John Griffiths: I must say, in my experience, the public believe that, in the fifth or sixth biggest economy in the world, it's a terrible indictment of the UK that so many people are sleeping rough and at risk of homelessness. People see it as morally indefensible, and indeed it is. I don't think we can get away from the background of UK Government austerity over something like a 10-year period in terms of...
John Griffiths: I want to raise some issues that have already been touched upon by you, Minister, and, indeed, other contributors, and that's around private sector high-rise residential buildings. Just last week, the equality committee received correspondence from a leaseholder raising very significant concerns about basic quality and fire safety measures and the lack of them, and this followed a level 4...
John Griffiths: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I thank Members for their contributions. Mark Drakeford—sorry, Mark Isherwood—stressed—[Laughter.] It's very difficult to confuse the two, Dirprwy Lywydd—it must be an indication of tiredness, I think. Mark Isherwood stressed the social model of disability in considering these matters, and that's certainly something that came through loud and clear in the...
John Griffiths: Recommendation 8 is accepted in principle. We discussed with the Minister the need to involve those with lived experience in the assessment process. He was confident that when joint transport authorities are established, this would be a significant feature to advise on how service provision can be improved. We realise that provisions around the establishment of JTAs primarily relate to bus...
John Griffiths: Diolch, Llywydd. I'm very pleased to open today's debate on the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee report on the blue badge scheme in Wales. I'd like to start by thanking all of those who contributed to our inquiry, in particular those who participated in the numerous focus-group sessions we held across the country. I'd like to welcome the representatives from Knighton...
John Griffiths: Thank you very much, Minister. Welsh in Newport today is far more often heard now than when the Assembly came into existence. Welsh-medium education continues to grow, and pupils in all English-medium schools also learn Welsh. Signage and announcements are bilingual and there are opportunities for adults to learn and use the Welsh language, but the language is still relatively weak and only a...
John Griffiths: 5. What further steps will the Welsh Government take to develop the Welsh language in areas where there are fewer Welsh-speakers? OAQ54551
John Griffiths: What steps is the Welsh Government taking to support non-statutory services run by local authorities?
John Griffiths: I would like to welcome your statement today, Minister, and, indeed, the publication of the strategy. As you are aware, rough-sleeping, and, indeed, the wider issue of homelessness, is a key concern for the equalities committee, which I chair, and I know that next week we will have the opportunity to ask you some more questions and put forward some more viewpoints with regard to these...
John Griffiths: Will the Minister provide a statement on rail services in south-east Wales?
John Griffiths: May I congratulate Jayne as well for bringing this very important and progressive set of matters to the Assembly today? It's so important that children get the best start in life, isn't it? None of us know what life may throw at us, so developing that emotional resilience is so important for the whole of our life course. I'd like to, as have others, highlight a school in my constituency,...
John Griffiths: I'd like to support those Members who've mentioned education as a priority for Welsh Government expenditure, and I'd very much like to applaud the report by the Children, Young People and Education Committee on school funding. I know the Welsh Government has accepted all of the recommendations, but I think it does set out a very strong case for prioritisation for school funding to a greater...
John Griffiths: I will give way.
John Griffiths: I absolutely completely agree with that. As I said, what we're talking about I think is doing the right thing in terms of principle, but also doing the right thing in terms of the practical effect. And I'm not saying that giving prisoners the vote is going to greatly boost rehabilitation and reintegration, but I do believe it's an important signal, and I do believe that when we were taking...
John Griffiths: Diolch yn fawr. Well, it's been an interesting debate with mixed views. There were, of course, mixed views on the committee, reflected in the report, but the majority support the recommendations of the committee and the report itself. I do believe that there are a number of practical issues that have to be addressed, as has been outlined by Members, but those are addressed by the report and...
John Griffiths: Diolch yn fawr. I'm pleased to open today's debate on the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee's report on voting rights for prisoners. I would like to start by thanking all those who contributed to our inquiry, either by giving written or oral evidence; the members of the public who contributed to our online discussion forum, and the respectful manner in which differences of...
John Griffiths: Minister, for the eight most common types of cancer, survival is three times greater when diagnosis is early and it is detected at the earliest stages rather than the latest stages. Of course, patients and their families go through absolute agony from cancer being suspected to eventual diagnosis one way or the other. I very much welcome what you mentioned in your initial response, because...
John Griffiths: 1. Will the Minister make a statement on waiting times from NHS identification of suspected cancer to diagnosis? OAQ54385
John Griffiths: Diolch, Llywydd. I very much welcome your ambition and commitment to put Wales in a more powerful position, Minister, in terms of deciding the infrastructure and the services that we have here in Wales. As I only have one question, I will limit it then to the issue of the Magor walkway train station, which has, as you will know, a great deal of local community support, and I think is very...
John Griffiths: First Minister, the committee that I Chair—the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee—reported on rough-sleeping and made recommendations 18 months ago. We continue to scrutinise Welsh Government with regard to progress, and we, indeed, held an event last week and will be holding another one this week. I also met with the chair of the action group. Amongst our...
