Vikki Howells: Thank you, Minister, for your answer. The physical scars of the industrial revolution are a legacy that we live with today, with nearly 40 per cent of all disused UK coal tips being here in Wales. As you so rightly said, the reclamation costs are on a scale in excess of anything that could have been anticipated when devolution began, but it’s important that we deal with this issue now. So,...
Vikki Howells: 8. What progress has been made in securing a sustainable financial settlement from the UK Government to support effective remediation of Wales's 2,100 coal tips? OQ57006
Vikki Howells: Thank you, Minister, for your statement today; I have a few questions arising. A whole-school approach is obviously one that ensures that a policy is embedded across school life, and indeed if it's done well, then that can be the case. However, there is a danger that a whole-school approach, if not well planned and adequately analysed, can, in fact, simply place additional measures on actual...
Vikki Howells: Thank you, Minister, for that answer. Accessible Caring Transport provides a lifeline for those in need of community transport in my constituency, and it's been at the forefront of providing transport for clients to essential healthcare during the pandemic. As the Deputy Minister will know, the Wales Co-operative Party manifesto, 'Owning the Future', commits Labour and Co-operative MSs like...
Vikki Howells: 5. Will the Minister make a statement on community transport provision in the Cynon Valley? OQ56960
Vikki Howells: Thank you, Minister, for your statement today. Once again, I want to place on record my thoughts for all those families who have been affected by this scandal, especially with data from the thematic stillbirth category report suggesting that one in three episodes of stillbirth might have been avoided if the care had been different. These numbers are shocking enough, but they represent real...
Vikki Howells: Thank you, First Minister. I was very pleased to see the written statement from the Deputy Minister setting out how Welsh Government was making additional funding available to childcare and play services to weather the impacts of COVID-19. I welcome the comments around play sufficiency assessments and supporting Play Wales in their work on the ministerial review of play. How will improving...
Vikki Howells: First Minister, a recent letter from the Federation of Small Businesses Cymru to Members of the Senedd called for key Welsh Government interventions to support businesses such as Business Wales and the Development Bank of Wales to be protected and developed. With continuing uncertainty around post-EU funding, and the UK Government's blatant attempts to reclaim both money and powers, do you...
Vikki Howells: 8. Will the Welsh Government provide an update on its work to support childcare and play services? OQ56961
Vikki Howells: Minister, I'm sure you'll be aware of the ambition held by the astronomy tourism specialist, Dark Sky Wales, to open a national planetarium for Wales on the site of the former Tower colliery at Hirwaun. Do you agree that this proposed astronomy facility could provide a significant boost to the tourism economy of the south Wales Valleys, building on the success of Zip World at the same site...
Vikki Howells: Will the Welsh Government provide an update on its priorities for improving the provision of social care in Cynon Valley?
Vikki Howells: Minister, I know you recently met with the Industrial Communities Alliance to discuss their concerns about the shared prosperity and levelling-up funds, funds that are so important to the economic future of constituencies like mine, the Cynon Valley. The ICA have long argued that any funding from the schemes must be both long term and sustainable if it is to deliver transformative change....
Vikki Howells: I thank the First Minister for that answer. Town centres are, of course, the beating heart of our communities, but some recent reports, such as the Audit Wales report, 'Regenerating Town Centres in Wales', sketch out the challenges that they face. I welcome the robust comments from Welsh Government on how Ministers will address many of these issues through, for example, town centres first and...
Vikki Howells: 5. What are the Welsh Government's priorities for supporting town centres? OQ56935
Vikki Howells: Thank you, Minister, for your answer. I've visited quite a few food pantry schemes in my constituency lately, including a really great scheme at Glyncoch last month, where I was really impressed by the variety of fresh and staple foodstuffs on offer, along with other advice services too. It's clear that food pantries have a significant and sustainable long-term role to play in the battle...
Vikki Howells: 8. How is the Welsh Government supporting the creation of food pantry schemes in Cynon Valley? OQ56851
Vikki Howells: Thank you for that answer, First Minister, and, without doubt, Wales has benefited economically from the increase in staycations this year. We have such a wonderful country to showcase, so how can the Welsh Government encourage people to continue holidaying in Wales as the worldwide tourist market opens back up in the future?
Vikki Howells: 3. What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the impact of staycations on the economy of Wales during the 2021 tourism season? OQ56850
Vikki Howells: Thank you, Minister. I was really pleased to see Lucy's law, the ban on third-party sales of puppies and kittens, come into effect earlier this month. I want to pay tribute to all the campaigners who supported this law, and place on record my thanks to you for delivering this important intervention. Can you update Members on the engagement that has taken place with businesses, breeders, et...
Vikki Howells: 1. Will the Minister provide an update on Welsh Government actions to improve animal welfare in Wales over the course of this Senedd term? OQ56805
