John Griffiths: Diolch yn fawr, Lywydd. Could I firstly congratulate you on your election to the post of Presiding Officer, and also add my appreciation to the work of Rosemary Butler, the former Presiding Officer, who I think everybody in this Chamber would agree did a great deal of good work over the previous five years and provides a very fine example to follow? In that vein, could I also say that, if I...
John Griffiths: Carwyn Jones.
John Griffiths: First Minister, the early borrowing facility of £500 million that the UK Government has announced in respect of an M4 relief road should, I believe, be available for whatever the Welsh Government thinks is the best solution for the problems on the M4 around Newport. Would you agree with me that, in line with the spirit of devolution, it should be up to Welsh Government to decide how to use...
John Griffiths: First Minister, Tata’s Orb steelworks in my constituency, as you know, makes world-class quality electrical steels. I meet with them on a regular basis and it’s clear to me that there’s been a very good working relationship between the Welsh Government and the Orb works over a period of time. Would you assure me that that relationship, which has supported machinery, better process,...
John Griffiths: Diolch, Lywydd. Thank you, First Minister, for your recognition of the position and situation of Newport in the overall steel picture in Wales. You will know from your recent visit to Llanwern what top-quality steel is produced in the Zodiac plant, for example, for the car industry in the UK and beyond. Recently, I also visited the Orb steelworks, where their electrical steels are world-class...
John Griffiths: The Severn crossing tolls on the border are a restriction on the south Wales economy and a cause of congestion. Would you agree with me that we should see those crossings become the responsibility of the Welsh Government as quickly as possible and, when that is the case, that those tolls should be abolished to ease that restriction on the local economy, and, indeed, end what is a long-running...
John Griffiths: In Newport East, we’ve been meeting locally—myself, the local health board, the leisure trust, Newport City Council, Natural Resources Wales, the local sports bodies and a host of others—to work out how we can get the local population more physically active. So, I wonder if you would agree with me, Minister, that Welsh Government should support those efforts, because if we are going to...
John Griffiths: Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. It certainly was an immense achievement for the Wales football team to qualify for the Euro finals after several decades of waiting, and that’s exactly how it felt in Bordeaux on Saturday. I was lucky enough to be there with other Members from across the parties, and I think I can say for all of us, Dirprwy Lywydd, that the way that the Wales football team performed...
John Griffiths: In terms of the possible routes, I think it’s clear, from many people’s views, and certainly mine, that the blue route is, I would argue, a non-starter for many reasons; some of practicality, others in terms of the population centres that it would travel through. You’ve referred to some of the issues already. As far as the black route is concerned, of course, there are major...
John Griffiths: 10. Will the Minister make a statement outlining what strategy the Welsh Government will follow to increase biodiversity in Wales? OAQ(5)0011(ERA)
John Griffiths: Cabinet Secretary, you’ll be aware that the Wildlife Trusts recently launched a species champions strategy. I and other Assembly Members are championing species in Wales. The water vole—[Interruption.]—is my particular species, but many others will be helping with the efforts. But would you agree with me, Cabinet Secretary, that we do need to protect our biodiversity and these species,...
John Griffiths: 7. Will the Minister outline what strategy the Welsh Government will follow to tackle poverty in the fifth Assembly? OAQ(5)0015(CC)
John Griffiths: Cabinet Secretary, the first 1,000 days are vital for language development and so for reading and general education and development, and there are statistics that show that children who live in persistent poverty are twice as likely to score below average for language acquisition at age five than their better off peers. Issues identified in terms of dealing with this include investing in...
John Griffiths: As with many others here today, Llywydd, I am hugely concerned at the vote to leave the European Union and its consequences. I do believe we are very much in uncharted waters now, and I feel very concerned for collective security and peace in Europe and beyond; our access, of course, to the single market, which is so important; inward investment and, indeed, general investment here in Wales...
John Griffiths: What action will the Welsh Government take to widen access to the great Welsh outdoors?
John Griffiths: I’d like to request two Government statements, please, Secretary. Firstly, in the light of the Office for National Statistics report on avoidable mortality in England and Wales last week, whether we might have a statement on public health and the preventative health agenda, which is one important aspect of dealing with avoidable mortality, and perhaps setting us firmly on a more proactive...
John Griffiths: Will the First Minister make a statement on the implementation of Acts passed in the Fourth Assembly?
John Griffiths: Similarly to Hannah, I will stress the wider picture in Wales regarding steel and the need to support the steel industry moving forward, Dirprwy Lywydd, because, obviously, in my area of Newport we have the Llanwern Tata works, we have the Orb works, which is part of Tata Steel, and also Liberty and a number of smaller operators as well. So, steel is still very important to Newport and the...
John Griffiths: First Minister, as well as building new schools, it’s also important that we continue to build new colleges for further education. Coleg Gwent have ambitious and important plans to relocate their Newport campus to the riverfront alongside the University of South Wales campus and, indeed, further buildings around and about. Would you agree with me that we must continue to improve our further...
John Griffiths: Secretary, as well as Port Talbot and other sites in Wales, workers at the Llanwern and Orb works are very anxious regarding their future livelihoods, and the futures of their families, given the ongoing anxiety and threat. You will know that top-quality products are produced in Newport, such as the steel for the car industry at the Zodiac plant at Llanwern, and the electrical steels at the...
