Natasha Asghar: Thank you, First Minister. In my region of south-east Wales, the highest smoking rate is actually in Merthyr Tydfil, where 23 per cent of adults are smokers. This is higher than both the Welsh and UK averages. If Wales is to achieve its smoke-free target by 2030, then the rate of quitting will need to increase by 40 per cent. A recent study by Queen Mary University, supported by Cancer...
Natasha Asghar: Thank you so much, Deputy Presiding Officer. Minister, could I ask for a statement from the Minister for Finance and Local Government about ensuring transparency and accountability in local authorities? A bit of background to the reason why I'm asking this question is because, within the Ynysddu ward in Caerphilly, there are two toxic quarries, called Tŷ Llwyd, which are seeping toxins past...
Natasha Asghar: What assessment has the Minister made of the impact of the UK Government's response to the recommendations of the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities on improving race relations in Wales?
Natasha Asghar: We all know the benefits that holding major events here in Wales can bring. Major events create opportunities for individuals, communities, businesses and organisations, all across Wales, to share in the economic benefits generated and provide an opportunity to showcase Wales on an international platform. Wales already has world-class venues in place, including the Principality Stadium, the...
Natasha Asghar: 4. What action is the Welsh Government taking to improve the supply of private properties to rent? OQ58535
Natasha Asghar: Thank you, First Minister. I recently met with the National Residential Landlords Association to discuss how to boost the supply of private properties available to rent in Wales. They pointed out that renters across Wales are currently struggling to access the homes that they need. An independent report for the NRLA has suggested that Wales would need just under 9,000 new private rented...
Natasha Asghar: 3. How is the Minister ensuring that the education system provides young people with essential life skills? OQ58514
Natasha Asghar: Thank you, Minister. We all know the importance of young people leaving school with a good education. However, having a good education should be more than just receiving good grades. It should be about giving young people the skills that they need to deal with life. Life skills help people focus on many facets of their lives and are essential in helping them manage stress and to solve the...
Natasha Asghar: I'd like to thank my colleague Hefin David for raising this question. I took everything you said on board, First Minister, in your response to him just now. The doctors and dentists remuneration board, an independent body set up to advise Governments on the pay of doctors and dentists, reported in July this year and advised that salaried GPs should receive a 4.5 per cent increase to their...
Natasha Asghar: Minister, I recently met with some of the fantastic staff at the Welsh Refugee Council in Newport, alongside several asylum seekers. It was an incredibly informative meeting, and we discussed a range of issues that the organisation, asylum seekers and refugees face. One in particular that stuck with me was the welcome ticket scheme, which gives all refugees unlimited travel on trains and...
Natasha Asghar: 1. What discussions has the Welsh Government had with the UK Government regarding the potential benefits of creating low-tax investment zones in Wales? OQ58563
Natasha Asghar: What discussions has the Welsh Government had with Network Rail about improving the reliability of trains in Wales?
Natasha Asghar: Deputy Minister, in June last year I asked the First Minister about the possibility of him introducing an all-Wales travel card, to allow people from all socioeconomic backgrounds and age groups to access public transport. The introduction of such a card would ensure more seamless travel for residents, commuters and students, as well as encouraging tourism, thereby driving improvements in...
Natasha Asghar: Thanks, Minister. I recently met with the Federation of Small Businesses Wales to discuss the problems facing companies trying to grow and thrive in the current difficult economic climate. Against a backdrop of uncertainty, it was made clear that alleviating cost pressures for small and medium enterprise must be a priority for the Welsh Government. In that context, there was dismay and...
Natasha Asghar: This report on care home commissioning follows the auditor general's review published in October last year, entitled 'A Picture of Social Care'. This review has looked at the whole social care sector all across Wales and it has identified three key issues and long-standing challenges for the sector. Foremost among these is the need to achieve financial sustainability and funding arrangements....
Natasha Asghar: Please can I ask for a statement from the Minister for Economy about what work the Welsh Government is doing to boost pre-Christmas trade for our hard-working town-centre businesses? I'm a firm believer that we should be doing all we can to help businesses thrive, not just survive, across Wales, and they face rising cost-of-living pressures and continue to deal with the aftermath of the...
Natasha Asghar: Deputy Minister, the scenes we've been seeing play out in Anglesey over the last few days are completely unacceptable and, dare I say it, avoidable. I must say, from the moment the bridge suddenly closed late on Friday afternoon, there has been complete chaos in the area, with drivers, pedestrians and cyclists left stranded. My inbox has been inundated with messages over it, and I'm based in...
Natasha Asghar: I am pleased you have laid these wrong claims to rest—[Interruption.] I am pleased that you have laid these wrong claims to rest by confirming UK Highways A55 Limited is a private company, and responsibility lies with your Government, not Westminster. However, you should have made this abundantly clear from the outset, because it's led to a lot of confusion with the public, politicians and...
Natasha Asghar: Thank you, Presiding Officer. Having been a Member for a short period of time, I have no doubt that the Members here believe in the great benefits of a multicultural and multifaith society, which is why I'm pleased to be able to illuminate the Chamber on the importance of Diwali here in Wales. Better known as the festival of lights, derived from the Sanskrit Deepawali, which means 'row of...
Natasha Asghar: Unfortunately, it doesn't give me any grace to say that I actually know only too well just how serious a stroke can be. Not too long ago my mother actually had a stroke and, thankfully, by acting swiftly, we managed to limit the amount of damage it caused. What started off as a headache—in her words, a migraine and flu-like symptoms—quickly turned into something really sinister. And with...
