Mohammad Asghar: Go on then.
Mohammad Asghar: The thing is, Wales hasn't seen any other side of the coin. It's only the Labour Party's performance I'm telling you about. Wales does not need a new Labour Government. Wales needs a new Government here. There are 200,000 poor children living in poverty in Wales—200,000. On poverty, the economy, families, ethnicity and disability, we are worse than the United Kingdom. There's a long list of...
Mohammad Asghar: 5. What action is the Welsh Government taking to improve standards of education in Wales? OAQ53104
Mohammad Asghar: Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on how Welsh Government policies are preserving wildlife?
Mohammad Asghar: As this is the best occasion, or last occasion, on which you will be answering questions in this Assembly as the First Minister, I hope you will accept my and our sincere best wishes for your future from this side of the Chamber. In this spirit of seasonal goodwill, would you join me in welcoming the fact that, thanks to the economic policies of the Conservative Government in...
Mohammad Asghar: Thank you very much for that answer, First Minister. According to Estyn, only half of secondary schools in Wales are judged 'good' or 'excellent'. Pupils do not develop knowledge and skills well enough or make enough progress in around a half of Welsh secondary schools, and the majority of pupils in these schools do not achieve in line with their abilities by the time they reach the end of...
Mohammad Asghar: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Leader of the house, the Equality and Human Rights Commission report 'Is Wales Fairer?' states that domestic abuse continues to be under-reported. It is a sad fact that more domestic violence offences are committed than are reported to and recorded by the police. In view of this, does the leader of the house share my concern that the inspectorate of...
Mohammad Asghar: Thank you for that answer, leader of the house. 'Is Wales Fairer?' also mentioned that 'A study of specialist domestic abuse services in Wales reported funding cuts in nearly half of specialist services for 2016/17'. It goes on to say about 'a lack of adequate funding for specialist children and young people’s domestic abuse support services being of particular concern'. What action is...
Mohammad Asghar: Thank you. Last year, Welsh Women's Aid expressed concern about the lack of refuge-based support for survivors of domestic abuse and their children. Particular reference was made to women from ethnic minorities, disabled women and, in a small number of cases, for men. At present, data on the number of refuges is not collected or held centrally in Wales. Does the leader of the house agree...
Mohammad Asghar: Leader of the house, in February, the former chief inspector of prisons called for a women's prison to be opened in Cardiff to allow female prisoners to serve their sentences in Wales. Lord Ramsbotham said it was deplorable that there is no provision in Wales and that female prisoners have to be sent to England, away from their families and their friends. I think it's not agreeable in this...
Mohammad Asghar: Leader of the house, may I ask for a statement from the Welsh Government on the decision of Newport City Council to withdraw its funding for Gwent sensory and communication? This is a service for children who have vision, hearing and communication problems, which is currently funded by five councils in south-east Wales. The decision of Newport City Council to withdraw its funding has caused...
Mohammad Asghar: Paul Davies.
Mohammad Asghar: I also wish you the best in your new role, First Minister. It is now 18 months since plans for an automotive park at Ebbw Vale was announced. Since that announcement, no foundations have been laid, and there is no sign of the jobs promised. The Ebbw Vale enterprise zone has created only 179 jobs in seven years. Can the First Minister advise when the automotive park will be fully operational...
Mohammad Asghar: Congratulations on your new job, Minister. May I ask for a statement from the Welsh Government on the level of council tax increases in Wales? Although I'm advised that there is no official cap on what councils can raise taxes by, there is an informal limit of 5 per cent set. Newport City Council intend to raise council tax in the city by 6.95 per cent—nearly 7 per cent—increasing the...
Mohammad Asghar: 8. Will the Minister make a statement on acceptances to university courses in Wales? OAQ53127
Mohammad Asghar: What plans does the Minister have to increase the number of GPs?
Mohammad Asghar: Will the Minister make a statement on ambulance response times?
Mohammad Asghar: Thank you for the answer, Minister. According to the admissions service, UCAS, Wales is the only part of the United Kingdom where the total number of students given places fell last year, when compared to the previous year. Figures show the number of students accepted on full-time courses at Welsh universities fell by 5.7 per cent. Figures show also that Welsh applicants are the most likely...
Mohammad Asghar: I'm grateful for the opportunity to speak on the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee report on the state of roads in Wales. May I begin my remarks this afternoon by paying tribute to my predecessor on the committee, Mark Isherwood, for all his work in helping to produce this valuable report? The state of the roads in Wales is a vitally important subject that affects the lives of...
Mohammad Asghar: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. When I came to the United Kingdom in 1970, I had done my BA in political science and sociology and was given the opportunity to study computers, or IT as it is called today, in London. IBM 360 model 30—it was much bigger than the Presiding Officer's whole table. In those days, computers were the size of almost a master bedroom, and it never ceases to...
