Jane Dodds: 6. What assessment has the Minister made of the ability of children and young people in independently run residential care institutions to access an independent advocate? OQ58301
Jane Dodds: 1. Will the Minister make a statement on the number of looked after children and young people who are placed in unregulated and temporary accommodation? TQ651
Jane Dodds: Can I thank the Petitions Committee as well for bringing this forward? I do echo your points, if I may, Chair, around that fact that any hospital closure, any transition, any change or new location does produce anxiety and challenges. I present a balance here. I’ll be honest and say that I haven’t heard loud calls, in terms of people who have contacted me, in favour of us keeping...
Jane Dodds: Can I start by thanking, firstly, the committee, Russell George in his chairing, and participants for their work in bringing this report forward? It's a really important report. Thank you so much. And can I welcome the Government's planned care programme and response to the report as well, published earlier this year? Firstly, I want to draw attention specifically to Powys Teaching Health...
Jane Dodds: Thank you very much for that response, Minister. I understand that Caerphilly council has decided to not continue with the existing number of animal welfare inspections at Valley stadium. Of the 10 planned inspections, six have been completed, but the remaining four are unlikely to be carried out. Data from Hope Rescue suggests that many dogs are injured at the track, and there are ongoing...
Jane Dodds: Diolch, Gweinidog. I wanted to ask you about the early progress with the mid Wales growth deal. I understand that some local authorities, including Powys, are concerned about the lack of revenue seed funding to kick start the capital projects identified as part of their programme that would give those communities and local government a real boost. The frustration is that projects are stalling...
Jane Dodds: 2. What are the Minister’s spending priorities for Mid and West Wales for the next 12 months? OQ58269
Jane Dodds: 4. Will the Minister make a statement on the future of the Valley Greyhound stadium? OQ58270
Jane Dodds: Good afternoon, Minister. I'm sorry that you're going to have to address this circle of people again. Thank you for your statement, Minister, and thank you also for meeting with homeowners and myself a few weeks ago—I'm very grateful. There are a few matters that I just wanted to raise. I know from correspondence with you and your officials in the last few weeks that you are due to bring...
Jane Dodds: Thank you very much to you, Minister, and to the other Minister as well, the Deputy Minister, and to the people in your department who have worked so hard on this. I could speak for hours on this, and I realise I've only got one minute, so I'll speak very, very quickly. I'm fully in support of this pilot, as you will know. I met with a group of care-experienced young people a couple of weeks...
Jane Dodds: Can I just bring the focus back to children and child protection? They are, as you've said, and as Joyce has said as well, other victims of domestic abuse that we need to have at the forefront of our minds. I want to pay tribute to all of those who are working to protect children—our midwives, our health visitors, our schoolteachers, those working in education, and our social workers as...
Jane Dodds: Good afternoon, First Minister. It was excellent to hear you on the radio this morning too. And may I also thank Joyce Watson for the work that she has done in this field?
Jane Dodds: Thank you, Jenny. A really good point. Intensive poultry units have been granted planning permission in Powys, and I have, for a number of months, well before the new administration in Powys took control, been asking for the cumulative effect of IPUs on our river pollution. However, it is really important that we're clear. There are three issues, and both NRW and all of the agencies concerned...
Jane Dodds: Yes, of course. I do apologise. Sorry, I didn't see that.
Jane Dodds: I want to thank Llyr Gruffydd, and the committee, and NRW officials for their work, too. Llyr, Huw and Delyth have touched upon elements in my contribution.
Jane Dodds: Because I wanted to focus on rivers, and we've heard from both Huw and Delyth and Llyr about rivers. I want to just briefly mention the River Wye, which is in the region that I cover. It continues to deteriorate, along with the River Usk, which is in a terrible condition, and in July 2020, 45,000 fish were found dead in the River Llynfi. I'm particularly concerned, as we've heard from the...
Jane Dodds: Good afternoon, Minister. Last week, I hosted a vigil to mark five years since 72 people lost their lives in the Grenfell Tower fire, and many more people lost their homes as well. I was grateful to all the Members of the Senedd and campaigners who joined us. I wonder if I could ask about an issue concerning the relationship between the Welsh Government and your colleagues in Westminster. It...
Jane Dodds: Minister, it is teeth again. Like many in this Siambr, you'll know that I have repeatedly raised the issue of access to dentistry in mid and west Wales over the last year. I am grateful to you for the funding to support an additional dentist in Llandrindod Wells, although, sadly, there have been no expressions of interest in the role since February. I understand, Minister, that part of the...
Jane Dodds: Deputy Minister, I've heard from a number of carers in my region who are coming under significant financial pressure and are not sure that they will be able to continue with their work in the sector because their wages just don't keep up with their bills, particularly their fuel bills. I recently heard from a domiciliary care worker who has worked as a carer for more than 30 years. This carer...
Jane Dodds: I have resisted commenting on the concerns raised to date, and I'm always wary about discussing the reform of health boards, particularly mindful of the significant disruption that reorganisation would have in the aftermath of COVID-19. Betsi is one of three health boards that are in our region, and although I do get casework from the other health boards, it has to be said the ones from Betsi...
