Joel James: Thank you, Llywydd, and if I could just take this opportunity to congratulate you on your re-election and, likewise, the First Minister. First Minister, last year, Treorchy High Street was named the best in the UK and was praised for its independent shops and community spirit. However, it is disappointing that success is not evenly spread across South Wales Central. Recently, Tonypandy and...
Joel James: First Minister, Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council has not met its joint housing land availability study targets for a number of years, and, as a result, this has seen a glut of speculative applications being submitted for the council to consider, with many of these previously being rejected for inclusion within its local development plan. Among these applications have been several for...
Joel James: 8. Will the First Minister make a statement on the role that the Welsh language has played in the development of Cardiff as Wales's capital city? OQ56567
Joel James: Thank you, First Minister. In 1936, Vale of Glamorgan farmer Lewis Williams left Tŷ'r Cymry to the Welsh speakers of Cardiff and over the years it has not only become a beacon of support for the language, but also a cultural hub as well. Sadly, as recent news reports have shown, this building is on borrowed time and no longer features in the future plans of the trustees who have recently...
Joel James: 2. Will the Minister make a statement on the role that community medical facilities have played during the coronavirus pandemic? OQ56565
Joel James: Thank you, Minister. And I'd like to take this opportunity to put on record my thanks and appreciation for all those who work within this field and have gone above and beyond to help protect and serve their communities during this terrible pandemic. As highlighted yesterday in the Chamber, and in a recent briefing by the British Medical Association, some GP surgeries in Wales were in the...
Joel James: Will the First Minister provide an update on the Cynon Gateway North link road proposals?
Joel James: Minister, during my election count in May, council officers and volunteers were verifying and counting ballots for the Senedd constituency vote, the Senedd regional vote, police and crime commissioner election, and votes for council and community council by-elections. Going forward, it's not an unrealistic expectation to see a scenario where every one of these ballots could be counted under a...
Joel James: I'd just like to take the opportunity to pass on my condolences to the First Minister and his family during this period. Minister, according to Public Health Wales, almost 27 per cent of children in Wales are overweight or obese, and this is a 4 per cent higher rate than in England and Scotland. This health concern is worse in areas of higher deprivation, where children are significantly more...
Joel James: Minister, the conversation concerning artificial intelligence has often focused on its impact on the workforce and how it can cost jobs. However, the reality is that over 96 per cent of all manufacturing in Wales comes from small business enterprises, and we, as a country, are very much behind the curve in terms of productivity when compared to competitors across the United Kingdom and...
Joel James: What discussions has the Minister had with the Minister for Climate Change on the impact that the review of road building in Wales will have on the Welsh economy?
Joel James: 2. What assessment has the First Minister made of how the Wales-Africa programme has strengthened trade with Africa? OQ56759
Joel James: Thank you, Minister. As you will be aware, Wales became the first ever Fairtrade Nation in 2008, and, since 2015, the Welsh Government has provided funding through the Wales and Africa programme for Fair Trade Wales to promote organisations to become fair-trade partners and provide educational outreach on the benefits of fair trade. Fair Trade Wales currently reports that they work with only...
Joel James: Thank you, Minister, for allowing us the opportunity to address the amendments to the additional learning needs and education tribunal Act, legislation that promises to have a substantial impact on education in Wales. Though initial discussions on this Act predate my election, I understand that following—[Inaudible.]
Joel James: Yes. Okay. The only thing is, unless it's through the microphone, I'm not going to be able to hear what you say. Anyway, shall I start from the start?
Joel James: Yes, I can hear you now—perfect. Okay, thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd, and thank you, Minister, for allowing us the opportunity to address the amendments to the additional learning needs and education tribunal Act, legislation that promises to have a substantial impact on education in Wales. Though initial discussions on this Act predate my election, I understand that, following early...
Joel James: 2. What are the Welsh Government's proposals for the use of innovative technology to improve air quality in Wales? OQ56760
Joel James: Thank you, Minister. Earlier in the year, Cardiff Bus and Stagecoach announced that it was retrofitting 49 of its most polluting buses with exhaust clean-up technology, to reduce their nitrogen oxide emissions by 97 per cent, thanks to funding from the Welsh Government. However, in England, they are now one step ahead and have started to introduce air-filtering devices, which can remove as...
Joel James: In the renew and reform plan, £5 million has been allocated to support activities of a Summer of Fun, aimed at the health and well-being of children and young people, getting them active and to socialise. This is a particularly important aspect of the renew and reform plan because it addresses the issues linked with obesity and how it contributes to low self-confidence and low self-esteem in...
Joel James: This year, St Edward the Confessor church in Roath celebrated the one-hundredth anniversary of the laying of its foundation stone in 1921. The church was originally built in 1915, but was destroyed by a fire in 1919, and its rebuilding in 1921 marked a beacon of hope for the community following the horrors of the first world war and the devastation caused by the Spanish flu pandemic. One...
