Mohammad Asghar: Minister, promoting and facilitating the use of the Welsh language in people’s everyday life is important if the Welsh Government is to meet its ambitious target. Recently it was revealed that less than half of 1 per cent of apprenticeships in Wales were offered through the medium of Welsh. So, can I ask, Minister, what discussion have you had with your colleagues to increase the...
Mohammad Asghar: Minister, news that up to 380 jobs are at risk at Tata Steel's Orb plant is a devastating blow to the workers and their families directly affected and to Newport as a whole. Tata has said it hopes to offer jobs to those affected elsewhere in Wales. So, can I ask what assistance you will provide to those workers who can relocate, and how you will ensure that those workers, unable or unwilling...
Mohammad Asghar: In a speech at the American University in Washington in June 1963, President John F. Kennedy said: 'our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this small planet. We all breathe the same air.' That was a famous quote by a very famous man and, of course, what a true statement. Later in the same speech, he spoke about human rights and went on to say—his quote is: 'the right to breathe...
Mohammad Asghar: 6. What progress has been made in delivering the aims of the Welsh Government's Strategy for Older People in Wales? OAQ54355
Mohammad Asghar: Thank you very much for that reply, First Minister. Your strategy for older people recognises that opportunities for older people to enjoy and participate in their community rely on access to transport. It clearly states that one of its strategic outcomes is to enable older people to access affordable and appropriate transport, which assists them to play a full part in family, social and...
Mohammad Asghar: Minister, may I ask for a statement from the Minister for health about hospital maintenance in Wales? According to a recent report, the seven health boards in Wales face a bill of at least £260 million for urgent repairs and refurbishments, out of a total repair bill of more than £500 million. In my own health board area, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, which is one of the better...
Mohammad Asghar: Minister, further to Leanne Wood's question, I fully support you in your laudable aim of keeping the cost of school uniform down. However, I note your guidance allows schools to decide whether their logos are strictly necessary. I believe that logos express the mission and the spirit of a school, and are a source of pride for students, parents and staff, and create a sense of community among...
Mohammad Asghar: Minister, Wales has now a single waiting-time target for cancer diagnosis and treatment, which I welcome. However, it is well known that we lack capacity in diagnosis services, and your Government has failed to meet its own targets for cancer waiting times via the urgent route since 2008. Minister, what action are you taking to deliver this significant investment in cancer facilities across...
Mohammad Asghar: Minister, according to Public Health Wales, drug-related deaths in Wales are at their highest levels. They report that the number of people dying from drug poisoning has increased by 78 per cent in just the last 10 years. They also say that there has been a rise in the number of young people dying from substances such as cocaine. Given that seeking early support can prevent the escalation of...
Mohammad Asghar: This report by the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee, of which I was previously a member, makes 11 recommendations. The main recommendation is that Welsh prisoners who are serving custodial sentences of less than four years should have the right to vote in devolved Welsh elections. My colleague Mark Isherwood and I disagreed with this recommendation. I do so again today. I...
Mohammad Asghar: Yes, go on.
Mohammad Asghar: Listen—[Interruption.] Look, the thing is—
Mohammad Asghar: Look, he did not harm the country. You're the one harming the country.
Mohammad Asghar: You are not listening to—. Presiding Officer, I had opinions in my own office in Newport: in a month, while I was a member of this committee, more than a 100 constituents—I asked them, and not a single one said, 'Yes, I would like to have the right to vote for the prisoner.' That is in South Wales East. Please do it in your constituencies and come back and report. [Interruption.] No,...
Mohammad Asghar: Yes, go on. Go on.
Mohammad Asghar: But this is totally irrelevant to the prisoner—
Mohammad Asghar: Listen, I thought you're very intelligent lady, we are talking about—
Mohammad Asghar: We are talking about voting not hanging.
Mohammad Asghar: We are not—. I never said—. I thought you're very intelligent, but we are talking—
Mohammad Asghar: We are talking here—. No, I never said the word 'stupid' here. It is an indication of how out of touch this Welsh Labour Government is with public opinion. The Welsh Labour Government regards, as a priority, giving votes to villains, the franchise to felons, and ballots to burglars. Let Welsh Labour and Plaid seek the support of the Norman Stanley Fletchers of this world, if they wish. The...
