Heledd Fychan: 2. What action is the Welsh Government taking to ensure that the membership of the boards of public bodies reflect society? OQ56872
Heledd Fychan: Thank you very much to the Minister for her response. In looking at the website of the Welsh Government, anyone can apply for a public appointment. But it is a complex process, with several forms and you need several qualifications too. There is inconsistency in terms of the roles and the wages as well. If we take an example on the website of Welsh Government at the moment, there is an...
Heledd Fychan: This week, my community is celebrating Pontypridd Green Week, which is part of a UK-wide Great Big Green Week, celebrating action on climate change. This is a grass-roots event organised by local community activists of all ages who are determined to make a difference and inspire others to take action, as we respond to the climate and nature emergency. And, unfortunately, for Pontypridd and...
Heledd Fychan: I've listened carefully to everyone's contributions this afternoon, and I hear many arguments that are contradictory. One challenge for the Tories is the lack of investment from the UK Government before this Senedd came into existence, because this has been a problem that's been with us over many decades, and although I do have some criticisms of the Welsh Government since the inception of...
Heledd Fychan: 4. How does the Welsh Government support the mental health of people who are suffering trauma as a result of the climate and nature crisis? OQ56977
Heledd Fychan: Thank you, First Minister. You will be aware, I'm sure, that there have been floods again overnight, affecting businesses and homes in my region. Indeed, I was out this morning looking at the damage in Pontypridd, Cilfynydd and Rhydyfelin. The trauma, not to mention the destruction, is clear, and even in those area that weren't impacted last night but suffered last year, such as Clydach...
Heledd Fychan: I think how quiet the Chamber is this afternoon in listening to this says it all. The stories and the report are very difficult to listen to, to read, and I know that many of you will have met many of these parents and the families and will have heard from them and know just how emotional it all is. I should also declare at the outset my own son was born in the Royal Glamorgan Hospital and...
Heledd Fychan: Two weeks ago, we heard the sad news about the death of the radio presenter and producer Magi Dodd, at the age of 44. Magi was born and raised in Pontypridd, where she attended Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Pont Sion Norton and Ysgol Rhydfelen, before going on to study at Aberystwyth University. In the early part of this century, she became a familiar voice on Radio Cymru—on C2 programmes and as...
Heledd Fychan: Trefnydd, I note the written statement that was published today in terms of coal tip safety, with 33 more tips in the highest risk category, which leads to a total of 327. That's caused a great deal of anxiety in those communities that live in the shadow of those tips, so I'd like to ask for a further statement in the Chamber from the Minister for Climate Change to note when the location of...
Heledd Fychan: Minister, you referenced the benefit of nature on mental health during your statement, but we've also seen and you referenced anxiety, and we've seen the negative impact of the climate and nature emergency on the mental health of people living in communities that have already been impacted by these changes and live in fear of being impacted again. I know that Delyth Jewell raised this with...
Heledd Fychan: Minister, you referenced in your statement that the NHS is still under intense pressure. Many residents in the Cynon valley have contacted me to raise concerns that the A&E local to them at the Prince Charles Hospital has been under extreme pressure during the pandemic. Even now as we speak, there is an average time of eight hours and 15 minutes for people to be seen there, and 70 patients...
Heledd Fychan: 3. What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the sufficiency of this year's local government settlement? OQ57010
Heledd Fychan: I'd like to declare an interest at the outset, as I am a member of Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council until May of next year.
Heledd Fychan: Thank you, Minister. Earlier this year, Welsh Government also provided an additional £40 million in resources to support social services specifically in 2021-22 through the social care recovery fund. Through this, RCT council has made the decision to extend the real living wage to all contracted adult social care workers and personal assistants from December onwards, which of course is very...
Heledd Fychan: What discussions has the Welsh Government had with Academi Heddwch Cymru regarding the Welsh Government's international strategies and policies?'
Heledd Fychan: Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd. I'm pleased to hear the Deputy Minister emphasising the importance of the creative industries, and her commitment to providing support for more people in Wales to work in the related sectors. I also very much welcome the specific statement regarding diversity, and ensuring that there are more opportunities for people from black, Asian and minority ethnic communities...
Heledd Fychan: A number of people living in the South Wales Central region have been in touch with me who have family members who have autism and who are refusing to have a vaccine for all sorts of reasons, including being too concerned about visiting a vaccination centre because of inexperienced staff not dealing sensitively with their needs. Many too either can't or won't take a lateral flow test. And...
Heledd Fychan: I'd like to declare that I'm a councillor on Rhondda Cynon Taf council before asking this question. In response to the statement, I wanted to ask about the dualling of the A4119 from Coed-Ely to Ynysmaerdy, a project that was announced last week as one of those looking to receive £11.4 million through the levelling-up fund of the British Government. Obviously, this stems from a bid that was...
Heledd Fychan: I just wanted to pick up, Minister, on your point around coal tips, and I wanted to ask if I'm to take from your comments and the statements that discussions with the UK Government last week therefore failed to reach an agreement over who would pay for this work. Is it not therefore time for Welsh Government to push ahead with the work for the very reason that you outlined in your statement,...
Heledd Fychan: Thank you, Llywydd. Over half term, museums across Wales took part in the Welsh museums festival. It's an opportunity to discuss the crucial role of museums of all sizes and shapes and the positive impact that they have in so many different ways, including on our economy. However, as a recent report by the British Museums Association shows, over the last decade, spending of local authorities...
