Jane Hutt: I thank the Member for raising an issue that, indeed, as you say, has been brought before this Assembly and to the attention of the Welsh Government. It is encouraging to hear that Newport—to have that update on Newport’s response as a local authority; the eighteenth out of 22, so there are more to come. This is something that—the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs, I...
Jane Hutt: The Member raises an important point and I will ask the Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children to respond either in writing or indeed in a statement to Members.
Jane Hutt: Yes, Mike Hedges, I do miss the many questions I had on invest-to-save, now progressing to the innovate-to-save fund, but I’m glad to have the opportunity to respond this afternoon. In fact, the innovate-to-save fund is currently supporting eight projects through the research and development phase of the initiative, and this stage is aimed to test and refine ideas so that we can assess the...
Jane Hutt: I thank the Member for both those questions. Firstly, yes, it is World Mental Health Day today, and it is an opportunity for us to acknowledge not only that this is an issue for one in four of us, in terms of mental health needs and issues, but I would again take the opportunity of saying, from a Welsh Government perspective, supporting people with mental health is one of our top priorities....
Jane Hutt: Diolch, Llywydd. I have two changes to this week’s business. The Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure will shortly make a statement on consultations on concessionary bus travel, and the time allocated to Counsel General’s questions tomorrow has been reduced to 30 minutes. Business for the next three weeks is as shown on the business statement and announcement found among the...
Jane Hutt: Thank you, Jenny Rathbone. I think you’ll be very pleased to hear, following your committee visit to the SOLCER house, learning about those different types of retrofitting, in line with local vernacular, that we are investing £104 million in Welsh Government Warm Homes over the next four years, to improve a further 25,000 homes. And we’ll continue to look at options to increase the scale...
Jane Hutt: I thank Julie Morgan for that question. And, of course, immediately after our business statement, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government, as you said, will be publishing the Welsh Government’s outline draft budget for 2018-19, making an oral statement. We’ve repeatedly called—certainly led by the Cabinet Secretary—on the UK Government to end its damaging and flawed...
Jane Hutt: I know the Cabinet Secretary would want to update not only on the investment in Newport and support for business, but also on the good news that has been announced recently in terms of development, which will benefit the local economy. Of course, his officials are closely engaged, when businesses have difficulties, particularly those businesses where we have already supported them in terms of...
Jane Hutt: I thank Jeremy Miles for both those questions. I think Members will be aware of the latest ‘School Report’ 2017 by Stonewall Cymru, and it is encouraging to note that, in fact, that report shows that the number of lesbian, gay and bi pupils bullied because of their sexual orientation has fallen by almost a third. But we obviously recognise there’s much more we have to do to prevent...
Jane Hutt: Well, of course, this is a matter for Caerphilly County Borough Council. Clearly, they are aware and are engaged in this issue and, of course, there’s a robust discussion and debate locally about it. And, of course, that is what we’ll take forward in terms of the Cabinet Secretary’s engagement with it.
Jane Hutt: Well, of course, these are matters that are out for consideration in terms of consultation, and those options and suggestions were made clear in the recent statement and White Paper. So, clearly, there is an opportunity to consider this in terms of the importance, which is delivering a service to the local people.
Jane Hutt: Diolch, Llywydd. There’s one change to today’s agenda—the time allocated to the draft budget has been extended to 90 minutes. Business for the next three weeks is as shown on the business statement and announcement found among the agenda papers, which are available to Members electronically.
Jane Hutt: Thank you to Nick Ramsay for that question. The Cabinet Secretary is making a statement later this week, updating on the franchise and, of course, he will answer those questions, particularly in relation to rolling stock.
Jane Hutt: In response to the Member, I know this will be a matter for Neath Port Talbot council, but, obviously, working in terms of the twenty-first century schools programme with other authorities in many instances. There is, of course, a new code of practice on ethical procurement in Wales, and community benefits are at the forefront and, indeed, ensuring that we have access for local supply chains...
Jane Hutt: Thank you, David Rees. The National Theatre Wales production—I think it’s called ‘We’re Still Here’—
Jane Hutt: I’m looking forward to seeing this play myself later in the week. I think you have to go to the station, then you’re taken to the destination for this. National Theatre Wales, I think, we would all recognise is a very, very important institution that we support. But you raised important questions about progress on the enterprise zone, and, of course, in the context of the developing...
Jane Hutt: I know that the Cabinet Secretary will want to update Members on this very important opportunity in terms of the 2020 games and in terms of building on our experience, which was shared earlier on this afternoon, I think it would be appropriate to move to reassure and update Members accordingly.
Jane Hutt: Thank you, Huw Irranca-Davies. It’s important that we have that second question in terms of cavity wall insulation so that I can, again, assure Members that the competent person schemes were introduced into the building regulations in 2010 and included the insertion of insulation into cavity walls. These schemes allow installers to install insulation and to self-certify the work complies...
Jane Hutt: I did respond to Simon Thomas’s question earlier on, to say that the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs will clarify our position in relation to this question.
Jane Hutt: Thank you, Julie Morgan, for enabling me to follow on and enhance the response that I gave to Simon Thomas earlier on. As I said to Simon Thomas, and to Members, particularly on the Finance Committee, of which you were a member in the last session, we spent a lot of time looking at ways, particularly when austerity was kicking in, in which we could, for example, assist local authorities with...
