Caroline Jones: 7. Will the Minister outline the steps the Welsh Government is taking to reduce council tax bills in South Wales West? OAQ54115
Caroline Jones: Counsel General, as a WASPI woman myself, I can tell you that I was never informed of the changes to my pension, and I only found out from an off-hand comment by a friend. My case is far from unique, and hundreds of Welsh women are in the same boat. I was also at the Port Talbot meeting, along with yourself and David Rees. That meeting was testament to how many people were there. We received...
Caroline Jones: Will the First Minister outline the steps the Welsh Government is taking to improve vaccination rates in Wales?
Caroline Jones: I have three minutes, Darren; I'm sorry. So, whilst many of you may disagree with our position, which you do, you must accept that the people of Wales voted in one of the biggest democratic processes in our nation's history. They voted decisively to leave behind them the bureaucracy and protectionism in favour of a future free from being in the EU. [Interruption.] I will be. So, to those...
Caroline Jones: Diolch, Llywydd. I'd like to thank everybody who took part in this debate. Regardless of the difference of opinions, every contribution in this debate has been valuable and respected. In opening, Mark Reckless highlighted the Conservatives' 'delete all' motion. I would just like to say that the confusion and disarray of the Conservative UK Government has now been transferred to Wales. Helen...
Caroline Jones: The provision of health services through the medium of Welsh is essential. For some patients it is not a matter of language choice—it is their only option. This is why my group and I support the intention behind these regulations. As the Welsh Language Commissioner rightly points out, these regulations are an important first step towards greater provision of health and social care services...
Caroline Jones: Minister, we all agree that we must do everything we can to ensure older people remain in their homes for as long a possible. Home adaptations are essential in ensuring this. What is your Government doing to reduce the inordinately long waits for such adaptations?
Caroline Jones: Minister, I'd like to echo David's comments. My region is home to many natural wonders, including the Crymlyn bog national nature reserve. As the species champion for the fen raft spider, which has its home at Crymlyn bog, can I ask what discussions you've had with the Minister for international relations about how our biodiversity can play a part in our international tourism offer? I am sure...
Caroline Jones: What assessment has the Minister made of the impact that cuts to local authority budgets are having upon services in South Wales West?
Caroline Jones: Thank you for your statement, Minister, and I also thank you for providing us with an advance copy of the working group's recommendations. While it's clear that much work has been done on setting the agenda for reform, there has been, actually, very little reform. Minister, do you accept that the current model for local government is unsustainable, and considering the state of public...
Caroline Jones: Thank you for your statement, Minister, as well as your written statement accompanying the Bill released yesterday. I must admit, 24 hours was not a long time to absorb the explanatory memorandum, but I have sufficient detail to get the gist of the debate. Minister, as I've said to you in the past, I accept that everything wasn't rosy with the community health councils, however, I feel there...
Caroline Jones: Each year, more people fall victim to scams and the scammers become increasingly sophisticated in order to con more people. According to the crime survey for England and Wales, fraud and computer misuse crimes were the most common crime experienced by individuals last year. Action Fraud, the police body set up to co-ordinate information on cyber crime and fraud, saw a 28 per cent increase in...
Caroline Jones: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I am pleased to move this short debate today and have agreed to allow Michelle Brown speaking time in this debate. We are facing an epidemic in Wales. The Welsh public are being targeted by ploys to swindle them out of their hard-earned money, ploys that are becoming more and more sophisticated and increasingly targeting our elderly and the most vulnerable in our...
Caroline Jones: I had the privilege of being a member of the committee whilst the inquiry into physical activity of children and young people was conducted. I would like to thank the Chair, fellow members of the committee, the clerks and all those who gave evidence over the course of the inquiry. As a former PE teacher myself, this subject and the importance of it is very close to my heart—totally...
Caroline Jones: Formally move.
Caroline Jones: Thank you for your statement, Deputy Minister. I'm sure all of us share the Government's wish to create a fairer and more equal Wales. It's been 70 years since the United Nations' universal declaration of human rights was adopted, and we have come a long way in the past seven decades. Deputy Minister, I welcome the fact that your Government is looking at incorporating some UN conventions into...
Caroline Jones: Thank you, First Minister. As has already been said, Ford's decision to close the Bridgend plant is a massive blow for my region, which has seen unprecedented job losses over the last few decades. With continuing uncertainty about Tata's Port Talbot steelworks, it is clear that we need a different strategy. Previous economic development plans have failed to improve the region, despite...
Caroline Jones: Minister, while I thank you for your earlier written statement, I was surprised that there was not an oral statement on Ford's decision to close the engine plant at Bridgend. Not only is this devastating news for the workforce and Bridgend, it is also a devastating blow for South Wales West. While I hope that Ford will see the error of their ways, I'm not sure they will, given the global...
Caroline Jones: 7. Will the First Minister outline the Welsh Government's strategy for increasing employment in South Wales West? OAQ54028
Caroline Jones: I thank the Welsh Conservatives for tabling this debate today. The state of the NHS in north Wales does leave a lot to be desired, and Welsh Labour must accept blame here, because the reforms over the last 20 years have directly led to the situation in Betsi Cadwaladr. As my colleague Mandy Jones pointed out yesterday, this health board has been in special measures for nearly half of its...
