Mick Antoniw: 3. Will the Deputy Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government's implementation of Section 1 of the Equality Act 2010? OQ55519
Mick Antoniw: Deputy Minister, thank you very much for that answer and that very progressive step that's being taken. You'll know that, historically, girls and women have traditionally been less likely in schools and education institutions to take up the STEM subjects—the science, the technology, engineering and maths. And you yourself have very much been a staunch advocate of actually repairing that...
Mick Antoniw: Trefnydd, one of the consequences of COVID has been that many of us have been getting more exercise. We've been taking walks in some of the incredible and beautiful countryside that we have around us. I regularly now walk through the Coedely woods, through the Smaelog, and the reconnection with nature is really something that is perhaps one of the positives that have come out of this...
Mick Antoniw: Minister, we all want the best for our schoolchildren. Rhondda Cynon Taf, over the last 10 years, will have invested somewhere in the region of £0.75 billion under the twenty-first century schools programme renewing those schools. And in those schools, of course, we want the best teachers, so I very much welcome the proposal by Welsh Government to employ a further 600 teachers. But one of...
Mick Antoniw: Minister, firstly to say thank you very much for the work that you and the leader of RCT council did recently when we were failed by the UK Government in respect of the testing capacity. I don't think people will realise that, as I understand it, you both ended up almost virtually working around the clock, through the night, in order to try and alleviate and increase that capacity, and I...
Mick Antoniw: Dirprwy Lywydd, the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee has not yet had the opportunity for a detailed examination of this Bill. It was produced very late in the day, with very little advance notice, and we look forward to your giving evidence on Monday to the committee, where we will explore all these particular issues. But the committee has a particular responsibility in respect...
Mick Antoniw: My apologies.
Mick Antoniw: 3. Will the Minister make a statement on how the Welsh Government is ensuring that homes in flood risk areas are provided with suitable flood prevention equipment? OQ55508
Mick Antoniw: Can I say, Minister, firstly, that I welcome that answer? I know how seriously you've taken the issue of flooding when it occurred in Rhondda Cynon Taf and Taff-Ely. I'm very grateful for the swift response that we've had and the collaboration between Rhondda Cynon Taf council and Welsh Government. Of course, at the moment, we are awaiting a series of very important inquiry reports. I think...
Mick Antoniw: 8. Will the Minister make a statement on regulations relating to houses of multiple occupation in Wales? OQ55507
Mick Antoniw: Minister, you'll be aware that I've raised this issue with you on many occasions. We've had many discussions on this and I know that you share my view that the character and sustainability of communities must not be put at risk by the proliferation of HMOs. Treforest in my constituency is one such community. Local councillor Steve Powderhill and I have opposed many applications, but too often...
Mick Antoniw: Minister, can I first of all put on record, I think, the importance of the work that RCT council have been doing in terms of the monitoring and enforcement in supermarkets and in pubs and so on? It's been important. But I think, also, there's a realisation that exists in the community I live in and represent that cases have been increasing and that further action was going to need to be...
Mick Antoniw: Llywydd, when I listen to the movers of the main motion, I actually do wonder how many of them have actually read the Bill and the supporting documentation. I've gone through it, and these are my views as to what are the key points, the key things that are wrong. The first thing is it legislates to legalise illegality. That's unacceptable. It specifically restricts and undermines the...
Mick Antoniw: Thank you, Llywydd. With regard to items 6, 7 and 9, which are taken together, Members will know that the the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 2) (Wales) Regulations 2020 are the principal regulations on coronavirus in Wales. The Senedd approved these regulations on 5 August 2020. We reported on the No. 6 and the No. 7 amending regulations on 14 September, and yesterday we...
Mick Antoniw: First Minister, just a couple of points. Firstly, I very much appreciated the address to the nation. I think that was a very important landmark during this pandemic. I wonder if we could have clearer guidance for the pubs and clubs in our constituencies. Many of them are raising questions. They are very keen to operate within the guidelines and to operate safely for their community. Things...
Mick Antoniw: What discussions has the Minister had with the UK Government in respect of additional funding to support local government finances?
Mick Antoniw: Thank you, Llywydd. I had noted, and was waiting in anticipation. This is a report of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee in respect of the four sets of regulations, so it's a composite report. Members will know that the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 2) (Wales) Regulations 2020 are the principal regulations on coronavirus in Wales, and the Senedd approved...
Mick Antoniw: Thank you, Minister, for your statement and for the details on this funding. Can I ask very crisply in respect of the coach and tour industry—? I have hundreds of people employed in my constituency who work in this industry, and I know you're familiar with it—can you consider whether it is appropriate for some of these companies to actually be categorised as transport as opposed to...
Mick Antoniw: Thank you, acting Llywydd. Minister, Pontypridd is one of those classic examples of a town that was regenerating with Welsh Government and local council support: the new buildings; Transport for Wales being based there; the new bridge over, connecting with Ynysangharad Park; and the bingo hall, which has been acquired now by RCT to be developed. Of course, then we had the flooding. And then...
Mick Antoniw: Thank you, acting Llywydd. The Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee started considering a UK Agriculture Bill exactly two years ago in September 2018, and Members will know that the first version of the UK Government's Bill fell in 2019, when the UK Parliament was dissolved ahead of the UK general election. We had already produced two strongly worded reports on that version of that...
