Caroline Jones: 1. Will the Minister outline the steps the Welsh Government is taking to encourage more local businesses in South Wales West to exploit the power of artificial intelligence? OAQ53610
Caroline Jones: Thank you for taking it. Do you agree that Chairs are allocated—not two Chairs to one person? What you had was David Rowlands a Commissioner and also head of the Petitions Committee. Michelle Brown was totally left out. So, I think there would have been more sympathy with the UKIP group had Michelle Brown been allocated a Chair.
Caroline Jones: Would you take an intervention?
Caroline Jones: Thank you for your statement, Minister. The RSPB's state of nature report highlighted the fact that erosion results in the loss of 2 million tonnes of topsoil each year in the UK. The loss of topsoil goes beyond the impact this has on the availability of fertile land for agriculture. The degraded land impacts the soil's ability to hold onto water, which can lead to increased flood risk. So,...
Caroline Jones: Will the First Minister outline the Welsh Government's plans to improve social care provision?
Caroline Jones: I would like to thank the Petitions Committee for bringing forward this debate and give particular thanks to the petitioner, Stuart Davies, for bringing the petition to the Assembly. Only yesterday, my husband had to attend Neath Port Talbot Hospital for an extremely painful biopsy on his prostate. So, this is a topic that is dear to my heart. The fact that my husband and hundreds of men like...
Caroline Jones: Minister, I recently met with the headteachers of the Welsh-medium schools from Bridgend county borough, who were concerned over the impact cuts were having on Welsh-medium education. Upon visiting Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Llangynwyd, I was shocked at the poor state of repair of the building and the school's resources. Minister, what assessment have you made of the impact local authority cuts are...
Caroline Jones: What action is the Welsh Government taking to increase the number of Welsh speakers in South Wales West?
Caroline Jones: Will the First Minister outline the actions the Welsh Government is taking to help small businesses?
Caroline Jones: I had the privilege of being a member of the committee whilst the inquiry into suicide prevention was undertaken. 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 Dai quite rightly points out in the foreword to the report, the number of deaths by suicide in Wales is truly staggering. In 2017, 360...
Caroline Jones: Minister, it's not just air pollution that we have to worry about in Port Talbot and my wider region. Other pollutants are also having an impact. A recent review in the journal of Biological Conservation highlighted the impact pesticides were having on invertebrate species. As the species champion for the fen raft spider, whose habitat is in the shadow of the steelworks, one of only three in...
Caroline Jones: I'd like to thank Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales for his annual report. It's a report card on the performance of Wales's education system, and it appears that we are not doing well enough. While eight in 10 primary schools are deemed good or better, only 8 per cent of Wales's primary schools are classed as excellent schools. Every child in Wales deserves to...
Caroline Jones: Natural Resources Wales exists to make best use of our resources, to protect our environment, to conserve our natural heritage and to enforce environmental protections. Unfortunately, NRW is dysfunctional, as highlighted by the Public Accounts Committee Report into NRW’s 2017-18 accounts. I would like to thank the Public Accounts Committee for producing their report, and for the fact that...
Caroline Jones: Minister, I was pleased to see the new economic contract, given the hostility to private enterprise displayed by the UK leadership of your party, particularly the shadow chancellor. Minister, will you confirm that the key to economic success in Wales is true partnership between the public and private sectors, and Government providing the best environment for private enterprise to thrive?
Caroline Jones: I would like to thank the Minister for tabling this debate, and I acknowledge the progress that has been made. However, we have so much more to do. Substance abuse affects every section of our society; 34 per cent of men and 28 per cent of women drank more than the recommended limits on at least one day during the last week. Adults living in households in the highest income bracket are twice...
Caroline Jones: I'd first of all like to thank David Rees for tabling this debate today, and it's a pleasure to take part. Steel is in the blood of my region. It was at the heart of the industrial revolution and transformed south Wales into the world’s powerhouse. Without the steelworks, large parts of South Wales West wouldn’t exist. Port Talbot grew out of this revolution to become one of Britain’s...
Caroline Jones: Minister, I recently had a hospital appointment rearranged at short notice. Thankfully, I received the notification letter the evening before the appointment. However, I know others who weren't as lucky. Given that we're constantly reminded of the cost to the NHS of missed appointments, what is your Government doing to ensure that patients are informed of appointments or any changes, and will...
Caroline Jones: Minister, I was recently invited to visit the new school in the shadow of the Port Talbot steelworks, one of the most disadvantaged communities in Wales. Whilst the new building will help combat the disadvantages of crumbling facilities, it's the curriculum and how it's delivered that will help young people escape disadvantage. The steelworks are one of the region's biggest employers, and...
Caroline Jones: 7. What is the Welsh Government doing to tackle missed appointments in the NHS? OAQ53351
Caroline Jones: Thank you for your statement, Minister. Homelessness and rough-sleeping are one of the nation’s greatest shames. The fact that we don’t have enough housing for our citizens is bad enough, but the fact that we neglect those in mental anguish, leading to them sleeping in shop doorways, is disgraceful, and I hope you'll agree with me. A large percentage of those forced to sleep rough are...
