Julie James: Thank you. That’s quite a range of questions and I’ll do my best to answer them. In terms of ICT and broadband, for example, one of the things that the Member will know is that we’re looking at what we’re going to do for the end of the current project and for the remaining few per cent of the Welsh population and premises not covered. And this is certainly one of the things that we...
Julie James: Thank you for that, Adam Price. I agree with you that it’s a really exciting initiative, and we have had quite a lot of interest, as I said, from elsewhere to see how we’re doing it here in Wales. And I also agree that we do need to develop some metrics as we go forward. A lot of this, however, has been specific responses to specific grand challenges or problems, and developing the...
Julie James: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I welcome this opportunity to update Members on Wales’s progress in developing our small business research initiative, more commonly known as SBRI. In 2013, our ‘Innovation Wales’ strategy, amongst other things, urged a more imaginative approach to innovation in public service delivery and Government procurement. In the same year, in partnership with...
Julie James: If the Member would let me get to the end of my speech, he might find out. We have already led the way across the UK by introducing procurement policy that supports the Welsh public sector to address unacceptable employment practices such as blacklisting and the use of umbrella agencies, as I just said. Working with partners across the Welsh public sector, we are finalising a code of practice...
Julie James: Diolch, Lywydd. Can I thank Members for their contributions today? As most speakers have noted eloquently, zero-hours contracts can place enormous pressure on individuals and their families. For those who earn a living on a zero-hours basis, the uncertainty, instability and insecurity under which they work can weigh very heavily on their lives. I believe very firmly that organisations that...
Julie James: Formally.
Julie James: Yes, I’m very happy to approach the FM to do that. I’m happy to write again myself as well to make those points again. I do think they’re very important points. As Members will know in this Chamber, we are developing our employability plan. Many of the functions of an employability plan coincide with the functions of the DWP, and we have been talking to them about co-location of...
Julie James: The Member makes two very good points. I’m more than happy to write again on the equality point. I would just like to reiterate that it isn’t devolved to us, obviously; we have sought to make sure that the DWP is aware that we’re happy to work with them on co-location—correct co-location—with many of the Welsh Government services as well as other non-devolved services. I’m happy...
Julie James: I have written to the UK Government expressing concern at the lack of prior consultation from the UK Government regarding the Department for Work and Pensions’s estate rationalisation, and confirming our commitment to work with the UK Government to seek alternative offices.
Julie James: Well, the Department for Work and Pensions, of course, is stating constantly that there should be no job losses for staff resulting from the future review of the estate, and they are currently recruiting more work coaches. There is a consultation process ongoing at the offices and we know that that consultation also looks at options for relocation. However, we are very concerned at what the...
Julie James: I lead on research and innovation matters. I have not held discussions with universities about creating an equivalent to a UK Research and Innovation body. However, the Hazelkorn report recommended a review of Government funded research and innovation strategy and policy. Professor Graeme Reid has been asked to undertake a review of investments by the Welsh Government and related agencies in...
Julie James: I thank the Member for that. I’m very happy to write to both the Secretary of State for Wales and the Minister responsible for this on the grounds that the Member has outlined. There is the possibility that the Member would like to put his own views into the consultation. There is a consultation website at www.gov.uk/dwp/consultations. I’ve tried it myself and it’s very easy to find. I...
Julie James: I thank the Member for that series of questions. I can confirm that we have been in conversation with the DWP about wider employability, and about the possibility of the co-location of some offices, although not specifically about the office in Llanelli that he mentions. I, too, share his concern that this has been taken on narrow estate grounds only. My understanding is that a PFI contract...
Julie James: Matters within the remit of the Department for Work and Pensions are not devolved to the Welsh Government. While the question is important, it is up to the DWP how it manages its estate in Wales. The Welsh Government has no responsibility over this. I understand that the department has indicated that all staff affected will be offered alternative roles subject to the standard DWP processes...
Julie James: I’d be delighted to do that. As I said—and I’ve said it several times now, but I’m happy to say it again—this morning, at a business breakfast event for transport and business stakeholders, the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure made a speech detailing progress on plans for infrastructure investment that have been brought properly in front of this Assembly and which...
Julie James: The work detailed for the A55 in north Wales is to improve both safety and congestion. The Cabinet Secretary’s speech this morning did not include details of the sort that are now being asked for, but I’m sure he’d be happy to write to you on the subject. On the subject of it being in a Government-owned building, I feel obliged, Presiding Officer, to say that the first thing I did as a...
Julie James: The Cabinet Secretary is away on urgent business in London, protecting jobs and services in Wales. He could not possibly have anticipated the need to be here to answer an urgent question on what was an end-of-term speech in Cardiff Airport. However, I’m quite happy to read, once again, the series of projects that he reviewed during his speech. The investment includes major improvements to...
Julie James: [Continues.]—all of the good work that the Government has put in place to ensure that we have a sustainable and economically beneficial transport and infrastructure system for Wales, as he was right to do.
Julie James: Well, Presiding Officer, anybody would think it was towards the end of term. [Interruption.] And, indeed, because it was—[Interruption.] And, because it is towards the end of term, the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure this morning made a speech to an audience of business and transport stakeholders in Wales in which he detailed a number of announcements that have been made in...
Julie James: This morning, at a business breakfast event at Cardiff Airport, the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure made a speech detailing progress with plans for infrastructure investment over the next five years. This investment, which includes major improvements to the M4, A55, A40 and A494, the delivery of a south Wales metro, the development of a north Wales metro, a new rail...
