Vikki Howells: 1. Will the Deputy Minister provide an update on the community facilities programme? OAQ54469
Vikki Howells: So, I hope that we can see progress on these ambitions and convert these symbols of nineteenth-century industrialism into one of twenty-first century sustainable prosperity.
Vikki Howells: I want to spend the bulk of my time talking about the Abernant tunnel that connects Cwmbach to Merthyr or, as it is known locally, the Merthyr tunnel. This former railway tunnel, designed by Brunel, was part of the Vale of Neath Railway and is one strand, one branch, of the rich network of historic industrial infrastructure that we enjoy in Wales. Indeed, for 110 years, the main role of this...
Vikki Howells: I'm so pleased to have been able to have co-tabled today's motion, tabled in the name of my colleague the AM for Aberavon and also co-tabled with Leanne Wood. Both David Rees and Leanne Wood have been real champions of the Rhondda tunnel, and I thank them for their support for my call for the Abernant tunnel, and also to members of the Rhondda Tunnel Society who have offered their expertise...
Vikki Howells: Thank you, Minister. My question follows on from a question that I asked the Deputy Minister on this topic in Plenary just before recess. My constituency contains two villages that border the Heads of the Valleys road, both of which suffer from terrible broadband. In fact, I had an e-mail from a constituent in one of those villages just last night saying that the 3MB connection is what they...
Vikki Howells: 5. What discussions has the Minister had about maximising the benefits of the construction of sections 5 and 6 of the A465 Heads of the Valleys road? OAQ54410
Vikki Howells: Thank you, Trefnydd. I welcome your comments there about the e-referrals system. It's estimated that about 25,000 people in Wales are currently waiting for orthodontic treatment, and the lists in most parts of the country are two to three years long. This picture is complicated by some health boards having no direct provision and cases of multiple referral, as the health committee discovered...
Vikki Howells: 6. What is the Welsh Government doing to monitor the waiting times for access to orthodontic treatment in Wales? OAQ54428
Vikki Howells: I would like to second that.
Vikki Howells: Thank you. I'd like to thank you, Deputy Minister, for your statement today. I was very proud that you kicked off Recycle Week with a visit to Bryn Pica in my constituency, which—. I may be biased, but I think it's at the vanguard of recycling in Wales, with innovative schemes there like their mattress recycling—I think they're the only place in Wales that does that—nappy recycling,...
Vikki Howells: Trefnydd, I'd like to request two statements today, if I may. Firstly, last Friday, I had the pleasure of visiting Sheppards Pharmacy in Abercynon to find out about their new sore throat test-and-treat scheme that's being run as an extension of the Choose Pharmacy common ailments scheme. This innovative practice is another example of the way in which community pharmacies can be used to...
Vikki Howells: How is the Welsh Government monitoring orthodontic waiting times in the Cynon Valley?
Vikki Howells: Anyway, I wanted to make a few remarks, starting off with transport, which I know all of us Valleys AMs have raised at one point or another. Better transport links both in terms of roads and public transport are absolutely crucial, and I'm really pleased to see that this is one of the priority areas for the Welsh Government to focus on. I will start by talking about the dualling of the Heads...
Vikki Howells: I would like to thank the Deputy Minister for bringing forward this debate in Welsh Government time and giving all of us the opportunity to scrutinise the work of the Valleys taskforce and, in particular, the changes that have been made over the last few months—
Vikki Howells: I don't share your concerns on that, no, because money is not the answer to everything here—[Interruption.]—in terms of allocated budgets. There are Ministers with responsibility right across the Government; for example, health is a really important part of the way that we need to look forward with the Valleys, as well. So, I think it would be quite a simplistic approach to try and have...
Vikki Howells: Thank you, Minister. A short while ago, I had the privilege to meet with Craig Hope and other members of the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service at Aberdare Fire Station to discuss their innovative approach to tackling wildfires. Craig is internationally renowned for his approach to the issue, for example through the development of the wildfire toolbox and the focus on taking a year-round...
Vikki Howells: 2. Will the Minister provide an update on Welsh Government interventions to reduce incidences of wild fires? OAQ54248
Vikki Howells: Will the Minister provide an update on Welsh Government actions to improve the welfare of game birds reared for sporting purposes?
Vikki Howells: I'd like to thank you, Minister, for your statement, which offers us a stark warning of the challenges ahead of us, challenges that are made all the more pressing because of the failed economic policies of the UK Government. I'd welcome your reflections on the dangerous hyperbole that we've seen from the two candidates for the leadership of the Conservative Party. You've alluded to some of...
Vikki Howells: Thank you, Deputy Minister. I was interested recently to read Oxfam's supermarket scorecard. That campaign analyses how well supermarkets promote human rights within their food chain. The picture is very mixed, with, for example, good progress from Aldi, contrasting with other chains that worryingly received no score at all for ensuring that women workers are treated fairly and equally. How...
