Mohammad Asghar: The Welsh Government has a target of 100,000 new, high-quality apprenticeships. I believe that the take-up of apprenticeships in Wales would be incresed if the benefits they can bring are explained to people at an early stage and age also. Good careers information in school is vital, but there are issues with the quality and availability of careers advice, including the lack of trained...
Mohammad Asghar: It is 55 years since the then Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, warned that, if the country was to prosper, a new Britain would need to be forged in the white heat of a scientific revolution. That was Mr Wilson. Today, technological changes are so fast that skills are changing faster than formal educators can keep up with them. By the time a curriculum is crafted and approved by the various...
Mohammad Asghar: Breakfast clubs provide children with a healthy and varied breakfast meal, an opportunity for social interaction and support for parents, particularly those who work and rely on breakfast club as a means of affordable and reliable childcare. In a recent report, some parents expressed concern that children were allowed to add sugar to breakfast cereal, some of which may already have a high...
Mohammad Asghar: Will the First Minister make a statement on how Welsh Government funding is used to support economic development in south-east Wales?
Mohammad Asghar: First Minister, third sector organisations play a vital role in strengthening and actively promoting community cohesion as well as providing a link between public sector bodies and ethnic minority communities. For them to succeed, they need the support of the Welsh Government. So, will the First Minister outline how his strategy to improve community cohesion will utilise and support the third...
Mohammad Asghar: Hear, hear.
Mohammad Asghar: Leader of the house, may I ask for a statement from the Cabinet Secretary for health on the work of the NHS counter fraud service within Wales? The former chief executive of the NHS counter fraud service has claimed that the NHS in Wales could be losing up to £200 million a year through fraud and that not enough is being done to tackle it. Last year, the service in Wales recovered just...
Mohammad Asghar: Good afternoon, Minister. Festivals in Wales are a great opportunity for attracting tourists and boosting local economies. For example, Abergavenny Food Festival has grown to be one of the largest food festivals in the United Kingdom, attracting more than 30,000 visitors to Abergavenny and generating an estimated £4 million for this local economy. What discussions has the Cabinet Secretary...
Mohammad Asghar: According to the latest census, more than two thirds of people in Wales live in urban areas. As more people cram into our cities, problems of bad planning, overcrowding and poor accessibility become more evident. The challenge we face, therefore, is to create cities where people want to live: places where shops, jobs, social facilities and open spaces are easily accessible; places where...
Mohammad Asghar: In April, it was announced that an alcohol ban will be trialled in a section of the Principality Stadium of Wales during the autumn rugby internationals. This follows complaints about the behaviour of drunk people spoiling games for other fans, which concluded that 87 per cent were being subjected to a tirade of verbal abuse. Will the First Minister join me in welcoming this move to tackle...
Mohammad Asghar: May I ask for a statement from the Cabinet Secretary for local government on the level of fees that local authorities in Wales are able to charge for their services? I have been contacted by a constituent in Newport who is involved in a dispute over the height of trees in a neighbouring property. He has now approached Newport City Council for help, but they're charging £320 before they will...
Mohammad Asghar: 7. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on plans to update the existing animal welfare codes of practice in Wales? OAQ52289
Mohammad Asghar: 1. What measures will the Cabinet Secretary introduce to improve support for members of the armed forces in Wales in the next 12 months? OAQ52290
Mohammad Asghar: What plans does the Cabinet Secretary have to improve animal welfare standards in Welsh agriculture?
Mohammad Asghar: Thank you for the reply, Minister. Fifteen European countries have already introduced bans on keeping primates as pets, for either all or some species. In October 2016, RSPCA Cymru called on the Welsh Government to join those 15 countries and introduce the ban in Wales. When will the Cabinet Secretary be in a position to announce her plans to update the existing animal welfare codes of...
Mohammad Asghar: Thank you.
Mohammad Asghar: Thank you very much for that reply. We earlier enjoyed a great Royal Air Force centenary in the Senedd with a whole group of Royal Air Force air chief marshals and the top Assembly Members there. It's a great day for the Assembly. The cross-party group on the armed forces and cadets recently undertook an inquiry into the impact of the armed forces covenant on forces personnel. This inquiry...
Mohammad Asghar: It is clear that carers play a vital role in our society. Whether it is financially or socially, the contribution made by carers simply cannot be understated. Not only are more people caring, but they are caring for longer. And the number of people needing care and those needing care for longer periods of time has increased significantly. It is imperative therefore that we recognise the...
Mohammad Asghar: 2. What measures will the Welsh Government introduce to prevent animal cruelty in the next 12 months? OAQ52382
Mohammad Asghar: Thank you very much for the reply, Minister. Since May this year, every abattoir in England is required to have CCTV cameras installed in all areas where live animals are kept. Official vets will have unrestricted access to footage, to reassure consumers that high welfare standards are being enforced. Does the First Minister agree that this is an effective way to prevent animal cruelty, and...
