Jane Dodds: Diolch yn fawr iawn. Thank you so much for that response, and may I thank you for your commitment, and your team's commitment, to piloting a universal basic income, and to looking into this? I'd also just like to throw out another fact here in the Senedd: I learnt last week that three out of four active applications to extend coal mining in the United Kingdom are actually here in Wales. So,...
Jane Dodds: Many of you know that I've worked in child protection for around 25 years, and I did work during the COVID period. And I would like to be clear that, in terms of my reading of the report on Logan Mwangi, I cannot see any reason that the COVID restrictions at the time would not have had—in terms of potentially saving his life. I think it's really important I put that on record, because it is...
Jane Dodds: Will the Minister take an intervention?
Jane Dodds: Sorry. Thank you so much. Is it not the case though that there has not been a review in Wales of child protection services? I do hear there have been reviews of looked-after children and of care-experienced children, but what we're talking about here is a review of child protection services. So, can you tell me when there was a review of child protection services—maybe I've missed...
Jane Dodds: I do concur with Adam Price's assessment of your job, Minister. It is certainly the last job in the world that I would want to do, and I do thank you so much for your work and the engagement by you and your officials as well, certainly with me: thank you so much. It feels like in these debates, it's always tempting to make a long list of things that we want, and I do also think it's important...
Jane Dodds: Will the First Minister make a statement on access to NHS dentistry for children and young people?
Jane Dodds: Good afternoon, Minister. And also
Jane Dodds: happy birthday to you too.
Jane Dodds: Just to embarrass you. [Laughter.] Could I please ask for a statement from the Minister for Climate Change regarding the measures being taken to reduce pollution in the River Wye, and what the Welsh Government's position is on calling in decisions on intensive poultry units? As a resident of Hay-on-Wye, as you will know, I'm very passionate about the river, as I know many other people are as...
Jane Dodds: I feel compelled to tell you a story that's positive. I live in a very rural area. On 17 December, I had to attend to a lady who'd fallen and had a serious head injury. We called the ambulance service. We were told it would be a two-hour wait. So, imagine our surprise when one turned up within 15 minutes. We must talk about those positive stories as well, and there are many. I do want to...
Jane Dodds: 3. What steps is the Welsh Government taking to support the Welsh language in rural schools and communities? OQ58914
Jane Dodds: Thank you very much, Minister. I want to focus, if it's okay, on the WESPs—you've talked about the WESPs in a previous question—and particularly the part of the WESPs that mention secondary schools and how primary schools in rural areas can ensure that the secondary schools have an adequate number of pupils entering them. There is a balance to be struck here, as I'm sure you can see. In...
Jane Dodds: I stand here with my tin hat on, because I'm taking a very radical approach, which is I don't think we should support Cardiff Airport staying open at all. Back in 2013, the Lib Dems led calls to prevent the Welsh Government buying the airport from the private sector. The airport seems to be a bottomless pit for taxpayers' cash—cash that could go into public transport. You did say, Minister,...
Jane Dodds: Thank you to the Conservatives and to Russell George for setting out these important issues.
Jane Dodds: Across the Chamber, I think it's fair to say, we are in awe of the Welsh ambulance service. It is an absolute life-saver, and I am very clear that I’ll be supporting this motion this evening. Both the Welshpool and Caernarfon air ambulance bases provide mid and north Wales respectively with a lifeline in the form of emergency medical support and transit. Rural healthcare is challenging, we...
Jane Dodds: Will the Minister provide a commitment that the Welsh Government will veto any new coal mines in Wales?
Jane Dodds: 6. What are the Welsh Government's priorities for primary care in Mid and West Wales? OQ58976
Jane Dodds: Thank you very much for the response.
Jane Dodds: One aspect of primary care that I think most people know that I'm really concerned about is teeth, and particularly the teeth of our children across Wales. I understand that we don't have data about how many children are actually waiting for an NHS dentist. The only health boards that we've been able to get data from, having asked them specifically, were from Powys and from Cardiff. And, in...
Jane Dodds: 1. Will the First Minister make a statement on ambulance response times? OQ59013
