Jenny Rathbone: What is the Welsh Government’s response to ClientEarth’s findings on poisoned playgrounds in schools as a result of air pollution ?
Jenny Rathbone: I was delighted to hear the Cabinet Secretary say that inaction is not an option, and I absolutely agree with that, because there’s rising demand for primary care particularly, and clear evidence that there is a bit of strain in the system, with a significant number of GPs handing in the keys, but also rising public expectations that health services should operate just like any other...
Jenny Rathbone: I’d just like to pay tribute to Wynford Ellis Owen, whose life was nearly completely wrecked by prescription drugs and alcohol. He used that insight into what addiction involves and the lengths that people will go to to promote the cause of the need to tackle addiction in gambling. So, I think it’s really important that we respond to the work that has been done by Wynford Ellis Owen and...
Jenny Rathbone: [Continues.]—that there was such a rush on—. Yes.
Jenny Rathbone: So, I just simply wanted to add my concern to the way in which this contract has been handled, and the delay in NRW putting its house in order, if you like, because the initial evidence-giving sessions with the chief executive of NRW were of somebody who was in denial that there was a problem. So, I’m glad to see the action plan that has now been produced as a response to the latest PAC...
Jenny Rathbone: Thank you, David Melding, for your historic perspective, which is very useful. I think that the specifics of this contract, and the failure of NRW to see that there was anything wrong in the way in which they proceeded, have been very well covered by the Public Accounts Committee report. I just wanted to add my voice to why the failure of NRW to understand that the way in which they were...
Jenny Rathbone: Obviously, as it is the matter of a possible criminal investigation, we need to be very careful what we say here, but my understanding is that the building had already been identified by Natural Resources Wales as being in an unsafe state, and that is why the owner had been directed to demolish it. But, clearly, the issue that arises here is the quality of the risk assessment that needed to...
Jenny Rathbone: Okay. Well, I accept that, now, with the reduction in the discount, that is less. But the fact is that social housing organisations are telling us that they are very reluctant to build new social housing if they think it’s then going to be used to exercise the right to buy, and that is what is holding them back. We need to give them that certainty that that is not what is going to happen....
Jenny Rathbone: I acknowledge that the right to buy has been very important for many, many families, particularly those who have a child with a disability and who worry about what’s going to happen to that person when they die. Enabling them to leave them their home does provide some security for that individual who may be vulnerable and unable to earn their own living. So, I’m not ideologically opposed...
Jenny Rathbone: Thank you, acting Presiding Officer. Three points. One: I’m very pleased to see you’re going to put carbon reduction targets into your procurement process. That’s in line with increasing support for action on climate change, as captured in the WWF survey that was published today, ‘Message in a Bottle’. That means that people have just got to have it made easier for them to be able...
Jenny Rathbone: Leader of the house, I’m rising in irritation that the leader of the Welsh Conservatives had two pops at the Cardiff and Vale University Local Health Board, without any opportunity for any other Members to add to this. Although, clearly, there was a breach of compliance, the chief executive of the Cardiff and Vale health board has said very clearly that there will be no further breaches of...
Jenny Rathbone: I’d like to thank the petitioners—the over 5,000 of them—including my constituent Norma Mackie, who submitted the petition on the steps of the Senedd at the end of May, along with Mr Vaughan. I mention her because she is a very local fan. She only lives one street away from Womanby Street and is passionate about live music. It illustrates, if you like, the geography of Womanby...
Jenny Rathbone: I’ll be very brief—just simply to say it’s interesting that UKIP is not convinced by the Conservatives’ arguments. I think simply peddling the arguments out for a third serving doesn’t improve on them. This is such a cheap and simple process—deducting wages from source—as my colleague, Dawn Bowden has already said. This is no different than deducting the charitable donation or...
Jenny Rathbone: What plans does the Welsh Government have to make Transport for Wales transparent and accountable to the people of Wales following the procurement of the new rail franchise?
Jenny Rathbone: I would wish to challenge that assumption, because I’m engaged in my communities in areas where there is almost no green space and green space is found to grow things. Because there’s a huge amount of evidence that it improves well-being as well as encouraging wildlife. There was an initiative in the last Assembly, spearheaded by Julie Morgan, to encourage both Members and staff to grow...
Jenny Rathbone: Public Health England is arguing that parents who leave their cars idling outside schools should be fined, because of the air pollution problem. And I’m wondering, given that the City of Cardiff Council has very effectively used fixed penalties, using cameras on the back of buses, to prevent cars going into bus lanes, what powers Cardiff council might have to tackle a similar problem...
Jenny Rathbone: 1. What progress is the Assembly making in growing food on its estate? OAQ(5)008(AC)[R]
Jenny Rathbone: If you listen on, I will tell you why my proposal will help sort out some of this air pollution. We can’t rely on the UK Government to sort this out. They’ve already suffered two humiliating defeats in the High Court, and the latest plan is even weaker and wobblier than their earlier ones. It requires local authorities to exhaust all other options before introducing clean air zones,...
Jenny Rathbone: Okay.
Jenny Rathbone: I, too, would like to add my support for the plastics tax, and perhaps some of it could be used to invest in water fountains so people would be able to fill up with water rather than having to buy yet another water bottle. Also, I think it’s perfectly right, in response to Neil Hamilton, that we should impose a tax on those who choose to adulterate our food with sugar, salt and fat in order...
