Helen Mary Jones: Thank you, acting Deputy Presiding Officer. It is my privilege to propose today that this Assembly should legislate to incorporate the United Nations convention on the rights of disabled persons into Welsh law. I must begin with an apology, the motion before us refers to an earlier version of the United Nations declaration rather than the updated convention, as ratified by the UK Government...
Helen Mary Jones: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I'm very grateful to all Members who've taken part in this debate. I have a very short length of time to respond. I'm very grateful to Mark Isherwood, particularly for his points about the gap between policy and reality, and that is why I believe that we do need to move to legislate: because disabled people have to have recourse if their rights are not...
Helen Mary Jones: What recent discussions has the Leader of the House had about human rights in relation to UN and EU conventions?
Helen Mary Jones: I would like to begin by thanking the Minister for her timely statement. I'd like to associate myself with the comments that she and Angela Burns have made, extending my sympathies to—and those of Plaid Cymru—to all those affected, as already expressed earlier by Adam Price, and particularly to the family and friends of Adam's constituent, Corey Sharpling, who tragically lost his life. I...
Helen Mary Jones: I'm very grateful to you, leader of the house, for your response to Siân Gwenllian's question, because I was about to raise the same point, that it is a bit difficult to have a sensible discussion about a framework that one hasn't yet read, but I also take your point that you wish to highlight the fact that the consultation has begun, and I very much welcome your commitment to, at the end of...
Helen Mary Jones: Will the First Minister make a statement on progress in the Mid and West Wales region on 21st Century Schools?
Helen Mary Jones: I'm very pleased to have the opportunity to take part in this important debate today, speaking on behalf of my colleague Adam Price. It requires real ability, political will and considerable courage to move away form the conventional ways of thinking in terms of economic policy, to move away from the obsession with the national economic indicators like GVA and GDP, an obsession that media and...
Helen Mary Jones: It has run out. Thank you. Just to end by saying that this paradigm shift will require a lot of work, from Government, civil servants, the third sector, academics and other interested parties, to put together the body of evidence and to work to deliver. Plaid Cymru is very ready to play our part in this.
Helen Mary Jones: 2. What recent discussions has the Welsh Government had regarding the integration of health and social care in west Wales? OAQ52834
Helen Mary Jones: Thank you, leader of the house. I'm sure that you will be aware that this is an agenda that we've been talking about here in Wales for 18 years, to my sure and certain knowledge, and probably long before devolution. And I'm sure that you will understand that communities are beginning to lose patience with the speed of change. You may be aware that, on 13 June this year, Carmarthenshire...
Helen Mary Jones: Thank you to the Cabinet Secretary for his statement. If I may just return to an issue that was raised by Angela Burns, as to whether this £30 million that has been announced today is new money, I think that's very important. If it isn't new money to the health budget as a whole, can you tell us from where in your budget you have taken the £30 million? I would associate myself with the...
Helen Mary Jones: Cabinet Secretary, as Russell George has said, and as you've acknowledged yourself, this is an absolutely crucial link, connecting parts of the region that I represent. The inconvenience particularly to businesses, but also to families, that occurs when that bridge is closed is really substantial. I obviously welcome the Welsh Government's commitment to address this. I was going to ask you a...
Helen Mary Jones: 5. What recent discussions has the Cabinet Secretary had about rural bus services in Mid and West Wales? OAQ52819
Helen Mary Jones: I thank the Cabinet Secretary for his response. He won't be surprised to know that access to public transport is one of the issues most frequently raised with me by constituents across the regions that I represent. There are several specific questions that I could raise, and I will write to him about some of those. But, specifically today, I would like to ask what discussions he and his...
Helen Mary Jones: 1. What discussions has the Counsel General had with the UK Government on ensuring that the rights of EU citizens in Wales are protected in the event of the UK leaving the European Union? OAQ52829
Helen Mary Jones: I'm grateful to you for your answer, Counsel General. You will be aware of how grave the concern continues to be of EU citizens and their families in Wales and across the region. I've, particularly, had concerns raised with me by citizens based in universities in the region that I represent. Have you received a formal response from the Westminster Government to your 'Brexit and Fair...
Helen Mary Jones: 1. What assessment has the First Minister made of the impact of the UK Government's budget announcement on the Welsh Government's budget? OAQ52851
Helen Mary Jones: I, like, I'm sure, many Members in this Chamber have received a great deal of correspondence from local government leaders particularly, most recently from Emlyn Dole, leader of Carmarthenshire County Council, about the pressures on local council budgets because of the consequences both of your draft budget and of the Westminster Government budget. You did, I think, commit to the councils...
Helen Mary Jones: I'd like to ask the Government for clarity regarding when it intends to hold the debates and votes in relation to the terms of the UK's departure from the European Union, if a deal is actually reached. The First Minister confirmed while giving evidence to the External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee yesterday that the Government intends to hold two debates and, presumably...
Helen Mary Jones: Thank you, Cabinet Secretary, for your statement. There are obviously things to welcome in the report, as Angela Burns has already said, and in your statement. I'll be particularly interested to see how the falls response project with St John Ambulance progresses, and I hope you'll come back to us to tell us. I'm very optimistic that that will have some positive outcomes. The financial...
