Jenny Rathbone: I had a meeting yesterday with South Wales Police, and they reported a massive increase in domestic violence as well as a significant number in the increase of murders. Obviously, the numbers, numerically, for murders are very small, but still it's symptomatic of some of the stresses that have been caused by the lockdown and everything that's gone with it, particularly the economic...
Jenny Rathbone: Well, that's excellent news, First Minister, because it is now four years since the UK Government decided to cancel the electrification of the main line to Swansea. How long does it take for the UK Government to come up with their alternative plan for modernising Wales's rail network? And I hope that, in your discussions, and Lee Water's discussions with the UK Government, there's full...
Jenny Rathbone: 1. What discussions has the First Minister had with the UK Government about Wales getting its fair share of rail infrastructure investment following the Hendy report’s endorsement of the south-east Wales metro proposals? OQ57341
Jenny Rathbone: I very much like the tone of the discussion today, because this is a really emotive issue. We've all got family or friends who have had or have cancer, so it's really important we are very measured in the way we discuss this. I think one of the biggest problems with cancer is that people are often very slow to come forward. People really do need to listen to their bodies and think, 'This is...
Jenny Rathbone: There's a danger in that that we're simply putting out more journalists, for example, or hairdressers. Others have talked about the aerospace industry; I want to focus on the construction industry. We heard from the construction cross-party group earlier this week that there are 3,000 unfilled vacancies in the traditional construction skills, so there are clearly opportunities there. But...
Jenny Rathbone: 6. What is the Minister's strategy for ensuring the young person's guarantee is helping to fill the most significant skills gaps that are holding back the economy? OQ57291
Jenny Rathbone: —reducing our carbon emissions, with fewer cars on the road, that makes it more human. So, my question, Deputy Presiding Officer, is, really: as we build back a fairer, greener Wales, how can we integrate all our services to be both open to the wisdom that older people can provide? But also, with the growth in dementia, how can we make all our services dementia friendly, so people don't...
Jenny Rathbone: Perhaps I should declare an interest as an older person. But I have every intention to grow old disgracefully, because I do not think that I want to be in my bath chair any time soon. I think that the role played by older people during the pandemic has been absolutely huge. Just imagine, most of the carers—I appreciate there are young carers, and they do a valuable job too, but most carers...
Jenny Rathbone: So, I just wondered what analysis the Welsh Government has done on the cost-effectiveness of different approaches to supporting homeless people, to ensure that they truly never become homeless again.
Jenny Rathbone: Thank you. Thank you very much for your statement and I fully support what you're trying to do. But I think, just following up on what others have said—. First of all, I want to pay tribute to Cardiff Council's outreach workers, who go out week after week, trying to persuade people to come in and not be on the streets. This is a really, really complex field for many people. I appreciate...
Jenny Rathbone: We've all been caught on the hop a little by the latest iteration of COVID, with the new variant called omicron, not least Welsh citizens who were abroad at the time that we needed to bring in these extra restraints on travel. I just wondered if the Government can make a statement about the situation of the Cardiff Blues and the Scarlets, who, obviously, are going to be required, in due...
Jenny Rathbone: First Minister, you'll be aware that I'm one of the greatest fans of the really important commitment to ensure all primary school children are going to be getting a free school meal in the future, but I don’t underestimate the challenges involved in that—getting the right personnel who know how to cook, as well as ensuring that it is affordable in the long term. It seems to me essential...
Jenny Rathbone: 5. What plans does the Welsh Government have to increase the amount of locally grown food in school meals? OQ57302
Jenny Rathbone: Thank you very much. Natasha Asghar, I think, made some very succinct points that were really helpful, which the Minister has picked up. I don't think the public is ever going to be particularly aware of the Act. People are not going to read the Act, but they do need to know about the principles underpinning all the public bodies who are named in the Act. I don't think that we can be blaming...
Jenny Rathbone: Thank you. I'd like to use this opportunity to pay tribute to Nick Ramsay, who chaired the Public Accounts Committee, and this report he headed, and he said in his foreword that, ultimately, making the well-being of future generations Act work 'depends on everyone and every public body.' Though, of course, it sits more heavily on some than others. It is our core duty as a Senedd to hold the...
Jenny Rathbone: Well, thank you very much. It's good to know that this redundant equipment from our point of view will indeed be applied to worthy causes across the length and breadth of Wales. Has the Commission considered any of it going to developing countries with which we have a close relationship, through the Wales and Africa programme? Because most of these countries have next to no IT equipment, and...
Jenny Rathbone: I'm very pleased to hear that, Counsel General, because there is so much wrong with the criminal justice system, in particular the failure to have any impact on the rehabilitation of prisoners, because of the underfunding of the prison service and the completely inadequate way in which we treat prisoners. They are there to be punished, but they are also there to be rehabilitated. So, I think...
Jenny Rathbone: Recently, we’ve had some really excellent announcements about the way in which we may be able to tackle the inequalities faced by children: the provision of early years education from the age of two and free school meals for all primary school children are both incredibly important announcements and I look forward to working with you on that. I just want to focus on the very first month of...
Jenny Rathbone: 1. What is the Welsh Government doing to tackle lifelong inequalities? OQ57234
Jenny Rathbone: 8. Will the Counsel General provide an update on the Welsh Government's policy regarding extending the franchise to prisoners? OQ57235
