Joyce Watson: I thank you for your statement, Minister. I speak to an awful lot of people and get an awful lot of e-mails, like everybody else here, and it is the case that people do support those restrictions that we currently have and those ones that we are operating. And I've also had messages where people now feel able to go out and enjoy their lives a little bit more because of those COVID passes,...
Joyce Watson: 8. How is the Welsh Government supporting the foundational economy in Wales? OQ57275
Joyce Watson: Thank you for that answer. Of course, the foundational economy challenge fund has helped numerous businesses in my region of Mid and West Wales since its launch. One of the areas it has helped is Cyfle, who provide excellent apprenticeships and opportunities in the construction industry, and Jenny Rathbone has already mentioned this morning that that industry is in need of shoring up in terms...
Joyce Watson: What action is the Welsh Government taking to improve early diagnosis of HIV?
Joyce Watson: In October this year, Mark Hankinson, who was the director of the Masters of Foxhounds Association, was convicted of encouraging illegal fox hunting. He was caught on camera advising hunts on how to break the 2004 Hunting Act. He exposed what many believe to be true of trail hunting, that it's used as a smokescreen for illegal hunting. Since his conviction, I was pleased to see that a number...
Joyce Watson: Yes, I do. Thank you.
Joyce Watson: 8. Will the Minister provide an update on the implementation of the Welsh Government's pledge to restrict the use of cages for farmed animals? OQ57365
Joyce Watson: In June this year, the European Commission announced that they would phase out cage systems for a number of different farm animals, and that came about as a result of a European citizens initiative, End the Cage Age, which was supported by 1.4 million citizens, and 54,000 of them were from the UK. In Wales, many farmed animals are still confined to cages, including sows in farrowing crates,...
Joyce Watson: First Minister, what I would like to hear from you is a big 'thank you' to the teachers who have kept the schools open, very often in difficult circumstances because of reduced numbers, and also a request, ahead of the shops reopening under greater restrictions, for some respect for those retail workers, so that we don't go into 2022 with the same awful stories of retail workers being subject...
Joyce Watson: 4. How is the Welsh Government responding to rising living costs in Wales? OQ57437
Joyce Watson: It is indeed a scary time for lots of people living in Wales. We see inflation out of control, and we see fuel price rises immediately on the way. Of course, in Wales, the Labour Government has the Warm Homes programme, steadily retrofitting fuel-inefficient housing stock. We put a £100 cash payment to low-income families—your Government has—at the same time, and in contrast with the...
Joyce Watson: We should recognise, of course, that Wales has led the way in the UK on tackling modern slavery. We were the first country in the UK to appoint an anti-trafficking lead when Carl Sargeant was Minister, and that role has been supported by groups like Bawso and the Welsh Refugee Council, which bring a victim-focused expertise. And now we also have Jeff Cuthbert spearheading the police and crime...
Joyce Watson: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Thank you for your statement, Minister. Your own history of promoting equality speaks for itself. Wales's LGBTQ+ community has in you the most dependable ally in Government. Your recent decision to renew the equality and inclusion funding programme is a good example of your commitment to that. This Senedd, too, can be proud of its record and status as the No. 1...
Joyce Watson: I've got one final sentence. Homosexuality remains illegal in around 70 countries, and 11 of those still operate the death penalty. What discussions are you having with the UK Government to end that heinous crime?
Joyce Watson: I do welcome today's debate, and I'm grateful to organisations like the WAVE Trust that consistently promote and influence progressive policies like the 70/30 campaign. The trust's fundamental message is that most family violence and maltreatment can be prevented by known, economically viable programmes to break damaging family cycles. It also says extensive research highlights the crucial...
Joyce Watson: In a minute. That is what the Tories have done for childhood experiences in the country. I also want to move on and talk about domestic abuse, but I'll take the intervention.
Joyce Watson: Okay, this is a speech now.
Joyce Watson: Well, I'm sorry that you are a bit sensitive to the facts and that you see it only in political terms, but they were facts, and I quoted them. And I want to move on, to conclude, with a point about domestic abuse. We all know that adverse childhood experience and violence are highly related, but there remains work to be done to ensure that children and young people are central to our ending...
Joyce Watson: I thank Plaid Cymru for bringing in this debate today, as stalking, as we've heard, has a significant and lasting effect on the lives of victims, survivors and their families. The impact on the victims' mental health is often profound. A survey carried out by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust in 2020 found that, of those who responded to the survey, 94 per cent said that stalking had indeed impacted...
Joyce Watson: What is the Minister doing to ensure that the council tax system in Wales is fair?
