Julie James: Certainly.
Julie James: Diolch, Llywydd. I'd like to thank Assembly Members for participating today. One Member in particular has, perhaps inadvertently, strongly demonstrated why it is important that the Equality and Human Rights Commission continues to have a strong and distinct presence in Wales to combat the sort of prejudice and discrimination that, unfortunately, we've heard in the Chamber. I must say I have...
Julie James: Diolch, Llywydd. I very much welcome the opportunity today to debate the 'Equality and Human Rights Commission Wales Committee Annual Review 2016-2017'. I very much welcome the EHRC's annual review and reaffirm the Welsh Government's commitment to work with the commission to address the vital issues it highlights. We've already aligned the key objectives of our strategic equality plan for...
Julie James: I share the Member's concern about the steelworkers' pensions, and I was actually very alarmed at some of the stories. I've no idea of the—. I haven't had any chance to corroborate some of the stories, but I also have constituents affected. I'd be very happy to broker a meeting between you, the Cabinet Secretary, and any other Members with a constituency interest in this, to take the...
Julie James: In terms of your first request for a statement, I know the Cabinet Secretary himself experienced some considerable difficulty getting down from north Wales, as did a large number of other Members in the Chamber, and he's indicated his willingness to bring forward a statement about what can be done in the terms the Member outlined—what couldn't have been avoided, what might be avoided in...
Julie James: Well, the consultation is a matter for NRW. I'm sure that flood prevention is very important in every area of Wales. It causes real catastrophic damage, and as we approach winter we need to be really prepared for winter preparedness. It's actually really important to take it very seriously indeed. If the Member has specific problems with the consultation, I suggest he writes to the...
Julie James: Absolutely, I'm very much looking forward to celebrating the seventy-fifth anniversary of the NHS at events in Tredegar, of course—the home of the NHS for the whole of the United Kingdom—and indeed celebrations right across Wales. The year 2018 provides us with an excellent opportunity to celebrate the people's decision to make a national health service for all of the people, and...
Julie James: The environment Minister, who I think is responsible, is new in post and I'm sure she'll be bringing that statement forward as soon as she's able to in her portfolio. I'll certainly remind her of that.
Julie James: Yes, in terms of the Wales for Africa thing, I very much welcome Patrick. Patrick is the fourth Ugandan student to benefit from a two-year scholarship at Atlantic College under this great scheme, funded by the volunteers at Vale for Africa. Indeed, we were both at a reception for Atlantic College quite recently in the Senedd, and it was great to meet some of the parents and students and some...
Julie James: I don't share the Member's definition of any town in Wales as a cinderella town. I'm sure all the towns in Wales are equally important, both to Wales as a whole, all of its communities and to the people who live therein. I don't see any reason why we should allow the Member to continue with such a description.
Julie James: I know that the health Secretary has been working very hard with the dementia community to put together the new dementia strategy for Wales, and indeed this came up in a business statement only a couple of weeks ago, when he confirmed that the strategy would be published in the new year. I'm sure he'll take into account the matters that you've raised in regard to this important service when...
Julie James: Diolch, Llywydd. After this business statement, the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport will make a statement on the economic action plan. Otherwise, business for the first three weeks of the new term is shown on the business statement and announcement found amongst the meeting papers, which are available to Members electronically.
Julie James: Thanks for those very important remarks. Actually, it's very important, of course, that people understand how they can best help themselves in these matters. The health Secretary was here listening to you, and I know he takes these issues very seriously. I'm sure he'll update the Senedd in due course.
Julie James: I completely agree. I absolutely and completely agree. But at a time when democratic ideals are being tested all over the world, we do think that the people of Catalonia should have their rights and wishes respected, and that, whatever the result of that, we can continue to hold up Europe as a home to democratic ideals and values for others to follow. Llywydd, in this debate the Government of...
Julie James: Certainly.
Julie James: I certainly think the way they went about it was wrong, absolutely. It's part of an ongoing conversation in Spain as it is, and, indeed, as Rhun ap Iorwerth pointed out, an ongoing conversation in the UK. It's a conversation that they're not having in any way that I would certainly recognise as a democratic process.
Julie James: Well, that's a very fair point, and it's part of an ongoing political discussion here in the United Kingdom about how such things should be dealt with. Actually, one of the points that David Melding made very ably was about the specific position of the UK state in this issue, which is an important point, and one not to be forgotten. However, I think there's much to suggest that there's much...
Julie James: Certainly.
Julie James: Diolch, Llywydd. Can I begin by thanking Members for bringing this very important debate forward today, and for sharing their contributions, and also for giving me this opportunity to contribute on behalf of the Welsh Government? It's really clear, from today's debate and the passionate and principled contributions of Members this afternoon, the depth and strength of feeling that exists in...
Julie James: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. The Welsh Government is strongly in favour of increasing citizen participation in policy making in Wales, and we certainly share the aspiration as set out by David Melding in his really quite exciting proposal to close the gap between politicians and the public, both to engage the people of Wales in decisions that affect them and to keep us rooted in the communities...
