Vikki Howells: Minister, I know that you will be aware of the huge pressure placed on CAMHS, the child and adolescent mental health services. It's been this way for several years, before the additional pressures placed on our young people by the pandemic. Much of this is due to young people being referred into the system when their mental health needs are mild or moderate, which is the most sensible and...
Vikki Howells: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. November 2020 marks the centenary of the birth of Elaine Morgan. Elaine, born into a mining family, achieved the truly remarkable during a long, varied and glittering career. She won a scholarship to Oxford University, a phenomenal achievement for a miner's daughter in the 1930s. After graduation, Elaine worked for the WEA, and then married Morien, who had fought...
Vikki Howells: Thank you, First Minister. I recently met with ColegauCymru to discuss the importance of the shared prosperity fund to the future funding of skills and apprenticeships, with, as you know, European funding having been a key driver of the skills agenda. There's real concern within the sector that without the same replacement funding it will be increasingly difficult for colleges to support...
Vikki Howells: 5. What discussions has the Welsh Government had with UK Ministers regarding the future implementation of the proposed shared prosperity fund? OQ55821
Vikki Howells: Thank you, Minister. Yesterday, Andrew Goodall issued a stark warning that demand for critical care beds for people with coronavirus is expected to increase over the coming days and weeks. How are the Welsh Government preparing for this eventuality, and crucially, what could be the knock-on impact on other service areas within our hospitals in Wales?
Vikki Howells: 4. What assessment has the Minister made of the number of people with COVID-19 in hospitals in Wales? OQ55796
Vikki Howells: What are the Minister’s priorities for improving the provision of mental health services for children and young people in Wales?
Vikki Howells: What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the number of people with COVID-19 in hospitals in Wales?
Vikki Howells: I'm pleased to support this motion. I just want to say a few words paying tribute to the persistence of my colleague Jenny Rathbone in striving to ensure that we can debate this topic today. It's such an important issue. As has been said, endometriosis affects one in 10 women in Wales, and that means 160,000 women in Wales can expect to be affected by this cruel condition. Tissue will grow...
Vikki Howells: Thank you, Minister, and it was good to see the announcement of the additional funding to tackle homelessness that you made in August. I want to flag up one initiative today from Rhondda Cynon Taf, and that's the authority's creation of a social letting agency to manage private rental properties that would be subdivided into single person accommodation for people otherwise at risk of...
Vikki Howells: 1. Will the Minister provide an update on Welsh Government interventions to eliminate homelessness in Wales? OQ55676
Vikki Howells: There are many really positive findings in your panel's progress report that maternity services have weathered the worst of COVID-19 and a senior team at the university health board are maintaining their high level of commitment. And of course, I welcome those very much on behalf of my constituents. In terms of looking to the future and making sure that maternity services are of the highest...
Vikki Howells: Thank you, Deputy Minister, for your statement today. I welcome the work of the pavement parking taskforce and I recognise the impact that parking on pavements has on pedestrians, particularly those with mobility issues, pushchairs, and wheelchair users. But representing the Valleys, steeped with many beautiful but narrow terraced streets, I'm sure you won't be surprised to hear that I'm...
Vikki Howells: Will the First Minister provide an update on Welsh Government action to support people in Wales who are affected by Parkinson’s?
Vikki Howells: I accept the committee's report and its recommendations. It was never my intention to breach the guidance that is in place. I'm pleased that the Standards of Conduct Committee is currently reviewing a range of issues, including the guidance provided to Members. I hope that this will ensure that the rules are clear, reasonable and well understood in future, so that other Members do not...
Vikki Howells: Thank you, Minister, for your statement—[Inaudible.]—the Welsh Government's—[Inaudible.]—to commend you on the breadth and depth of—[Inaudible.] There are many questions I'd like to ask about it, but, because of the constraints of time, will stick to just three. Firstly, the third phase of the economic resilience fund—I note that the document states there will be moneys set aside...
Vikki Howells: Minister, thank you for your answers to the questions on this already. I think you'll agree with me that one of the major things that has been of assistance to people when they have been shielded is the priority delivery slots that supermarkets have offered to them. My understanding, from speaking to constituents, is that lots of those supermarkets are now bringing those priority slots to an...
Vikki Howells: Thank you, Deputy Minister, for your statement today. I'm particularly interested in the detail of the empty properties aspect. I'd like some more detail on that. I know that local authorities are able to apply for that, but could you give us a bit more information about any criteria associated with it? So, for example, is it just for retail or could it be for mixed use such as housing?...
Vikki Howells: Thank you, Minister, for your statement today and for all the actions that are being taken to try and safeguard the well-being of the residents of Rhondda Cynon Taf. As you can imagine, questions are coming in to me thick and fast already from residents of the Cynon Valley, so I welcome this opportunity to ask you some of those directly. Firstly, with regard to booked holidays, I know that...
Vikki Howells: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Minister, thank you for your statement today, which I've read with great interest. One key part of ensuring our hospitals are able to cope with demand through normal winters, let alone this coming one, is the ability to discharge in-patients in a safe and timely manner to avoid bedblocking. I know that RCT council and Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board have...
