Joyce Watson: The Senedd's Finance Committee reported this month that Wales is in danger of losing out financially if the UK Government fails to co-operate with the Welsh Government on post-EU funding. That's despite repeated Tory promises that Wales would receive not a penny less as a result of Brexit. Clearly, we must have that co-operation from the UK Government and the Tories must honour their pledge....
Joyce Watson: 9. What discussions has the Minister had with the UK Government regarding post-EU funding arrangements? OQ58617
Joyce Watson: We'll move on now to item 5, a statement by the Minister for Climate Change on the public sector role in the future energy system, and I call on the Minister for Climate Change—Julie James.
Joyce Watson: Thank you, Minister.
Joyce Watson: I'll allow one more question, if it's brief, and one more answer, if it's brief. Huw Irranca-Davies.
Joyce Watson: Could the Member ask her question, please?
Joyce Watson: Thank you.
Joyce Watson: We now move on to item 4, a statement by the Minister for Economy, Development Bank of Wales—investing with ambition. I call the Minister, Vaughan Gething.
Joyce Watson: How is the Welsh Government supporting parents in Mid and West Wales with the cost of the school day?
Joyce Watson: I want to also thank the outgoing children's commissioner and welcome the new one. Yesterday, of course, marked the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. The UK Government of course marked that by signalling a return to austerity and that disastrous policy that consigned our country to a lost decade of low growth, underfunded public services and growing inequality. However, under...
Joyce Watson: I thank the Chair for chairing the committee in a collegiate manner and for the report that has come out of that. We can't, of course, look at every aspect in this short time of what is creating the problems, but one of the problems in discharging patients at the appropriate time, quite clearly, is staffing. It isn't of any value at all, whatsoever—quite the opposite, really—for patients...
Joyce Watson: That is probably the case in some instances. I don't accept it's the case in all instances, though, I have to say. And I don't think that businesses should be rewarded for failure to prepare or to comply with legal obligations. However, I do appreciate that the rising costs and global circumstances that were mentioned have added additional pressures. Although, actually, these regulations were...
Joyce Watson: In a minute. It's not acceptable, and it does really set a poor precedent. We've heard from Huw Irranca quite clearly that it is the case that most farmers want to comply with and see the advantage of a favourable environmental condition, not only on their farms but in the rivers as well. It is not the intention, we all know that it isn't the intention, of most farmers to pollute....
Joyce Watson: I did notice.
Joyce Watson: I have read the report with interest. I've made my views very clear on agricultural pollution many times over many years here in this Chamber. I contrasted the tough, but necessary, action that we've taken in Wales with the regime of negligence in England only last week. That has enabled a proliferation of agricultural pollution in our waterways with devastating environmental consequences....
Joyce Watson: Well, I just think that's ridiculous. On this International Day of the Girl Child, perhaps Liz Truss should reflect on what we teach our children about the importance of open dialogue and debate. When you do manage to catch her, would you press the Prime Minister for an answer on the three cost-of-living actions the devolved administrations are calling for: the £25 uplift to all means-tested...
Joyce Watson: 2. What discussions has the First Minister had with the UK Prime Minister regarding the cost-of-living crisis facing residents in mid and west Wales? OQ58550
Joyce Watson: I very much welcome your statement, Minister, and especially the headline commitment to triple peatland restoration. It's fantastic. For the record, I'm a long-standing RSPB member, so I'm especially pleased about what that's going to mean for ground-nesting species like black and red grouse and hen harriers, should they survive. But as well as being a unique habitat, peatlands are critical...
Joyce Watson: Thank you for bringing this debate forward—an important debate, and the history lesson behind it. We've had a summer of sewage on our shores; we've had record-high temperatures; a winter ahead of us with unpayable energy bills; record unearned profits for the big energy companies; and an energy system exposed to dictators. These crises are connected, so we do need long-term solutions to...
Joyce Watson: I thank the Conservatives for bringing this debate today. In recent years, there have been huge strides in the prevention of cervical cancer through the introduction of the human papillomavirus vaccine programme. That vaccine was first rolled out in schools in the UK for teenage girls in 2008 and has been available for boys since 2019. It has had a hugely positive impact on cervical cancer...
