Natasha Asghar: Thank you, Minister. Following on from Jenny Rathbone's comment about school inspections, I believe school inspections are vital to ensure that the delivery of high standards of education is available across Wales. However, figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 show that 189 schools were last inspected between seven and 10 years ago, and a further 417 schools were...
Natasha Asghar: This month is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The recent death of Girls Aloud star Sarah Harding from breast cancer at the tragically young age of 39 highlighted the vital importance of doing all that we can to fight this horrible disease. The pandemic has resulted in a big drop in the number of people being referred to see a specialist with suspected breast cancer. Screening services were...
Natasha Asghar: Minister, one of the main aims of the UK spending review is levelling up across the UK to increase and spread opportunity. However, as we've heard in the previous question today, Wales continues to face significant skills shortages, hindering the Welsh economy and the ability of the workforce to adapt to ever-changing industries and technologies. Research from the Open University shows that...
Natasha Asghar: 1. Will the First Minister make a statement on coronavirus requirements for international travellers from Wales? OQ57043
Natasha Asghar: Thank you, First Minister. First Minister, I've stood here many a time, and I know you don't like answering individual cases, but I have been asked by a number of constituents about a matter that I'd like to raise with you today, here in the Chamber. Now, I've been contacted, like I said, by a family who are experiencing difficulty in obtaining COVID passports for foreign travel. Earlier this...
Natasha Asghar: 2. What action is the Welsh Government taking to encourage diversity in employment in the public sector? OQ57042
Natasha Asghar: Thanks, Minister. During a recent meeting of the Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee, it was revealed that only 4.2 per cent of staff employed in the Senedd identify as BAME. Now, of those—and pardon me for saying this, but I prefer the term 'ethnic minorities', so that's what I want to continue with in my question—ethnic minority members of staff, 81 per cent are in the...
Natasha Asghar: Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer. Firstly, I thank the Deputy Minister for his statement today. I wish to put on record that the Welsh Conservatives do fully support the metro projects across Wales, but I do want to also just put in there that we don't think it's going to be a fully fledged solution to the environmental crisis. We do share your hope that it'll make it easier for...
Natasha Asghar: Minister, concerns about chronic understaffing at the Grange hospital have been circulating since the hospital opened in November 2020. On announcing the early date of the opening, the previous health Minister said that the facility would provide more capacity and resilience in the system. However, at present, the Grange hospital has the worst A&E waiting times in Wales, with fewer than 41...
Natasha Asghar: Minister, may I ask for a statement from the Minister of health on the threshold for a public inquiry into cases concerning the care and treatment offered by health boards in Wales? I know the answer will probably be, 'Go and Google it, Natasha', but the reason why is something different. I've actually been in correspondence with the health Minister and the Aneurin Bevan University Local...
Natasha Asghar: Minister, I'd just like to echo what my honourable colleague John Griffiths has just said, that south-east Wales has got a lot of potential, particularly in technology. I recently visited Forth in Chepstow, which is an innovative biomarking tracking platform, which helps people navigate their way to better health. This company is one of a number of technology businesses—another is Creo...
Natasha Asghar: Minister, analysis of the age profile of people with coronavirus shows that 39 per cent of cases are aged under 19 and that 27 per cent are aged between 10 and 19. A constituent has contacted me who has a family member attending Crickhowell High School and also Monmouth Comprehensive School. The requirement to wear face masks has been retained in both classrooms and corridors at Crickhowell...
Natasha Asghar: Deputy Minister, the decision to scrap the Llanbedr access road scheme has been met with dismay by residents in the locality. It's no secret; I know my colleague from Plaid Cymru has just said the same. I was actually contacted by a resident from the area before I came to the Chamber, and they showed their utter disgust by telling me how upset they are by the decision. The latest decision to...
Natasha Asghar: First Minister, I appreciate your response to my honourable colleague. Caerphilly continues to have the highest number of newly recorded cases of COVID in my region of South Wales East. You are a learned person, and I'm sure you've seen the stories that the UK medicines regulator has recently approved the first antiviral medication for COVID that can be taken as a pill, rather than injected...
Natasha Asghar: Thank you, Presiding Officer. Deputy Minister, you'll be aware that First Bus has withdrawn its X10 bus service between Cardiff and Swansea. One of the reasons given by First Bus for this service withdrawal is that, and I quote, 'It carries a disproportionate amount of concessions customers, and not commercial customers, which makes it impossible to sustain the costs.' Senior citizens and...
Natasha Asghar: Thanks for that, Deputy Minister, but from my records, Labour has been in power for the last 22 years here in Wales, so let's just focus on that first. The second question from me is: the Welsh Government recently announced its plans to promote electric vehicles in Wales, which was overdue and lacking in detail. I know I've said this to you previously. But under your proposals, you state...
Natasha Asghar: Thank you, Deputy Minister. I know that you often like to use the central UK Government as a reason and justification for a lot of things, and I know, on many occasions, you don't like answering my questions, so sometimes I think to myself would you be happier going back to ITV Wales and actually working on answering the questions that I'm asking you, as opposed to diverting the answer...
Natasha Asghar: Minister, in principle, I have absolutely no objection to children in Wales learning about black, Asian and minority ethnic history in Welsh schools. Nearly 35,000 people signed a petition calling for this to be made compulsory, thereby recognising the legacy of colonialism and slavery in the communities across Wales. I do have one concern, however. There is a danger that focusing on...
Natasha Asghar: Minister, may I ask for a statement from the Deputy Minister for Climate Change on the importance of the logistics industry in our everyday lives? The logistics industry is worth over £127 billion to the UK economy, but its true value is in the role it plays in making sure we get everything we need—from those all-important toilet rolls to turkeys on our tables, and, in the name of...
Natasha Asghar: How will the proposals in the Welsh Government's animal welfare plan improve animal welfare in Wales?
