Peter Fox: I will be speaking on amendments 5 and 6, tabled in my name, but, before I start, can I thank the Minister for her engagement throughout this process with me personally and other colleagues across the Chamber? It's been really helpful and welcome, and I do thank you for that, and also the many people who have contributed to the journey of this Bill to this point. Amendment 5 removes the...
Peter Fox: Can I thank you, Minister, for your statement? I think initiatives like gender budgeting can be very useful to help analyse the different impact that policies can have on different genders. We know that whilst gender equality has improved over time, there are still barriers to full equality, and so it's important to look at how we can tailor policies better to meet the needs and circumstances...
Peter Fox: Yes, sorry. So, First Minister, can I please urge that you consider how you can work together with me to bring about the changes we all need to see, and the many stakeholders across Wales that I've engaged with have asked for? Thank you.
Peter Fox: Thank you, First Minister, for your statement. I didn't realise we were short on time on this one, but I'll try to be brief. I think, as Adam Price pointed out, there is a Bill that is missing—that's the environmental governance Bill, which I think would be a very key aspect of the legislative programme. A Wales-specific environmental governance arrangement is going to be really important...
Peter Fox: Thank you, Minister, for that response, and I refer Members to my declaration of interest as a farmer myself. As a Minister, you've stated the Welsh Government has introduced some welcome initiatives to retain young people and, it looks like, hopefully, some more in the future, and that's welcomed. However, despite these initiatives, the sector is not getting any younger. The average age of a...
Peter Fox: Minister, as you pointed out, we know you've invested or will be investing £200 million and £25 million capital to address kitchens and facilities upgrades, and I know there is still some anxiety that that may not be enough, but I take it that those issues will be addressed with local authorities. However, with the rising inflation rates and the Russian invasion of Ukraine having a...
Peter Fox: 7. What is the Welsh Government doing to encourage young people into the agricultural sector and retain them? OQ58280
Peter Fox: Thank you, Minister, for the statement. I'm not trying to make any political points here. I have some grave concerns about this. As a corporate parent for 25 years through the local government sector, I do believe there is far more that local authorities can do. I know you described the packages of support that you were expecting from local authorities, but I genuinely believe local...
Peter Fox: Trefnydd, can I ask for a statement from the Minister for health on Welsh Government efforts to tackle escalating cancer waiting times in the Aneurin Bevan health board? I make this request because recent data showed an increase in people waiting more than eight weeks for key tests most commonly used to diagnose cancer. This shocking statistic falls below the suspected cancer pathway...
Peter Fox: Thank you, First Minister, for that response. Last week, I met with two constituents, who are also parents of Down syndrome children, who run a local charity that supports young people with Down syndrome from across much of south Wales. It was highlighted that, despite improvements in things like childcare, education and employment, young people with Down syndrome still face barriers to...
Peter Fox: 3. What discussions has the Welsh Government had with the UK Government about the Down Syndrome Act 2022? OQ58281
Peter Fox: Sorry about that, James.
Peter Fox: To conclude, Llywydd, I urge Members to vote for our unamended motion before us today. There's no doubt about it, the structure that we have and the network that we have at the moment is not fit for purpose. We need to get from where we are now to the aspirations captured in the Government's document, so how do we get there? Currently, we haven't got the answer, but people are suffering as a...
Peter Fox: Thank you, Tom Giffard. Sadly, in my 12 months here in this place, I've tended to hear regularly that, where we get into a difficult spot, it's always somebody else's fault. Now, being the leader of an administration myself for many years, the buck had to stop with me—[Interruption.] Yes, of course, Minister.
Peter Fox: Minister, you will be pleased that we don't disagree with you on that, and we will continue to make that position clear from our benches. But a Government should not continue to divest itself of responsibilities from areas and blame somebody else all the time. Twenty-three years you have been in place. Okay, you may not have had all of the levers all of the time, but you had enough time to...
Peter Fox: I will, yes. I certainly will.
Peter Fox: Well, you referenced the rail service and the current strikes, but you're not comprehending some of the questions Gareth put back to you, or the wider issues of the rural community. You focused very clearly on that one area, and I'm trying to point out that the transport network covers far more than just the rail area and those immediate issues that you focused on. So, yes, the transport...
Peter Fox: I feel I've got the poisoned chalice in trying to round this into some sort of conclusion. May I first, though, start by thanking everybody who contributed to this emotive debate? It is important for everyone, because at the heart of this debate today is a question I think all of us in the Chamber and, indeed, people across the country, have a keen interest in: what does a modern transport...
Peter Fox: Yesterday marked Global Motor Neurone Disease Awareness Day, and I'd like to thank the many Members of the Senedd who yesterday joined with me in meeting people living with and affected by MND on the steps of the Senedd to raise awareness of this cruel disease. And those there very much appreciated you being there. It's pleasing that significant changes have happened in Wales over the past...
Peter Fox: Thanks very much, Minister, for that response. It seems funny, on a beautiful sunny day, to be thinking about flooding, but, Minister, you'll know very well that, over the past few years, communities across Monmouthshire have experienced some devastating flooding, particularly during those winter months, with the examples of Skenfrith constantly being flooded, and Monmouth, where mobile homes...
