Julie James: ...ended. We are currently assessing our requirements for seagoing science provision for future years. I absolutely assure Members, Rhun in particular, that we've continued a close dialogue with the School of Ocean Sciences at Bangor University, alongside all our Welsh marine research institutions. We’ll continue to do so as we consider the potential next steps and the next contract that...
Julie James: ...said what I think about the way that you approach budgets, and I'm just reiterating it now. Lower speeds mean that people feel more comfortable to walk and cycle. It's safer for children to walk to school, and older people also feel more able to travel independently and safely. I have a 20 mph limit very close to me, and the difference in that village has been absolutely extraordinary,...
Julie James: ...system, enforcement will be undertaken by GoSafe, the police, Community Speedwatch and enforcement cameras. The fire and rescue services will be involved, or have been involved, in developing an education programme, so those breaking the speed limit but not excessively can be offered a course if they don't want to take a fine, so very similar to now. Obviously, motorists who have a total...
Julie James: We already do that. It's part of the curriculum, apart from anything else. We of course encourage schools to encourage community use. I've had not only conversations but visits with my colleague Jeremy Miles to schools doing just that. We're very keen to get schools on board with that project, so if you know of any who aren't yet doing it who would like to, then we'd be very pleased to help.
Julie James: ...emergency and then trash every single policy necessary to make any difference to that. I won't repeat them here, but Members will know that there are many times on the record where I've had to school the Member opposite that she cannot just get on every bandwagon and then oppose every policy designed to make that happen. There is an irony also in the opposition motion that the arguments...
Julie James: ...to trauma and adverse childhood experiences, mental ill health and substance misuse. This makes ending homelessness a cross-sector, cross-Government priority relevant to health, social services, education, criminal justice, community services and our wider economy. All this is recognised within the action plan, as is the need for wide-ranging legislative and policy reform. The action plan...
Julie James: ...the cities. My own personal point of view is that Wales is a welcoming nation. If you want to come and make your home in Wales and integrate with the local community and put your kids in the local school, you are very welcome. That is a completely different thing to saying that what you want to do is to have a lovely house on a coastal path somewhere, overlooking a beautiful sea, that...
Julie James: Local Places for Nature collaborates with hundreds of housing, transport, health and education organisations, creating new nature spaces. For example Merthyr Tydfil local nature partnership is transforming a former tennis court in Troedyrhiw Park into a nature space. Our national forest works with partners creating areas of new woodland.
Julie James: ...to the spirit of that declaration, reflecting its essence in our social partnership Bill and our working methodologies. Through the regional skills partnership, we are working to ensure that the education infrastructure is in place to support the growth in the green economy, and Marine Energy Wales are developing the resources needed to maximise the opportunity for new skilled jobs in...
Julie James: ...greater freedom to roam—the curlew, fritillary butterflies and angel sharks, for example. Crucially, projects harness the energy of local communities—supporting citizen science, involvement of schools, and providing skills and training opportunities. In this sense, Nature Networks are both ecological networks and also the networks of people needed to ensure we are able sustain this...
Julie James: ...and very, very determined to put them back into good conservation order. So, I've had a range of meetings with concerned groups all over Wales in different types of landscapes. It's been an education and a privilege to talk to them all. So, diverse areas such as wooded landscapes, the Gwent levels, the long grass where the curlew calls, the blanket bogs, the wetlands; we have a range of...
Julie James: ...on. There's also an impact on public services, of course, because not only will they have the national insurance rises, but now they also have increased gas prices to run hospital heating systems, school heating systems and so on. So, this is a whammy right across the entire economy, really. You're quite right in saying what the modelling is for the impact on families of the rising gas and...
Julie James: ...ministerial commitments. We have welcomed the excellent work and clear recommendations from Dr Simon Brooks in his report, 'Second homes: developing new policies in Wales'. Indeed, the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language and I have written to Dr Brooks, setting out our response and outlining our next steps. Llywydd, this is a Government determined to take real and ambitious...
Julie James: Communities like Islwyn are leading the drive to make the circular economy a reality in Wales, with innovative local businesses using recycled materials and eco-schools taking action on plastic. These important contributions are a key part of our drive for a zero-waste, net-zero-carbon Wales.
Julie James: ...the many activities that provide opportunities for young people in particular to contribute to tackling climate change and a space to have their voices heard. We are grant funding environment education programmes—Eco-Schools, the Size of Wales, just as some small examples—to continue to work with children and young people to encourage discussion and validation of feelings and anxieties...
Julie James: ...entrepreneurship. We have provided over £1.5 billion-worth of extra money to our NHS, and secured over 580 million items of PPE, some of which we shared with England. We have bolstered our free school meals programme and delivered over 2.1 million food boxes to those on the shielding lists. We have expanded our discretionary assistance fund by over £13 million to help the worst affected...
Julie James: ...support for individuals, communities and businesses. They have run, with the NHS, our contact tracing system and ensured those self-isolating are supported. They have continued to provide for the education of our children and the day-to-day services like waste and recycling we all rely on. The police have continued to keep us safe on our streets, in our homes and on our roads. They've...
Julie James: ...capital stimulus programme of over £224 million. This includes an additional £147 million to ramp up housing programmes, and an extra £30 million to accelerate the ambitious twenty-first century schools and colleges programme. This capital investment is helping to support economic growth, sustainable jobs and training opportunities in every part of Wales, as well as the benefits of the...
Julie James: ...colleagues and I have considered with local government leaders, through the partnership council and its finance sub-group, the position for local government overall and on key services, such as education and social care. I hope that these wide-ranging strategic discussions will continue during the coming year in preparation for a comprehensive spending review. This year, I am pleased to...
Julie James: ...6 months to less than 4 months. Let us not forget that at the start of the pandemic the UK Government postponed elections for an entire year. Although the amendments avoid the difficulties with schools I highlighted yesterday, they do not overcome the timing issues around the summer holidays. I therefore urge Members to vote against the amendments in this group. Diolch.
