2. Business Statement and Announcement

– in the Senedd at 2:33 pm on 3 May 2022.

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Photo of Elin Jones Elin Jones Plaid Cymru 2:33, 3 May 2022

(Translated)

Thank you, First Minister. The next item is the business statement and announcement, and I call on the Trefnydd to make that statement. Lesley Griffiths. 

Photo of Lesley Griffiths Lesley Griffiths Labour 2:34, 3 May 2022

Diolch, Llywydd. There are a few changes to this week's business. Firstly, the Minister for Economy will make a statement on border controls as the next item of business. Secondly, the Business Committee has agreed to reduce the time allocated to questions to the Senedd Commission and cancel the short debate, as no topic was tabled tomorrow.

Draft business for the next three weeks is set out on the business statement and announcement, which can be found amongst the meeting papers available to Members electronically. 

Photo of Altaf Hussain Altaf Hussain Conservative

Minister, I would like you to secure a statement from the Deputy Minister for Social Services, for her to respond to Professor Donald Forrester, who has called for a review of children's social work in Wales following the death of Logan Mwangi. The professor told BBC Wales that, across the UK, there has been quite a number of child deaths requiring reviews with the involvement of social services. According to the professor, there should be an independent review in Wales, similar to those that are being undertaken in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. These matters are incredibly important, and I would urge the Minister to set out a response. Thank you. 

Photo of Lesley Griffiths Lesley Griffiths Labour 2:35, 3 May 2022

Thank you. Well, the Member referred to the Logan Mwangi case, which is obviously a tragic case, and our thoughts are absolutely with everyone affected by Logan's death. I think what is really important now is that the child practice review and the planned inspection by Care Inspectorate Wales are completed before the Minister makes any statement. 

Photo of Heledd Fychan Heledd Fychan Plaid Cymru

(Translated)

Trefnydd, I'd like to ask for a statement by the Minister for Climate Change giving us an update on the work on the south Wales metro. With the work going ahead in a number of areas across the region I represent, I have to admit that citizens have had a shock about the impact that the work is having on them. A number have spoken to me and written to me complaining that the noise is keeping them awake at night, which then impacts on their working day and the education of their children, and they ask why this work doesn't happen mainly during the day. It would be good to know how the work is going, and how the complaints of residents are being dealt with to ensure that any impact on their sleep in particular is being minimised as much as possible whilst this vital work is going ahead. 

Photo of Lesley Griffiths Lesley Griffiths Labour 2:36, 3 May 2022

Thank you. There's a great deal of work being undertaken at the current time, as you've referred to, in relation to the south Wales metro and indeed the north Wales metro. You raise some concerns—specific concerns, sorry—from constituents. I think it would be more appropriate to write to the Deputy Minister for Climate Change and get him to look into those.  

Photo of Mike Hedges Mike Hedges Labour 2:37, 3 May 2022

I would like to ask for two Government statements. Firstly, many of my constituents were seriously concerned regarding a remark made by Jacob Rees-Mogg about the future of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency in Swansea. I want to stress the importance of the DVLA to Swansea and the wider community. This was how the 1960s Labour levelling-up worked, by moving a Government department out of London. Can the Welsh Government make a statement on the importance of Westminster Government-funded bodies in Wales?

Secondly, I would like to ask a question on supply teachers. As someone who has continually asked about the public sector provision of supply teachers, I have long believed that supply teachers are being badly treated. I was very pleased to see the proposed action in the Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru agreement. I would like a Government statement on when and how the option for a more sustainable model of supply teaching, with fair work at its heart, which would include local authority-led and school-led initiatives, is going to be implemented.

Photo of Lesley Griffiths Lesley Griffiths Labour

I thank Mike Hedges. I think you make a really important point around UK Government departments, and indeed Welsh Government departments, being outside of the capital. And I think what you're really right to point to is the important stimulus role that Government and its partners in the wider public sector can play in supporting that regeneration and economic renewal through strategic deployment of staff and offices as part of a place-based strategy. It's something the Welsh Government has tried really hard to support over the last few years, and you'll be aware, recently, that the new Transport for Wales office, for instance, is in Pontypridd, which really helped kick start regeneration in that area, and, indeed, of the location of the Development Bank for Wales headquarters in my own constituency of Wrexham, which we hope will grow further in the next few years. I think, as we move out of the pandemic, the opportunities for more of this practice to take place—. And we do absolutely recognise the importance of the DVLA in Swansea. It's been a vital economic support for Morriston and the wider area through the economic footprint it's had there. 

In relation to your question around supply teachers, the Minister for Education and Welsh Language is sitting next to me, and is very happy to come forward with a statement. 

Photo of Natasha Asghar Natasha Asghar Conservative 2:39, 3 May 2022

Minister, may I ask for a statement from the education Minister about accountability and the rights of parents in schools in Wales? The reason I ask for this is because I'm dealing with a case on behalf of a constituent whose daughter suffers from anxiety and is currently waiting to be assessed by the child and adolescent mental health service. The pupil has been excluded from school as a result of an incident that took place, although there's no proof that she was involved or even, indeed, responsible for this. My constituent has been told his daughter must attend the Bridge Achievement Centre in Newport, but there is no place for her at present, and she has to continue her education online. This is totally against the wishes of the parent, who does not believe that this is in her best interest and wishes her to continue to attend school, pending the assessment of CAMHS. The school has refused to consider its decision to exclude this child and, when I contacted Newport City Council's education department, I was told this is a school-based issue and not a matter for the local authority to comment on. So, Minister, can I ask for a statement from the Minister on accountability of local education departments for the decisions made by their schools and what rights parents have if their judgment of what is best for their child differs from the school's? Thank you.

Photo of Lesley Griffiths Lesley Griffiths Labour 2:40, 3 May 2022

Again, I think it would be more appropriate if you wrote to the Minister for Education and Welsh Language. It's a very specific concern that you raise.

Photo of Delyth Jewell Delyth Jewell Plaid Cymru

I'd like a statement, please, outlining what work is happening cross-Governmentally to address the hormone replacement therapy shortage in the UK. I've been contacted by constituents who are deeply concerned about this and filled with dread at the prospect of how they'll cope if they are not able to manage their menopause symptoms. Trefnydd, we don't talk enough about the menopause. There's still a stigma that means that too many women's concerns are ignored or they're not taken seriously, and they can go through debilitating symptoms, not just hot flushes or problems sleeping, but pain and anxiety that affects how they live their lives.

A recent survey found that one in 10 women who've worked through the menopause left their job because of their symptoms, and the current HRT shortage will be making countless women's lives more acutely stressful. Now, I realise that the UK Government has responsibility for maintaining the supply of medicines, but I understand that the Welsh Government is working cross-Governmentally to help ensure women continue to receive prescriptions. I'm sure women across Wales would welcome a statement from the Government updating us all on the progress that's being made across the UK to combat the HRT shortage.

Photo of Lesley Griffiths Lesley Griffiths Labour 2:41, 3 May 2022

Thank you, and I think Delyth Jewell raises a very important point, which affects, obviously, many of our constituents. I know, certainly, with my MS hat on, I've received representations. I think you're quite right, people don't recognise the menopause in the way it should be recognised. I'm very pleased Welsh Government has just appointed one of our officials to be the menopause champion, and I know I and other colleagues in Cabinet will be engaging with her to see what more we can do to raise awareness around this issue.

I will ask the Minister for Health and Social Services—she's not in the Chamber, but I will certainly ask her—if she can provide an update on discussions across all UK Government administrations. As you say, it is the UK Government's responsibility, but, if there is anything that she feels that is worthy of updating Members, I will ask her to do so.

Photo of Elin Jones Elin Jones Plaid Cymru 2:42, 3 May 2022

(Translated)

I thank the Trefnydd.