Vikki Howells: Will the Minister make a statement on the recent closure of the A465 between Rhigos and Glynneath?
Vikki Howells: I thank the First Minister for his response. Now, the A465 in that area is not just the only A road out of the Cynon Valley, it's also a very significant road regionally, linking, as it does, the Heads of the Valleys, as far afield as the midlands, down to west Wales and is, if I am correct, the only road in Wales that is classed as part of the trans-European road network. So, I'm sure you'll...
Vikki Howells: 6. Will the First Minister outline the Welsh Government’s response to the recent closure of the A465 between Rhigos and Glynneath? OAQ53633
Vikki Howells: Thank you, Minister, for your statement today. Flooding is one of the most frequent types of major disaster, and moreover it can be a particularly traumatic one. Numerous studies reveal significant increases in depression, anxiety and distress amongst those affected by flooding. It's also one that's affected many people in my constituency. I'm sure you'll remember that, last year, Aberdare...
Vikki Howells: First Minister, it was a pleasure to join you on Thursday at the official opening of the brand-new £7.2 million Cwmaman Primary School in my constituency, just the latest in a series of new school buildings where my constituency has benefited from investment to the tune of over £100 million—more than any other constituency in Wales, I believe. And, as a former teacher, I know only too...
Vikki Howells: 6. What are the Welsh Government's priorities for improving educational performance during the remainder of this Assembly term? OAQ53534
Vikki Howells: Which of the recommendations set out in the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee’s report Selling Wales to the World will the Welsh Government be prioritising during the remainder of this Assembly term?
Vikki Howells: What discussions has the Welsh Government had with the UK Government regarding the proposed shared prosperity fund?
Vikki Howells: Deputy Minister, it's my belief that there are some key measures that we can take to address our housing needs that don't involve having to build new homes, and one such example is RCT council's schemes to bring back empty properties into usage. Three hundred and twelve empty property grant applications have been received since the scheme began in 2016, and to date, 128 of those homes have...
Vikki Howells: Trefnydd, I would like to request three statements today. First of all, I'd welcome a statement from the education Minister on the next steps that the Welsh Government will take to tackle bullying in schools. The 'Respecting others' consultation is due to close later this week, but after many years in the classroom, I am still concerned that we do all we can to deal with this issue. In...
Vikki Howells: Since the first British railway line was opened nearly 200 years ago, trains have changed the way that we travel and communicate. For communities like the one I represent in the south Wales coalfield, the railways developed a complex and symbiotic relationship with mining. They offered citizens opportunities to work, learn or enjoy leisure, and that is still true today. In 2016-17, there were...
Vikki Howells: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Last week, my constituency office hosted a Friends Against Scams training session. Organised by Centrica British Gas, it highlighted the scale of the problem. Fifty-three per cent of people aged 65 and over have been targeted by scams, which altogether cost the UK economy somewhere between £5 billion and £10 billion a year. The human consequences are considerable....
Vikki Howells: Thank you, Minister. I've got a couple of questions today around the issue of childhood obesity, which is an issue that I am very concerned about. Of course, we know that there can be specific geographical problems in terms of tackling that issue, and a statistic that has always shocked me is the fact that a quarter of children in the Cwm Taf health board area are obese—not just overweight,...
Vikki Howells: Trefnydd, I'd like to request two statements today. Firstly, I'd like to thank the Minister for health for his written statement updating AMs on maternity services in Cwm Taf. I'm also grateful to the Minister for meeting with me and other AMs to discuss this, and I've also had frank and useful conversations with the chair of the health board. However, could we have an oral statement in...
Vikki Howells: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Earlier today, I sponsored a launch event for the 2019 vocational qualification awards. The awards are now in their twelfth consecutive year, and their aim is to raise the status of technical, practical and vocational learning. Indeed, their purpose is to ensure that we regard vocational qualifications as an aspirational yet attainable route for all, and that we...
Vikki Howells: Thank you, Counsel General, for that answer. When the previous First Minister was giving evidence to the External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee a few weeks ago, he said that over 100 businesses in Wales had already engaged with the Welsh Government's Brexit business portal. We know that the landscape post Brexit is so unknown, principally due to the shambolic approach taken by...
Vikki Howells: 6. What discussions has the Counsel General had with the Minister for Economy and Transport regarding preparing businesses in Wales for leaving the EU? OAQ53187
Vikki Howells: Will the Minister provide an update on the work of the valleys taskforce?
Vikki Howells: I raise to speak with a heavy heart on behalf of the Labour group. First, I'd like to extend all of our condolences to Steffan's wife, Shona, his son, Celyn, and the rest of his family and friends. Steffan was so widely respected by Members of all parties across this Chamber and held in really great esteem. His razor-sharp intellect was clear to see, as was his grasp of the key issues and his...
Vikki Howells: In Wales, we have just under 35,000 km of roads. Most people's journeys involve the use of the road network, a figure that has been static since records began in the 1950s. We also rely on roads for a high proportion of our domestic freight. Across the UK, Cycling UK’s 'Fill that Hole' website notes an average of 13,500 potholes reported annually. Both of these statistics indicate something...
