year, 2023, once enough brand-new 197 trains are available to replace them, and at the moment TfW are only operating six of the brand-new trains. So, that was planned anyway. As you say, they have taken a number of their long-distance class 175 trains out of...
Lesley Griffiths: Well, as you know, there is a significant piece of work ongoing regarding building safety, and there isn't a statement timetabled at the current time, but I will ensure that the Minister for Climate Change does update Members, probably in the Easter to summer term.
Lesley Griffiths: I'm not aware of the specific case that you mention in Holyhead. I would think that, probably, the most appropriate way forward would be for you to first either contact or speak to their new director of primary care, Rachel Page, to see what work is being undertaken, rather than having a Government statement.
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. You will have heard my answer to Janet Finch-Saunders—that I will ensure a statement is brought forward between Easter and summer term. Again, you will have heard the First Minister's answers to the leader of the opposition, and also he referred, I think, to the fact that the Minister for Climate Change will be attending the next meeting of the building safety strategic...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. You obviously describe a very distressing situation. I personally have never heard of DKA, so I think it's really good that leaflets have now been made available in every hospital, to ensure that people are aware of this condition. I will certainly ask the Minister for Health and Social Services if there's anything we can do as a Welsh Government to perhaps help with that campaign,...
Lesley Griffiths: Well, I don't think I've got anything further to add to your second question that I haven't already said to both Janet Finch-Saunders and to Jane Dodds. In relation to your first request, I am aware of the Bevan Foundation report, and I believe that the Minister for Climate Change is currently considering that.
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. I think the Welsh Government have certainly always put forward the very strong case, I think, that it can be a very rewarding career—working in the care home and social care sector. I'm aware that Care Forum Wales—gosh, I think, it's about 12, 13, 14 years ago now—it was a programme that they started to make sure there was professional development for people working in care...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. It's something I take very seriously, and unfortunately, particularly this time of year, when we have lambing, we do see a number of the cases that you refer to. One thing I always encourage is responsible ownership by people with dogs. You'll be aware that we fund—the Welsh Government funds—the rural crime and wildlife commissioner, and it's a piece of work we specifically...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, and I'm very grateful to the Petitions Committee for bringing forward this debate. Although there is only one greyhound track in Wales, today's debate and the petition have highlighted the very strong public feeling surrounding the welfare and treatment of racing greyhounds. My ambition is for all animals in Wales to have a good quality of life. People who...
Lesley Griffiths: Before addressing the issues around the petition, I'd just like to set out some of the work Welsh Government is doing to ensure we have some of the highest animal health and welfare standards in the world. At the beginning of this term of Government, I set out our five-year animal welfare plan. It sets out our programme for government commitments and complements our animal health and welfare...
Lesley Griffiths: Diolch, Llywydd. There are two changes to this week's business. The legislative consent debate on the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill has been postponed until next week. Similarly, the debate on the Packaging Waste (Data Collection and Reporting) (Wales) Regulations 2023 has also been postponed. Draft business for the next three weeks is set out on the business statement and...
