Jack Sargeant: The sheer fact that in a three-year period the Amazing Greys programme had to step in to help over 200 racing greyhounds at Valley is truly heartbreaking, and it shows that Sienna's story is not simply a one-off. How anyone who has witnessed dogs in such pain can then take to their website to boast about the perilous nature of their track is beyond me. Wales should be leading the way on...
Jack Sargeant: Diolch yn fawr iawn, Deputy Presiding Officer. Fifty-three weeks ago, on St David’s Day of last year, a petition closed to new signatures with over 35,000 people having signed it, with 18,777 of those signatures from Cymru. That petition, submitted by Hope Rescue, called for a simple action: it called for a ban on greyhound racing in Wales. I can see that the lead petitioner, Vanessa, from...
Jack Sargeant: Can I start my contribution as well, Deputy Presiding Officer, by thanking our colleague Sarah Murphy for bringing forward this motion to the Senedd today, but also by paying tribute to the tireless campaigning that she has undertaken in this area? I think that without Sarah becoming a Member of this Senedd and taking this work forward, this issue could very easily have gone unnoticed by...
Jack Sargeant: This week saw Helen Ward, Cymru's record goal scorer, announce her retirement from pêl-droed. Helen made a huge contribution to pêl-droed, playing 105 games for Cymru, and scoring 44 goals. She is one of only nine people to represent Wales in pêl-droed over 100 times. Helen brought us all, as football fans, so many special memories and moments over her career, and we owe her a huge...
Jack Sargeant: Can I thank the Minister for that answer? Despite the fall in the energy price cap, I share your concerns about energy bills and the fact that they are on course to rise by £500 in April. Martin Lewis himself described the rise, and I quote, as an 'act of national mental health harm'. Ofgem, of course, have announced the market review into the behaviour of suppliers, but, acting Presiding...
Jack Sargeant: 1. What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the impact of Ofgem's new price cap on residents in Wales? TQ732
Jack Sargeant: What discussions has the Minister had with Ofgem regarding its review into the forced installation of prepay meters?
Jack Sargeant: I'm grateful to the Minister for that answer and I'm grateful to the Minister for responding positively to the Senedd Petitions Committee on the report that called for a phased ban on greyhound racing. The reason we called for a phased ban on greyhound racing is because the majority of Members felt the evidence that we heard was overwhelmingly in favour of a phased ban. I understand the...
Jack Sargeant: 7. What consideration has the Welsh Government given to banning greyhound racing? OQ59110
Jack Sargeant: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. It will come as no surprise to the Minister, I'm sure, that I'm obviously deeply disappointed in today's announcement. It's clear from the publications and the statement you've made today that the red route in Flintshire is not going ahead. Ultimately, this project was about reducing air pollution. Minister, I'm conscious that other Members in the Chamber...
Jack Sargeant: Can I thank the Minister for that answer, and also welcome the support that the Welsh Government is currently providing? The Minister will know I've raised for some time now the national scandal of thousands of vulnerable people being forcibly switched to prepayment meters. The UK Government, Ofgem and energy suppliers themselves have been queuing up to say that they were going to stop this,...
Jack Sargeant: 6. How is the Welsh Government protecting residents in Alyn and Deeside from falling into fuel poverty this winter? OQ59140
Jack Sargeant: Can I thank the Minister for that answer, and again thank her for her leadership on behalf of the Welsh Government in bringing these issues to the attention of the UK Government? The UK Government, Ofgem and the courts have watched this national scandal develop for over a year, seemingly simply trusting energy suppliers and debt collection agents to do the right thing. Thousands of warrants...
Jack Sargeant: 1. In light of the Ofgem announcement of a halt in the forced installation of prepay meters, what representations has the Minister made to the UK Government regarding support for those facing disconnection as a result of being forcibly switched already this winter? TQ722
Jack Sargeant: How is the Welsh Government working to ensure maximum take-up of its universal free school meal offer?
Jack Sargeant: What assessment has Welsh Government made of the impact of the recent increase in applications for court warrants to forcibly install prepay meters in peoples homes?
Jack Sargeant: I'm grateful to the Minister for his answer and, also, to the Welsh Government for their continued support for the steel industry in Wales. The Minister has joined me on many occasions at Shotton Steel in my own constituency, which proves that you understand the importance of Welsh steel and you understand the importance of Shotton having a supply of green steel. Minister, industry partners...
Jack Sargeant: I'm grateful, Deputy Presiding Officer, to have the opportunity once again to raise the issue of banking provision in the Senedd. I think it's one that's well rehearsed on the floor of this Chamber. It's one that affects every corner of Wales. The Minister will be fully aware of my long-standing campaign to bring Wales's first community bank branch to Buckley in my own constituency. What is...
Jack Sargeant: If I could continue on what is a national scandal and my campaign to end that national scandal of the forced installation of prepayment meters, Trefnydd, you'll be aware that, out of 500,000 warrants applied for through the courts, just 72 were refused. It seems to me that something is clearly wrong there and is unjust there. Over a week ago now, Grant Shapps recognised that this information...
Jack Sargeant: 5. What discussions has the Minister had with UK Government counterparts on protecting the future of the steel industry in Wales? OQ59034
