Information between 14th October 2022 - 10th July 2025
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Parliamentary Debates |
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Members Sworn
8 speeches (2,234 words) Tuesday 9th July 2024 - Commons Chamber Mentions: 1: Lindsay Hoyle (Spk - Chorley) NorthWesley Paul William Streeting, Ilford NorthDarren Paul Jones, Bristol North WestAnneliese Jane Dodds - Link to Speech |
Select Committee Documents |
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Monday 4th November 2019
Inquiry Publications - The Armed Forces and Defence Industry in Wales - 1st Report of Session 2019 Welsh Affairs Committee Found: u l t u r a l h e r i t a g e w h e n i t e x a m i n e d t h e E s t a t e Strategy.20 Jane Dodds |
Welsh Government Publications |
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Friday 6th June 2025
Source Page: Spending more than a penny on toilet upgrades across Mid Wales Document: Spending more than a penny on toilet upgrades across Mid Wales (webpage) Found: This funding was secured through the budget deal between the Welsh Government and Jane Dodds, Leader |
Saturday 10th May 2025
Source Page: £5m to make playgrounds and play areas fun-tastic Document: £5m to make playgrounds and play areas fun-tastic (webpage) Found: This funding was secured through the budget deal between the Welsh Government and Jane Dodds, Leader |
Monday 24th March 2025
Source Page: Final Budget 2025 to 2026 Document: 2025-26 Final Budget Explainer (PDF) Found: It includes several funding and policy commitments agreed with Jane Dodds MS, Leader of the Welsh Liberal |
Monday 24th March 2025
Source Page: Final Budget 2025 to 2026 Document: Explanatory note (PDF) Found: In publishing this Final Budget, the Welsh Government has worked closely with Jane Dodds MS, the leader |
Monday 24th March 2025
Source Page: Final Budget 2025 to 2026 Document: Budget agreement for the Final Budget 2025-2026 (PDF) Found: Budget 2025-26, the Welsh Government agreed a number of funding allocations and policy issues with Jane Dodds |
Thursday 20th March 2025
Source Page: FOI release 24409: Universities Document: Doc 3 (PDF) Found: speeches were given by Members of the Senedd, including Adam Price MS, Cefin Campbell MS and Jane Dodds |
Thursday 20th February 2025
Source Page: Written Statement: Final Local Government Settlement 2025-26 (20 February 2025) Document: Written Statement: Final Local Government Settlement 2025-26 (20 February 2025) (webpage) Found: The budget agreement between the Welsh Government and Jane Dodds MS, leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats |
Thursday 20th February 2025
Source Page: Budget agreement secures extra £100m for public services Document: Budget agreement secures extra £100m for public services (webpage) Found: The details of the agreement, between the Welsh Government and Jane Dodds MS, Leader of the Welsh Liberal |
Thursday 20th February 2025
Source Page: Local government revenue and capital settlement: final 2025 to 2026 Document: Final letter to local authorities (PDF) Found: I am pleased the budget agreement between the Welsh Government and Jane Dodds MS, leader of the Welsh |
Thursday 6th February 2025
Source Page: Newsletter of the Interim Environmental Protection Assessor (IEPAW) for Wales: Autumn 2024 Document: Newsletter of the Interim Environmental Protection Assessor (IEPAW) for Wales: Autumn 2024 (webpage) Found: also grateful for the support of David Chadwick, MP for Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe as well as Jane Dodds |
Thursday 16th January 2025
Source Page: Ministerial meetings and engagements Document: Ministerial meetings and engagements January to March 2024 (ODS) Found: 02-07 00:00:00 Cyfweliad/Interview BBC Wales regarding SFS 2024-02-08 00:00:00 Cyfarfod/Meeting Jane Dodds |
Thursday 16th January 2025
Source Page: Ministerial meetings and engagements Document: Ministerial meetings and engagements October to December 2023 (ODS) Found: with the Llywydd 15/11/23 Cyfarfod/Meeting Meeting with NRW 16/11/23 Ymweliad/Visit Visit with Jane Dodds |
Thursday 16th January 2025
Source Page: Ministerial meetings and engagements Document: Ministerial meetings and engagements April to June 2022 (ODS) Found: 2022-05-10 00:00:00 Cyfarfod/Meeting Professor Elwen Evans QC 2022-05-12 00:00:00 Cyfarfod/Meeting Jane Dodds |
Thursday 16th January 2025
Source Page: Ministerial meetings and engagements Document: Ministerial meetings and engagements September to December 2024 (ODS) Found: Reception National Adoption Service for Wales 10 year anniversary 2024-11-06 00:00:00 Cyfarfod/Meeting Jane Dodds |
Thursday 16th January 2025
Source Page: Ministerial meetings and engagements Document: Ministerial meetings and engagements July to August 2024 (ODS) Found: Change Committee 2024-07-16 00:00:00 Cyfweliad/Interview Media 2024-07-16 00:00:00 Cyfarfod/Meeting Jane Dodds |
Thursday 16th January 2025
Source Page: Ministerial meetings and engagements Document: Ministerial meetings and engagements April to June 2023 (ODS) Found: & Cllr Andrew Morgan - Centre for Digital Public Services 2023-06-15 00:00:00 Cyfarfod/Meeting Jane Dodds |
Thursday 16th January 2025
Source Page: Ministerial meetings and engagements Document: Ministerial meetings and engagements May to September 2021 (ODS) Found: Cyfarfod/Meeting Health and Safety Forum meeting [virtual] 2021-08-12 00:00:00 Cyfarfod/Meeting Jane Dodds |
Thursday 16th January 2025
Source Page: Ministerial meetings and engagements Document: Ministerial meetings and engagements October to December 2022 (ODS) Found: High Headteacher 14/10/2022 Cyfarfod/Meeting WLGA Education meeting 17/10/2022 Cyfarfod/Meeting Jane Dodds |
Thursday 16th January 2025
Source Page: Ministerial meetings and engagements Document: Ministerial meetings and engagements January to March 2023 (ODS) Found: plc 2023-02-28 00:00:00 Cyfarfod/Meeting CBI 2023-02-28 00:00:00 Cyfarfod/Meeting Tom Giffard, Jane Dodds |
Thursday 16th January 2025
Source Page: Ministerial meetings and engagements Document: Ministerial meetings and engagements October to December 2021 (ODS) Found: :00:00 Briffio’r cyfryngau/Media Briefing Media 2021-11-30 00:00:00 Cyfarfod/Meeting MF&LG and Jane Dodds |
Welsh Senedd Speeches |
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Tue 08 Jul 2025
No Department None 4. The Senedd Cymru (Representation of the People) Order 2025 <p>Yes. And can I start by apologising to the Chair and to the Cabinet Secretary, and to the Chamber, for being late for the beginning of this debate. But I'd just like to pick up on those last comments by Jane Dodds, really, and remind us of the connection between what we're discussing today, which is the conduct Order which introduces, through secondary regulations, the existing electoral offences, et cetera, and the fact that we are going to be, very shortly, discussing a new piece of primary legislation, which will create a new electoral offence for deliberate deception. The purpose of doing that, of course, now, is to get it in place by the 2026 election. The Government has committed to doing that and translating that into conduct Orders for future elections. But, if the principle has been accepted, it's important that it's implemented now, because it's this next election when we are going to face, as Jane Dodds was intimating really, a tsunami of disinformation and deceit. And so, we need to use this measure, that we are going to legislate to create—. We need to then turn that into action at this coming Senedd election.</p> |
Tue 08 Jul 2025
No Department None 1. Questions to the First Minister <p>Well, thanks very much, and I think the early years integration transformation programme that RCT piloted is a great example of what needs to be done. It's a needs-based delivery model across the whole local authority. What it does is create a single front door to deliver the right support at the right time, to make sure, for example, that there's enhanced health visiting interventions, addressing one of the points that Jane Dodds made earlier, in terms of that link between health and low incomes in families with children.</p> |
Mon 07 Jul 2025
No Department None 3. Post-legislative scrutiny of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015: Evidence session 5 <p>We certainly measure lots of things that tell us things are getting worse, though, so, clearly, it can't be too difficult for us to devise things to try and reverse those figures.</p> |
Mon 07 Jul 2025
No Department None 4. Post-legislative scrutiny of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015: Evidence session 6 <p>Now, I'm calling Jane Dodds.</p> |
Mon 07 Jul 2025
No Department None 2. Post-legislative scrutiny of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015: Evidence session 4 <p>Okay, thank you. We need to move on. I just want to remind us that we were supposed to be finishing in 10 minutes. So, if everybody could be speedy in their questions and speedy in their answers—. We will extend it a bit because we want to cover three more areas. So, Jane Dodds. </p> |
Mon 07 Jul 2025
No Department None 3. Post-legislative scrutiny of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015: Evidence session 5 <p>Okay. We're going to pursue this further. Jane Dodds, you wanted to come in first.</p> |
Mon 07 Jul 2025
No Department None 5. Post-legislative scrutiny of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015: Evidence session 7 <p>Thank you. Can I call in Jane Dodds now, because we need to move on?</p> |
Wed 02 Jul 2025
No Department None 1. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales <p>Well, can I thank the Member for his questions? This relates, in part, to questions raised already by Cefin Campbell and Jane Dodds, in that there are capacity issues in some parts of Wales, and we do need to meet that demand in order to ensure that the travelling public are not left stranded, but also to make sure that we're maximising the farebox, which, in turn, can be reinvested in areas of Wales that do not have the sort of frequent services that more urban areas often benefit from. So, we are trying our utmost, through the acquisition of new trains, to deal with capacity issues on the rail network, and in so doing, drive up the amount of revenue that we're raising through rail.</p> |
Wed 02 Jul 2025
No Department None 1. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales <p>Can I thank Jane Dodds for her question, and, again, for the help that she gave in securing the new fifth service on the Heart of Wales line? That's planned to be delivered by Transport for Wales this year in the December timetable change. That service is planned to be better than the service that it replaces, the one that was removed due to low passenger usage.</p> |
Wed 02 Jul 2025
No Department None 1. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales <p>Well, can I thank the Member for his question? A lot of work has taken place in the past few weeks since this issue was last discussed, but I'd like to put on record my thanks to the Liberal Democrat Member of the Senedd, Jane Dodds, for bringing forward this proposal. I think it will make an enormous difference to young people across Wales. I was at Ysgol Dinas Brân recently, in Llangollen, and I was chatting with sixth formers there about their main concerns and their challenges in life, and one of them said, 'You know, effectively, our life chances could be locked into this valley unless we can gain affordable access to public transport, and unless we can have frequent and reliable and safe services.' Well, as a result of the £1 fare cap, we are going to provide that affordable public transport. And as a result of the bus Bill, we're going to provide reliable, safe and frequent services. So, we are addressing one of the major inhibitors for young people when they strive to reach their potential.</p> |
Tue 01 Jul 2025
No Department None 2. Business Statement and Announcement <p>Thank you very much again, Jane Dodds, for adding your voice to the concerns that have been raised by Members today in the Senedd, adding your voice to all the concerns that have been raised about the plight of people in Gaza, and to recognise again that this is something where, as I said in my statement today, we call for urgent restoration of full, unimpeded humanitarian access across Gaza and the West Bank. Actually, I say in my statement that UNRWA should be supported and empowered to carry out its mandate. We heard about the restrictions, again, at our meeting last week. But also, you've added your voice, as others, in terms of the arms embargo call to the UK Government, and that's on the record, as already raised today. I think it is important that we say that we're urging all parties to re-engage in ceasefire negotiations, to get the hostages out, and to secure a permanent end to the conflict, leading to a two-state solution and a lasting peace, which would end the suffering of those most affected by this conflict.</p> |
Tue 01 Jul 2025
No Department None 3. Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care: Children’s Oral Health <p>I'm very grateful to Jane Dodds for that. As she will know, I have made a commitment previously to be publishing more information in relation to waiting times on a more granular basis, so I will take that particular point into consideration when we publish our transparency statement in the autumn. I should say that the figures published last year showed 10,100 orthodontic treatments, which is the second highest on record, after the previous year where nearly 10,700 treatments were started, so that is around a 10 per cent increase in activity compared to 10 years ago.</p> |
Wed 18 Jun 2025
No Department None 2. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Education <p>Thank you, Natasha. You tabled a written question about the summit, where I indicated I was very happy to brief you, Cefin Campbell and Jane Dodds, as well as opposition spokespeople, on the outputs of the summit. So far, nobody has taken me up on that. There were 30 Welsh Government officials at the summit, but the purpose of there being that number of Welsh Government officials was because I had been really clear that I didn't want to have an event where everybody sat there listening while there were policy speeches. I wanted this to be about discussing with people on the front line what we need to do to change things. So, the Welsh Government officials who were there were facilitating and noting the table discussion, and I'm really grateful to them for the work that they did on that. And I think it's quite a surprising thing that you've alighted on, really.</p> |
Tue 17 Jun 2025
No Department None 3. Business Statement and Announcement <p>Diolch yn fawr, Jane Dodds, and thank you again. It is important that we have these strong statements made by Senedd Members to stop arms to Israel, and that the Welsh Parliament expresses a view on that. Of course, that will be taken back in terms of not just the First Minister's response, as I was asked for earlier on, but also to look at this in terms of what is happening. I hope I can report back on that, again, in terms of the arrangements and the situation where we want to, as you say, Jane, be very clear about how we stop the war, how we stop the humanitarian disaster that is so cruelly affecting Palestinians in Gaza. Stopping arms is crucial to that, as well as, obviously—. Within international law, we have to recognise this call today.</p> |
Tue 17 Jun 2025
No Department None 4. Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip: 10th Anniversary of the Future Generations (Wales) Act <p>Well, thank you so much, Jane Dodds, for again expressing that enthusiasm, that sense of pride that we have with our well-being of future generations legislation. It's a real sense of pride. I mean, there's so many times when people say, 'We're looking at what you are doing, Wales.' This is Wales that we're proud of, like the Wales we were proud of last night with our nation of sanctuary awards.</p> |
Wed 11 Jun 2025
No Department None 1. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning <p>Ninety-three per cent of respondents have already stated their opposition to pylon construction in their area. Less than 1 per cent of businesses believe that pylons would create economic opportunities, while 81 per cent see no benefits whatsoever. The First Minister, in response to Jane Dodds, noted that they aim to get the balance right in the need to develop renewable energy resources and affordability.</p> |
Wed 11 Jun 2025
No Department None 6. Debate on the Equality and Social Justice Committee Report, 'Anything’s Achievable with the Right Support: Tackling the Disability Employment Gap' <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">I can't underline enough</span> the importance of that new unit, the value of that evidence unit. But this report explores the potential to improve the disability confident employer scheme, which has come up this afternoon and, indeed, in your report. I think that it's important to say that this report, published today, has been welcomed by the taskforce co-producers, and that does include those members who've been mentioned today: Professor Debbie Foster, Damian Joseph Bridgeman, Dr Natasha Hirst, Willow Holloway and Joe Powell, all contributing generously of their time, expertise and lived experience to this research. I hope you will read the report and see how we are going to use this in terms of discussions with the UK Government about the disability confidence scheme.</p> |
Wed 11 Jun 2025
No Department None 6. Debate on the Equality and Social Justice Committee Report, 'Anything’s Achievable with the Right Support: Tackling the Disability Employment Gap' <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">as well as the lack</span> of clear and robust targets and no new funding for implementing the actions. Similarly, Joe Powell, chief executive of All Wales People First, who chaired the disability rights taskforce's access to justice working group said, 'In order for this plan to succeed, we need the appropriate investment into the infrastructure and services to make this aspiration a reality. We need clear targets about how we're going to achieve this. Without these, it's very difficult to see how the plan will make a difference to disabled people in Wales.'</p> |
Wed 11 Jun 2025
No Department None 6. Debate on the Equality and Social Justice Committee Report, 'Anything’s Achievable with the Right Support: Tackling the Disability Employment Gap' <p>Thank you very much indeed for all your contributions. I think we covered a lot of new ground, which is very good. Both Altaf Hussain and Jane Dodds highlighted the inadequate response by employers, which is very difficult to understand. It really isn't that difficult to find out the information. Clearly, Business Wales has a role here, and I would say the trade unions have a role with larger companies. They need to also be champions of disabled people.</p> |
Tue 03 Jun 2025
No Department None 2. Business Statement and Announcement <p>Diolch yn fawr, Jane Dodds, and thank you for that question. I think it was the First Minister who did report that we're meeting with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions later this week. Of course, we have a great deal of evidence, and you have given more evidence from your research, your party's research. We've talked about the Policy in Practice evidence. I've also referred to the disability equality forum, which I've met, and the evidence that has come forward from disabled people's organisations.</p> |
Tue 20 May 2025
No Department None 2. Business Statement and Announcement <p>Diolch yn fawr, Jane Dodds. Thank you for that first question, which has already come up this afternoon, in terms of the desperate closure, the ongoing closure of all our bank branches across Wales. In fact, the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning and I spoke at a really important meeting recently with all banks, to talk about the issues of loss of banks and financial inclusion—a key priority for Welsh Government. Financial services are reserved, but we have regular meetings with LINK, Cash Access UK—the provision of ATMs is also diminishing—and also we had our credit unions represented, and building societies.</p> |
Wed 14 May 2025
No Department None 5. Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv): Safeguarding the health of firefighters <p>Motion NDM8812 Luke Fletcher, Llyr Gruffydd, Samuel Kurtz, Jane Dodds, Rhys ab Owen, Peredur Owen Griffiths</p> |
Mon 12 May 2025
No Department None 2. Social cohesion: Ministerial evidence session <p>Thank you. Can I now call in Jane Dodds, please?</p> |
Mon 12 May 2025
No Department None 2. Social cohesion: Ministerial evidence session <p>Can I just bring in Jane Dodds? </p> |
Mon 12 May 2025
No Department None 3. Papers to note <p>Well, I think we all want to see that come to an end. I think the issue is whether it should be this committee or the children's committee who should be pushing forward on that. Jane Dodds.</p> |
Mon 12 May 2025
No Department None 2. Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Education and the Minister for Children and Social Care <p>As the provisions tabled were as amendments to the Bill, for confidentiality reasons, I wasn't able to share the detail of these before they were made public through their tabling. We had very scarce information on the Bill up until its publication in December. Members of the committee will be aware that there are provisions in the Bill to prevent parents removing their children from education if they are subject to child protection proceedings, and that announcement was made immediately following the conclusion of the murder trial of Sara Sharif's parents, which I'm sure you'll all be aware of.</p> |
Tue 06 May 2025
No Department None 2. Business Statement and Announcement <p>Diolch yn fawr, Jane Dodds. It is important when we look at your first question, in terms of Powys Teaching Health Board and cross-border waiting times, of course, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care—. We provided an additional £5.5 million funding to Powys Teaching Health Board last financial year, on top of its core financial allocation, which included that acknowledgement of the additional cost to the health board of the commissioning position for Powys residents being treated in England, to meet the Welsh waiting times target. It's important that the Welsh Government and NHS partners are working with the health board to help it make those improvements to deliver sustainable improvements. Of course, you will be aware of the Better Together programme, launched on 28 April, seeking the views of the public and key stakeholders—that's the health board—and looking at each area of its services in turn. And it is focusing, in fact, in 2025 on community and adult mental health services.</p> |
Tue 06 May 2025
No Department None 2. Business Statement and Announcement <p>Thank you, Russell George. Can I assure you, and make it very clear, that residents and citizens of Powys are not being treated as second-class citizens in terms of our expectations and in terms of cross-border waiting times? Of course, you can put your questions and, as you say, you've already raised this question. You can put your questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care. What the Welsh Government is committed to is ensuring that people have equitable and timely access to good-quality healthcare services in all parts of Wales. And Powys is in a different situation in terms of how the needs of the patients are met in terms of secondary and specialist care, but, of course, that's long-standing. And that extra funding, I think, for Powys Teaching Health Board, on top of its core financial allocation, was that acknowledgement, as I said in response to Jane Dodds, of the additional cost of the health board commissioning position for Powys residents being treated in England. Of course, we do have that expectation of all our health boards meeting the Welsh waiting times target. That's what the people of Wales want and that's what the people of Powys want, that we do actually meet that Welsh waiting times target, and we've given them resources to do it. </p> |
Wed 30 Apr 2025
No Department None 2. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip <p>Well, I think I've made my position quite clear, Jane Dodds. I have said that this is the key lever to tackling child poverty—ending the two-child benefit cap. And I would hope that the Labour Government in Westminster will. We hope that it will listen to all of those and take the evidence. They have tough decisions that they've got to make though, haven't they? They have, because of the black hole that was left by the Conservative Government. But we have said continuously that this should be a priority in terms of social security for children and tackling child poverty.</p> |
Mon 28 Apr 2025
No Department None 2. Social cohesion: evidence session 5 <p>I therefore move straight on to our fifth evidence session in our inquiry on social cohesion. I'd very much like to welcome Dr Anwen Elias, reader in politics at the Department of International Politics at Aberystwyth University, who's joining us online; Joe Rossiter, who's co-director of the Institute of Welsh Affairs; and Professor Matt Ryan from Southampton University, and I believe you're involved in the Wales Centre for Public Policy. Thank you very much, all of you, for joining us. Jane is going to start off the conversation. Jane Dodds.</p> |
Mon 28 Apr 2025
No Department None 4. Social cohesion: evidence session 7 <p>Jane Dodds.</p> |
Mon 28 Apr 2025
No Department None 4. Social cohesion: evidence session 7 <p>Jane Dodds.</p> |
Mon 28 Apr 2025
No Department None 3. Social cohesion: evidence session 6 <p>Thank you. Jane Dodds and then I'll come to Heledd Fychan.</p> |
Mon 28 Apr 2025
No Department None 3. Social cohesion: evidence session 6 <p>Thank you very much. Jane Dodds.</p> |
Mon 28 Apr 2025
No Department None 4. Social cohesion: evidence session 7 <p>Thank you very much. Jane Dodds now has some questions to follow on with the role of Government in all this.</p> |
Mon 28 Apr 2025
No Department None 5. Papers to note <p>Members, there are nine papers to note. Are there any issues you wish to raise before we go into private session? Jane Dodds. </p> |
Tue 18 Feb 2025
No Department None 3. Business Statement and Announcement <p>Thank you very much, Jane Dodds. Of course, you will know what our position is in Wales. I gave a nation of sanctuary statement last week, and we are very proud of any sanctuary seekers and their host communities when anyone takes the decision to seek and gain UK citizenship. And we do believe seeking asylum—I'm speaking as Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice in the Welsh Government—is a right for those fleeing from persecutions.</p> |
Wed 12 Feb 2025
No Department None 7. Welsh Conservatives Debate: Inquiry into child sexual exploitation <p>Diolch, Llywydd. I do welcome the opportunity to respond to this debate on behalf of the Welsh Government. I think, as Jane Dodds said, it’s right that we do continue to debate and talk about this issue, and I do believe a light has been shone on this issue today across the Chamber. But it is the action—it is the action—that we need to account for, and I will be laying that out in my response in terms of the Welsh Government and our partners.</p> |
Wed 12 Feb 2025
No Department None 9. Short Debate: Cut the chase: The case for banning greyhound racing in Wales <p>Diolch, Llywydd. I have given a minute of my time to Jane Dodds, Luke Fletcher, Altaf Hussain, Joyce Watson and Mick Antoniw.</p> |
Wed 12 Feb 2025
No Department None 7. Welsh Conservatives Debate: Inquiry into child sexual exploitation <p>I thank Jane Dodds for that intervention because this has been critically important indeed in supporting this amendment, making sure that we are listened to and acknowledge that crucial role of those organisations who are at the front line. And so, just in recent days, we've written not only to all regional safeguarding boards, but we've written to all our third sector partners, the NSPCC and all those at the front line supporting victims and survivors, and asked them to, again, tell us concerns and give us any concerns that are being raised with them, and also to emphasise the importance of their work. Of course, the funding of these organisations is critically important, and the role and the respect that they must have in multi-agency safeguarding as well. So, I'm really grateful for the cross-party group work that you've mentioned, Jane, for children and young people, and I also recognise that we've actually got a really important forthcoming report and debate on the cross-party's Children, Young People and Education Committee's inquiry into children on the margins. I think that debate will be a follow through from our debate today. </p> |
Mon 10 Feb 2025
No Department None 3. Child poverty: evidence session with Professor Rod Hick <p>Okay. I'm going to interrupt you, because we are short of time. We'll come to Mick Antoniw in a minute, but Jane Dodds just wanted to pick on—</p> |
Mon 10 Feb 2025
No Department None 3. Child poverty: evidence session with Professor Rod Hick <p>Okay. Fine. Jane Dodds.</p> |
Wed 05 Feb 2025
No Department None 2. Introductions, apologies, substitutions and declarations of interest <p>Bore da. Welcome to this morning's meeting of the Reform Bill Committee. Can I just go through a few of the housekeeping rules? If you've got phones or other electronic equipment, please make sure they're silent or switched off so that they don't interfere with the broadcasting. The Senedd, as you know, operates bilingually, and if you require simultaneous translation from Welsh to English, that's available on channel 1. If you require amplification, that's going to be available on channel 2 on the headsets. There is no scheduled fire alarm today, so if one does take place, please follow the directions of the ushers to a safe location. We have received apologies from Jane Dodds today, and there is no substitute because technically Jane is not a member of the committee, but she's always been a part of this committee and undertaken the work.</p> |
Wed 05 Feb 2025
No Department None 1. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales <p>Can I thank Jane Dodds for her question? As I’ve already said, it was a very, very difficult decision for Transport for Wales to make, but they did consult with user groups and passengers. And whilst the 05:07 Machynlleth to Barmouth service was removed and the 06:45 Barmouth to Machynlleth service, they did retain the 08:52 Machynlleth to Pwllheli service and the 11:37 Pwllheli to Machynlleth service. So, they were listening and they did act on what they heard.</p> |
Tue 04 Feb 2025
No Department None 1. Questions to the First Minister <p>Finally, question 8, Jane Dodds.</p> |
Tue 04 Feb 2025
No Department None 2. Business Statement and Announcement <p>Diolch yn fawr, Jane Dodds. It sounds like a fantastic independent cancer charity, the Bracken Trust, obviously providing vital cancer services around the year. It is independent. I'm not aware—I haven't been able to find—that there is present Welsh Government funding for that. I don't think they have funded it in the past; it must've been funded, presumably, by the local authority, health board, trusts and fundraising donations. But I will take this back to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care so that we can look at this in terms of their current situation. Of course, this is a situation where they may also be able to get support via the voluntary sector, third sector routes and infrastructure routes as well. So, I will liaise on those questions.</p> |
Tue 28 Jan 2025
No Department None 5. Debate: The Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Strategy <p>Motion NDM8798 Jane Hutt, Paul Davies, Jane Dodds, Heledd Fychan</p> |
Tue 28 Jan 2025
No Department None 5. Debate: The Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Strategy <p>Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Lywydd, and thank you so much to everyone who's contributed in this really powerful debate this afternoon on this vitally important topic. I do thank all Members for their contributions today. The commitment was so clear across this Chamber, a commitment coming through from our male allies—commitments from all those—and the women who I know for years have worked hard to campaign for Wales to be the safe place we want it to be. But I do recognise that there's so much more to be done as we head towards the tenth-year anniversary of our groundbreaking Act. That's why I wanted this debate to happen, so that, again, we can learn more from our debate today, and thank the work of the Equality and Social Justice Committee as well, because that has also raised the awareness profile of our strategy and what we are seeking to achieve.</p> |
Tue 28 Jan 2025
No Department None Group 7: Oversight of, and support for, transition (Amendments 46, 47, 48) <p>Diolch, Llywydd. Can I just start by responding to those last points from Jane Dodds and welcome her comments, and repeat the assurance I just gave to Mabon ap Gwynfor? Eliminating profit remains a very high priority for this Government, and we want to achieve that goal as quickly as we can. We would not be here today, discussing these amendments, if we hadn't prioritised this legislation, and I think that clearly shows our commitment that we've made to eliminating profit from the care of children and young people. Can I assure you that we will continue to listen to all of those stakeholders that have an interest in taking this agenda forward, and at the heart of that will be the voice of children and young people, who have been the drivers behind this legislation from day one? I would be happy to maintain the conversations with young people throughout this process, as I have done, and I would want to continue those discussions with other stakeholders, of course, in the third sector, local authorities and beyond, and, of course, with Members in this Chamber. And thank you very much, Jane, for your support.</p> |
Tue 28 Jan 2025
No Department None 5. Debate: The Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Strategy <p>—in terms of the budget. But can I just say very quickly that I think our curriculum is making a huge difference? Julie made reference to Sound; that's having a real impact, a real culture change, a huge success rate, with 97 per cent of men and boys in the target age range across Wales having seen the Sound campaign. All four police force areas now want to use the campaign in their violence reduction work. As Joyce and others have said, it starts with men, and this is where it's important that we look at that effective campaign, because it is—. We didn't know we'd need a Sound campaign.</p> |
Tue 28 Jan 2025
No Department None 2. Business Statement and Announcement <p>Diolch yn fawr, Jane Dodds. The draft budget for next year, 2025-26, includes an indicative allocation to raise the childcare offer hourly rate by 20 per cent, from £5 per hour to £6 from April 2025. This is really important for the recruitment and retention of staff. It also includes uplifts to Flying Start childcare and nursery education. Also, that hourly rate is going to be reviewed annually. That was part of the package. But also, importantly, I think, for the sector, it includes making the 100 per cent small business rate relief permanent, giving more certainty to childcare providers and to enable them to address the financial challenges that you have raised.</p> |
Tue 28 Jan 2025
No Department None 1. Questions to the First Minister <p>First Minister, I’ve spoken to many, many farmers since the autumn and, despite all of the huge challenges that have come to bear on them from this place, they are overshadowed by this major issue. The inheritance tax decision has cut right into the heart of the farming industry as it threatens the future of family farms. It threatens the future of our future farmers, those young people who don’t even know what this is all about—people that we should hold precious in this place. It threatens the very fabric of our rural communities—the things that make rural Wales what it is. In the longer term, ironically, it threatens our food security and what the Government is trying to do to achieve its own plans for a sustainable farming system, one that is focused on the long term and on future generations—something that requires investment and certainty. First Minister, the Treasury can make figures say what they want, but this isn’t just about money; it’s about something more valuable than that, something deeply precious to our country. So, First Minister, I’ll repeat the question that Jane Dodds raised: will you stand up for the farming industry in Wales and make the case against this? A 'yes' or a 'no', as Jane said, will suffice.</p> |
Tue 28 Jan 2025
No Department None Group 4: Existing service providers: ‘reasonable profit entity’ (Amendments 42, 43, 44, 45) <p>Diolch, Llwydd. Well, you won't be surprised to hear that I cannot support James Evans's amendment 42, which opens up the 'types' condition to a wider definition to accommodate models that are 'any reasonable profit entity', as set out in amendment 43.</p> |
Mon 27 Jan 2025
No Department None 2. Fuel poverty and the Warm Homes programme: Evidence session with Cabinet Secretaries <p>Altaf, I'm just going to bring in Jane Dodds and I'll come back to you.</p> |
Mon 27 Jan 2025
No Department None 2. Fuel poverty and the Warm Homes programme: Evidence session with Cabinet Secretaries <p>Okay, very lastly, Jane Dodds. A quick question.</p> |
Mon 27 Jan 2025
No Department None 2. Fuel poverty and the Warm Homes programme: Evidence session with Cabinet Secretaries <p>Jane Dodds wanted to come in.</p> |
Mon 27 Jan 2025
No Department None 2. Fuel poverty and the Warm Homes programme: Evidence session with Cabinet Secretaries <p>Diolch yn fawr, Jane Dodds. Very early on, when the changes came about in the summer, about eligibility for the winter fuel payment, I met with the older people's commissioner to talk about—. If you recall, the previous older people's commissioner had had a big pension credit take-up. Not everyone who's entitled to pension credit in Wales had been applying for that benefit. So, we are working with the older people's commissioner—the past one and the present—to say that we needed to ensure that we reach out to older people, recognising it was the winter fuel payment that is so important to older people in terms of take-up of pension credit. It is something where all of the ways in which we can support older people. That does include access to the discretionary assistance fund. </p> |
Mon 27 Jan 2025
No Department None 2. Fuel poverty and the Warm Homes programme: Evidence session with Cabinet Secretaries <p>Thank you. Can I move over to Jane Dodds now?</p> |
Wed 22 Jan 2025
No Department None 5. Debate: Natural Resources Wales's 'Case for Change' <p>I was pleased to co-submit this motion from Mabon ap Gwynfor here today, with Jane Dodds, as a debate, and I'm grateful to the Business Committee for selecting this. As Members have already outlined, NRW is often debated and discussed in this Chamber, and I think it's right there is a particular focus today on the 'Case for Change' report. I'm also grateful, Cabinet Secretary, for the time you've spent with me, as chair of the cross-party group on outdoor activities, and for your response to a letter that the cross-party group sent you on this particular matter.</p> |
Wed 22 Jan 2025
No Department None 1. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government <p>On that question—Jane Dodds asked the question earlier of whether you would rather see the NI increase scrapped. I didn't hear a 'yes' or 'no' answer, but you might want to address that as well. While I'm sure you hope the full cost of Welsh local authorities will be covered, my colleagues in local government are less optimistic. Last month the finance Cabinet Secretary noted that national insurance reimbursements for the public sector will be distributed through the Barnett formula. He warned this would be fundamentally unfair, with Welsh local authorities receiving a lower percentage of reimbursement than their English counterparts. The nature of each council, as you just explained to us, when it comes to in-house services and those contracted out, is different. A promise had been made that the national insurance contributions for public sector workers would be fully funded by the Treasury. So, how are you going to allocate the Barnett consequentials when they eventually get here? Are you confident that you will have enough funds in the Welsh budget to make up the difference between the reality and the formula allocation, when it comes to fully funding the consequences of the Chancellor's decision?</p> |
Wed 22 Jan 2025
No Department None 5. Debate: Natural Resources Wales's 'Case for Change' <p>Motion NDM8756 Mabon ap Gwynfor, Sam Rowlands, Jane Dodds</p> |
Tue 21 Jan 2025
No Department None 3. Business Statement and Announcement <p>Diolch yn fawr, Jane Dodds. I'm sure you will have volunteers to go on that journey on that wonderful Heart of Wales line. There are issues in terms of timetable changes for mainline services that are taking place, with more consistency for passengers, but of course we've heard already this afternoon and we've been reminded of the £800 million investment in our brand-new fleet of modern trains. I think what's important is that passengers on the Heart of Wales line will benefit from the conversion of the class 153 active travel units, which will provide additional seating and cycle capacity. It is important that, overall in 2024, Transport for Wales services were the most punctual and reliable of all train operators in Wales, but there is still more to do, quite clearly—huge improvements as a direct result of public ownership and investment. But it is important that you've drawn attention today to the Heart of Wales line route capacity and the service itself. This is something where I'm sure colleagues, in terms of our Cabinet Secretary, will be interested in the question, but also see that this is a partnership with Powys County Council as well, in terms of integrated public transport services, on which I know discussions are taking place.</p> |