Vikki Howells: Thank you, First Minister. One of the standout findings from the report for me was the link between the former coalfield communities and deprivation, with 42 per cent of communities being amongst the 30 per cent most deprived in Britain, and the figure is even more pronounced for the south Wales coalfields area, where it stands at 52 per cent. How is the Welsh Government ensuring that...
Vikki Howells: 8. Will the First Minister outline the Welsh Government’s response to the findings contained within the State of the Coalfields 2019 report? OAQ54734
Vikki Howells: Thank you, Deputy Minister, for that very detailed answer. Just last month, there was a very welcome announcement that, along with your ministerial colleagues, you jointly agreed to fund Sustrans to lead a partnership bid for assembling external funding for the reopening and running of both the Abernant and Rhondda tunnels. As I have said previously, I believe that reopening those tunnels...
Vikki Howells: Thank you for that answer, Minister. I was particularly pleased to see within that the investment of £7 million to support and protect our environment. Building it into our capital spend is an important part of tackling the climate emergency that the Welsh Government has so rightly declared. Can you provide any further details for us today on how you'll work with colleagues across Government...
Vikki Howells: 9. Will the Minister outline the Welsh Government's priorities when allocating funding as part of the Second Capital Investment Package? OAQ54702
Vikki Howells: 5. What actions is the Welsh Government taking to increase the numbers of tourists visiting the south Wales valleys? OAQ54701
Vikki Howells: Thank you, Minister, for that very encouraging reply. Since Animal Aid released their disturbing footage of cruelty at the Farmers Fresh slaughterhouse in September, another investigation by Animal Equality released last week has revealed similarly appalling evidence of horrendous suffering being inflicted on animals in the same slaughterhouse. Covert cameras have shown animals being thrown,...
Vikki Howells: 9. Will the Minister provide an update on the Welsh Government's consideration of the introduction of mandatory CCTV for slaughterhouses in Wales? OAQ54663
Vikki Howells: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. This is a 90-second statement about an ordinary teddy bear—an ordinary teddy bear thrown away, brought to life by a spotty man and given special powers by mother nature. Yes, this is a 90-second statement about SuperTed. SuperTed, the very first commission from S4C, first appeared on Welsh tv on 1 November 1982, so this month marks his thirty-seventh anniversary. An...
Vikki Howells: Thank you, Counsel General. As you will know, Welsh learners have really benefited from Erasmus+, with over €40 billion being brought into Wales between 2014 and 2018 to support over 7,000 participants in 245 projects. I know the EU Commission has suggested that, for the cycle starting in 2021, the scheme will become global in scope, but, as with so much else, the uncertainty caused by...
Vikki Howells: 5. What discussions has the Counsel General had with the Minister for Education about the continuing participation of students from Wales in the Erasmus+ programme following Brexit? OAQ54639
Vikki Howells: Thank you, First Minister. I was more than a little concerned to read briefings from the last Queen's Speech that suggested that the shared prosperity fund, which will replace EU structural funding, will be approached within the context of English devolution. Hopefully, an election will bring about a change of approach in Westminster, but, in light of the importance of any successor scheme to...
Vikki Howells: 6. What discussions has the Welsh Government had regarding the operation of the proposed shared prosperity fund? OAQ54640
Vikki Howells: Thank you, Minister. I was pleased to read your written statement from 30 September on digital health and care and showing that progress is being made, and it's certainly something that I see as making a real difference on the front line in visits that I have carried out to various projects within my constituency. I've previously raised issues around how digital health and care can support my...
Vikki Howells: 4. Will the Minister outline how the Welsh Government is supporting digital innovation within health and care services? OAQ54576
Vikki Howells: What action is the Welsh Government taking to support mental wellbeing within the education sector?
Vikki Howells: Will the First Minister provide an update on discussions between the Welsh and UK Governments regarding the creation of a Shared Prosperity Fund?
Vikki Howells: I’d like to start by thanking the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee for producing what is a really excellent report. I’m not a member of that committee, but the issues it covers are of great concern to many of my constituents. And I’d go further to say that for a substantial period of time since I've been elected, helping constituents who've been denied a blue badge...
Vikki Howells: Minister, thank you for your update today. My question is around the issue of cultural change. We all know that cultural change is something that's very, very difficult to implement, but it's so important and underpins all the work that needs to be done to put Cwm Taf maternity services on a safe and sustainable footing. The oversight panel began their work in May of this year, and I know...
Vikki Howells: Thank you, Deputy Minister, for that update. I truly welcome the CFAP funding in Cynon Valley. It has helped some really amazing projects to get off the ground. But having said that, from my experience of dealing with community groups that are going through the application process, the timelines given to them are often unclear, the dates by which they expect officials to reply to them, or for...
