Julie James: But of course some of the levers are within our control. We undertook a piece of planning research to look at what attitudes across Wales were to just increasing mast sizes. And, as I said in my earlier answer about digital radio, the problem with Wales is the population is spread out into every nook and cranny. Just making the masts higher doesn't solve the problem—it's not a silver bullet...
Julie James: Yes, I think there are some communications issues still. Some of those are very complicated now because they are to do with the availability of connections via particular internet service providers, and we have been working with a number of Assembly Members—you included—to make sure that people are getting the right information about the question to ask. Because we have had some examples...
Julie James: I'm afraid I can't. As I said, it takes us somewhere between 12 and 16 weeks to go through the very vigorous tests and verification process for the claims put in by BT under the superfast contract, but I can assure the Member that as soon as I have that data, I will make it available to the house.
Julie James: Well, absolutely. I'm sure the Member knows that the Gender Recognition Act is not devolved to Wales, but we welcome the UK Government's plans to reform the Act, and we've been engaging, at an official level, with those plans. All our stakeholders tell us of the increasingly negative media and social media attacks our trans communities are facing. We don't like the damaging narrative at all,...
Julie James: The Welsh Government provides equality grant funding to Stonewall Cymru. Part of this funding supports a transgender engagement officer to lead on trans equality issues. They work within communities at a grass-roots level to hear trans voices and ensure they are fully engaged with the services designed to support them.
Julie James: Yes, I sympathise with that very much. Welsh Government officials have continued to raise this issue in meetings with the UK Government, the BBC, Ofcom, UK Digital Radio, and we continue to do so. In addition, our position in relation to DAB has been included in the Welsh Government's responses to various broadcasting consultations, including our recent response to the consultation on...
Julie James: Well, the big issue always in Wales is the difficulty of where the population is, and this is a problem for all of these sorts of services, and it's why we have a constant argument with the UK Government about what the proportional coverage should be. And that's because, as I'm sure I've expressed in this Chamber very often, everybody in Wales is spread out into every nook and cranny of...
Julie James: The Welsh Government has consistently stressed to the UK Government that one of the fundamental criteria driving digital radio switchover should be that the coverage in Wales is no less than that in the rest of the UK. We would not be in favour of digital switchover for radio until there is a guarantee of at least 97 per cent coverage for digital audio broadcasting throughout Wales.
Julie James: Our national strategy sets out the actions we are taking to protect and support all victims and survivors of domestic violence. Our work includes the development of a national survivor engagement framework so that survivors’ voices help shape policy development and delivery.
Julie James: I announced a suite of measures in my oral statement of 30 January to further extend fast broadband coverage across Wales. The mobile action plan I published last October set out how we will work with others to improve mobile connectivity.
Julie James: Yes, the Minister's here listening to your very important point, and she's indicating that she's happy to make a statement updating us as to where we are with that important agenda.
Julie James: Yes, taking those in reverse order—both very important points—I believe that the Chair of the Standards of Conduct Committee is going to be making a statement next week in the Assembly that will take us forward, and then we can see what needs to be done as a result of her statement, which will take us all up to where we are in terms of that agenda. I'm very much looking forward to hearing...
Julie James: Well, I don't think we have any plans at all to make St David's Day a national public holiday, but the First Minister, when he returns from his St David's Day travels, I'm sure will be updating the Assembly on what he's managed to achieve over this St David's Day week.
Julie James: The Member makes an important point. Air quality is a very important matter throughout Wales. We've recently announced the clean air plan for Wales and that will include a clean air zone framework to ensure the consistent and effective implementation of clean air zones by local authorities, improvements to local authority reporting and the establishment of a national air quality assessment...
Julie James: Yes, I think a lot of us have a lot of sympathy with the UCU employees. I understand that the talks broke down on the casting vote of the chair. So, it was hardly a good discussion even at that point. I think we take the firm view that we need to get them back into the negotiating arrangements, to get the vice-chancellors to come to that table with an open mind and to get the very best deal...
Julie James: The Cabinet Secretary is indicating he's happy to write to you and keep you informed.
Julie James: David Rees makes two very important points, as always. I believe the NSA matter is still a matter for the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, and he's indicating his willingness to keep you informed as the matter progresses. In terms of steel, of course that's an issue that affects almost every community in Wales, and continues to do so. It's a very important point. I'm sure the Cabinet Secretary...
Julie James: Yes, the Member's quite right, I am answering a series of questions tomorrow—I believe he might be one of them—on this very point. And as soon as we have got full details of the Superfast 2 scheme, I will be announcing it. But just to reiterate my previous point, it will not be a one-size-fits-all, and we are looking to modify it across Wales to suit particular communities. If the Member...
Julie James: The Member's quite right—apprenticeships in Wales are a very important issue. But I have to point out at this point that one of the biggest issues is the minimum wage regulations that the UK Government impose on apprenticeships, which are very low indeed, and which are a matter of some concern. We are looking to see what we can do to support vocational forms of education through grant...
Julie James: Yes, that's a very serious and important point. We'd very much like to see the university employers and unions negotiating a settlement to this dispute if at all possible. The Welsh Government has made it clear that if needed we're prepared to facilitate that process in Wales, and whatever it takes. The Cabinet Secretary for Education is meeting union leaders and representatives of...
