Joyce Watson: Would you take an intervention?
Joyce Watson: Thank you very much. You mentioned £227 million for local government, but of course there is the £31 billion Government loans scheme that was just handed back. They didn't pursue it, they just threw our money away. They're just completely careless with public money. And that's on top of the £200 million PPE scandal. So, that makes a total of £31.2 billion on those two items alone, where...
Joyce Watson: How is the Welsh Government supporting small businesses in Mid and West Wales?
Joyce Watson: I don't want to, and I won't, reiterate any of the points that my colleagues have already made, but it's important, at this stage, to thank the clerks, the Chair and the clerking team for assisting us in our work. I think there is an issue here beyond governance, and it's an issue of capacity. The report of the interim assessor highlights that demand on the service was greater than that which...
Joyce Watson: Again, I thank you, Jack, for your interest in all things equality. There were two questions. Is it permanent? I believe that it is permanent. In terms of sustainable products, you will find that there's a mix of products already out there in our facilities. The aim is to test those, to see the use and to move into that space of 100 per cent sustainability in our products, which, of course,...
Joyce Watson: I absolutely agree with what you're saying. I'm sure that the message has been heard about updating the website to make sure. The 39 vending machines that you refer to will be removed. They cost £110 per annum each, and the total is £4,290 per year. There was a cost of £1 per box of products, which, of course, is way outside what you would pay anywhere in a shop. Those vending machines, as...
Joyce Watson: I thank you for the question. The Senedd Commission strives to be an exemplar in the delivery of its dignity and respect policies and actions. I am pleased to confirm that, further to the excellent work by trade union officials, the Commission has agreed to provide free period products on the Senedd estate for anyone who needs them, with effect from 2 December, to promote period dignity...
Joyce Watson: Thank you, Minister. A year into the five-year process, as you say, there has been good progress, most notably the consultation on mandatory CCTV in abattoirs. But in terms of priorities, can I ask where the use of breeding cages for game birds sits? I know the plan includes a commitment to examine the evidence around their use, but with the new shooting season under way, the use of breeding...
Joyce Watson: 2. Will the Minister provide an update on the implementation of the animal welfare plan for Wales? OQ58798
Joyce Watson: That was a very selective contribution.
Joyce Watson: Diolch, Llywydd. It's Global Entrepreneurship Week, and I'd like to take this opportunity to celebrate the fantastic work that our colleges do, helping to kick-start the careers of budding entrepreneurs. Global Entrepreneurship Week is about encouraging people, especially young people, to start their own businesses and highlight the positive impact they can have in terms of innovation and...
Joyce Watson: Diolch, Llywydd. I want to raise a point of order about the behaviour that we all witnessed in this Chamber just a few minutes ago—behaviour that one of my colleagues felt so threatened by that she had to move away from that individual. And also that same behaviour showed huge disrespect to you as the Chair of this institution, and therefore the institution itself. I've been here for over...
Joyce Watson: Trefnydd, can I ask for an urgent Welsh Government statement on police standards in Wales? We learnt last week that Wiltshire Police is leading an investigation into alleged misogyny, corruption and racism in Gwent Police. That comes on the back of the police watchdog's damning report on failings in the vetting process that allowed criminals and sexual predators to join the services in...
Joyce Watson: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. First of all, I want to declare the fact that a close family member is a member of the RCN, before I speak on this. We all know that nurses are under huge pressure. We also all know that nurses were at the front line and instrumental at the time of the pandemic, and that others went outside every Thursday evening to clap their endeavours to try and save us from the...
Joyce Watson: I think that last point you made is a hugely important one. It's one thing making a pledge, it's another thing meaning it. But there are two sides, of course, to the White Ribbon, and one is all the work that is done around the White Ribbon, but the White Ribbon is about attempts to diminish the prevalence of violence against women and children. So, on the one side, we will raise awareness;...
Joyce Watson: In the past, the Commission has supported the White Ribbon campaign by holding an annual event in the Senedd and by raising money through the sale of White Ribbons in the Tŷ Hywel and Senedd shops, which you yourself, Jack, of course, requested. Since the pandemic, the Commission has been mindful of the increased risk of incidents of domestic abuse, as home working has been the norm, and...
Joyce Watson: Thank you for that answer, Counsel General. I don't know whether you've had time or opportunity to read and reflect on the new report by Manchester university on racial bias in the judiciary. It found discrimination to be directed particularly towards black court users, from lawyers to witnesses to dependents, and backs up the finding of the 2017 Lammy report. Institutional racism is a very...
Joyce Watson: There is, as you say, Minister, some fantastic work that's going on in the schools around respectful and healthy relationships, and that's hugely important. But we need to spread the message wider than schools and take it outside the school gates to organisations like, for example, the Scouts and army cadets, football clubs, and other places where boys find themselves. So, are you able to...
Joyce Watson: 11. How does the Counsel General ensure that individuals have equal opportunities within the justice system in Wales? OQ58639
Joyce Watson: I want to thank that committee for this report and all those people who've contributed towards it. I'd particularly like to thank the Everyone's Invited movement for shining a light on the prevalence of peer-on-peer sexual harassment. I was pleased to read that the Welsh Government have agreed to adopt Estyn's definition of sexual harassment, as recommended in the report. As the report points...
