Mohammad Asghar: Leader of the house, may I ask for a statement on the levels of child obesity in Wales? The latest child measurement programme's annual report shows that more than a quarter of children in Wales are overweight or obese. This is much higher than in England. Areas such as Blaenau Gwent and Caerphilly in my region both produced results higher than the Welsh average. I understand the Welsh...
Mohammad Asghar: I thank the Cabinet Secretary for her statement today. I welcome the news that Swansea and Cardiff universities are to receive funding to expand coding in schools, colleges and communities. This will help these universities to be part of the UK Institute of Coding, created by the Conservative Government, which is a partnership deal with leading tech firms, universities and industry...
Mohammad Asghar: What action will the Welsh Government take to grow the tourism sector of the economy in the next 12 months?
Mohammad Asghar: Cabinet Secretary, statistics published in January this year show that, although motor cyclists accounted for less than 1 per cent of traffic in Wales in 2016, they represented 23 per cent of all killed and seriously injured casualties in Wales also. In total, 22 motorcyclists were killed on Welsh roads in 2016. It's a staggering figure and totally unacceptable. What steps is the Welsh...
Mohammad Asghar: First Minister, any plan to secure the maximum economic benefit from the Cardiff capital region must include a relief road for the M4. I have been contacted by a number of business owners who have expressed their dismay that the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, and your potential successor, recently appeared to pour cold water on the proposed black route. As one business owner said, 'This is...
Mohammad Asghar: Cabinet Secretary, may I ask for a statement on respite services for people affected by dementia in Wales? The older people's commissioner has produced a report claiming that traditional respite care that does not meet people's needs is detrimental to their health and well-being. The report further claims that traditional respite services often lacked flexibility and did not always deliver...
Mohammad Asghar: One of the well-being goals is to create a healthier Wales. According to Diabetes UK Cymru, Wales faces a diabetes epidemic whilst the latest National Child Measurement Programme's annual report shows that more than a quarter of children in Wales are overweight or obese. Will the Cabinet Secretary comment on the role of public services in tackling obesity and diabetes, thereby helping to...
Mohammad Asghar: Minister, the decision to open a new base for the Department for Work and Pensions at Treforest has been welcomed by the Labour leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council, coming as it does after announcements that Transport for Wales, Health Education and Improvement Wales, and the new Welsh Revenue Authority will all have their headquarters situated there—more likely the more...
Mohammad Asghar: I welcome the committee report, which addresses issues regarding one of the greatest challenges facing the Welsh Government: how to address the skill gap in Wales. The British Chamber of Commerce's quarterly economic survey for the final quarter of 2017 indicates that skill shortages are reaching critical levels. Firms in the services and manufacturing sectors report difficulties in...
Mohammad Asghar: The report for the Design Commission for Wales has highlighted that there is a huge benefit that could be gained from the marketing of Merthyr Tydfil's industrial heritage, making the town a major tourist destination. Does the First Minister agree with me that a marketing strategy covering all industrial heritage sites of south Wales, including canals such as Monmouthshire and Brecon, has...
Mohammad Asghar: Free swimming for children was a flagship Labour Party policy designed to encourage children in Newport and elsewhere in Wales to get fit and healthy. It has now been announced that Sport Wales is reviewing its support for free swimming for children. Given that child obesity in Wales is soaring, will the First Minister update this Assembly on its free swimming policy and what measures the...
Mohammad Asghar: Leader of the house, may I ask for a statement from the Cabinet Secretary for health on waiting times for heart bypass surgery in Wales? Official statistics show that patients were waiting an average of 79 days between April 2016 and May 2017 for surgery, compared to 43 days the previous year. The average wait for heart bypass in England was 51 days, 28 days fewer than in Wales. Please could...
Mohammad Asghar: Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on plans for a vacant land tax in Wales?
Mohammad Asghar: Cabinet Secretary, you will be aware of the recommendations by the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee that rough-sleepers be considered as a priority need for housing. However, before this can be implemented, enough resources and support will be needed in place to cope with this change. What discussion have you had with your Cabinet colleagues about increasing the amount of...
Mohammad Asghar: Leader of the house, the Welsh Government's recently published digital inclusion progress report states that Merthyr was identified as an area with limited digital inclusion activity taking place. This led to the formation of the Get Merthyr Tydfil Online partnership. Given that the Barclays digital development index 2017 claimed that Welsh employees score among the lowest of all UK regions...
Mohammad Asghar: Does the First Minister agree with me that work is one of the best ways out of poverty? And will he join me in welcoming the fact that unemployment in Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney has fallen by 52 per cent since 2010?
Mohammad Asghar: May I ask for a statement from the Cabinet Secretary for Education on schools admission policy in Wales? Assembly Members will be aware that compulsory school age is the beginning of the term following a child's fifth birthday. However, this puts children born between 1 April and 31 August, known as summer-born children, at a disadvantage. Parents of four-year-old children who have not...
Mohammad Asghar: What plans does the Cabinet Secretary have to review the Welsh Government's school admissions policy?
Mohammad Asghar: Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the work of the NHS counter-fraud service?
Mohammad Asghar: Thank you, Presiding Officer. Minister, the growing skills gap, particularly in the field of digital skills, is hindering the ability of companies to find the workers they need. Science is essential for people thinking about a career in areas such as IT, engineering and medicine, but a third of Welsh school pupils shunned specialist science GCSEs, a problem that you yourself have...
