Joyce Watson: Members might be aware that, historically, there has been a Cardiff Bay chaplain, most recently Reverend Peter Noble. However, it came to an end in the summer of 2017, and we're informed that the group of churches involved here have no intention of or funding to replace the role. Should members of the cross-party group on faith wish to arrange chaplaincy support themselves at no cost...
Joyce Watson: The Commission’s employee assistance programme also provides emotional and practical support and is available to all Members, their staff and Commission staff.
Joyce Watson: The Commission has no plans to establish chaplaincy services. However, we do provide quiet rooms in Tŷ Hywel and the Senedd for prayer, contemplation, or just quiet time on a multifaith basis—
Joyce Watson: I want to welcome the report today. It's fairly clear that the Welsh Government is supporting the food and drink industry in every which way that it can by promoting the product, the manufacturing and supporting the staff. But I particularly want to ask you, Cabinet Secretary, whether we could do considerably more in promoting the Welsh food product and aligning it with reduced wastage in...
Joyce Watson: There is, of course, evidence of a link between cashless payment systems and better take-up of free school meals, and that's why I've supported and campaigned for their introduction in every school in Wales. Powys has done that and I think that's absolutely fantastic, but we now have a situation whereby children whose parents pay for lunch and who haven't topped up their cards will no longer...
Joyce Watson: 3. Will the First Minister make a statement on the operation of cashless payment systems for school meals? OAQ51615
Joyce Watson: I thank you for that answer, First Minister. I think the whole tenor of my question leads you to believe that I think that we ought to ban wild animals from use in circuses, and I look forward to us bringing that forward. It is the case, of course, that England have announced that they're moving in this direction. They've only announced—let's not get carried away—a move in this...
Joyce Watson: 1. Does the Welsh Government intend to ban wild animals in circuses in Wales? OAQ51560
Joyce Watson: I'd like to start by welcoming the Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee's report into the Welsh Government's approach to marine protected area management. I am a former member—I wasn't a member when this report was written, but I'm back on that committee now. I've been a champion for the bottlenose dolphin for a couple of years now, and I do feel incredibly lucky to...
Joyce Watson: I thank you for your answer. We all understand the principle of equality before the law, but the question really is: what about equality within the law? And with the Commission on Justice in Wales considering how a distinct Welsh justice system might work, I believe it's imperative that we also reflect on what that system looks like, in terms of ethnicity, gender and social background. The UK...
Joyce Watson: 3. Yn sgil Adolygiad Lammy, a wnaiff y Cwnsler Cyffredinol ddatganiad am amrywiaeth yn y proffesiwn cyfreithiol yng Nghymru? OAQ51523
Joyce Watson: I do welcome the plan, and I think that these things do take time, but the one thing that I will have to agree on with David Melding here is the data deficiency, and they are hugely important. If we're going to truly say that we know the state of our marine environment, we have to have the data that backs it up. I've had representations, the same as others have here, where organisations were...
Joyce Watson: You will be aware, First Minister, that, last week, China made an announcement that they'll no longer be importing plastic waste from the UK, and last year alone Wales exported over 4,000 tonnes. We know also that the amount of plastic produced and disposed of is growing every single year, and the majority of that is single-use plastic for wrapping up food. So, could we take this as an...
Joyce Watson: 1. Will the First Minister make a statement on efforts to recycle plastic in Wales? OAQ51514
Joyce Watson: Diolch, Llywydd. I want to raise a point of order regarding Gareth Bennett's disgraceful outpouring of homophobic rhetoric in this Chamber yesterday, while talking about—ironically—the debate on the Equality and Human Rights Commission's annual report. And he did talk about minority rights as rights belonging to one individual being denied to another, which undermines human rights. But he...
Joyce Watson: I always find that it's easy in opposition to come up with solutions, but when you're in Government you have to make decisions, and the decision here is about where the health workforce sits within its community and different parts of the country. In that regard, I welcome the progress that's being made by our 'Train.Work.Live' campaign and the recent investment to increase the number of...
Joyce Watson: In a minute. And, even where rights are protected, I worry there will be moves to downgrade rights in Britain post Brexit. For example, EU law says that compensation for victims of sex discrimination mustn't be capped, but Conservative MPs have openly said that they want to limit those payments, and that has already happened with unfair dismissal, which is not protected by EU law.
Joyce Watson: My answer to you is this: I will protect and always have protected human rights. That's my answer to you. I'm not here to discuss Tony Blair. I'm here to discuss what I believe to be fundamental principles in life, and one of those is human rights. So, we've seen a steep rise in the cost of bringing forward dismissal cases. In fact, if you haven't got £1,500 in your back pocket, you're going...
Joyce Watson: Last week, I attended the Women's Equality Network Wales's AGM. You might expect, and it was the case, that many of these issues were on their agenda. In discussing equality and human rights, inevitably you end up talking about Brexit. So, I am really encouraged that the Equality and Human Rights Commission is providing advice to the Welsh Government advisory group on Brexit and also, we've...
Joyce Watson: That's true.
