Heledd Fychan: 3. What steps is the Commission taking to ensure that the pensions of staff and Member support staff are decarbonised? OQ58133
Heledd Fychan: Thank you, Llywydd. My question is very similar. Clearly, Jack Sargeant and myself are pursuing the same point. I think the concern that we have is that there is no formal support, and I was wondering whether there was a role for the Commission to assist these staff members. Certainly from the experience of a member of staff in my team, he has had to campaign alone and has found that he's had...
Heledd Fychan: 4. What progress has the Welsh Government made on implementing the International Strategy for Wales? OQ58192
Heledd Fychan: Thank you, First Minister. Clearly, a number of things have changed since the strategy was drafted, including the pandemic and, more recently of course, the fact that the Wales men's football team have qualified for the World Cup. As Laura McAllister wrote in a column in the Western Mail over the weekend, and I quote:
Heledd Fychan: 'The potential benefits for football are vast, but so, too, is the potential to generate lasting spin-off success for Wales off the field too. It's all about that word "legacy’", but we need to get our act together and move fast if we are to strategically co-opt sport, supported by our wider cultural offer, as a way of amplifying Wales’ global profile and attract the world to Wales to...
Heledd Fychan: She goes on to say that it would be unforgivable if Wales were to miss out on this golden opportunity. I know that Adam Price questioned you on this last week, but, with over a week having passed since that crucial fixture, what support has already been provided by the Welsh Government to the FAW, and what support will be provided over the next few months?
Heledd Fychan: I'm not sure where to start with that.
Heledd Fychan: What are we trying to fix? A democratic deficit. I do not believe we should go cap in hand to the UK Government in terms of the future of broadcasting and the media here in Wales. We should not have to ask for permission to have content in our own official languages here in Wales. We have seen cut after cut to S4C, and yet we are supposed to be grateful because they have now pledged. We do...
Heledd Fychan: For decades, Plaid Cymru has campaigned for the devolution of broadcasting and communications powers to Wales. Today's announcement is therefore an important and historic moment as we move a step closer to this following the formation of the expert panel. In fact, we can trace this struggle back to the 1970s, before some of us here today were born, with calls from Plaid Cymru and Cymdeithas...
Heledd Fychan: Do you not think that the biggest threat to media at present is the UK Government? If you look at what it's doing to the BBC, do you not admit that there is the risk to the future of S4C? Because of what you've outlined, the relationship between S4C and the BBC is crucial, and yet the UK Government is placing that at threat, which is why we need the devolution of broadcasting, so we can...
Heledd Fychan: What steps is the Welsh Government taking to ensure that patients who need urgent medical surgery receive it within a reasonable timeframe?
Heledd Fychan: Thank you, Minister. I was pleased to hear you saying about the weekend, because it's one thing to talk about international bands coming here to Wales, but when our national team is playing in our capital city, I would hope that we could have public transport so that everyone in Wales could come to support their national team, if they chose to do just that. I think there's also a point about...
Heledd Fychan: Thank you. Trefnydd, yesterday I visited Rhondda food bank and I have had many headteachers contacting me, gravely concerned about families in the region that I represent, and specifically concerned about what the situation will be over the summer. Clearly, the Minister and the First Minister have announced that there will be support available in terms of free school meals for families that...
Heledd Fychan: 10. How is the Welsh Government supporting learners who have missed vital volunteering opportunities as a result of the pandemic? OQ58219
Heledd Fychan: Thank you, Minister. You will be aware that, in 2021, ColegauCymru commissioned a report that noted that many learners who volunteer since 2020 have missed out on practical opportunities to apply their learning, with the majority coming from sports courses. Given that Volunteers Week happened at the beginning of this month, do you agree, Minister, that we must ensure that these opportunities...
Heledd Fychan: As we all know, community groups play an important and vital role in their communities and I'd like to begin by thanking, from the bottom of my heart, every community group that is active in the region that I represent. And although a number of community groups receive support from local authorities, a number of them face challenges too. What I would like to see personally as a result of this...
Heledd Fychan: May I thank Jenny Rathbone for tabling this very important discussion? Obviously, it is hugely concerning. As someone who was previously a councillor in Rhondda Cynon Taf, I was particularly concerned by the high levels of school exclusions, and particularly among young boys. It seemed to be a problem that wasn't being addressed. I know now, from casework coming in to my office, in terms of...
Heledd Fychan: 2. First Minister, how does the Welsh Government ensure that the cost of public transport does not adversely affect the attendance of primary and secondary pupils? OQ58258
Heledd Fychan: Thank you. With the cost-of-living crisis placing additional pressures on parents and carers, more people are contacting my office with regard to the impact of the cost of transport on attendance. This was emphasised further when Ruben Kelman, a Member of the Youth Parliament for Cardiff North, contacted me a week ago, sharing the results of a survey at Llanishen High School, where parents...
Heledd Fychan: 'Over the last few months, I have analysed what bills can be delayed in paying, so my daughter can attend school. It's soul destroying. Please help us parents.'
