John Griffiths: 1. What actions will the Welsh Government take to strengthen ill health prevention in Wales? OAQ(5)0040(HWS)
John Griffiths: First Minister, I think you’ve been quite clear that amongst the priorities for Welsh Government and, indeed, legislative priorities is the effective implementation of Acts passed in the last Assembly, as well as taking forward new legislation in this Assembly term. I think, in many people’s views, one of the real headlines of legislation in the last Assembly was the Well-being of Future...
John Griffiths: Yes, clearly, Cabinet Secretary, it is very, very important that the evidence base for this very important decision is as sound as possible. So, could I ask that in considering the revised methodology that the UK Government has now put on the table regarding future forecasted traffic growth, Welsh Government might also look at methodologies pertaining to this decision more widely? For...
John Griffiths: First Minister, one of the issues to address to allow refugees in Wales to contribute fully to life here is to properly and adequately recognise the skills and qualifications that they possess. Will you take steps to ensure that that is the case for all refugees here in Wales?
John Griffiths: Thank you for that, Cabinet Secretary. I believe the doorstep environment, as it’s termed, matters very much to very many people in Wales, given the number of people who live in those particular environments. I believe that if they feel positive about their environment and view it as a quality environment then they are far more likely to feel interested and engaged in the environment in...
John Griffiths: 7. Will the Minister make a statement on Welsh Government policy to improve the environment in inner urban areas in Wales? OAQ(5)0026(ERA)
John Griffiths: First Minister, as you are aware, the plants in Newport East, my constituency, at the Orb works and Llanwern, are very important parts of the overall Tata operations in Wales. Will you assure me that those plants will continue to be properly considered in Welsh Government’s thoughts and actions to ensure a sustainable steel industry in Wales?
John Griffiths: Secretary, as well as Port Talbot and other sites in Wales, workers at the Llanwern and Orb works are very anxious regarding their future livelihoods, and the futures of their families, given the ongoing anxiety and threat. You will know that top-quality products are produced in Newport, such as the steel for the car industry at the Zodiac plant at Llanwern, and the electrical steels at the...
John Griffiths: First Minister, as well as building new schools, it’s also important that we continue to build new colleges for further education. Coleg Gwent have ambitious and important plans to relocate their Newport campus to the riverfront alongside the University of South Wales campus and, indeed, further buildings around and about. Would you agree with me that we must continue to improve our further...
John Griffiths: Similarly to Hannah, I will stress the wider picture in Wales regarding steel and the need to support the steel industry moving forward, Dirprwy Lywydd, because, obviously, in my area of Newport we have the Llanwern Tata works, we have the Orb works, which is part of Tata Steel, and also Liberty and a number of smaller operators as well. So, steel is still very important to Newport and the...
John Griffiths: I’d like to request two Government statements, please, Secretary. Firstly, in the light of the Office for National Statistics report on avoidable mortality in England and Wales last week, whether we might have a statement on public health and the preventative health agenda, which is one important aspect of dealing with avoidable mortality, and perhaps setting us firmly on a more proactive...
John Griffiths: Will the First Minister make a statement on the implementation of Acts passed in the Fourth Assembly?
John Griffiths: As with many others here today, Llywydd, I am hugely concerned at the vote to leave the European Union and its consequences. I do believe we are very much in uncharted waters now, and I feel very concerned for collective security and peace in Europe and beyond; our access, of course, to the single market, which is so important; inward investment and, indeed, general investment here in Wales...
John Griffiths: What action will the Welsh Government take to widen access to the great Welsh outdoors?
John Griffiths: Cabinet Secretary, the first 1,000 days are vital for language development and so for reading and general education and development, and there are statistics that show that children who live in persistent poverty are twice as likely to score below average for language acquisition at age five than their better off peers. Issues identified in terms of dealing with this include investing in...
John Griffiths: Cabinet Secretary, you’ll be aware that the Wildlife Trusts recently launched a species champions strategy. I and other Assembly Members are championing species in Wales. The water vole—[Interruption.]—is my particular species, but many others will be helping with the efforts. But would you agree with me, Cabinet Secretary, that we do need to protect our biodiversity and these species,...
John Griffiths: 10. Will the Minister make a statement outlining what strategy the Welsh Government will follow to increase biodiversity in Wales? OAQ(5)0011(ERA)
John Griffiths: 7. Will the Minister outline what strategy the Welsh Government will follow to tackle poverty in the fifth Assembly? OAQ(5)0015(CC)
John Griffiths: In terms of the possible routes, I think it’s clear, from many people’s views, and certainly mine, that the blue route is, I would argue, a non-starter for many reasons; some of practicality, others in terms of the population centres that it would travel through. You’ve referred to some of the issues already. As far as the black route is concerned, of course, there are major...
John Griffiths: Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. It certainly was an immense achievement for the Wales football team to qualify for the Euro finals after several decades of waiting, and that’s exactly how it felt in Bordeaux on Saturday. I was lucky enough to be there with other Members from across the parties, and I think I can say for all of us, Dirprwy Lywydd, that the way that the Wales football team performed...
