Joyce Watson: Thank you for your annual update, Minister. As the chief veterinary officer notes in the foreword to the consultation document, the eradication programme was always a long road and the long-term trends remain positive. We've allowed the science to navigate and our key stakeholders—farmers, vets and representative bodies—to drive that forward. Successive Welsh Labour Governments have been...
Joyce Watson: I thank you for that answer, First Minister. Tomorrow marks World Prematurity Day, when we turn our thoughts and our focus to premature birth, which, sadly, sometimes has an overwhelming impact on families. I know that this is something your Government has paid special attention to through the First 1000 Days programme, and with consistent investment in perinatal mental health services, which...
Joyce Watson: 8. What is the Welsh Government doing to support neonatal parents? OQ57209
Joyce Watson: The spiking of drinks is not new. I had my own drink spiked in 1982. That was 39 years ago and it's a very frightening experience, and it's one that stays with you for life. In the case of my drink, I was in a friend's pub. I was a licensee myself. I'd stepped out of my front door and probably walked about 800 yards from my own home. I was living in a tiny village in Wales. I wasn't in a...
Joyce Watson: Thank you, Minister, for that answer, and I do welcome the Welsh Government's commitment to putting sustainability at the forefront of education policies and their commitment to closely involving pupils in designing their learning environment. I had the honour of seeing first hand how engaged pupils become when they are involved in projects that directly impact their learning environment,...
Joyce Watson: 2. How are the Minister's education policies contributing to the Welsh Government's net-zero target? OQ57157
Joyce Watson: That wasn't an intervention, that was an attempt to take over my time.
Joyce Watson: The point is this, okay? It seems to me that you have a problem—that you don't trust people to take a lateral flow test and give their own result. It seems to me that you can't trust people. Well, we are prepared to trust people here to do the right thing. But let's go back to where we are. In terms of fairness, they are fair because they give people more confidence to enjoy more freedoms....
Joyce Watson: No, I'll take this one over here. [Laughter.]
Joyce Watson: I've heard a lot about absence of evidence is not evidence in itself, but where there is evidence of absence, that is evidence in itself. So, if you have a lateral flow test, it is proof of absence of COVID. So, I just want to turn that on its head and maybe allow some on the benches that side to reflect on it. It is a fact, and it is evidenced, that those who are vaccinated are less likely...
Joyce Watson: I thank you for that answer, First Minister. Wales has traditionally provided disproportionate support to our armed forces, and that commitment and sacrifice needs to be honoured, especially this coming Remembrance Week. That is why your Government's increased funding for Veterans' NHS Wales, providing mental health support to ex-service personnel, and for the position of armed forces liaison...
Joyce Watson: 7. What is the Welsh Government doing to support serving and ex-service personnel? OQ57159
Joyce Watson: Thank you, everyone, and that brings today's proceedings to a close.
Joyce Watson: I now call on the Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Well-being to reply to the debate. Lynne Neagle.
Joyce Watson: I now call Jack Sargeant.
Joyce Watson: I now call Peredur Owen Griffiths.
Joyce Watson: I call on Mabon ap Gwynfor.
Joyce Watson: I now call on Samuel Kurtz to reply to the debate.
Joyce Watson: Well done for your timing. [Laughter.] I call on the Deputy Minister for Climate Change, Lee Waters.
Joyce Watson: I now call on Luke Fletcher.
