Rhun ap Iorwerth: So, we're talking about something here that can have a very detrimental impact. Even though we have focused in that inquiry on older people, disabled people and young people were recognised as two other groups who are vulnerable in terms of isolation and loneliness, and we heard that transport can be a factor in that. We had evidence that the barrier of having to plan journeys beforehand...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer. I'm pleased to be able to take part in this debate, which stems from the report on this petition. I wasn't a member of the committee when this petition was being considered, but I do know, from experience of discussing with constituents and with different bodies, the problems that do face disabled people as they try to use public transport. As it...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: I’m very enthusiastic for there to be far clearer communication with young people at 16 years of age that they should consider apprenticeships as an alternative option. A constituent contacted me recently who was also very supportive of apprenticeships, and both his sons are currently on apprenticeships at the moment. But, he is concerned about this barrier in terms of high travel costs for...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: 5. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the impact of travel costs on access to apprenticeships? OAQ51670
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the Welsh Government's response to the Changing Places campaign?
Rhun ap Iorwerth: I would like to raise a point of order under Standing Order 13.9. The Data Protection Act 1998 says that no-one should use data in ways that have unjustified adverse effects on the individuals concerned, and that you should handle people's personal data only in ways that they would reasonably expect. We are all data controllers in our own offices here in the Assembly, of course. The...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: I'll certainly send Betsi Cadwaladr's plans for the increased privatisation of dialysis to you. Those two examples are very, very different, but there's a common theme there, I think, of private companies playing an increasing role in healthcare, picking away at NHS services. I'm not really driven by ideology on this—at the end of the day, surely we want a better NHS for both patients and...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: I would argue that it is increasing the role of privatisation. There's another form of creeping privatisation going on that I can point you to. Are you aware that under your watch there are plans to privatise more dialysis services in the north of Wales? And we're not talking here about the contracting of a company to do a particular job of work, say, tackling a backlog of elective surgery;...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you, Llywydd. First Minister, when there are lengthy waiting lists for treatment, private health companies give patients the opportunity to avoid those waiting times by paying a fee. Many constituents have informed me that they have been encouraged to consider paying to go private for treatment or swifter diagnosis. That means that treatment becomes something that is based on the...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Which part of 'those relationships across the border are vital' did you not understand?
Rhun ap Iorwerth: The figures don't bear that up, and I'll remind you that, in those years, Wales took some of the steps that the UK Government failed to take to stand up to the worst problems caused by the financial downturn.
Rhun ap Iorwerth: With permission from the Presiding Officer, yes.
Rhun ap Iorwerth: The point I make is this: close co-operation is very, very important. You can look throughout the world at the importance of cross-border co-operation, but let's remember what the focus is here, and be realistic about the fact that it's not the interests of Wales that's at the heart of some of these developments, like those trumpeted by Alun Cairns this week. The fact, I think, that it's...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: In the absence of my colleague and the Plaid Cymru spokesperson on the economy, it's my pleasure to participate in this important debate and to make a few comments. Without doubt, there are some elements of the strategy that we would welcome: a new emphasis on the foundation economy, decarbonisation and the decision to encourage businesses to be more responsible if they are to receive...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Will you take an intervention?
Rhun ap Iorwerth: On that point, what was the figure when Labour were in Government?
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Will you take an intervention? Just very quickly—thank you for taking an intervention. Is the Member aware—and I note that you called the Northern Powerhouse England's Northern Powerhouse—are you aware that north Wales is included in publicity material for the Northern Powerhouse, not as a partner for the English Northern Powerhouse to work with?
Rhun ap Iorwerth: There’s a responsibility on you as Cabinet Secretary to ensure that public funds in Wales are spent as effectively as possible, and I appreciate, from your earlier answer, that you do hold meetings with Cabinet Secretaries in different areas in order to assess whether things are going in the right direction. To give one specific example, we know that expenditure on primary care has reduced...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you very much. I do consider that to be a useful answer. It is an ambition of Government to enhance healthcare services in the community, but it’s difficult to check whether that’s happening in terms of where the funds are going because we get only a single budget line from you as Cabinet Secretary. Don’t you believe that there is scope to provide some sub-budget lines, in order...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you very much, Llywydd. In the absence of our finance spokesperson, I hope that the Cabinet Secretary will forgive me for mentioning health. But don’t worry—it’s in the context of budgetary allocations. Cabinet Secretary, how does the Welsh Government, in allocating funds to large public bodies such as the health service, ensure that those funds are spent in a way that is...
