Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. I would advise the Member to write to the Minister for Climate Change. Whilst, as you say, she cannot comment obviously on a specific facility, as you referred to, I think she will be able to give you an answer to your question, rather to wait obviously until the new term begins.
Lesley Griffiths: Well, in relation to your second point, you will have heard the First Minister say several times that Cabinet is still having discussions around this week's review of regulations, and the First Minister will be making a statement here in the Chamber tomorrow afternoon. You made, I think, a very pertinent point around our health boards, and, as you say, certainly we are seeing more people...
Lesley Griffiths: Diolch, Llywydd. There are no changes to this week's agenda. Draft business for the next three sitting weeks is set out on the business statement and announcement, which can be found amongst the meeting papers, available to Members electronically.
Lesley Griffiths: I absolutely agree with you around recess. And I think what I was saying in my previous answer was that there wasn't time—. I think you actually specifically asked me whether we could have an urgent statement next week, and I don't think that that piece of work that I referred to, by the Minister for Climate Change and her officials, will be finished then. But obviously, they are looking at...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. I agree with you that there should be proper scrutiny, and that's why we very much welcomed RCT's section 19 report; obviously, NRW had already produced their report. I think there are some concerning findings in the RCT section 19 report. There are clearly lessons that need to be learned following the devastating floods last year, and I think both NRW and RCT have acknowledged...
Lesley Griffiths: Certainly, in the previous term of Government, the Welsh Government gave significant funding to our local authorities to ensure that they were able to install the charging points that would be required as people purchase more cars. It's very important that when someone is considering buying an electric car they have the confidence to know that they can travel safely. In relation to your...
Lesley Griffiths: Yes, I certainly do share that view. And isn't it sad that we have to remind people that all our shop workers deserve courtesy and respect? And we certainly saw last year, over the summer particularly, when I was meeting with the supermarkets regularly within my portfolio, that was always top of the agenda, unfortunately, the way that many of their staff were being treated. I worked closely...
Lesley Griffiths: I know the Minister for Climate Change and her officials are absolutely working at pace around this issue, which is obviously very important to so many people. It's really important they have a safe place to live, and cladding has, we know, caused risks and can cause risks in the event of a fire, but it's obviously not the only concern. I don't think the Minister will be able to do a...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. I think Laura Anne Jones does raise a very important point, and, certainly, when I'm appointing boards or you're looking at the way Welsh Government funding is given, I think things that are very important to us—social justice, making sure that sustainability is at the fore—they are issues that we look at very carefully. Obviously, the Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport, and...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. I'll take those in reverse order, and, in relation to the ICT policy of the Commission, I didn't hear the question you asked of the Llywydd. But, obviously, the Llywydd is in the Chamber and has heard you and I'm sure will write to you on the specific questions that you raised. In relation to the committee structure, having spent many weeks as part of the Business Committee...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. This is becoming, clearly, more of an issue, and as someone who uses the rail services—I came down to Cardiff yesterday, and, whilst the train was certainly not overcrowded, there were a few people who were not wearing masks. As you say, it's to protect other people, and I think we all need to be far more considerate about other people. We are still saying, aren't we, that face...
Lesley Griffiths: Diolch, Llywydd. I was going to say 'pot kettle black' at the start of my contribution. I had a feeling red squirrels might come up today, and certainly I know, obviously, that the nature recovery action plan sets out priorities and this is part of that. The Joint Nature Conservation Committee is currently in the initial data-gathering phase of its review of species protection, and I know the...
Lesley Griffiths: Diolch, Llywydd. There are several changes to today's business: the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution will deliver the statement on the legislative programme; the Minister for Climate Change will make a statement on affordability, second homes and the Welsh language, and finally, the Minister for Education and Welsh Language will make a statement on curriculum reform—next...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. Our vaccination programme has been just a joy to behold, hasn't it? And I'm sure many of us have visited our local vaccination centres and seen the incredible work that's been done to ensure as many people as possible have received both their first and second dose. I think we all have a role to play in encouraging our constituents to take up their vaccine, and certainly I know that...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. Our vaccination programme across the whole of Wales continues to make excellent progress. Aneurin Bevan University Health Board's vaccination roll-out also continues to be successful for both first and second doses of the vaccination across its catchment area.
Lesley Griffiths: Well, as I mentioned, we very much welcomed the recommendations from that report, about ensuring that we used the levers that we had, to make sure people right across Wales understand all the financial support that's available to them. I'm really pleased that the implementation of the Welsh Government's child poverty income maximisation action plan has helped to maximise the income of people...
Lesley Griffiths: Well, I do realise that devolving certain powers relating to elements of social security could provide us with a wider range of tools to tackle poverty; I certainly think we would be a far more compassionate Government than the UK Government. But I think it's really important that we carefully assess how any long-term changes to social security, including the devolution of welfare benefits,...
Lesley Griffiths: Well, it is for the local authority to ensure they’ve got sufficiency of places, and a range of schools—both Welsh and English-medium, faith and non-faith schools—are available in most areas. Of course, you’re always going to have some schools that are more popular than others, so there will be surplus places in some and not in others. I’m not aware of any local authority in Wales...
Lesley Griffiths: Welsh Government welcomed the report 'Benefits in Wales: options for better delivery', published by the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee in October 2019. Following the committee’s recommendations, we are improving welfare benefit take-up and will continue to explore how further devolution of the benefit system would improve outcomes for people in Wales.
Lesley Griffiths: I think our community pharmacy and our pharmacists are hugely important in NHS Wales and certainly when I was health Minister 10 years ago I really encouraged our pharmacists. I remember they undertook pilots for us in giving the flu vaccine out, for instance, and, I think, at the time, they were underutilised in the way that they certainly are not at the moment. I will certainly make sure...
