Rhianon Passmore: Diolch, Deputy Llywydd. Thank you, Minister. There is, indeed, great potential and opportunity within this new curriculum, and, I believe, great prizes: I do welcome very much the strategic intention around early and pre-linguistic development across Wales. We need that linguistic development. We can be a bilingual nation to a greater extent, but we need to be a multilingual nation to take...
Rhianon Passmore: 3. What is the Welsh Government doing to increase tourism in Islwyn? OAQ53299
Rhianon Passmore: What action is the Welsh Government taking to make council tax rates fairer for residents in Islwyn?
Rhianon Passmore: Thank you for that answer. Islwyn contains some of Wales's most stunning natural landscapes, such as the internationally famed Cwmcarn Forest Drive and also the Navigation colliery, and it was announced recently the gateway status of the drive within the Valleys initiative. But, any qualitative international visitor experiences are immeasurably enhanced by attention to detail, and, for many...
Rhianon Passmore: Will you take an intervention?
Rhianon Passmore: First Minister, for my constituents in Islwyn, the Cardiff capital region city deal offers the real prospect of transforming our communities. The city deal aims to deliver up to 25,000 new jobs and lever in an additional £4 billion of private sector investment. What additional support, then, and oversight can the Welsh Government offer the 10 local authorities that comprise the Cardiff...
Rhianon Passmore: Will you take an intervention?
Rhianon Passmore: According to Professor Mark Barry, as you quoted, he thinks that Wales has been underfunded by—[Inaudible.]—2016. Do you disagree?
Rhianon Passmore: I welcome the Welsh Government bringing the matter of the future of Wales's railways to the floor of the Senedd for the National Assembly for Wales to discuss. In Islwyn, one of the most visible consequences of Welsh devolution has been the Welsh Government's reestablishment of the Ebbw Vale to Cardiff passenger railway line. This has been much welcomed as a major transport improvement and...
Rhianon Passmore: Firstly, thank you to my colleague, Hefin David, for bringing forward this really important debate to the floor of the Senedd today. As we know, single-use plastics and the pollution they cause represents one of the most serious environmental challenges facing the world today, and it can be difficult to see the real impact that any individual can have, but action must start, as has been said...
Rhianon Passmore: I'll come to a close. So, as we move forward, then—
Rhianon Passmore: So, I welcome very much the approach that we're taking. Thank you.
Rhianon Passmore: 5. What action is the Welsh Government taking to encourage young people to use public transport? OAQ53476
Rhianon Passmore: Diolch. Thank you, First Minister. The transport and economy Minister, Ken Skates, joined students in Wrexham last week to celebrate the announcement of the popular mytravelpass young person's discount scheme. Since the scheme began in 2014, there have been a total of 20,953 pass holders and an estimated 1,344,000 discounted journeys in 2017-18. First Minister, can you inform me when we can...
Rhianon Passmore: 2. How is the Welsh Government's landfill disposals tax community scheme benefiting communities in south-east Wales? OAQ53444
Rhianon Passmore: Thank you. I welcome the news announced last month that a total of 27 projects across Wales will receive grant awards in the first round of funding, raised by the Welsh Government's landfill disposals tax community scheme. Minister, this highly innovative scheme was established by the Welsh Government to support local community and environmental projects in areas affected by disposals to...
Rhianon Passmore: I'm very grateful for the opportunity to speak in this debate brought forward by a cross-party group of Assembly Members. Alongside the future generations Act, the active travel Act is a truly ambitious and important piece of legislation and one that, as has already been said, we are all rightly proud of. It is a made-in-Wales Act that we all need to make sure is properly supported at all...
Rhianon Passmore: For this debate today to have real merit, it is worth establishing some fundamental parameters. The UK Government's sustained austerity agenda has led to a cut of nearly £1 billion to Wales's overall budget. This is real. Despite this, the Welsh Labour Government has worked hard to protect Welsh public services from the significant cuts and has taken direct action to prioritise key public...
Rhianon Passmore: Okay. I do actually acknowledge the fact that if we look at what's happening across the water in England, you will see that there is a huge issue in terms of funding for schools in England, and quite frankly, the gap that you're talking about is equitable across Wales. I won't take any lessons in regard to that, despite the rhetoric that has not always been the case for funding of schools in...
Rhianon Passmore: Do you recognise the value or worth of the education improvement work that the education consortia carry out across Wales or not?
