Suzy Davies: Diolch, Lywydd. I think it’s my first chance to congratulate you on your post; I know it’s the last day of term, virtually. Six years ago, the Scottish Government introduced the short-breaks fund to provide respite for carers and replacement care for those they care for. Labour pledged in its ‘Healthy & Active’ manifesto to: ‘Investigate the benefits of establishing a national...
Suzy Davies: Cabinet Secretary, the arts and creative industries can act as an important driver for thinking differently about solving problems in our communities, and the Art Across the City LOCWS programme in Swansea is a perfect example for regeneration. How does Creative Wales help meet the objectives defined in the Kay Andrews report, especially bringing creatives, public bodies, and communities,...
Suzy Davies: There’s so much to get through, so, just to save some time, I’ll say that I agree with what Sian Gwenllian had to say about the strategy and the need for a plan. We’ve had strategies and plans in the past, and they haven’t worked. We’ve seen a decline in the number of Welsh speakers in the heartlands, and there aren’t enough places in our local schools for children who want to...
Suzy Davies: I appreciate what you say in your statement, for which I thank you, First Minister. Even though you didn’t have an awful lot of content to be able to give us today, there was an opportunity, which wasn’t taken, to highlight the Welsh Government’s mainstreaming of rights throughout the programme of government when we see it. I think a re-statement of that principle would have laid down a...
Suzy Davies: Leader of the house, I was going to ask you if it was possible to have an update on Welsh language standards, but I see that the relevant Minister has had the power of telepathy and beaten me to it. However, I have read his written statement that was issued at lunchtime today, and it does not contain a timetable for bringing forward the necessary secondary legislation. I think that, as...
Suzy Davies: Cabinet Secretary, a few weeks ago, I asked the First Minister whether the support package that Welsh Government had put forward, including the possible acquisition of a share—that package put together, of course, to encourage credible buyers for the Port Talbot works—would still be available to Tata were it not to sell. So, I’d like you to give a clear commitment today on what your...
Suzy Davies: Thank you very much. I know that the issue of safe routes to school is of particular interest to you, Cabinet Secretary, having raised questions on behalf of your constituents before now. It’s something of an issue for my constituents, too. Even now, the walk route to the new Bae Baglan school is a case in point for the former pupils of Cwrt Sart school, which is closing shortly. Even...
Suzy Davies: Unmet demand suggests that we need more primary Welsh-medium places in Penllergaer or Gorseinon in my region due to pressures at Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Pontybrenin. Young children are being transported from the Cwmbwrla and Gendros areas of Swansea to access primary Welsh-medium education in other parts of the city because the council has earmarked the perfect site for a school for housing,...
Suzy Davies: 3. Will the Minister make a statement on access to education? OAQ(5)0004(EDU)
Suzy Davies: Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. Simon Thomas.
Suzy Davies: Thank you.
Suzy Davies: Item 7 has been withdrawn.
Suzy Davies: So, we’ll move straight to item 8, the statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs on exotic animal disease threats, bluetongue and contingency planning, and I thank her for her patience in waiting to be called.
Suzy Davies: And then, finally and briefly, Rhianon Passmore.
Suzy Davies: I’m going to take two more questions as the first question took so long to deal with. David Melding.
Suzy Davies: Short questions and answers now, please. Adam Price.
Suzy Davies: Could we move to questions, please?
Suzy Davies: Can I just remind Members that we’re already halfway through the time allocated to this session? I’d be very grateful if all Members and, in fact, the Minister himself, could keep questions and answers short in order to maximise broad scrutiny of the Government. Thank you very much. Mohammad Asghar.
Suzy Davies: Thank you, Minister. Bethan Jenkins.
Suzy Davies: I wonder whether we could have a Government update statement, leader of the house, on an issue that I’ve raised before. This is the issue of—. This Chamber makes legislation and the Government makes policy, on the basis of taking children’s rights into account; obviously, we’ve committed to the due regard principle in taking the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child...
