Caroline Jones: I'd like to thank Jane and Jenny for bringing forward this important debate today. I support the Members' efforts to highlight the issue, and fully support the motion before us today. Due to a quirk of our biology, half the population face a monthly challenge. Due to poverty, for many young girls, that challenge becomes a struggle. Far too many young girls are missing school because they...
Caroline Jones: Cabinet Secretary, the success of the city deal is dependent upon first-class infrastructure, whether that's excellent transport links or, more importantly, ultrafast and futureproofed telecommunication networks. What discussions have you had with the UK Government regarding the roll-out of gigabit broadband and 5G mobile communications throughout the Swansea bay region?
Caroline Jones: Thank you for that answer, Cabinet Secretary. It's positive to hear that family engagement is a priority for you, and I'd like you to also look at exploring avenues of increasing the range of extra-curricular activities. I appreciate the Welsh Government has been working in this area. Forty-eight per cent of school pupils in years 3 to 11 in Wales are taking part in organised physical...
Caroline Jones: Thank you for that answer, Cabinet Secretary. Troubling research undertaken by the University of Southampton has shown that only 15 per cent of schools provide two hours of physical exercise each week for seven to 11-year-olds, and it is felt that the Welsh Government should engage with schools, nutritionists and parents to reverse the increase in child obesity and that this engagement is...
Caroline Jones: Diolch, Llywydd. Cabinet Secretary, according to the national survey for Wales 2016-17, obesity in Wales is worse than in any other nation in the UK. Fifty-nine per cent of adults are considered overweight, and 26 per cent of children starting primary school are classed as obese or overweight. What steps are the Welsh Government taking to tackle child obesity in Wales, and in particular in...
Caroline Jones: While holding a surgery in Maesteg, I was asked by parents about school closures in their area. They stated the new super-sized school being built in Port Talbot did not have sufficient children living locally in the area to fill the places and, therefore, children were coming from much further away and expected to fill these places. Their concern was that some children living a distance...
Caroline Jones: Will you take an intervention? Will you take an intervention?
Caroline Jones: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I'm pleased to move this motion today, tabled in the name of my colleague Neil Hamilton. I have to declare an interest at the outset, Dirprwy Lywydd: I am a woman unfairly affected by state pension age changes, and one of the women against state pension inequality. In 1995, the then Conservative Government introduced a new Pensions Act, which would have raised the age...
Caroline Jones: I'd just like to say to Dawn that the asbestos register is reviewed annually as part of statutory compliance and procedures, so I think that does answer your question there. The detailed inspections and surveys that are carried out, the latest in 2014, there are no asbestos-containing materials that have been identified in either Tŷ Hywel or in the Senedd, or with any construction materials...
Caroline Jones: Hold on a second. Thank you for your question. The Assembly Commission fully complies with the regulations for the management and control of asbestos, and holds an asbestos register for all buildings within its estate. Detailed asbestos surveys and inspections were undertaken in 2002 and 2014, and the asbestos register confirms that no asbestos materials are present within the estate. The...
Caroline Jones: Diolch, Simon, and you raise an extremely valid point there about contacting other areas, such as the council, to explain that we are attempting to reduce our carbon footprint, and that we'd like to look at the different ways through active travel, and so on, of coming to and from the Senedd, and we wish to encourage alternative ways for Members, Members' families and any visitors to the...
Caroline Jones: Thank you, Simon. The Commission is pleased to take this opportunity to announce that we have recently achieved certification to the international standard for environmental management, ISO 14001. As part of this environmental system, we have a long-term carbon reduction target of a 30 per cent reduction in our energy footprint by 2021. This builds on a previous target that we had for a 40...
Caroline Jones: Well, obviously, Simon, we still have some stock that we have to use. It wouldn't be practical to just throw stock away, so we are reducing our stock at the moment, and we are always looking at alternative suppliers who produce exactly what we want to decrease our carbon footprint here, and to decrease the amount of plastics that we use. So, I will update you on that question, and I can...
Caroline Jones: I thank the Member yet again, and I'd like to update you on a couple of things. We are rid now of disposable coffee cups, and now stock aluminium drinks containers. The water filters around the estate cuts down on bottled water—plastic bottles. Meals hot and cold are now in compostable containers. There is extensive recycling signage across the estate for materials. Plastic straws were also...
Caroline Jones: I thank the Member for her question. The Assembly Commission is committed to minimising waste, including reducing single-use plastic waste on the estate. We are proud to have achieved our commitment to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill to zero by 2018. In January we committed to alternatives to single-use plastics, where possible, within six months. We have already made progress...
Caroline Jones: Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. Bridgend residents have had a 4.5 per cent increase, Neath 3.7 per cent and Swansea a staggering 4.9 per cent increase. At the same time as my constituents are forced to pay these inflation-busting rises, wages are only rising by half these amounts. Cabinet Secretary, how can these increases be justified when services are being cut? How can we justify asking my...
Caroline Jones: 6. What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the impact of council tax increases on the residents of South Wales West? OAQ51993
Caroline Jones: Thank you for your statement, Cabinet Secretary. I welcome the review undertaken by Public Health Wales on sexual health services in Wales. The report rightly praises the sexual health workforce in Wales. The take-up of services has doubled in the last five years. This increase, undoubtedly, will require adjustments and reform to existing services to best meet demand. The key issue is getting...
Caroline Jones: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. [Interruption.]
Caroline Jones: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Cabinet Secretary, it is past time we lifted the pay cap for NHS staff who work under tremendous pressures, particularly relating to staff shortages. The deal in England covers staff on the Agenda for Change contract, which excludes doctors. So, whilst I welcome the previously announced increase in pay for our GPs, what consideration have you given to increasing the...
