Jane Dodds: Good afternoon, Minister. There is, as we know, a significant rise in foodbanks across mid and west Wales, and in Montgomeryshire, and I thank Russell George for raising this very important issue within Montgomeryshire. It is an absolute disgrace, and I would agree with Sioned Williams in this regard. Having spoken to a foodbank in Montgomeryshire recently, they were clear that there were...
Jane Dodds: Good afternoon, Trefnydd. I suspect you know what I'm going to be asking you, but it's with regard to the animal welfare plan. I wonder if you could bring forward a statement, particularly looking at the issue of greyhounds. You'll know that between 2018 and 2021, 2,000 greyhounds died in racing. And you'll know this is an issue that many of us across the Siambr have been raising. The other...
Jane Dodds: Diolch, Llywydd. Good afternoon, First Minister.
Jane Dodds: Thank you to Cefin Campbell for raising this issue, and thank you too for discussing Powys council.
Jane Dodds: It's now a Liberal Democrat council that is making sensible decisions on behalf of its people, unlike the previous administration, the Conservative and independent administration. Can I just focus on one aspect, please, of our rural housing stock? Many of them are very old and are subject to poor insulation, so I just wanted to focus in on insulation. The Welsh Government's Warm Homes...
Jane Dodds: Thank you very much for your response, Minister. We all know how important childcare is to families, particularly families struggling at the moment, and how important it is for our parents and our carers to get back to work. So, I just wondered if you might consider extending the provision of childcare so that all children aged nine months and over could receive that free childcare. Thank...
Jane Dodds: 3. What consideration did the Minister give to the sufficiency of childcare places when setting the Welsh Government's budget for 2022-23? OQ58454
Jane Dodds: Good afternoon again, Minister. Three very quick questions from me: we welcome this Bill and I look forward to working across parties in order to see this Bill go through. The first question is really around food production. Is it now defined as a public good for farmers, and will they receive that basic payment? The second issue is with regard to the 10 per cent tree cover. Would you...
Jane Dodds: Diolch, Trefnydd. The interesting thing with Glan Lash is that an independent planning ecology report commissioned by Carmarthenshire County Council has recommended rejecting the application on the basis that it does not fulfil the council's duty to maintain and enhance biodiversity. They reference laws made by this Senedd. So, which is right, given the possible planning applications around...
Jane Dodds: 3. Will the First Minister provide an update on the application to extend the extraction licence at Glan Lash opencast coal mine? OQ58453
Jane Dodds: Thank you very much to Plaid Cymru. I agree entirely with what Sioned, Delyth and Carolyn have said. Thank you very much.
Jane Dodds: We are in a really dark and dire situation right now, and we've known about what's coming down the tracks for months. Rather than spend the summer preparing and setting out a really comprehensive package of support to protect people this winter, all we have seen is the UK Conservative Government looking inwards, at itself and its own preservation. We really can't underestimate the real impact...
Jane Dodds: The committee's report and the auditor general's report set out a number of issues and concerns: poor contract and programme management; issues in reaching rural communities and private renters; lack of clarity around the criteria and objectives; and the sheer pace and scale needed. We heard in the evidence to the committee that whilst the programme has helped many people across Wales, it...
Jane Dodds: When we were all starting out on this inquiry, we didn't know that this would be the most important issue for us all, and, to be honest, I'm a little saddened that there aren't more people here in the Chamber, because this is the most important issue that we're all facing and all the people that we represent are facing. I'd like to start by, first of all, thanking the individuals and...
Jane Dodds: May I extend my best wishes to the Minister for Climate Change, who I know can't be here today, and thank you for taking the questions? I just want to echo the concerns of my colleague Rhys ab Owen in relation to the fire that happened recently. A fire is a fire. However it started, the concerns were that it could have spread and we could have ended up in a terrible situation, as was Grenfell...
Jane Dodds: Her Majesty was a friend to Wales, and many here in the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and further afield will miss her greatly. Our thoughts and prayers, of course, are with the royal family, but also people in all corners of the United Kingdom who have been touched by the charitable work and leadership of Elizabeth II. The wave of sympathy that we've seen from people and politicians...
Jane Dodds: Diolch yn fawr iawn. On behalf of my party, the Welsh Liberal Democrats, we extend our deepest sympathies on the loss of Elizabeth II. Elizabeth II has been one of the very few constants in all our lives in the 70 years of her reign. As the world around us changed, Elizabeth II was ever-present throughout; she provided stability and certainty for many. The passing of Elizabeth II without a...
Jane Dodds: Marvellous. So, the Llanelli dog show will perhaps visit the big cat stand up in the Flintshire show. I just really wanted, finally, to mention one other place and one other thing happening, in Llanwrtyd Wells: the bog snorkelling championships. That is back this year. Now, for those of you who want to take part, believe me, you will need a very large bath afterwards in order to ensure that...
Jane Dodds: To finish, if that's okay, in terms of language and culture in particular, I'm sure that we can all agree that it's great that the Urdd Eisteddfod and the National Eisteddfod have and will be held this year. I'm looking forward to visiting the National Eisteddfod, and I'm extremely pleased that thousands of children and young people will have the chance to experience the event—the first...
Jane Dodds: It gives me great pleasure to join in this debate.
