A Migraine-friendly Space

3. Questions to the Senedd Commission – in the Senedd on 4 May 2022.

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Photo of Mabon ap Gwynfor Mabon ap Gwynfor Plaid Cymru

(Translated)

3. What action is the Commission taking to ensure that the Senedd estate is a migraine-friendly space? OQ57960

Photo of Joyce Watson Joyce Watson Labour 3:14, 4 May 2022

I thank you for the question. The Commission ensures that accessibility of the Senedd estate is regularly reviewed to ensure that it acts as an exemplar in line with emerging developments and best practice. The Senedd building design eliminates unnatural, harsh lighting, introduces large airy spaces, reduces noise, and thermal comfort is regulated, which reduces extreme temperature fluctuations. The Senedd estate has a number of freely available water stations, and a range of healthy snacks are available. Quiet rooms are accessible, and qualified first aiders are on hand. The Commission is committed to ensuring that, as it continues to develop the estate, both as a visitor venue and a place of work, the Commission's commitments to inclusion and accessibility remain at the forefront of that design.

Photo of Mabon ap Gwynfor Mabon ap Gwynfor Plaid Cymru 3:15, 4 May 2022

(Translated)

Thank you very much for that response. The Migraine Trust will provide a toolkit to Senedd Members this month in order to help us to assist those suffering from migraine, including the staff working with us and indeed all Senedd and Government staff. Will the Commission take steps to ensure that Senedd staff feel that they can reveal that they do have this condition, a condition that is stigmatised far too often, and that they can ask for reasonable adaptations, sharing good practice on how to support staff who live with migraine? Thank you.

Photo of Joyce Watson Joyce Watson Labour

I very much welcome and look forward to receiving that toolkit. In terms of absence from work, the absence reporting does include a migraine code specifically in order to support accurate reporting and also to reduce the stigma that you have just mentioned. The occupational health nurse is available regularly for individual appointments, in person or virtually, and there are a number of quiet spaces available as required. All the new computer equipment purchased, that's laptops and screens, are TÜV Rheinland certified, and where existing ones are replaced, they will meet that requirement. The same will happen with the new tvs that are installed across the estate. Some of them, of course, don't meet that standard because they haven't been replaced, but I definitely look forward to working with you and the Migraine Trust to ensure that we are an employer here and a space that ensure people feel comfortable should they be suffering from migraine. Thank you.

Photo of David Rees David Rees Labour 3:17, 4 May 2022

(Translated)

Thank you, everyone.