Vikki Howells: Thank you for that answer, Minister. I recently visited Gwynn's Opticians in Aberdare to find out more about independent prescribers and the new optometry contract. I was really impressed to hear about the 70 or so independent prescribers and the work that they can already do in terms of treating and diagnosing conditions like glaucoma and macular degeneration, thanks to a fully funded...
Vikki Howells: Thank you, Minister, for your statement. I've got a real interest in NHS informatics and how they can be used to drive service improvements. So, I note your comments around digital systems and Velindre Cancer Centre moving on to the Welsh patient administration system, and I was interested to read your written statement yesterday on the cancer informatics programme. So, I've got a few...
Vikki Howells: What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the impact on Wales of the UK Government's announcement regarding the latest round of levelling-up funding?
Vikki Howells: 3. How is the Welsh Government working to improve access to mental health services in Cynon Valley? OQ59104
Vikki Howells: Thank you, Trefnydd. Ensuring people can access mental health services in a timely manner is important for our NHS, vital for people in need, and can even save lives. That's why I'm really pleased at the roll out of the '111 press 2' telephone service to access urgent mental health support. With the intention that this will be introduced to all health board areas in Wales by the end of March,...
Vikki Howells: I'd like to start by offering my thanks to the committee, its clerking team and the witnesses for what I think is a very robust piece of work. For my contribution, I'll be focusing on a couple of the key recommendations. Firstly, recommendation 1 around promoting the importance of school attendance. We all know that it's important that children and young people attend school, and it's key...
Vikki Howells: 5. Will the First Minister provide an update on discussions with the UK Government regarding the future of levelling-up funding? OQ59122
Vikki Howells: Thank you for that answer, Minister. The last meeting of the cross-party group on industrial communities heard from Professor Steve Fothergill on the Industrial Communities Alliance's six principles to streamline levelling-up funding. One principle is that funding should be strongly targeted to focus on the most disadvantaged places. This approach is critical for communities like the ones...
Vikki Howells: Deputy Minister, you will be aware of my long-standing commitment to the Cynon Gateway North, working alongside residents of Llwydcoed and Penywaun and the local councillors there. The purpose of the gateway scheme is to mitigate the forced dispersal of traffic from the dualling of sections 5 and 6 of the Heads of the Valleys road, due to the permanent removal of the main Hirwaun entry and...
Vikki Howells: Thanks to Luke Fletcher and other Members for tabling this motion today and giving us the chance to discuss what is a very important issue: how we support our young people so that they can get the most out of their education. It follows on very naturally from last week's debate on the Children, Young People and Education Committee's report into pupil absence, and of course it's very timely...
Vikki Howells: Thank you, Minister. I was really pleased to read the strategy showing how we're seeking to embed innovation across all aspects of Government; it's a very welcome approach, and I think it shows why innovation is vital both for our economy and for other sectors as well. I was very interested to read the section on the circular economy and on the environmental impact of the foundational economy...
Vikki Howells: Thank you, Deputy Minister, for your statement today. As a former teacher, I particularly welcome your comment around the new curriculum and unions in the place of work. Linking an understanding of workplace rights to career guidance is fundamentally the right thing to do, and I look forward to the results of the pilot in due course. I have a couple of questions for you today. Firstly, I note...
Vikki Howells: What action is the Welsh Government taking to improve access to health services within the Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board area?
Vikki Howells: 1. How is the Welsh Government working to improve the provision of health services for the people of Cynon Valley? OQ59213
Vikki Howells: Thank you for your answer, First Minister, and I was really pleased to hear the announcement last month about the new diagnostics and treatment centre for south-east Wales, to be based in Rhondda Cynon Taf. This could not just reduce, but actually eliminate, backlogs in accessing treatment and substantially reduce waiting times, moving forward, for orthopedic surgeries in particular, for...
Vikki Howells: I want to thank Welsh Government for the positive budget that they have brought forward. UK mismanagement and wider economic pressures make this one of the most difficult budgets since devolution. But Welsh Ministers have continued to protect front-line services, continued to provide help to those most affected by the cost-of-living crisis, continued to support our economy through...
Vikki Howells: Fist Minister, you will, of course, be aware that for any projects that weren't given the green light by the roads review, the advice to local authorities has been to go back to the drawing board and to consider, in accordance with WelTAG 1, alternative measures to mitigate, for example, local problems of road safety. What specific help can Welsh Government provide to local authorities around...
Vikki Howells: What measures is the Welsh Government taking to improve road safety?
Vikki Howells: Thank you, Minister, for your statement. There are a couple of things that I'd like to pick up on. Firstly, it was really good to welcome you to Perthcelyn Community Primary School in Mountain Ash a few weeks ago. The school has received just over £66,000 in Welsh Government funding this year for a variety of external improvements. Ensuring the development of sustainable and welcoming...
Vikki Howells: 8. What consideration did the Minister give to funding interventions that enable Welsh councils to tackle the impact of poverty in preparing the Government's budget for 2023-24? OQ59287
