Vikki Howells: Leader of the house, during the summer I was pleased to visit the lunch and fun club based at Penywaun Primary School in my constituency. I was really impressed to see the positive benefits the scheme was having on the pupils who took part, not least in tackling the problem of holiday hunger. Could we have a statement from the education Secretary reflecting on this summer’s scheme, and also...
Vikki Howells: Cabinet Secretary, I welcome your statement today and in particular the comments you made about Sunday services. This is a really big issue for my constituents, who are currently facing services just once every two hours on the rail link through to Aberdare. I’d welcome any further detail you could provide about the provision of Sunday services. We’re not living in 1870s Wales any more,...
Vikki Howells: Can I request an update from the Welsh Government on its actions in support of the Women Against State Pension Inequality campaign to get justice for the many women who have been unfairly affected by the UK Government’s changes to the pension system? And, leader of the house, I’m sure that WASPI campaigners would also welcome the Welsh Government putting on record that it condemns the...
Vikki Howells: Diolch, Llywydd. On 8 July, 1873, 500 members of the South Wales Choral Union left Aberdare at the start of their journey to compete in the Crystal Palace challenge cup. The union, composed of voices from choirs from across the south Wales coalfield, returned to compete as reigning champions. In 1872 they won the cup without a contest. In 1873 they faced a challenge from one of the most...
Vikki Howells: I’d like to thank the Minister for his statement today, and also to place on record my thanks to the Minister and other members of the Valleys taskforce for visiting my own constituency and carrying out a consultation exercise there. This morning, I chaired the cross-party group on industrial communities, where our guest speaker was Dr Victoria Winckler of the Bevan Foundation. Many of the...
Vikki Howells: Thank you, First Minister. During the year 2015-16, there were over 8,300 children who were eligible for free school meals within Rhondda Cynon Taf. This means that more than one in 10 of all children in Wales who are eligible for free school meals reside within my county borough. New research from the Trussell Trust suggests that, and I quote, ‘lone parents and their children are notably...
Vikki Howells: 3. Will the First Minister outline the actions being taken to ensure children and young people in the Cynon Valley do not go hungry during school holidays? OAQ(5)0715(FM)
Vikki Howells: What measures is the Welsh Government taking to combat the problem of holiday hunger among school age children in Wales?
Vikki Howells: I want to start by thanking the AMs for Ogmore and Neath for tabling this motion today. As the motion succinctly notes, ensuring Welsh homes are energy efficient is vital environmentally. This is in terms of tackling climate change and also reducing consumption, but it is also vital economically, too. If we want to look to a common thread uniting communities across Wales, it is the potential...
Vikki Howells: Diolch, Llywydd. Today, I want to reflect on the life and achievements of Dr Shah Imtiaz. Dr Imtiaz achieved prominence in 1988, when he was elected as mayor of Cynon Valley borough council, becoming the first Asian mayor in Wales, which he described as the proudest moment in his life. But Dr Imtiaz had been at the heart of the community since he arrived in Aberdare in 1970 to become a family...
Vikki Howells: In my constituency, the town-centre partnership fund element of VVP was used to support important town-centre initiatives like the colourfully named Yabba Dabba Dare and Faberdare, which played an important role in bringing people into Aberdare town centre. Whilst acknowledging that the programme was always crafted as a finite scheme, what support can the Welsh Government offer to similar...
Vikki Howells: Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. It’s certainly so important that we encourage households to maximise the recycling of food waste in Wales. I’m very proud of the fact that, last year, the anaerobic digestion facility at Bryn Pica in my constituency transformed food waste into enough electricity to power more than 2,500 homes for the calendar year. How can the Welsh Government best promote...
Vikki Howells: 1. What action is the Welsh Government taking to encourage the recycling of food waste in Wales? OAQ(5)0157(ERA)
Vikki Howells: 6. Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on the work of the Vibrant and Viable Places strategy? OAQ(5)0160(CC)
Vikki Howells: First Minister, on Saturday I will be attending Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council’s Armed Forces Day event in Aberdare, and I want to applaud RCT for their proactive approach in this issue as councils have such a key role in delivering many of the front-line services personnel and their families rely on. The minutes of the expert group on the needs of the armed forces community in...
Vikki Howells: 7. Will the First Minister outline how the Welsh Government is supporting serving and retired armed forces personnel and their families in the Cynon Valley? OAQ(5)0682(FM)
Vikki Howells: Diolch, Llywydd. Like the hydra of Greek legend, poverty in Wales is a many-headed monster. It presents a variety of challenges, and seemingly, as each one is overcome, two further problems arise in its place. However, unlike the mythical hydra, poverty is all too real and impacts on the lives and well-being of those affected across Wales on a daily basis. For my short debate today, I will...
Vikki Howells: Previously, being of pensionable age could be synonymous with living in poverty. This has changed, in large part, due to the actions of the 1997 to 2010 Labour Government, but it is still estimated that around 50,000 older people live in parlous financial circumstances. Similarly, whilst well-meant commitments to end child poverty within a generation may not have been met, it is still useful...
Vikki Howells: Thank you, Minister. The Cwm Taf health board area has the worst childhood obesity rates in Wales. Over one in four children in my constituency of Cynon Valley is obese, and, as well as posing health challenges, we know that this also impacts on both their social and educational lives. Innovative and inclusive practices like the daily mile can encourage healthy activity, and I know that you...
Vikki Howells: 4. What are the Welsh Government’s priorities for tackling childhood obesity in Wales? OAQ(5)0187(HWS)
