Laura Anne Jones: Minister, pubs and restaurants have done an incredible job of adapting and introducing health protection measures into their businesses and at speed during this pandemic, such as hand sanitisers, social distancing and track and trace recording. Will you join me in thanking them for the hard work that they've put in to making us all safer? And do you agree that the banning of the sale of...
Laura Anne Jones: Thank you. Minister, following on from a question to the health Minister just now, I was very encouraged to hear that you're going out and talking to small businesses in your capacity. I want to talk to you about mental health and well-being, particularly of our small-business owners at the moment, who have been put through so much during this pandemic, creating heightened anxiety and mental...
Laura Anne Jones: Thank you for that, Minister. I think the lack of money is one of the root causes of many mental health problems, as we know. I'd like to talk to you about the mental health of children and young people. Schools act as a leveller, a level playing field, where, wherever possible, children are equal in that environment in terms of equipment, the clothes they wear, access to information. As...
Laura Anne Jones: Okay, thank you, Minister. Just a really quick one, before I ask my last question, is that, in a school in south-east Wales, they sent regular questionnaires to see what the biggest barrier was to home-school learning, and it came back that actual devices, not broadband et cetera, were the biggest problem, because when there's a parent at home, or a brother or sister at home, using devices as...
Laura Anne Jones: First Minister, we all recognise that cases are rising across south-east Wales and Wales, and the seriousness of that, and that public health and safety must come first. But do you recognise the anger and frustration of businesses across Wales that have made great efforts to ensure the safety of their customers only to be punished by these latest Government damaging restrictions? Brains spent...
Laura Anne Jones: Business Minister, may I please call for a statement from the education Minister to address a problem in our schools that's now escalated from the last time that I spoke to you? I want to welcome what the First Minister said earlier—that a statement has come out this morning saying that local government and schools are now going to keep open until the end of this term. The First Minister...
Laura Anne Jones: —and admissions from heads that still children are unable to access devices. So, please could the education Minister bring a statement on how she intends to address the problem of frequent isolation now? The impact that is having—
Laura Anne Jones: I thank the Deputy Minister for his statement today and broadly welcome it. The Valleys taskforce was established in 2016 to focus resources on disadvantaged communities in south Wales Valleys, which, of course, is very welcome. These communities have faced economic and social issues that have detrimentally impacted on their well-being. Sadly, the work of the Valleys taskforce has been...
Laura Anne Jones: Last month, Wales saw the largest increase in unemployment in the UK due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. There's been a substantial increase in the number of people within the Valleys taskforce region claiming unemployment benefits—for example, the unemployment benefit claimant count increased between March and October 2020 by 68 per cent in Blaenau Gwent, 71 per cent in...
Laura Anne Jones: Thank you for calling me, today. I wasn't expecting it, because you were trying to get everyone else in, but that's great—thank you very much. I was a bit put out by the First Minister's response yesterday, resorting to a personal attack on me, rather than answering a simple question—a reasonable question—just to ask him to provide the evidence upon which the latest restrictions were...
Laura Anne Jones: Sorry, I haven't got—.
Laura Anne Jones: I, too, would like to extend my thanks to all involved: the Minister, the Chair, all our committee members, the clerks and all who have contributed so thoughtfully and passionately in providing evidence to our committee. The Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Bill marks the first construction of a distinct Welsh curriculum. The curriculum that I was, admittedly, at first, very dubious about...
Laura Anne Jones: Sorry, yes. There is a danger that, by rushing through implementation of the new curriculum, we are reducing the ability of teachers to deliver on its aims. It's a massive change, this curriculum, and I wholeheartedly wish it every success, but it is very important today that you listen to our concerns and that we iron out all of these concerns. Thank you.
Laura Anne Jones: Nearly 10 years ago, the Welsh Government set a target for planting 5,000 hectares of new woodland every year until 2030. However, in the last five years, the average figure for new woodland planted is only 300 hectares. Does the Minister agree that the Welsh Government's failure to meet its own target is hampering its ability to achieve its climate change aims? And what action will she take...
Laura Anne Jones: Thank you, Minister. I too would like to extend my thanks and congratulations to the Newport Veterans Hub. They do fantastic work. Charities supporting veterans have been hard hit by this coronavirus pandemic, and I'm thinking of the poppy appeal particularly during the firebreak. In view of this, what additional specific and targeted support will the Minister provide for veterans in Wales...
Laura Anne Jones: Can I just start by saying that I'm not in any way criticising the NHS staff in the Grange hospital in my South Wales East constituency? They are doing an incredible job under extreme pressures at the moment. But I've had doctors, GPs, contacting me from the catchment area for the Grange hospital saying they are terrified for their patients they are sending there as they deem the Grange to be...
Laura Anne Jones: I'd just like to concur, obviously, with what my colleague Suzy Davies has said today, but also with what the Chair, Lynne Neagle, has said today. I think that you lead our committee extremely well, and your passion is abundantly clear and infectious, and you've done an awful lot, so thank you very much, from the bottom of my heart, and I'm sure from many people across Wales, for all that...
Laura Anne Jones: This is an historic moment, a moment that doubters never thought would happen—some, clearly, still not accepting that it has happened. The Conservative Party have delivered: delivered on a promise made to the British public, following a referendum that showed that the people of our nation wanted to leave the claws of the European Union and once again take back our sovereignty, make our own...
Laura Anne Jones: I will. But, as Brexit is finally completed, we must all put those divisions behind us and work to maximise the benefits for Wales and the UK around the world. It's time to lay down your swords, Welsh Government, and work to ensure that you play your part and deliver the economic benefits that every single one of us in this Chamber wants for Wales.
Laura Anne Jones: Happy new year, First Minister. The Black Lives Matter protest and incidents like that just raised by Jayne Bryant have encouraged governments at all levels now to look at the inequalities facing BAME people in all aspects of life, and sport has had a particularly high profile due to sportsmen like Sir Lewis Hamilton and all the premiership football teams still taking the knee. Campaigners...
