Jenny Rathbone: 2. What does the Commission do with IT equipment that is no longer fit for purpose? OQ57236
Jenny Rathbone: I was very disappointed to hear from the Minister for Social Justice in the statement that she gave—I think that it was last week or the week before, but anyway, recently—that the Welsh Government was unable to give any commitments in relation to where our vaccine donations have gone. But, I have been able to find out that we just sent—the UK Government has sent—10 million doses to...
Jenny Rathbone: Thank you, Peter, for bringing this Bill to the floor of the Senedd. In my view, we cannot deliver a healthier, greener and more equal Wales unless we address the inequalities of our relationship with food. Everyone in Wales should have the right to good, fresh food. Sadly, that is not happening at the moment. All around us, we can see diabetes, heart disease, cancer epidemics—all evidence...
Jenny Rathbone: I'd like to applaud the Welsh Government's leadership on this issue. Your presence in COP was very significant, as was that of the First Minister and Julie James. I think that we have to be proud of the role that we can play. For me, one of the most important things was the role of regional and state governments. Particularly where national governments are reluctant to take action, there is...
Jenny Rathbone: First Minister, I very much look forward to taking part in COP Cymru, because I'm sure that's absolutely right—we need to engage everybody in this venture to save the world from climate disaster. Clearly, COP is a work in progress in persuading all countries that we have to radically change in order to avert the climate disaster that is staring us in the face. The UK retains its...
Jenny Rathbone: 4. What is the First Minister's assessment of the impact of COP26 for Wales? OQ57202
Jenny Rathbone: Thank you. Listen, people on the lowest incomes are not able to go to the matches, either the rugby, the football, or the cinema; let's get real on this one. The fact is that it is a suite of measures that is what enables us to have the maximum impact on bringing down the infection rates, and that is what we're trying to do here. I do not think that the Welsh Government is going to continue...
Jenny Rathbone: I'm happy to take it.
Jenny Rathbone: I'm happy to take it. Thank you, Llywydd. Yes, Janet, I'll take it.
Jenny Rathbone: Okay. I acknowledge that that is a flaw in the system, but the alternative is to ban those who cannot have a vaccination from attending any of these events where a COVID pass will be required. And I don't think that's right, because there are people who simply cannot have a COVID vaccination for one health reason or another. So, we have to just acknowledge that that is a small, tiny minority...
Jenny Rathbone: Well, good luck to Darren Millar trying to swab their dog. It's difficult enough getting a child to do it, so I think swabbing your dog might be difficult. It doesn't mean to say that your dog won't have COVID. Remember, this disease came from bats, so this is not a completely ridiculous idea. But I think the point that you are trying to make, that this is in some way an authoritarian...
Jenny Rathbone: Okay.
Jenny Rathbone: First of all, I'm delighted that Jenipher Sambazi has gone to Glasgow to put the views of Ugandans to COP. I just hope she's still there when I get there tomorrow night, because she is completely amazing, as those of us who were privileged to meet her before the pandemic—and just a wonderful advocate for her community and the work they're doing. But I'm still trying to process the...
Jenny Rathbone: Last Sunday, I attended a remembrance service at the Armenian monument in Cathays Park, which was the first monument in memory of the holocaust suffered by the Armenian community in 1915. Llywydd, I’m sure you will recall that this institution and the Welsh Government at the time were the first to recognise the genocide of the Armenians during the first world war, and the first to put up a...
Jenny Rathbone: I'd particularly like to congratulate you on the emphasis you've given to the stand-alone powers to fund apprenticeships in the same way as any other part of tertiary education, because I think this really is an important step forward in the parity of esteem that we need to have between applied technical skills and academic and so-called intellectual skills, although, in reality, obviously...
Jenny Rathbone: As you met the CITB in June, you'll be fully aware of the skills deficit they highlighted in their report in March, about the sorts of skills that we need for the public buildings we're going to be building in the future, so people like energy assessors, retrofit co-ordinators, insulation and heat pump installers. The three major constructors involved in works in my constituency at the...
Jenny Rathbone: 8. What discussions has the Minister had with the construction industry about the future skills required for its workforce? OQ57095
Jenny Rathbone: Can I ask a point of order? The time allocated for this was up until 6.10 p.m., so I'm disturbed that other Members were not permitted to speak if they'd indicated they wished to do so.
Jenny Rathbone: I disagree that sustainable communities for learning will cost more in the long term, because there may be a short-term cost, as builders become familiar with all the new ways of building that we've already demonstrated can work in social housing, but, in the longer term, I agree absolutely with the Minister—we cannot afford to do nothing, simply because schools will simply be left with...
Jenny Rathbone: —I want to turn to part L, which is that Lord Deben was very, very strong on this when he spoke to the climate change committee in September. He said that he feels very strongly about the need for the Welsh Government to use the powers that it has on this, which is that by not moving quicker towards net-zero obligations in new homes, we are simply letting house builders off the hook....
