2. Business Statement and Announcement

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:46 pm on 6 October 2020.

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Photo of Caroline Jones Caroline Jones UKIP 2:46, 6 October 2020

Trefnydd, I would like to call for two statements from Government Ministers. The first is a statement from the Minister for health regarding cancer care in Wales during the pandemic. Whilst urgent cancer care continues, to an extent, cancer screening, like much of the NHS, is on hold while resources are focused on the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak—understandably so at the beginning of the outbreak, but not nearly nine months on. Many services are beginning to return, but nothing has been said of how the backlog will be dealt with. As a survivor of breast cancer, I was dismayed to learn that, according to Tenovus, 30,000 Welsh women missed out on screening, and that means as many as 300 women could unknowingly have breast cancer. As one of Wales's biggest killers, it is vital that we address this issue and that the Government outlines the action it will take in an urgent statement. 

The second statement I call for is from the Minister for housing on the homelessness crisis in Wales. Welsh Government assured us that actions taken during the peak of the pandemic would put an end to rough-sleeping. However, just a few days ago, I spoke to yet another veteran still sleeping rough, waiting for help. And I'm sure you will agree with me that this is unacceptable. Homelessness hasn't gone away during this crisis; it's just become more hidden. We need urgent action, and I call upon the Welsh Government to make a statement on how they will tackle homelessness, particularly within the ex-forces community. Diolch yn fawr.