Joyce Watson: I've got one final sentence. Homosexuality remains illegal in around 70 countries, and 11 of those still operate the death penalty. What discussions are you having with the UK Government to end that heinous crime?
Joyce Watson: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Thank you for your statement, Minister. Your own history of promoting equality speaks for itself. Wales's LGBTQ+ community has in you the most dependable ally in Government. Your recent decision to renew the equality and inclusion funding programme is a good example of your commitment to that. This Senedd, too, can be proud of its record and status as the No. 1...
Joyce Watson: We should recognise, of course, that Wales has led the way in the UK on tackling modern slavery. We were the first country in the UK to appoint an anti-trafficking lead when Carl Sargeant was Minister, and that role has been supported by groups like Bawso and the Welsh Refugee Council, which bring a victim-focused expertise. And now we also have Jeff Cuthbert spearheading the police and crime...
Joyce Watson: It is indeed a scary time for lots of people living in Wales. We see inflation out of control, and we see fuel price rises immediately on the way. Of course, in Wales, the Labour Government has the Warm Homes programme, steadily retrofitting fuel-inefficient housing stock. We put a £100 cash payment to low-income families—your Government has—at the same time, and in contrast with the...
Joyce Watson: 4. How is the Welsh Government responding to rising living costs in Wales? OQ57437
Joyce Watson: First Minister, what I would like to hear from you is a big 'thank you' to the teachers who have kept the schools open, very often in difficult circumstances because of reduced numbers, and also a request, ahead of the shops reopening under greater restrictions, for some respect for those retail workers, so that we don't go into 2022 with the same awful stories of retail workers being subject...
Joyce Watson: In June this year, the European Commission announced that they would phase out cage systems for a number of different farm animals, and that came about as a result of a European citizens initiative, End the Cage Age, which was supported by 1.4 million citizens, and 54,000 of them were from the UK. In Wales, many farmed animals are still confined to cages, including sows in farrowing crates,...
Joyce Watson: 8. Will the Minister provide an update on the implementation of the Welsh Government's pledge to restrict the use of cages for farmed animals? OQ57365
Joyce Watson: Yes, I do. Thank you.
Joyce Watson: In October this year, Mark Hankinson, who was the director of the Masters of Foxhounds Association, was convicted of encouraging illegal fox hunting. He was caught on camera advising hunts on how to break the 2004 Hunting Act. He exposed what many believe to be true of trail hunting, that it's used as a smokescreen for illegal hunting. Since his conviction, I was pleased to see that a number...
Joyce Watson: Thank you for that answer. Of course, the foundational economy challenge fund has helped numerous businesses in my region of Mid and West Wales since its launch. One of the areas it has helped is Cyfle, who provide excellent apprenticeships and opportunities in the construction industry, and Jenny Rathbone has already mentioned this morning that that industry is in need of shoring up in terms...
Joyce Watson: 8. How is the Welsh Government supporting the foundational economy in Wales? OQ57275
Joyce Watson: What action is the Welsh Government taking to improve early diagnosis of HIV?
Joyce Watson: I thank you for your statement, Minister. I speak to an awful lot of people and get an awful lot of e-mails, like everybody else here, and it is the case that people do support those restrictions that we currently have and those ones that we are operating. And I've also had messages where people now feel able to go out and enjoy their lives a little bit more because of those COVID passes,...
Joyce Watson: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. You say in your statement today that dialogue, not unilateral actions or ultimatums, is important, and of course that will be true in terms of not invoking article 16 to hide behind the mess that has somehow been created by a bad deal. I'm really concerned about the ports of Milford Haven, Fishguard and Pembroke Dock—all valued employers in my region. I notice on...
Joyce Watson: Thank you, First Minister. I know your Government continues to prioritise this issue, and in Jane Hutt we have a Minister for Social Justice who is a tireless champion for victims and survivors. But, unfortunately, the political determination to get on top of male violence against women and girls is too often undermined by the failures in the criminal justice system. The latest Office for...
Joyce Watson: 3. What is the Welsh Government doing to address violence against women and girls? OQ57258
Joyce Watson: I'm really pleased to hear that you have an ongoing commitment, because it wasn't mentioned in the original programme for government. So, that's really, really good news. When we're talking about the use of snares and glue traps, we're talking about cruel devices that actually kill indiscriminately. They trap birds and animals, they allow them to stay there suffering cruelly, having a very...
Joyce Watson: 5. Will the Minister provide an update on the use of snares and glue traps in Wales? OQ57207
Joyce Watson: Thank you, Minister, for your statement. Young people across Wales, it's been said many times today, indeed across the UK, have been one of the hardest hit groups as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and three fifths of jobs that were lost as a result of the pandemic were lost to those under 25. Therefore, obviously, like everybody else here today, I welcome the launch of the young person's...
