Jane Dodds: Good afternoon, Counsel General, and thank you to Jack Sargeant for raising this issue and also for continuing to fly the flag for universal basic income, which I wholeheartedly support. Wales has a real opportunity here with the universal basic income to really transform lives. Not only can a universal basic income tackle the persistent and growing issue of poverty, but we can see from...
Jane Dodds: Good afternoon, Minister, and thank you very much to Vikki, as well, for this question. As we've said, Wales has long provided a warm welcome to people from across the world who are seeking sanctuary, recognising that welcoming people into our communities strengthens our cultural and social fabric. I'm sure you will agree with me, Minister, that the actions of Priti Patel and the...
Jane Dodds: Good afternoon, First Minister. I just really want to add as well my thanks to Joyce Watson, particularly for the candlelit vigil last night to mark White Ribbon Day. Thank you very much, Joyce, for organising that. It was an incredibly moving experience, and I'm sure those of us who were there felt it was something that was very important to us all. Thank you. Diolch yn fawr iawn. First...
Jane Dodds: We have heard much this afternoon the phrase, 'We are not safe until we are all safe'. That is true here in Wales and the UK globally. I think that we are all in agreement that we should do what we can do to ensure the equitable distribution of vaccinations across the globe. There are just two elements that I want to touch on. The first is that COVID-19 has consumed so many different aspects...
Jane Dodds: Good afternoon, Minister. May I thank Sam Rowlands for bringing this question forward. Farmers, as we know, have a significant contribution to make to Wales's efforts to tackle the climate and nature crisis, and many have already, in this Siambr, indicated the solutions farmers can bring in achieving net zero. I know as well that the sector is keen to work with Government to shape future...
Jane Dodds: Thank you for your statement, Minister. As we all know, the last two years have been incredibly difficult for young people, as opportunities have been scaled back or even lost altogether. Added to that, our economy has been on rocky ground for much of the last decade, with younger people often bearing the brunt, so I do welcome this initiative as an opportunity to bring the needs of young...
Jane Dodds: Will the First Minister provide an update on the Welsh Government's roads review announced in June 2021?
Jane Dodds: Will the Welsh Government put the new 2021 World Health Organisation limits on air pollution into law?
Jane Dodds: Thank you, Darren. I'm going to come on to your evidence—which I think is very selective—from the Electoral Commission, and I will continue on. When I'm door knocking, my aim is to engage people in the democratic process as much as possible. So, trying to persuade people to vote, who perhaps would not normally, when there is an additional requirement, is going to be so much harder. I...
Jane Dodds: The health of our democracy is indicative of the health of our society more generally. The two are inseparable, and that's why I too am totally opposed to the Conservative Government's approach in Westminster to introducing voter ID for reserved elections. It is a shameful and underhand approach to undermine democracy. The Conservatives' gleeful disenfranchisement of a significant section of...
Jane Dodds: Good evening, Minister. Firstly, I'd like to make clear my concerns at the high COVID rates here in Wales, and I totally agree that COVID has not gone away. We have all been willing to accept during the course of the pandemic what would in normal times be unpalatable, restrictive and illiberal measures, such as lockdown, mandatory face masks and so on, but these are measures that have been...
Jane Dodds: Good afternoon, Minister. Following on from my esteemed colleagues in Mid and West Wales, I wanted to focus in on relating young people to green jobs. I think we're all concerned about the employment opportunities currently on offer to young people in Mid and West Wales. So, in Canada, for instance, the Government supports science and technology internships in the green industries to support...
Jane Dodds: I want to ask the Minister about micro hydro projects. We have lost the funding to these in Wales and I wondered if you might consider restarting the hydropower grant scheme so that we can ensure that Wales meets its commitments to reach net zero. Thank you. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Jane Dodds: Thank you, Minister. Thank you very much for all of the work that you've done. I'd like to pay tribute to you and the Welsh Government in your work and in publishing your second carbon budget in the weeks running up to the COP summit in Glasgow. I want to also say that I will both be an ally to you when you're pushing forward with this ambitious green agenda, but also holding you to account...
Jane Dodds: Diolch, Llywydd. The connection here is absolutely clear, because I wanted to ask about the Welsh Youth Parliament, which, as we know, was formed in 2018 and I'm sure we've all loved watching its development as a platform for young people to have their voices heard. And, yes, I would like to add to your encouragement to ensure that Members of the Senedd do try to encourage young people to...
Jane Dodds: Thank you so much, Counsel General, I'm very pleased to hear that because I, like you, am incredibly concerned at the Conservative Government's proposals in Westminster to pursue voter identification for reserved elections. Whilst I'm not going to rehearse the arguments for and against today, I remain totally opposed to these discriminatory measures. What I am concerned about, though, is that...
Jane Dodds: 8. What are the Welsh Government's plans in relation to the use of voter identification in Wales? OQ57067
Jane Dodds: 3. What work is the Commission undertaking to engage with 16 and 17-year-olds about the work of the Senedd, given their recent enfranchisement? OQ57068
Jane Dodds: I'd like to thank the Minister firstly, for bringing forward this incredibly important debate. And I'm pleased to be a co-signatory of the motion welcoming the introduction of the race equality action plan so that we can create an anti-racist Wales. Whilst at times in the media it may seem that we are more divided than ever, it is heartening to hear so many contributions across the Chamber...
Jane Dodds: Diolch, First Minister. I'd like to thank you for your answer and to further state, certainly, my support and my party's support for the Welsh Government's plans for a universal basic income. Whilst I would prefer, of course, for the scope of the pilot to be widened beyond care leavers, as I've been calling on the Welsh Government to do, I'm still very keen to support the Government so that...
