Julie James: I think the Member makes a good point about the role of bookshops, but, unfortunately, retail services are changing very rapidly and online sales of almost all retail products are having the knock-on effect that he mentions. We already have a very generous non-domestic rate relief scheme in Wales. I'm sure that most bookshops are of the size that they can take advantage of that. And I fear...
Julie James: Taking, in reverse, that we're in Libraries Week, it gives me the chance also to highlight the fact that I'll be visiting the central library in Swansea on Friday as part of my constituency work, and I was actually at another library in Swansea last Friday. I'm also a bookworm, but it is important to point out that libraries provide an enormous range of services. They happen to also have...
Julie James: Diolch, Llywydd. There are two changes to this week's business: the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services will make a statement shortly on Cwm Taf maternity services, replacing one on the out-of-hospital cardiac arrest action plan, which will now issue as a written statement. Additionally, Business Committee has agreed to withdraw tomorrow's debate on the Culture, Welsh Language...
Julie James: The service changes will support the introduction of a new performance measure to be introduced later this month and it will be based on the patients' clinical needs. Wales will be the first UK nation to introduce a measure of this kind for eye care patients alongside the existing referral-for-treatment target. The challenges facing ophthalmic services are well known. Nick Ramsay pointed...
Julie James: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, and I very much thank Nick Ramsay for raising this very important issue, and I'm pleased to be able to talk about the actions this Government has been taking to help remove the barriers for people who are blind or partially sighted, or to see differently as Nick Ramsay has put it. Last month, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services announced...
Julie James: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Just simply to say that, of course, we hope that—. We're very happy to have worked very closely with the committee; we did indeed have a very constructive meeting about a number of these issues. On the one area that remains slightly contentious between us, we are, of course, very happy to provide an explanation to the Assembly as to our reasons, if we...
Julie James: Moved.
Julie James: Moved.
Julie James: I think the Member needs to write in to the Cabinet Secretary for an answer to that.
Julie James: Yes, I was privileged to have a quick chat with some of the personnel involved in setting up the exhibition last week. I was offered the opportunity to be rescued from a vehicle, but unfortunately my diary wouldn't permit me to do it. I was a bit disappointed by it, but anyway—. [Laughter.] I'm extremely happy to wish them all the best for the world challenge in a few weeks' time. It's a...
Julie James: Thank you for that. We absolutely agree that sport and physical activity has a very positive impact on mental health and well-being, and it's why prevention is a key theme in our 'Together for Mental Health' strategy, which was published in 2012. That absolutely does include a focus on non-clinical support. We're very keen to maximise opportunities to support people with a vast array of...
Julie James: Thank you for those three important issues. The Cabinet Secretary is indicating to me that both of the updates you're talking about will be available by the end of this year, and she'll be bringing them forward once they are available. In terms of the medical education in Bangor, I'm not sure which of us it should be, but I'll make sure that somebody writes to you with an update on that, and...
Julie James: Well, I think the Member's done an extremely good job himself of setting out the value of smart meters, and of advertising his event tomorrow. The Member will also know that I am very keen on knowing how much energy I spend making coffee, as I am rather fond of it, so I'll be sure to make sure to pop along to his event tomorrow, to ensure that we have good attendance there.
Julie James: Yes, well, on the very important matter of the EpiPens, we are aware of the current limited availability of EpiPen products in the UK. It's a global issue, and one we're working with the UK Government and the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency to address. Whilst the availability of EpiPen products is indeed currently limited, alternative adrenaline auto-injectors continue to...
Julie James: Yes, this is an increasingly important area, particularly in the light of the difficulties we have over negotiating sensible arrangements for Brexit purposes. It's very important to this Government that we continue to make sure that Wales is very much open for business across the member states of the European Union, and across the world. The Minister is indicating to me that he's more than...
Julie James: Yes. I think there is a real issue here about the amount of money available to the Welsh Government to pay the terms and conditions that we'd like to, however, this Government has, of course, guaranteed parity for the FE lecturers with teachers and I know that the Cabinet Secretary has made that point very clearly in this Chamber on a number of occasions. I don't think she needs to do so...
Julie James: Diolch, Llywydd. There are two changes to this week's business: today's statement on the findings of the independent and accelerated programme for amber review has been postponed and, instead, a statement on 'An Update on Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis—our Approach in Wales' has been added. Draft business for the next few weeks is set out in the business statement and announcement, which can be...
Julie James: At the core of what we're trying to achieve here in terms of reducing gender inequality must be the promotion of fair work. As the report says, this is essential if we're to deliver a Welsh economy that provides individual and national prosperity while spreading opportunity and tackling regional inequalities, including gender inequalities. Last year, the Fair Work Board set out the...
Julie James: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I'd like to start by giving my thanks to the committee for undertaking this inquiry and producing such a well-considered and comprehensive report. It is a very important area, given the far-reaching implications for so many people in Wales. And I'd also particularly like to pay thanks to the Chair, John Griffiths, who steered the inquiry sensitively and...
Julie James: Moved.
