Rhianon Passmore: Diolch, Lywydd. Thank you. As we approach Remembrance Day and Remembrance Sunday, it is right that we acknowledge here in the home of Welsh democracy the extreme service that the men and women of our armed forces have given, so that we continue to enjoy the freedom that we so prize. I will be representing, like many, my people of Islwyn at remembrance events in Risca, Blackwood and...
Rhianon Passmore: What action has the Welsh Government taken to improve passenger rail services?
Rhianon Passmore: Will the Minister make a statement on the steps the Welsh Government is taking to ensure our schools are inclusive environments?
Rhianon Passmore: Will the Minister make a statement on the steps the Welsh Government is taking to ensure our schools are inclusive environments?
Rhianon Passmore: I wish to, firstly, again, congratulate the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport on this important and historic news that the Welsh Government will invest £350 million in the building of Gwent specialist critical care centre. This announcement will be greatly welcomed by my constituents in Islwyn and it’s wonderful news for the people of Gwent and beyond. The 460-bed project,...
Rhianon Passmore: Thank you for that answer, Minister. Since 2007, EU structural funds projects alone have, in Wales, helped nearly 73,000 people into work, helped over 234,000 people gain qualifications, supported the creation of nearly 12,000 businesses and created some 37,000 jobs. The UK Government’s commitment to guarantee expenditure for all European structural investment fund schemes approved prior to...
Rhianon Passmore: 4. Will the Minister make a statement on the impact of European structural funding in Islwyn? OAQ(5)0047(FLG)
Rhianon Passmore: Thank you, First Minister. Statistics recently released show a further increase in the proportion of learners eligible for free school meals achieving five good GCSEs, including mathematics and English or Welsh first language. This represents the best performance yet by our disadvantaged learners and, for the second year, the attainment gap between children and young people receiving free...
Rhianon Passmore: 8. Will the First Minister make a statement on the difference the pupil deprivation grant is making to educational outcomes in Islwyn? OAQ(5)0214(FM)
Rhianon Passmore: First of all, thank you, Joyce Watson, for letting me participate in this short debate. I would firstly, though, like to congratulate the Member for Mid and West Wales on her excellent work representing Commonwealth women parliamentarians of the British isles and Mediterranean region on the international Commonwealth parliamentary steering committee—it is a mouthful. It’s fantastic to see...
Rhianon Passmore: [Continues.]—this important debate and, equally, Welsh Labour Government’s strong determination to confront the challenges of mental health provision head on. Thank you.
Rhianon Passmore: I’m glad that Plaid Cymru have chosen for debate the issue of mental health this week, a week in which mental health day was observed throughout the world. Figures show that mental ill health will affect one in four people during their lives, and by 2020, mental ill health-related problems will be second to heart diseases as the leading contributor to the global burden of disease. That is...
Rhianon Passmore: Thank you for that answer, First Minister. The chief executive of S4C, giving evidence to the Culture, Welsh Language and Communications Committee last week, stated that 57 per cent of its programmes had been shown before compared to a target of 20 per cent when S4C was launched in 1982. Funding from the BBC licence fee for S4C will remain at £74.5 million a year until 2022, and S4C has also...
Rhianon Passmore: 5. What importance does the Welsh Government place on broadcasters in receipt of public money, providing high levels of original programming? OAQ(5)0201(FM)
Rhianon Passmore: Do you know what the data—statistics—are around house repossessions for those that have used the right to buy?
Rhianon Passmore: Will you take an intervention?
Rhianon Passmore: Although I tend to agree with you that it was a very popular initiative, as a direct impact of this policy significant amounts of needed social housing were removed from the sector. This, combined with the necessary instruments not being in place at local authority level, as a direct result of the initiatives that you talked about, has meant that there’s a legacy of waiting lists for...
Rhianon Passmore: I will reflect upon it.
Rhianon Passmore: The promised and guaranteed missing money from Wales—. Perhaps Paul Davies has gone to buy breakfast for somebody. This issue, secondly—
Rhianon Passmore: This issue was only further exacerbated by an ever-increasing and growing need demographically for excellent local public service delivery. Would the Cabinet Secretary agree that the need for a timely, resilient and strong framework is vital for Wales, and that the time is now for this Chamber to step up to the consensual plate, stop procrastinating over political points and reach a...
