Jane Hutt: Diolch yn fawr, Dai Lloyd. Your first point: of course, we have launched—the First Minister has launched—a major new campaign to promote Wales as an excellent place for doctors, including general practitioners and their families, to train, work and live. That clear commitment’s in our programme for government. Your point is well made in terms of those who are already practising as well...
Jane Hutt: The Member does raise a very important issue. Clearly, we have to learn lessons from other parts of the UK. I think we will have read about that development in Glasgow. Clearly, this is something that officials and the Cabinet Secretaries—because it’s not just one Cabinet Secretary, it’s very much a cross-Government responsibility—. I’m sure that this will lead to a statement coming...
Jane Hutt: Thank you, Julie Morgan, for raising that very important question, because I am sure we all welcome the fact that the inquiry has launched an office in Wales, as you say. I think when you just look at the way that the UK commissioned the inquiry—it covers England and Wales, and we must ensure that people in Wales, living in Wales, have the opportunity to come forward, tell their stories and...
Jane Hutt: Thank you, Bethan Jenkins. I’m glad that you agree with the decision that was made and I do understand that Assembly Members were invited to participate in discussions about that with the Cabinet Secretary. It’s very important, of course, that we do get the information out in a timely way so that you, as an Assembly Member, are aware of the decision as and when it’s made. So, obviously,...
Jane Hutt: Well, I certainly will want to ensure that we put the record straight, because I know this has been raised over the years, Mark Isherwood, and I will want to ensure that the Cabinet Secretary can put the record straight. I suggest he does that in a letter to the Member.
Jane Hutt: We should indeed be very worried, and it's very unfortunate that Iain Duncan Smith brought into implementation—some of which, of course, we're talking about today—many changes and cuts in terms of welfare reform that are having a directly adverse impact on families. On the point of universal credit and how it's being rolled out in Wales, it’s only been rolled out to new single jobseeker...
Jane Hutt: Well, I hope, and from the responses by the Cabinet Secretary and the Welsh Government, that the miners and their families will see the Welsh Government—indeed, with your support as well—very firmly on the side of our miners. And, of course, in terms of pensions, as Carl Sargeant said, in terms of our competencies and powers, we are limited in what we can do, but it is very important that...
Jane Hutt: Thank you, Andrew R.T. Davies, for your questions. I was also pleased to meet with businesses and traders in Cowbridge on Saturday. Indeed, it was an opportunity to talk to them about their very different needs. Some of them also talked to me about some of the other sources of help, for example, such as ReAct, that are supporting businesses. So, I think it’s important, as you say, that we...
Jane Hutt: I’ve several changes to make to today’s agenda. In addition to the First Minister’s statement on EU transition, the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport will make a statement on the specialist critical care centre at Llanfrechfa, and the Minister for Lifelong Learning and Welsh Language will make a statement updating the Assembly on the ministerial taskforce for the...
Jane Hutt: Deputy Presiding Officer, I do welcome the opportunity to respond to this debate as it does allow me to reiterate the Welsh Government’s position on the issue of lobbying of Ministers. It is a very straightforward position. I’m very glad to make it clear today that Ministers do not meet commercial lobbyists and I’m grateful that you allowed the Chair of the standards committee to update...
Jane Hutt: On your first point, of course, community safety in Wales is of paramount importance and the Cabinet Secretary will respond and he will update as appropriate on the current arrangements in terms of Safer Communities, which, of course, have served us well in terms of local partnerships. You did hear extensively from the First Minister this afternoon about our approach and our commitment and...
Jane Hutt: Well, Julie Morgan brings to our attention a very important new development. You describe a Cardiff mum actually getting involved and taking this forward, offering support for women with postnatal depression, perinatal psychosis, and other mental health issues. In fact, I know this was addressed in the Cabinet Secretary’s statement last week on ‘Together for Mental Health’—a...
Jane Hutt: Well, of course, the money and the support that we give to the Cardiff Medical School, part of Cardiff University, is clearly delivering outcomes, and is well supported by the Welsh Government. I know that there’s been a recent visit to the medical school, which I believe was very interesting, in terms of the discussions with those who are responsible for the medical school. But, of course,...
Jane Hutt: Thank you, David Rees, for those questions. I’m glad you’ve given us the opportunity, again, as a Welsh Government, to make it very clear that the Welsh Government remains opposed to fracking. The planning notification directions we’ve issued prevent local planning authorities from granting permission for unconventional gas development for underground coal gasification, and this does,...
Jane Hutt: In response to your first question, Darren Millar, I’m sure you are aware that the information regarding the EU regional social progress index study was published in February of this year, and, just recently, the same information has been republished as a league table by a think tank. Since the original data were gathered, the Welsh Government has published provisional verified GCSE...
Jane Hutt: Well, clearly, implementation of the social services and well-being Act, which came into force on 6 April, is now up for scrutiny and consideration in terms of outcomes, and I think the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport clearly laid out a three-year framework for the evaluation of the Act, and we’ll be reporting on that as appropriate. But I think also it’s important for...
Jane Hutt: Well, the Member does raise an important point in relation to section 106, which is indeed a very important provision in planning law, and the Cabinet Secretary will issue a written statement accordingly to clarify that point.
Jane Hutt: Diolch yn fawr, Lywydd. Just to say I’ve no changes to make to today’s agenda. Business Committee has reduced the time allocated to tomorrow’s questions to the Assembly Commission, and has also agreed that the debate on the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee’s report on the Wales Bill will take place as the final item of business before voting tomorrow, with the agenda...
Jane Hutt: I welcome this opportunity to respond to this debate today and I’d like to thank Joyce Watson for her opening address and for the leadership role she’s played and is playing, demonstrated by her commitment to ensuring that the role and influence of Commonwealth women parliamentarians is actually extended and expanded. To have a Welsh woman Assembly Member leading the way and leading this...
Jane Hutt: Well, we’re quite well aware of the fact that you were opposed to what was a very progressive piece of housing legislation that was supported across this Chamber. But it is important, of course, that it is now implemented appropriately and effectively and so of course we will take on board these issues. But clearly, there is a timeline for this in terms of the responsibilities of Rent Smart...
