Rhianon Passmore: It is more than welcome that there is cross-party support from this Senedd Chamber to send a very clear signal of our collective determination to eradicate racism and to build an anti-racist Wales alongside a nation of sanctuary. I was struck recently, as were many, by the unveiling in the centre of Cardiff of that statue of Betty Campbell, and the following day, Wales's national newspaper...
Rhianon Passmore: 8. What action is the Welsh Government taking to tackle hate crime in south-east Wales? OQ57070
Rhianon Passmore: Thank you very much, Deputy Minister. I was concerned to see that recent figures show homophobic hate crimes have tripled across the UK in the last six years. Indeed, up until 31 August this year, there were over 150 LGBTQ+ hate crimes reported to Gwent Police. How is the Welsh Government working to ensure that those who are victims of hate crime have the confidence to both come forward and...
Rhianon Passmore: I do welcome the refreshing comments from the Deputy Minister on the inadequate public transport options to the Grange Hospital. There is a growing consensus on the need for urgent action to address the climate challenge emergency that our planet faces, although the Conservatives opposite remain confused despite Boris's change from orange to green. The ambitious Wales transport strategy is...
Rhianon Passmore: I'm coming to that very swiftly—
Rhianon Passmore: —how welcome the Ebbw Vale line to Cardiff is. Deputy Minister, what actions, then, can you and the Welsh Government take in order to meet with the UK Conservative Government to ensure that Wales receives that badly needed funding required to transform Wales's public sector infrastructure?
Rhianon Passmore: First Minister, the pandemic and COP too have shown the need for closer working between Governments across the globe. The British-Irish Council summit, hosted by the Welsh Government at our iconic St Fagans National Museum of History, was a unique opportunity for Wales to show the value of how we are all stronger working co-operatively together. First Minister, did you have an opportunity...
Rhianon Passmore: I also want to place my thanks to our healthcare workers again at this time, and also those involved with the booster vaccination programme. I do welcome the Welsh Government announcement that the booster programme will be extended to all adults, all children to be offered a second dose, and reducing the gap between the second dose and the booster from six down to three months. Minister, the...
Rhianon Passmore: What action is the Welsh Government taking to help grow small and medium-sized enterprises in Islwyn?
Rhianon Passmore: Diolch, Llywydd. I shall be giving a minute of my time to the following Senedd colleagues: Carolyn Thomas, Peredur Owen Griffiths, Delyth Jewell, Sam Rowlands and Mike Hedges. I greatly welcome the contributions of cross-party Members of the Senedd in this important debate today. Thank you. Diolch yn fawr i chi i gyd. I stand in the Chamber of this Welsh Parliament to call for the urgent...
Rhianon Passmore: I chair the Senedd cross-party group on music and I'm truly grateful for the genuine cross-party support across the Chamber on this vital issue. Last Saturday, I was honoured to participate in the Incorporated Society of Musicians conference where I represented the Senedd to discuss music education across the devolved nations. Indeed, we are renowned internationally as the land of bards and...
Rhianon Passmore: I want to thank you, First Minister, for your programme of government statement here today, and the spirit of co-operation outlined. I was delighted that you referenced that the Welsh Labour Government promised in the election campaign to create a new national music service. So, it was pleasing to see the education Minister confirm that £6.8 million will be made available for creative arts...
Rhianon Passmore: Minister, will you join me in welcoming the news of the reintroduction of direct rail services from Crosskeys to Newport, from this Sunday, 12 December, in time for Christmas? This is no mean achievement, and will be the first direct passenger rail service from the communities of Islwyn to Newport in almost 60 years. I’ve campaigned since my election to reconnect rail services in Islwyn to...
Rhianon Passmore: Will you take an intervention?
Rhianon Passmore: Thank you. Do you think it is only the job of churches and voluntary organisations to provide the safety net, as you say, for those in most need?
Rhianon Passmore: Can I also thank the Welsh Government for seeking to address the very difficult problem that is felt in every community throughout Wales, and also extend those thanks to the Monmouthshire Building Society? We know that the UK is served poorly by a number of large banks who ignore customer feedback and continue to adopt a scorched-earth policy to community banking. In the face of almost...
Rhianon Passmore: Thank you, Minister, for your statement, and also thank you to our vaccine NHS champions. Minister, we know that the omicron variant effectively reduces immunity achieved by two doses of vaccine to virtually nothing in the case of Oxford-AstraZeneca and to minimal protection from infection in the case of Pfizer, but that is not to say that the double doses will not dramatically help people...
Rhianon Passmore: 5. What measures is the Welsh Government taking to improve animal welfare? OQ57364
Rhianon Passmore: Diolch, Minister. At the start of November, the whole of Wales was declared an avian influenza prevention zone, which means that it's a legal requirement for keepers of captive birds to follow strict biosecurity measures to protect their birds. This applies to everyone, even if you only own a single bird, and this is a worrying time for bird keepers. Minister, how best can the people of Wales...
Rhianon Passmore: First Minister, one of the fundamental tasks of any government is to protect lives and ensure the public health of its citizens, and the Welsh Government has prioritised keeping Wales safe during this global pandemic. With the omicron wave that engulfed us, public health measures were required, and we see encouraging signs, with the infection rate falling for two days in a row. First...
