Joyce Watson: I want to put on record the thanks that we all owe to the social care sector, who have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic. They've given their all in terms of commitment and, very often, sacrifice to see people through a time in their life where they need that care and support, and I'm sure there's nobody here that would disagree with that statement. Minister, the 'Rebalancing care and...
Joyce Watson: Well, the shortage of lorry drivers is a direct result of poor planning by the UK Tory Brexit Government. A major Welsh haulier firm based in my region has lost 50 drivers who were EU citizens as they did not meet the UK's new criteria for skilled worker visas. While we know more than ever lorry drivers are key workers, stocking our supermarkets, delivering our packages and keeping the...
Joyce Watson: 1. What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the skills shortage in the haulage industry? OQ56736
Joyce Watson: I want to thank you for your statement. It's really important that we all work together to uphold equality, and you may know that the Senedd Commission has always been proud to be an exemplar organisation when it comes to LGBTQ+ inclusion. We've worked, and continue to work, with the LGBTQ+ network, Stonewall Cymru and other partners to become a more inclusive employer, developing a culture...
Joyce Watson: Diolch. I know Cosheston school well; I went there. But I do have a longer memory than the Member for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire. As a Pembrokeshire councillor from 1995, I saw the transformational impact of unprecedented investment in our schools by the successive Welsh Governments. And today, despite more than a decade of Tory cuts to Welsh budgets, I think I'm right in saying...
Joyce Watson: Five years ago, by a narrow margin, a majority of the people who cast a ballot in Wales and the UK as a whole voted to leave the European Union, and we've left. That's right, and that's the democratic outcome. But democracy is nuanced, it's not a sledgehammer. As well as a majority decision, it's about pluralism, tolerance and finding common ground, which is one of the reasons many of us...
Joyce Watson: I share the concern of everybody here when farms have an outbreak of TB. We know that it's cruel, that it's traumatic, and it's a disease that we want to eradicate. I've only ever disagreed with Senedd Members about culling badgers; many badgers have been culled over many decades, and yet TB still remains. We have, however, Minister, made good progress and there's been a 44 per cent reduction...
Joyce Watson: —lack of diversity in Wales's larger sports governing bodies. Okay. The figures revealed that, of 765 employees, only 19 were from those communities. Do you agree with me, Minister, that, for things to change, we have to change them on the board, and we have to lead from the top?
Joyce Watson: I want to thank the Welsh Government and all the stakeholders, of course, involved in all the work that they've done in developing this draft race equality action plan. It's certainly bold, it's ambitious, and it's what we need to help eradicate racism here in Wales. As you said earlier, Minister, it covers all areas, and we can't cover all areas here today, so I'm going to focus very much on...
Joyce Watson: Trefnydd, I'd like to ask for a statement on the significant fall in rape convictions in Wales. Compared to 2016-17, convictions for rape in 2020 were down by almost two thirds, bearing in mind that they were only successful by 5 per cent in the first place. That is with less than one in 60 rape cases recorded by police resulting in a suspect being charged. Now, I recognise this is a...
Joyce Watson: Paul Davies will know that businesses in Wales have received £400 million more in coronavirus support than they would have done had those same businesses been in England. That is what the Welsh Government has done to support the economy, both in Preseli Pembrokeshire and right across Wales. But, looking ahead, First Minister—I know that you talked about this in some detail last week—will...
Joyce Watson: I think it's fair to say that most of us are familiar with the forest restoration and the emphasis on planting more trees, and I support that. There are many more maybe less known nature-based solutions like the restoration of peat land and seagrass habitats. Both of those have been severely degraded in recent years, but are equally important for reducing carbon emissions and increasing...
Joyce Watson: Diolch, Llywydd. I've been reading the 'Renew and reform' proposals this morning, Minister, and I've also spoken with teachers, and I would say that your decision to retain the 1,800 full-time tutoring staff that have been recruited will make all the difference this year to pupils and teachers. The previous Welsh Government was, of course, recognised internationally and by the Education...
Joyce Watson: I thank the Welsh Conservatives for tabling this motion. It affords an early opportunity for this Senedd to debate a critical topic, namely the health and future of our country's waterways. The motion asks us to note the adverse impact of a Government policy on Welsh agriculture. I do think somehow that that's pretty rich coming from a party that would sell Welsh farmers down the river for a...
Joyce Watson: Thank you for that answer. We have now vaccinated a greater share of our population than any other country with more than 1 million people, and that extraordinary success means that Wales might be able to start vaccinating children, pending the evidence and advice that you have just mentioned. But leading the world means that we can't follow by example, and extending the vaccine to children...
Joyce Watson: 6. Will the Minister provide an update on proposals to give the COVID-19 vaccine to children? OQ56562
Joyce Watson: Will the Minister make a statement on support for the tourism industry in Mid and West Wales?
Joyce Watson: We know that the underpayment of the state pension to an estimated 200,000 married women has spanned more than 20 years, and it has particularly impacted women who had a poor state pension in their own right. They were entitled to claim 60 per cent state pension based on their husband’s pension contributions. What is particularly scandalous about this error is that many of those women may...
Joyce Watson: 3. What discussions has the First Minister had with the UK Government regarding the underpayment of pensions to women by the Department for Work and Pensions? OQ56575
Joyce Watson: I'd like to nominate David Rees.
