Caroline Jones: 5. What steps is the Welsh Government taking to diversify the economy of South Wales West? OAQ55127
Caroline Jones: Thank you for your statement, Minister. As you are well aware, I have been a long-term proponent of prefabricated and modular housing as an answer to our social housing shortage and have been arguing for this approach since I was first elected. As someone who grew up in a prefab, I have many fond memories of my prefab home. I realise that the prefabs of yesteryear won't meet modern...
Caroline Jones: I would like to thank all those who took part in our inquiry and our excellent committee clerks for facilitating this follow-up inquiry into rough-sleeping, notwithstanding the passion for this subject shown by our Chair, John Griffiths, who has taken us to meet people with lived experience, which is very humbling. We all know that we have a homelessness crisis and that the official figures...
Caroline Jones: I thank the Welsh Conservatives for tabling this important debate. Our NHS emergency departments are unable to cope and have just experienced the worst waiting times performance on record. In my region, 40 per cent of patients waited more than four hours in the Swansea Bay LHB, and almost 5,000 patients in Cwm Taf Morgannwg, which is why plans to completely or partially close the emergency...
Caroline Jones: Thank you for that answer, Minister. When it comes to changing attitudes to mental health issues, we have to lead by example, and we have certainly set an example here in the Assembly, with Members talking freely and openly about their own health issues. Unfortunately, the positive example we have set does not pervade the public sector as a whole. I recently had to represent an elderly...
Caroline Jones: Diolch, Llywydd. Minister, just a few days ago, we marked Time to Talk Day here in Wales, aimed at getting us, as a nation, talking about our mental health, but more importantly helping to change attitudes and remove the stigma that still surrounds mental health, and, while we have made some progress, it's sadly not enough. The annual population survey ranks Wales behind all other UK nations...
Caroline Jones: Thank you for your statement, Minister. As you are no doubt aware, tackling loneliness and isolation has been one of my top priorities and I'm pleased that you have also made it yours. I look forward to working with you on this subject. I was also proud to be part of the health committee, and we evidenced much, both inside and outside the Assembly. So, I was pleased with my interaction at...
Caroline Jones: I must declare an interest at this point as I am a landlord of a couple of rented properties in the private sector. So, thank you for your statement, Minister, and I agree with your statement that we have to give security of tenure. But that must go both ways. It must be balanced to ensure sustainability, to meet supply and demand. Protection must also be there for landlords, and there are...
Caroline Jones: I welcome the opportunity to discuss this important issue, as poor air quality is one of the biggest public health challenges facing Wales. Last week, the media spoke about all-electric vehicles and not selling petrol cars after 2035. Whilst we all welcome this move, we must ensure that the infrastructure is right, that cars are affordable and that incentives such as scrappage schemes are to...
Caroline Jones: Thank you for that answer, Minister. Wales is an emerging tourist destination, and, as of 2017, Wales's estimated turnover is £4.8 billion. Tourism is an important part of my region's economy, having the beauty of Gower and the seaside town of Porthcawl. The Liberty Stadium appears to be underutilised and lacks the number of sporting and music festivals that we see, perhaps, in Cardiff. So,...
Caroline Jones: 6. Will the Minister outline how the Welsh Government is using major events to promote tourism in South Wales West? OAQ55052
Caroline Jones: Yes, certainly.
Caroline Jones: I do understand, Mike, that the pharmacy is an issue in a lot of hospitals, because they can't dispense the medication at a suitable time for people to go home, and a lot eventually comes at evening time and people are kept in longer than they need. So, that definitely needs to be looked into, and, thank you, Mike, for bringing that up. Successive Governments have failed to plan for the...
Caroline Jones: I thank Plaid Cymru for tabling this important debate today. At the start of a new decade, when our thoughts turn to the future, our NHS is once again beset by the problems of the past. Welsh A&E departments have just experienced their worst ever waiting times. The waiting times figures for last month show only 72 per cent spent less than four hours in A&E waiting to be treated, transferred...
Caroline Jones: Thank you, Minister. The threat we face from this new strain of coronavirus is of grave concern, and I am grateful that you have outlined the action your Government are taking to keep us safe. It is concerning that upwards of 5 million people are believed to have left Wuhan before the quarantine was put in place. Sadly, in the following weeks, we have seen this coronavirus outbreak spread,...
Caroline Jones: 1. Will the Minister outline the steps being taken by Public Health Wales and NHS Wales to protect the public from Coronavirus? 387
Caroline Jones: Thank you for your statement, Deputy Minister, and I welcome the Welsh Government's renewed commitment to our town centres. Empty shops are discouraging to potential shoppers and, when empty, can be vandalised, particularly late at night, making the town a no-go area. There are many empty shops in our town centres across Wales, and I therefore welcome the Welsh Government's town-centre-first...
Caroline Jones: Thank you for your kind words, Minister, and thank you for your answer to my question. At a meeting last Friday, despite the measures you outlined, my constituents are still struggling to get the support they need. It's bad enough for families seeking help for the children with autism, but they've highlighted that it can be equally traumatic for adults previously undiagnosed. So, First...
Caroline Jones: 3. Will the First Minister outline the Welsh Government's plans to support people with autism in South Wales West? OAQ55009
Caroline Jones: My condolences also—I'd like to place on record—to all families who have been affected. Thank you for your statement, Minister, and for facilitating the briefing with the independent panel and your officials. I welcome the progress being made to make maternity services in Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board safe for my constituents. As the panel highlights, there is a long way to...
