Joyce Watson: I now call on Jane Dodds to reply to the debate.
Joyce Watson: I call on the Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport, and Chief Whip, Dawn Bowden.
Joyce Watson: And finally, Mabon ap Gwynfor.
Joyce Watson: It's five minutes, actually, not six. I call Alun Davies.
Joyce Watson: Right. We'll move on now to the Member debate under Standing Order 11.21, on religious buildings, and I call on Mike Hedges.
Joyce Watson: I thank you for your answer and I very much welcome the Welsh Government's employer incentive scheme for disabled apprentices. It's well documented that the employment rate of disabled people is much lower when compared to non-disabled people. Figures up until March 2020 showed that the employment rate for disabled people was 50 per cent, compared to 81 per cent for non-disabled people. It's...
Joyce Watson: 1. What is the Welsh Government doing to help improve employment opportunities for disabled people? OQ57834
Joyce Watson: I do welcome the abolition of reasonable punishment Wales Act. It is a hugely significant day, and if we did follow the argument that we heard earlier from Janet Finch-Saunders—that the state is intervening in people's lives—well, I'm glad that they are, because if we followed that logic then the state wouldn't intervene in ending domestic abuse, and the state wouldn't have intervened in...
Joyce Watson: Minister, I'd like to ask for a statement on school meal standards at Ysgol Dyffryn Taf in Whitland, or rather the lack of standards. Recent reports in the press have shown some pretty disturbing images of undercooked and watery food, including meat, which has been served to pupils in recent weeks. And if that wasn't bad enough, many pupils and parents have said that the portion sizes are...
Joyce Watson: Right, the motion, therefore—. Let's start at the beginning. The proposal is to agree the motion without amendment. Does anybody object? The motion is therefore agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.
Joyce Watson: We move on now to item 8, Plaid Cymru debate, the cost-of-living crisis—the effect on schools and children. I call on Sioned Williams to move the motion.
Joyce Watson: I call on Darren Millar to reply to the debate.
Joyce Watson: I call on the Deputy Minister for Social Partnership, Hannah Blythyn.
Joyce Watson: And finally, Laura Anne Jones.
Joyce Watson: I call on Alun Davies.
Joyce Watson: Thank you, Janet, for tabling this debate. As a Member who represents a sizeable stretch of our coastline, I like to remind people that Welsh seas are more than a third larger than the Welsh land mass. So, marine planning is critical to many policies and priorities, from climate change to biodiversity, economic development to energy security. As a member of the Senedd committee that recently...
Joyce Watson: I hear clearly what you're saying, and I was there at the decision to set it up in this way. One of the reasons for it being set up externally rather than internally was because individuals were saying at that time that they would prefer an arm's-length counselling service, so that if they—. They felt more comfortable, is what we were being told at the time. But if evidence has changed and...
Joyce Watson: I thank the Member for the question. The Senedd Commission continues to make mental health and well-being a priority. This has been well evidenced during the challenging time of the pandemic. The Commission has a long-established on-site occupational health professional and an employee assistance programme, which can provide counselling and a range of services that can be accessed 24/7. The...
Joyce Watson: You can absolutely be sure that I will give my commitment to meet with RNIB Cymru and listen to the areas of concern and take them very much on board. The Senedd, and also the Senedd Members like you, really do want everyone, regardless of their ability or disability, to be able to access all the services in a way that they feel comfortable with. So, I would certainly be more than happy to...
Joyce Watson: Thank you for that question. The Senedd Commission is committed to being an accessible organisation that supports an inclusive Senedd. Staff across the Commission undertake equality impact assessments to ensure that everyone has access to the Senedd and can fully participate in all activities. For example, our new website was user tested by disabled people, and consideration is given to...
