Delyth Jewell: Thank you for that, Minister. For my second and final question, I'd like to turn to deforestation and supply chains. At COP26, you said that you were determined to change the Welsh Government procurement policy to ensure that we're promoting supply chains that are fair, that are ethical and that are sustainable. I welcome that. That would not only reduce Wales's global footprint, it would...
Delyth Jewell: I'd like to thank the Chair of the committee once again, and I thank my fellow members of the committee and the clerking team for their work on this topic. It became clear to us as a committee, as has already been set out, that NRW is facing a number of barriers and complexities that make it difficult for the body to do its work. NRW is an important regulator, but as Llyr Gruffydd, the Chair,...
Delyth Jewell: Diolch, Llywydd. Transport isn't only about getting from one place to another. Investment in transport shows where we are headed as a nation, and it is abundantly clear that the transport network in Wales is not fit for purpose. Any system whereby commuters need to go on a convoluted route via a different country in order to get to a destination in the other direction in their own country...
Delyth Jewell: I'd like to ask for a debate in Government time about how the UK Government's assault on human rights will impact on people in Wales, as well as Welsh policy and legislation. I welcome the written statement from the Counsel General last week. He said that there'd been very little engagement with the Welsh Government about the UK Government's plans to dilute the influence of the European...
Delyth Jewell: 4. What discussions has the Minister had with the Minister for Education and Welsh Language regarding the funding of universal free school meals during the current financial year? OQ58274
Delyth Jewell: Diolch for that. It's actually revolutionary, isn't it, that universal free school meals will start being rolled out from September in Wales. I'm so proud that this is happening as a result of the co-operation agreement involving Plaid Cymru. I wanted to ask you, Minister, about support being given to local authorities to ensure that schools are able to cope with this change. I'm so thankful...
Delyth Jewell: I'd like a Government statement, please, on the mineworkers' pension scheme, setting out how the Welsh Government will put pressure on Westminster to finally do right by these miners and their widows and pay back the money that they owe them. Since 1994, Westminster Governments have pocketed billions of pounds of profit made by the mineworkers' pension scheme, because of how it was...
Delyth Jewell: I also really welcome the statement. I'd like to highlight something about the impact of the hormone replacement therapy shortage on women going through the menopause. One constituent has raised something quite specific with me, which is that women going through surgical menopause are being particularly badly affected. So, surgical menopause is when surgery, instead of the ageing process,...
Delyth Jewell: 5. What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the impact of the proposed changes to the Human Rights Act 1998 on Welsh legislation and the devolution settlement? OQ58291
Delyth Jewell: Thank you for that. I'm aware that you've given a response to the consultation noting your opposition, and I agree with everything that you've said in that consultation. It's unbelievable that the most corrupt Government of all time believes that it has the moral right to discriminate between the people who deserve to have human rights and those who don't. But, of course, people who truly...
Delyth Jewell: We sometimes think that poverty is a conclusive state: you either are poor or you aren't. But, that's not how it works at all. So many people will find their lives tip into chaos over the coming weeks and months, and that isn't scaremongering—it is a categorical fact. Thousands more people will struggle to live—to stay alive—because of monstrously everyday things like food and gas...
Delyth Jewell: The chaos in Westminster isn't just something we can witness as spectators—it will have profound impacts on how Government operates in Wales. I would request a debate straight after recess so that we can decide how to protect devolution and the interests of the people of Wales. By then, there'll be a new UK Prime Minister, and I want there to be a plan so that the First Minister can make...
Delyth Jewell: I welcome these plans. Introducing speed limits of 20 mph on these roads that we're talking about will make our communities safer and will make them cleaner and healthier places to live. This will also save lives. Every life saved is more important than anything that we can measure or evaluate. Avoiding any bereavement is a great thing and a good thing. These measures will also help us reduce...
Delyth Jewell: 10. How is the Minister working to ensure that the Welsh Government's commitment to global responsibility is incorporated into its trade policy? OQ58361
Delyth Jewell: Thank you for that, Minister. The Welsh Government's commitment to global responsibility is a welcome move, especially in terms of biodiversity, climate change, sustainable economic development and employment rights when it comes to trade policy. There are, however, other less tangible impacts of global trade on the lives of people across the world. These international trade deals affect...
Delyth Jewell: I would like to congratulate Côr CF1 on winning the Choir of the World competition at the Llangollen Eisteddfod last week. In order to win the title, the choir sang songs including an arrangement of 'Dros Gymru'n Gwlad', 'Gwinllan a Roddwyd i'n Gofal', and also a French folk song and a prayer in Russian—an appropriately international repertoire for a festival like this. CF1 was established...
Delyth Jewell: Diolch, Llywydd. I would also like to extend my best wishes to the Minister for Climate Change and hope for her speedy recovery. Minister, the Welsh Government has set a target of net zero emissions by 2050 and is, through our co-operation agreement, examining advice that could potentially bring this forward to 2050. The climate and nature crises, interwoven as they are, are the greatest...
Delyth Jewell: Thank you for that, Minister. The second and final question I'd like to ask is on another issue—community empowerment. It cuts across portfolios, including climate change and also rural affairs. But focusing on this portfolio, there was community anger in Llanbradach recently after a private company destroyed a beautiful bluebell woodland that was important to many people. The company had...
Delyth Jewell: 3. What steps is the Welsh Government taking to reduce the attainment gap between school pupils from different socioeconomic backgrounds? OQ58412
Delyth Jewell: Thank you, Minister. You'll be aware of the recent report of the Education Policy Institute, stating that no progress has been made in trying to close the gap between pupils from different social backgrounds over the past decade. According to the report, the poorest pupils are two years behind their contemporaries from more affluent backgrounds, on average. I know that you are concerned about...
