Vikki Howells: First Minister, over recent years, my constituency of Cynon Valley has benefited hugely from the Welsh Government's investment in social housing, with many old and disused buildings being faithfully converted into high-quality accommodation, as well as new builds. One issue that frequently arises, however, is the demand for adapted and adaptable properties. It's often challenging for the...
Vikki Howells: Thank you, Minister, for that answer. I'm sure that you know that, for many years now, IT workarounds have been devised by practitioners within the NHS, such as a bespoke app that two GPs in my constituency are developing with a local company. This particular app will enable patients to access their records, better medicate their own conditions and order repeat prescriptions, whilst also...
Vikki Howells: Thank you for that response, Minister. I'm sure that you'll be aware that the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers, of which I'm a member, has produced a retail recovery plan, setting out some key interventions to support the sector. Acknowledging, of course, that some of the levers are reserved and that the Welsh Government has already delivered on some key asks, such as full rates...
Vikki Howells: 4. What are the Welsh Government's priorities for supporting the retail sector in Wales over the next 12 months? OQ56717
Vikki Howells: 7. What are the Welsh Government's priorities for improving digital systems within the Welsh NHS? OQ56716
Vikki Howells: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. A hundred and twenty seven years ago on 23 June 1894, a tremendous explosion occurred at the Albion colliery in Cilfynydd. The blast was heard four miles around. It and a thick volume of sulphurous smoke were the terrible omens of the devastation that had occurred. Iron structures were stripped, bent like wire and propelled significant distances by the force of the...
Vikki Howells: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Thank you, Minister, for your statement. I wonder if you're able to say a little more about the definition of social care workers. It's an issue that I've had raised with me and that I have, in turn, written to you about—that some types of workers aren't included in the social care recognition scheme, for example, advocates and business support staff. Secondly, I...
Vikki Howells: Thank you, Minister, for your statement. The Working Wales job-matching pilot sounds really positive in terms of integrating supply and demand. How can Welsh Government ensure, though, that vacancies offered are good-quality jobs for the future, and also that employment opportunities in communities like Cynon Valley are grown and nurtured so that we don't see people from the Valleys having to...
Vikki Howells: It's a pleasure to support this motion tabled by my friend the Member for Ogmore today. As I was doing some preparation for this debate, I found a figure on StatsWales that shocked me and underscored the importance of today's debate, and that's the passenger journeys on local bus services by country per head of population in 2019-20. For England, this was 72.3, for Scotland 67, and for Wales...
Vikki Howells: Minister, I was really pleased to see in the programme for government a reference to banning the use of snares, an issue that I've campaigned on since I was first elected in 2016. Snares, as we know, cause indiscriminate suffering to pets, farm animals and protected species alike. Are you able to provide any further details as to when Welsh Government will be bringing forward its proposals?
Vikki Howells: 8. Will the Minister make a statement on Welsh Government priorities for improving animal welfare during the course of this Senedd term? OQ56657
Vikki Howells: Thank you, Minister, for your statement today. I note your comments about future roads aligning with the Welsh Government transport priorities and tests that can be set by the panel, so could you provide us with any wider context, building on your earlier replies to Delyth Jewell and Cefin Campbell, around what might be considered a good road that's suitable for investment? Secondly, I note...
Vikki Howells: Trefnydd, please could we have a statement from Welsh Government on the action that's being taken to ensure period dignity, and in particular on when Ministers expect to be able to bring forward their period dignity strategic action plan? I welcome the £3.3 million that Welsh Government has again allocated to this issue, and also the commitment in the programme for government, but I'm keen...
Vikki Howells: Diolch, Llywydd. The tenth of June 2021 marks the centenary of the formation of Cwmbach Male Choir. The past 16 months have been challenging for choirs across Wales, but Cwmbach Male Choir has weathered the pandemic, as it has all the hardships of the past century—weathered and emerged stronger, making Cwmbach one of Wales's foremost choirs. They've enjoyed considerable success over the...
Vikki Howells: Thank you, Minister, for that answer. Learning in the outdoors can bring so many benefits to learners of all ages and abilities. However, perhaps the greatest benefits can be seen amongst those learners who have struggled to settle into mainstream educational settings. This is particularly true of an outdoor educational setting in my constituency, Cynon Valley Organic Adventures, based in...
Vikki Howells: 7. How will the Welsh Government expand opportunities for outdoor education during this Senedd term? OQ56598
Vikki Howells: In February 2020, the Industrial Communities Alliance published an important consideration of how the economy of Britain's older communities can be rebuilt. The report offered conclusions affecting over a quarter of the UK's population who lived in these areas, and an even larger proportion of citizens in Wales, with recommendations that would affect 12 of the 22 Welsh council areas. The...
Vikki Howells: Thank you, First Minister. Three short questions. Firstly, I welcome the commitment to proceed with a basic income pilot. Are you able to provide any more detail on this, in particular around geographical criteria? I know that Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council has expressed a willingness to work with Welsh Government on a pilot, so I'd be grateful if that could be considered....
Vikki Howells: Diolch, Llywydd. Go back just a few weeks and class 143 trains, the Pacers, would have been part of that long list of temporary measures that never went away. The Pacers, described as a byword for commuter discomfort and chronic lateness, were introduced as a temporary replacement for older diesel trains. The Leyland bus body—yes, they really were made from old buses—bench seating and...
Vikki Howells: Thank you, Minister, and welcome to your new role. Menopause is, of course, a condition that will affect half the population of Wales at some point in their lives, with symptoms including problems sleeping, issues with concentration, digestive problems and stiff, aching joints. Recent research has shown that seven out of 10 women say that menopause significantly affects their mental...
