Joyce Watson: 4. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the budget allocation to the environment portfolio? OAQ(5)0075(FLG)
Joyce Watson: 5. What is the Welsh Government doing to support school children during the summer holidays? OAQ(5)0077(EDU)
Joyce Watson: I don’t wish, Cabinet Secretary, to delay the debate or lengthen the debate by asking all the questions that have already been asked, so I’m going to focus in on just two areas. One of them has been mentioned, but it’s about how we let the public know about the mechanisms for reporting, because not all the public who may come across something they think could possibly be suspicious will...
Joyce Watson: I look forward to that statement later today. It was the case that, during the Christmas break, there was a wigeon—that’s a type of duck for those who don’t know it—that landed in Llanelli wildfowl wetland centre. I want to praise here the actions that were immediately taken by that wetland fowl centre in closing their doors to the public for nine days because, as a consequence of...
Joyce Watson: 7. Will the First Minister make a statement on the outbreak of avian flu in Wales? OAQ(5)0351(FM)
Joyce Watson: I thank you for that answer. This has been a significant investment by the Welsh Government, with European money, for the people of Wales. There is another £20 million earmarked for the next phase. Clearly, delivering Superfast Cymru does remain a top priority of this Government, and it has helped businesses grow, expand and develop within my region. But could you tell me, Minister, how many...
Joyce Watson: 9. Will the Minister provide an update on the Superfast Cymru scheme? OAQ(5)0095(EI)
Joyce Watson: What is the Welsh Government doing to support the growth of businesses in Mid and West Wales?
Joyce Watson: Thank you all. That ends proceedings today.
Joyce Watson: I call on the Minister for Lifelong Learning and Welsh Language to reply to the debate. Alun Davies.
Joyce Watson: I thank you and I will now call on Huw Irranca-Davies to reply to the debate.
Joyce Watson: I now call on the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths.
Joyce Watson: I’d like to call Rhun ap Iorwerth.
Joyce Watson: I’d like to call Simon Thomas.
Joyce Watson: I’d like now to call Neil Hamilton.
Joyce Watson: I’d like to call Andrew R.T. Davies.
Joyce Watson: Thank you. In 1991, the first White Ribbon campaign was launched by a group of men in Canada after the brutal mass shooting of 14 female students at the University of Montreal, asking men to sign a pledge never to commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women. In 1996, that was adopted in South Africa, and in 1998 Womankind launched the first White Ribbon Day in the UK. In...
Joyce Watson: Identifying, of course, the causes of accidents is where you have to start, and the health and safety adviser does make regular floor walks of the Assembly estate with a full-time trade union officer. Any recorded hazards are assessed and remedied quickly, with each department having its own health and safety champion. But when accidents do occur—and they will—they are investigated by the...
Joyce Watson: Thank you for that question. There have been a total of 63 accidents that have been recorded on the estate since 2011. Forty-three of them were by Commission staff, two by Assembly Members, two by Assembly Member support staff, two by Welsh Government staff, four by contractors, and 10 by public visitors.
Joyce Watson: Yes, I’ve seen that figure and I thank you for that answer. It is, indeed, really good news. But I want to focus on what we’re doing in terms of the water framework directive, and the stats for inland and coastal waters aren’t quite so good. In fact, only 37 per cent are in ‘good’ or ‘excellent’ ecological condition. I understand that things like historical industry, physical...
