Laura Anne Jones: Thank you for your statement, Minister. Minister, you are here today putting the idea of a visitor levy, also known as a tourism tax, to the people and businesses of Wales in the form of a consultation, although it's quite frankly staggering that it has got this far. It will punish the tourism sector, and as, Llyr, your own party leader, Adam Price, admitted, the money raised this Government...
Laura Anne Jones: Thank you, business Minister. I'd like to request a statement from the Minister for education—as he turns around. Over the summer, I, like many other MSs, have seen a deluge of e-mails from concerned parents who are fearful of the Welsh Government's intentions when it comes to potential changes in homeschooling. There are real concerns that proposals laid down by this Government are...
Laura Anne Jones: It is an honour to be able to stand here and speak on behalf of the people of my region. Our thoughts and prayers are very much with His Majesty the King and the royal family as we mourn the passing of the greatest and longest serving monarch the world has seen, Queen Elizabeth II. For most of us, Queen Elizabeth II is the only monarch that any of us have known. She has always been there, a...
Laura Anne Jones: I'm not sharing. [Laughter.]
Laura Anne Jones: I have to concur with everything that my colleague Sam Kurtz said earlier, and I too am looking forward to going to the Royal Welsh Show next week. And all this talk of shows is making me yearn for my annual pork, crackling and apple sauce roll that I have, without doubt, at every single show that I go to. And whether it be showcasing or offering the outstanding local produce that we have in...
Laura Anne Jones: Minister, I'm not interested in a blame game today. What I want to hear today and what my struggling constituents want to hear today is what this Labour Government are going to do about the fact that 36.3 per cent of children in the city of Newport in my region are living in poverty, according to the recent data just released from child poverty charity End Child Poverty. This makes Newport...
Laura Anne Jones: What studies and evaluations have been undertaken regarding the effects of a tourism tax on Welsh businesses?
Laura Anne Jones: Last week, we were all made aware of the sad passing of the incredible, inspiring Dame Deborah James, Bowelbabe. Dame Deborah was first diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer in 2016, at just the age of 35 years. Even with a terminal diagnosis, she never stopped raising awareness of bowel cancer. The late journalist, former headteacher and newspaper columnist set up the award-winning You, Me and...
Laura Anne Jones: I'm just trying to cut down my speech here. I very much welcome this statement and the opportunity to talk about women's health. For too long in our society, we've seen women's health, safety and well-being neglected and overlooked. I really welcome that there'll be a 10-year women's health plan in the autumn, and I very much welcome lots of parts of this statement. It will be an enormous...
Laura Anne Jones: Minister, I just want to start by thanking you for your statement today. We all want the new curriculum, of course, to work. I also want to place on record, if I may, Deputy Presiding Officer, our thanks to school staff for their resilience and hard work in all that they do, but particularly in their efforts to prepare for the new curriculum. Minister, only almost half of our secondary...
Laura Anne Jones: Thank you. There are valid concerns that should be listened to to find solutions for all. First Minister, what women's groups did you and your Ministers actually speak to, and how exactly does this plan ensure women's rights and girls' rights and safety are protected?
Laura Anne Jones: First Minister, two weeks ago, the Deputy Minister for Social Partnership gave an update of your Government's LGBTQ+ action plan. Now, this is obviously a delicate subject, and I believe we all want to see rights for trans people extended, but, essentially, not at the expense of women and girls' rights, and it's absolutely vital that we get this right. However, given the Welsh Government's...
Laura Anne Jones: 9. Who did the Welsh Government consult with when making safeguarding assessments in regard to women during the drafting of the proposed LGBTQ+ action plan? OQ58312
Laura Anne Jones: I'd firstly like to place on Record my gratitude as well to the clerks and legal staff throughout the passage of this Bill, and I extend that thanks to our Chair of the CYPE committee, Jayne Bryant, the CYPE committee, and all that have played a part in getting this Bill to Stage 4 today. I'd also, of course, like to thank the Minister for listening to our concerns in the main, recognising...
Laura Anne Jones: I just also want to place on record our thanks to all school staff for their continued resilience and hard work, and learners too. Minister, I want to thank you for your statement today, parts of which we welcome. These have been and are incredibly tough times for learners. How we evaluate the hard work being done by our schools is of paramount importance so that we can all evaluate and see...
Laura Anne Jones: What safeguarding assessments has the Welsh Government made in regards to women's safety during the drafting of the proposed LGBTQ+ action plan?
Laura Anne Jones: Thank you, Minister. It's following on from a question that you had earier from Rhun, actually, about preparations for the exams this summer, considering that there were very concerning multiple reports that set texts had been missing off A-level English literature, as you've outlined already, and that pupils had unexpected content—that was in maths, with the difficulty, as you've already...
Laura Anne Jones: Thank you. Llywydd, I'd just like to declare an interest on this issue. My question to you, Minister, is that I have constituents in buildings that are waiting for their properties to be made safe, as you've just outlined. At the moment, they're waiting for that process, and, in that time, they're not able to sell their properties, upsize—there are a whole host of issues obviously affected...
Laura Anne Jones: 1. What steps is the Welsh Government taking to support people that have been affected by cladding issues? OQ58217
Laura Anne Jones: 8. Will the Minister provide an update on the preparation for summer GCSE examinations? OQ58218
