John Griffiths: Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the Welsh Government's priorities for public sector procurement in Wales, in the context of leaving the EU?
John Griffiths: Thank you for that, First Minister. As you are well aware, the Newport to Ebbw Vale passenger rail link remains a top propriety for local people, and there is a deal of frustration and impatience that it’s not yet established. Are you able, First Minister, to provide further reassurance today that that passenger rail link between Newport and Ebbw Vale remains a priority for Welsh...
John Griffiths: 6. Will the First Minister make a statement on rail services in south-east Wales? OAQ(5)0461(FM)
John Griffiths: I think it’s good that we’re debating and discussing further education in the Assembly today and reflecting on its contribution to education and skills in Wales, because I do believe it is a very impressive contribution, which should be recognised, and we should discuss how we can strengthen it and take it forward. One aspect of further education, of course, is the opportunity to have a...
John Griffiths: Cabinet Secretary, I hope you would agree with me that Newport has seen beneficial use of Vibrant and Viable Places for city-centre regeneration, creating accommodation and alternative use to retail effectively. Whatever the future holds in terms of Vibrant and Viable Places or a similar scheme, will you continue to work closely with Newport City Council to take forward this important and...
John Griffiths: Cabinet Secretary, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals consider that there’s a hidden problem in Wales in terms of monkeys and other primates. They think that around 120 are being kept as pets in Wales, and some of them at least will be suffering unnecessarily, as a result of inadequate care and the fact that they’re not suitable for being kept as domestic animals....
John Griffiths: First Minister, every Saturday morning at 9 a.m. right across Wales, thousands of people take part in parkruns. They’re volunteer led, they’re timed and people are able to chart their progress as they, hopefully, improve their times over the months and, indeed, the years. In Newport, the existing Tredegar House parkrun has just been added to with a city centre urban parkrun along the...
John Griffiths: 3. Will the First Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government's progress in achieving a more physically active Wales? OAQ(5)0420(FM)
John Griffiths: I welcome this opportunity to contribute to the case for recognition of this contaminated blood scandal and tragedy and its ongoing consequences to support the campaign for justice by affected families and Haemophilia Wales and the need for full answers as to how it was allowed to happen. Dirprwy Lywydd, my constituent Lynn Ashcroft’s husband, Bill Dumbelton, was a haemophiliac and one of...
John Griffiths: Could I first mention, as many have, air pollution in terms of emissions from vehicles, and particularly diesel engines, which, as we know, are very damaging to human health. I’ve mentioned before in the Chamber that I met with Calor, as an organisation, who talked about conversions from diesel to Calor gas, particularly perhaps for taxi fleets, but this could be applied more generally and...
John Griffiths: Thank you for taking the intervention. In Newport, Minister, as I think you’re aware, we have a Fit for Future Generations group bringing together all those sectors you mentioned to try and get a more active local population. Is that the sort of initiative that the well-being bonds might support in due course?
John Griffiths: Cabinet Secretary, I wonder if you would agree that the prospects for good pupil engagement are greatly enhanced if parents and the wider community are engaged closely with their local schools, and, if so, whether you will work to devise a mechanism or system by which we can be confident that there will be good-quality community-focused schools consistently delivered right across Wales.
John Griffiths: Will the Cabinet Secretary give an update on the regional organisation and delivery of local government services?
John Griffiths: I thank Gareth Bennet for those points. I think it will be a valuable part of the committee’s work to get out and about to engage with people in Wales to get a better idea of what they think about human rights in Wales and how it impacts on their everyday life, as the Member has suggested. Of course, here, in the Assembly, we know that devolution has very much taken a rights-based approach...
John Griffiths: I thank Mark Isherwood for those points. What we’re doing today, of course, is launching our inquiry and inviting evidence to come forward. I’m sure a whole host of organisations will raise many matters and I’m sure many of them will be on the ground that Mark Isherwood has set out today because, obviously, these matters are very relevant to human rights here in Wales. So, we look...
John Griffiths: I thank Sian Gwenllian very much for those points, and very much agree that gender equality will be absolutely central to the work of the committee and that many of the important protections in place come from the European Union. And, obviously, Brexit, and what’s proposed by UK Government, will be very relevant to the work of the committee and consideration of how we can not just safeguard...
John Griffiths: Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. I am pleased to inform Members today that the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee is launching a call for evidence for our forthcoming inquiry on human rights in Wales. Over the summer, we consulted stakeholders about what they felt should be our strategic priorities. A number of organisations, including Stonewall Cymru, Children in Wales and the...
John Griffiths: In terms of the outreach effort, Cabinet Secretary, I know that it’s important to address the issues that Gypsy/Traveller families have in the round, including better educational attainment and better school attendance. I know that that effort involves not just work in the schools, but also within the community and the whole-family approach. In terms of the whole-family approach and...
John Griffiths: I thank the Cabinet Secretary for that answer. Cabinet Secretary, we’ve had recent good news in terms of the quality of the Wales coast path and the advantages it brings to Wales. It was always envisaged that the coast path would be connected to urban areas through circular routes. I wonder if you could tell the Assembly what progress has been made in terms of those hopes and plans and...
John Griffiths: Cabinet Secretary, you’ve mentioned road traffic emissions and it’s clear that they play a very significant part in terms of air pollution and the impact on human health. Diesel emissions are particularly significant. Would you agree with me that—? Hopefully, we’ll get to electric vehicles as quickly as possible, but before we do that, there are other practical steps that may be taken...
