Vikki Howells: First Minister, Wales is home to some internationally recognised brands such as Penderyn whisky, based in my own constituency, and their slogan, 'From Wales to the world', emphasises this global outlook. In addition to the comments you've already made to the previous Member, could you outline for us how the Welsh Government is building on the reputation of these world leaders, both to promote...
Vikki Howells: Thank you, Minister. Many businesses in Cynon Valley benefitted from the COVID recovery fund to help them make adaptations to enable social distancing and carry out other interventions in response to coronavirus—businesses like Cheryl's Fruit and Veg in Abercynon, Aberdare market cafe, Temple Bar in Aberaman and Penaluna's Famous Fish and Chips in Hirwaun. I want to thank Welsh Government...
Vikki Howells: 7. What consideration did the Minister give to supporting businesses to deal with the impact of COVID-19 when allocating funding to the economy portfolio? OQ57550
Vikki Howells: Supermarket grocery bills have risen and will climb further, households could end up paying £700 per year more on energy costs, and the Tory national insurance tax hike looms on the horizon. The Office for National Statistics is changing the way that it reports on living costs, so we'll get a more accurate picture of the impact of Tory decisions in Westminster. They party; our communities...
Vikki Howells: 6. What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the impact of the rising cost of living on people in Wales? OQ57562
Vikki Howells: Thank you, Minister. I'm following up on my question to the rural affairs Minister before Christmas, and specifically her reply that the Welsh Government would support the consideration of a permanent ban on trail hunting by those responsible for publicly owned land in Wales. We know that trail hunting is used as a smokescreen for the hunting of live animals. Following on from the examples of...
Vikki Howells: 4. What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the decision by Natural Resources Wales to ban trail hunting on land it manages? OQ57507
Vikki Howells: Thank you for your statement, Minister. I have two questions for you today. Firstly, in their recent report, 'Beyond the Pandemic', the Industrial Communities Alliance provided some insightful analysis of what is needed to address the economic imbalance in our older industrial sub-regions, such as the south Wales Valleys. Minister, do you agree with the ICA's findings that what the Valleys...
Vikki Howells: Thank you, First Minister, for your answer. The Association of Convenience Stores published their 2022 Welsh local shop report last week, and this highlighted the important role that the almost 3,000 convenience stores in Wales have in their local communities, in the Welsh economy, and as the providers of over 25,000 jobs. We know that many of these stores have played a crucial role during...
Vikki Howells: 4. Will the First Minister set out the Welsh Government’s priorities for supporting the retail sector in Cynon Valley? OQ57456
Vikki Howells: Born in Cwmaman on 19 August 1934, Ron Jones was a champion Welsh sprinter. Over 14 years, he won 12 Welsh sprint titles and set 22 Welsh records. What makes this achievement remarkable is that his career had an accidental start. His first 100 yd victory at the 1956 Welsh championships was only the second or third such event Ron had ever run. Ron was one of the few Welsh athletes ever to hold...
Vikki Howells: Thank you, First Minister. I'm sure like many of us here today, I was contacted by lots of constituents concerned that Cervical Screening Wales had extended the routine interval for cervical screening from three to five years for those aged 25 to 49. I appreciate the reasoning behind this decision, based as it is on a good news story of medical advancements and the resulting guidance from the...
Vikki Howells: 3. Will the First Minister make a statement on proposed changes to cervical screening timescales? OQ57431
Vikki Howells: Thank you, Minister. The Hankinson case highlighted how trail hunting had become a smokescreen for the illegal hunting of live quarry, and, just four days ago, the master of the Western Hunt was successfully prosecuted under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 for an incident that again occurred on the pretence of trail hunting. I'd like to echo the request made to you by my colleague Joyce Watson in...
Vikki Howells: Minister, I'm really pleased to see that the winter fuel support scheme is now in place, enabling Welsh councils to help those in their communities who are vulnerable to meet the cost of keeping their homes warm this winter. How else is the Welsh Government working with local authorities to support their communities over the coming period, especially in light of the Bevan Foundation's...
Vikki Howells: 3. What assessment has the Minister made of the impact on animal welfare of Natural Resources Wales's decision to ban trail hunting on its land? OQ57362
Vikki Howells: What consideration did the Minister give to the future funding of initiatives to regenerate town centres when allocating funding to the climate change portfolio?
Vikki Howells: Thank you, Minister. The community bank of Wales is a really important idea, putting its members and communities first instead of shareholders and profit margins. Along with many of my constituents, I look forward to plans being rolled out, but I note your comments around the challenges in putting the new model in place. You talked about traditional banks accelerating their retreat from the...
Vikki Howells: Thank you, Minister, for your statement today. I think the publication of these milestones is a really exciting step, in providing a sense of focus and a yardstick against which we can measure progress. So, I've got some questions around those milestones. Firstly, I welcome the commitment to a target for 75 per cent of working-age adults to be qualified to level 3 or higher by 2050. How will...
Vikki Howells: Deputy Minister, you may be aware that I recently joined the Minister for Climate Change for the official opening of the new Cynon Linc in Aberdare. Managed by Age Connects Morgannwg, and funded through the Welsh Government's integrated care fund, this has turned a tired community building into a modern, fit-for-purpose facility at the heart of the community, and in a prominent town-centre...
