Dawn Bowden: Trefnydd, can I ask for a statement—request a statement—from the Welsh Government updating the Assembly on Operation Jasmine, specifically the progress made regarding the recommendations of the Flynn report in 2015? As you may be aware, Operation Jasmine was a major Gwent Police investigation, which started in November 2005 and has been estimated to have cost around £15 million. It...
Dawn Bowden: Thank you, First Minister. The investment in the integrated care fund and the progress it has delivered, I believe, is a key part of the whole-system approach that Wales needs to meet the demands on hospital and care services. I've seen examples in my own constituency of the fund supporting a more seamless transition between health and care and breaking down some of the barriers that can be a...
Dawn Bowden: 5. Will the First Minister provide an update on the delivery of the integrated care fund? OAQ55058
Dawn Bowden: Thank you, First Minister, and can I welcome the range of actions that you set out there, which I know assist many of my constituents in Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney? Many of us on this side of the Chamber also remember the actions of the last UK Labour Government in establishing child trust funds, and, of course, the additional support for this provided by the Welsh Labour Government. Trust...
Dawn Bowden: 5. Will the First Minister provide an update on Welsh Government action to promote financial inclusion in Wales? OAQ55014
Dawn Bowden: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, and can I thank you, Minister, for your statement? Like others, I'd want to place again on record my sincere sympathy for those families affected by the failings of Cwm Taf maternity unit. Some of those families I continue to have contact with, and I see, from that contact and that continuing dialogue with them, first-hand the impact that that's had on...
Dawn Bowden: Will the First Minister provide an update on the delivery of the Welsh Government's apprenticeship programme?
Dawn Bowden: Thank you for that answer, Deputy Minister. During my pre-Christmas visit to Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr, I was pleased to meet a range of staff, including the Red Cross staff working in the emergency department on the well-being and home safe service. And I think the health Minister's written statement this morning recognised that we should all be aware of the contribution that...
Dawn Bowden: Thank you for that answer, Minister. We're all aware that the quantum of school funding will remain an issue until we not only reverse the impact of 10 years of Tory cuts to the Welsh budget but can also increase our budgets in real terms and for a sustained period. But in spite of those pressures, I'm proud that the Welsh Government has provided £100 million to deliver improved school...
Dawn Bowden: 7. Will the Minister provide an update on the review of school funding in Wales? OAQ54926
Dawn Bowden: 7. Will the Minister provide an update on the progress of the Choose Well campaign this winter? OAQ54927
Dawn Bowden: Thank you for that and answer, First Minister. In the case of Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney, can I place on record the huge importance that I attach to the jobs, the economic benefits and the profile that comes from General Dynamics Land Systems in the constituency? Indeed, I know such jobs are of great value across all of our Valleys constituencies, so would you confirm that the Welsh...
Dawn Bowden: 7. Will the First Minister make a statement on the importance of the defence manufacturing sector to the economy of the south Wales valleys? OAQ54929
Dawn Bowden: Will you take an intervention?
Dawn Bowden: Thank you for those comments, Alun. Not much there to disagree with, other than to say that obviously we haven't yet concluded our deliberations and so we haven't reached conclusions on a number of those issues that you raise. My final comment, really, is just to say that we are seeking evidence and submissions from political parties both inside and outside this place. We are also seeking...
Dawn Bowden: Thank you, Llywydd. I'll keep my response very brief. Janet, you're absolutely right, and I think I did touch on this earlier on in a response, about looking at—it was actually in response to Huw Irranca-Davies. One of the things the committee will be doing is looking at the way that we work, because even if we get agreement on recommending an increased Assembly, and the Assembly votes for...
Dawn Bowden: Thank you, Hefin, for those comments. I think there's probably much in that that the committee would agree with. Now, what I'm not going to do as the Chair of the committee, and neither are any of the members of the committee at this stage going to come down and say what we believe should or will happen around electoral reform, but electoral reform is part of the brief that the committee has....
Dawn Bowden: Yes, thank you, Huw, I'll take that in reverse order. The final point that you made about the implications on our performance, I think, from the limited evidence that we have taken so far, the evidence that we have taken was consistent and was very clear in terms of the implications for us. If we come to a point where we are unable to expand the size of this Assembly, then I think that it is...
Dawn Bowden: It's okay, I was waiting for the questions, and they were very supportive statements, so thank you both for that. Can I just deal, firstly, with the point that Delyth Jewell raised about the lack of a Conservative Member on the committee? I think I too and other members of the committee would very much welcome the Conservative Party reviewing their position on that. I have had conversations...
Dawn Bowden: Thank you, Llywydd.
