John Griffiths: First Minister, there is no doubt that very many families in the most vulnerable circumstances in Wales are extremely worried at what will come at them this winter, and I think we can all understand that, given the situation that we face. This does require urgent action, I believe, from all levels of Government and partner organisations. And of course, the UK Government has the prime...
John Griffiths: What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the impact of the rising cost of living on people in Newport East?
John Griffiths: I will be speaking in my capacity as Chair of the Local Government and Housing Committee. Appropriate housing has long been a key concern for our committee, and we would like to urge Welsh Government to prioritise funding to ensure that as many as possible in Wales have a safe place to live, working towards everyone in Wales having a safe place to live. When I spoke to you in the draft budget...
John Griffiths: Thank you for that, Minister. I recently ran the Llanishen parkrun, which was celebrating links between parkrun organisers and GP practices to encourage more integrated and supportive local communities, centring on wellness. I note that parkrun organisers, Minister, would very much like to see a consistent approach right across Wales, making these links between those working in the health...
John Griffiths: Minister, thankfully, Newport enjoys many advantages in terms of economic development. I think its geographical position between the powerhouses of Bristol and Cardiff, and its communication advantages in terms of the rail system and the motorway, for example, are very important strengths. And being part of the capital region, and also the western gateway, cross-border, are very important...
John Griffiths: 2. What work is Welsh Government doing to support the economy in Newport by bringing employment to the city? OQ58348
John Griffiths: 9. What progress is the Welsh Government making with its preventative healthcare agenda? OQ58347
John Griffiths: I'm a strong supporter of 20 mph, and I do believe it's right that we turn on its head the current position, so that instead of 30 mph being the default limit and councils having to take forward exception orders in order to put 20 mph in place, 20 mph becomes the default limit and 30 mph would be the exception. I think it's very important for road safety, as we've heard, but also very...
John Griffiths: As far as the new curriculum is concerned, this is seen as providing a very important opportunity to make the sort of progress we need to see in Wales. It's very exciting and has great potential. And of course, it's built on four purposes and aims to develop learners who are ambitious and capable, enterprising and creative, ethical and informed, and healthy and confident citizens. So, it's...
John Griffiths: And we do note that there is a great need to provide whatever opportunities we can to allow people to help make Wales a more equal country. I was looking at the paper that Dr Mark Lang did for ColegauCymru that really was looking at these issues of social mobility and if current education provision in Wales supports that social mobility and adequately enables young people to secure a life of...
John Griffiths: The power of education is very precious to me, Diprwy Lywydd, because my own route out of what I guess was relative poverty was through education and lifelong learning. I went to secondary school, Dirprwy Lywydd, but unfortunately didn't take any exams, and I was then for a period of time out of work with a young family, living on a council estate in Newport, and thinking about not just my...
John Griffiths: Diolch, Llywydd. Knowledge is power: education is a route out of poverty. Llywydd, Mike Hedges, Luke Fletcher and Laura Anne Jones will contribute to this short debate. Llywydd, on Pill library, there is a keystone at the top of the building that states that knowledge is power. I'm very pleased to say that having been born and brought up in Pill, now so ably represented as part of Newport...
John Griffiths: Will the Minister give an update on how the Welsh Government's discretionary cost-of-living support scheme is supporting local authorities to tackle the cost-of-living crisis?
John Griffiths: What are the Welsh Government's priorities for improving animal welfare in Wales?
John Griffiths: Minister, thank you very much for your statement today. I just wanted to say a little bit about local authorities in Wales and the important role that they have, and ask if you would agree with me that Newport City Council are actually doing a lot of good things at the moment and making real progress on these issues. I know they're fully committed to supporting the Welsh Government's LGBTQ+...
John Griffiths: Indeed. Thank you very much, Minister, for your statement and your work. I think Wales has made great strides in the way that we welcome asylum seekers and refugees here and look after them and provide the necessary services when they are in our country. It's very good to see, and I think the nation of sanctuary provides a very good framework and focus for that sort of work. Minister, Newport...
John Griffiths: What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the impact of social class on life chances in Wales?
John Griffiths: Minister, in the Severnside area of my constituency of Newport East, we've seen a great deal of growth in housing over recent years, in the Magor, Rogiet, Undy and Caldicot areas and around, but we haven't seen the sort of growth in primary care services that would reflect that increased population. And many people in those areas now feel that they're not sufficiently served by GPs and...
John Griffiths: 3. Will the Minister provide an update on the Welsh Government's work to increase access to primary care services in south-east Wales? OQ58184
John Griffiths: Okay. Diolch yn fawr.
