Mark Isherwood: As somebody who previously worked in the mutual building society sector, I welcomed the 2012 UK credit unions Act, freeing credit unions to work with housing providers, community groups, employers, social enterprises and charities to bring financial services to new groups of people. Although credit union membership in Wales has grown 50 per cent in the last five years, now standing at 80,000,...
Mark Isherwood: This week is World Autism Awareness Week, raising awareness so that as many people as possible learn about autism. There are a number of targets in the Welsh Government’s autism spectrum condition strategic action delivery plan 2016-20, which should have been completed by April 2017. Care pathways should have been developed by health boards for neurodevelopmental conditions under the...
Mark Isherwood: Thank you. Given evidence that the suicide rate amongst people with the neurological condition myalgic encephalomyelitis, or ME, is more than six times higher than that of the general population, what actions is the Welsh Government taking to move forward with the recommendations set out in the ME/CFS and fibromyalgia task and finish group’s August 2014 report to address the lack of...
Mark Isherwood: 5. What support services does the Welsh Government have in place for patients with long-term, fluctuating health conditions? OAQ(5)0137(HWS)
Mark Isherwood: Diolch, Lywydd. As somebody who, like me, has visited prisons over the years, will you confirm that although we all seek that Welsh prisoners should be located as close to home as possible, the categorisation of prisoners sometimes makes that impossible? Secondly, as with HMP Berwyn, can you confirm whether the new proposed prison in Port Talbot will be made up of separate smaller units so...
Mark Isherwood: After concerns were raised with me by parents who were being told that there would be cuts in one-to-one support in Gwynedd primary schools for their children with type 1 diabetes, they’ve told me it’s good news, and that they’ve found a fantastic way forward, and they’re pleased with the approach adopted by council staff and their willingness to collaborate. However, they expressed...
Mark Isherwood: How is the Welsh Government supporting deaf learners in Wales?
Mark Isherwood: As a member of the multiagency and cross-party working group that successfully campaigned under the leadership of community campaigners Together Creating Communities to establish the Tŷ Nos night shelter in Wrexham, it’s particularly frustrating that the Welsh Government’s latest national rough sleeper count not only shows a 72 per cent increase in rough sleepers across Wales, but the...
Mark Isherwood: How do you respond to official figures showing that Wales has the highest level of people not in employment, the highest level of underemployment, and the highest percentage of employees not on permanent contracts amongst the 12 UK nations and regions?
Mark Isherwood: As stated in the Chair’s foreword to our committee report: ‘The Cabinet Secretary’s vision of an independent expert body which can de-politicise contentious decisions that have far reaching consequences is compelling.... We hope our recommendations will provide a basis for the swift establishment of a Commission that—once strengthened by legislation—can ensure Wales develops the...
Mark Isherwood: Could I call for a single statement on police funding in the context of the apprenticeship levy? As you may know, police forces in England can access funding for apprenticeships through the new digital apprenticeship service account there, but, in Wales, the Welsh Government approach, which is different, means that Welsh forces can't. When I raised this in the Economy, Infrastructure and...
Mark Isherwood: Diolch, Lywydd. Families with disabled children have higher costs but lower incomes than other families. Contact a Family research shows that the extra cost relating to a child’s condition could be £300 or more every month, with 84 per cent of families with disabled children having gone without leisure and days out. For over 40 years, the Family Fund’s main function has been to help...
Mark Isherwood: When you announced that you were phasing out Communities First, my response referred to the ‘Valuing Place’ report commissioned by the Government, based on research in three communities, including Connah’s Quay, somewhere I think you’re very familiar with. They found that establishing local networks to connect people together who want to take local action should be of priority. In...
Mark Isherwood: Diolch. Responding to your 7 February statement on safer communities, I referred to press reports the previous day of an 11 per cent increase in deliberate fires in Wales the previous year, which had diverted from other 999 calls and diverted fire crews away from their other priorities. Ten days later, press coverage of Welsh Government figures reported a third increase in deliberately...
Mark Isherwood: Thank you. I was slightly relieved, because I thought the Member was going to invite me for a trip with him to Derby, but I’m glad he didn’t do that, because I would hate to refuse him on the floor. But I think the Member’s got a really interesting point there about looking at what works in communities, and it’s something that I will ask my team to look at closely. We have got some...
Mark Isherwood: Well, thank you, and the biggie—it’s not in Wales, it’s in Derby, because local area co-ordination in the UK began in Derby in 2012, building on the very successful model implemented in Australia, which provides evidence of positive outcomes for citizens and savings. In Derbyshire, an independent evaluation by Derby university over 10 to 12 months found savings of £800,000 for the...
Mark Isherwood: Further—that was just the start, because local area co-ordinators in Swansea are working on the principle of getting to know people, their families, and communities, to build their vision for a good life, to stay strong and connected, and to feel safer and more confident for the future. Again, could you consider the work that’s been developed in a number of local authorities, with...
Mark Isherwood: Diolch, Lywydd. As you consider the future for building resilient communities as the changes you’ve announced go forward, a lot has been happening with local area co-ordination, supporting residents and communities to, quote, ‘get a life, not a service’, driving collaboration between local people, families, communities and organisations to build something bigger and more sustainable...
Mark Isherwood: 6. How is the Welsh Government promoting fire safety in Wales? OAQ(5)0111(CC)
Mark Isherwood: As the theme for International Women’s Day 2017 states, we must be bold for change and step up to help drive gender equality. We will be supporting the motion and all amendments. Despite progress in some areas, we must address the barriers that continue to prevent women from playing as full a role as men in the economic, political, social and cultural life of Wales. Oxfam Cymru is calling...
