Jane Dodds: We all want to see every vote count, and make sure that people are more confident in their democracy. Thank you. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Jane Dodds: Thank you to Rhys ab Owen for moving this motion today. It'll surprise nobody that I will speak in favour of this motion today.
Jane Dodds: Surely, none of us want an electoral system that guarantees safe seats, guarantees huge majorities for less than 50 per cent of the vote, and a system that breeds political division and a lack of interest in voting. Surely, we all want to make sure that every vote counts. And we are all working hard to get people to stand, and to make sure they are involved in elections and vote. So, I do...
Jane Dodds: Diolch, Llywydd. This Friday, 18 February, is international Care Day, celebrating care-experienced children and young people. Too often, young people tell us that they are made to feel like they don't belong, so the theme of this year is 'Together we create community,' celebrating the strength of the care-experienced community and highlighting the importance of ensuring that every child and...
Jane Dodds: Good afternoon, Minister, and happy birthday. Thank you to Russell for raising this point. I'm very pleased to hear that these plans are moving forward, and I would like to thank Russell, who has worked so hard on this project—and some collaboration, I hope, across north Powys. Following on from your response to Russell, can I just ask what kind of process will be in place to continue to...
Jane Dodds: Thank you, Minister. Small and medium-sized enterprises, as you have said, account for 62.4 per cent of employment and 37.9 per cent of turnover, worth around £46 billion for the Welsh economy. Just last week I spoke to a restaurant owner in my region who is actively considering closing their doors because of not being able to recruit staff. Could I ask what the mechanism is for how the...
Jane Dodds: 7. Will the Minister make a statement on the support available to small businesses in Mid and West Wales? OQ57672
Jane Dodds: Thank you, First Minister. I'd like to raise the matter of the commitment of the Welsh Government to plant 86 million trees by the end of this decade as part of the plan to reach net zero by 2050. According to the Farmers Union of Wales, only 25 per cent of the plans to plant more than 50 hectares of woodland, which is equivalent to 93 football pitches—.
Jane Dodds: Farming unions are fully in support of the Government's climate and zero-carbon agenda, but there is concern, First Minister, that policies that drive tree planting, particularly where funding exceeds the level of support available for agricultural land, have the potential to impact on tenant farming categorised by short-term tenancies. Glastir has helped many, many farmers to diversify, as...
Jane Dodds: Good afternoon, First Minister.
Jane Dodds: Thank you, Llywydd. First of all, may I send the party's condolences, and all of our condolences, to Llinos and the family? It's a great shock to all of us—here and in the Liberal Democrat family. Aled was one of the kindest, friendliest and most hard-working people that I and others ever met. Aled made a major contribution to the political life of Wales, and to the communities that he...
Jane Dodds: 8. How will the Welsh Government ensure a fair and just transition to net-zero for rural communities? OQ57674
Jane Dodds: Thank you very much, Llywydd, and thank you to Mabon, and thank you for the opportunity to contribute to this debate.
Jane Dodds: Just another angle—I won't repeat what's been said and I have no claim to any sporting abilities either—I asked a young person in a little village called Llandinam, which has 911 people, in Montgomeryshire, what would help him and what did help him when he was growing up in terms of involvement in sports activities, and he said 'youth workers'. And so I'd just like to pitch here for more...
Jane Dodds: I wonder if I could just focus on three areas: transport, health and cladding, which I mentioned earlier in the Siambr. If I could start with transport, I welcome the outline detail provided in terms of funding to aid public transport and the decarbonisation agenda. I wonder if you're able to provide more information on how the budget allocation will enable socially beneficial routes to be...
Jane Dodds: Good afternoon, Minister. Thank you so much for the work you've done on the budget, and thank you for your engagement with me as well. Thank you.
Jane Dodds: I'd like to start by welcoming the proposals in the draft budget. I and the Liberal Democrats in Wales support them. Those are: investing in mental health services; an increase in the pupil development grant, an initiative introduced by the Liberal Democrats again; continuing with the discounted travel scheme for those under 21 years of age; planning to provide free school meals to every...
Jane Dodds: Good afternoon, Minister. Thank you so much for your statement. I recognise the anger and passion that you feel when you're addressing the complete lack of empathy and fairness that we hear from the party opposite in their role in making families poorer, and particularly when we face this massive, massive effect on their lives. I can afford to pay the fuel increase that is coming on, and I'm...
Jane Dodds: Diolch. At the end of January I hosted a public meeting here on the steps of the Senedd to listen to those affected and caught up in what is a tragedy and a scandal. I spoke to a pensioner, Eileen, who pays £511 a month in service charges alone. Her income—her monthly pension—is just £800 a month. Another attendee was sent a bill of thousands of pounds and given just 25 days to pay....
Jane Dodds: 5. What steps is the Welsh Government taking to support residents and landlords in buildings with potential fire safety defects in light of recent statements by the UK Government? OQ57606
