Rhianon Passmore: Will the Cabinet Secretary outline the educational support the Welsh Government is providing to pupils in areas of economic deprivation within Islwyn?
Rhianon Passmore: First Minister, in March last year, as part of the Getting Ahead 2 programme, Learning Disability Wales were given £10 million over five years to transform the lives of over 1,000 young people aged 16 to 25 who have a learning disability or learning difficulty, and that is through undertaking a paid work placement lasting between six and 12 months. What does this commitment demonstrate about...
Rhianon Passmore: Today, I will be joining my Labour colleagues and voting for this legislative consent motion on the Wales Bill. Indeed, as said by many, it is what it is. For this, we have a Conservative UK Government, which has once again let down the people of Wales in this stated imperfection—. In October 2015, the then Secretary of State for Wales, Stephen Crabb, stated that the Wales Bill was: ‘a...
Rhianon Passmore: 7. What discussions has the Welsh Government had with the UK Government to improve current rail services in south-east Wales? OAQ(5)0397(FM)
Rhianon Passmore: Thank you. Tonight on BBC Wales’s ‘Week In Week Out’, Nick Servini goes behind the scenes of Arriva Trains Wales as it investigates the worst overcrowding on commuter trains for years. My constituents in Islwyn continually raise with me overcrowding on Arriva Trains Wales, but the focus of Arriva Trains Wales has made a profit of £133.88 million in dividends for its parent company...
Rhianon Passmore: Cabinet Secretary, I welcome the announcement from the Welsh Government of the new £36 million fund to address infant class sizes. Nobody can seriously argue—apart from one or two Members present—that it is desirable that 7.6 per cent of infants school pupils in Wales are in classes of more than 30. That is 8,196 young children vying for the attention and support of their teachers and...
Rhianon Passmore: What action is the Welsh Government taking to help combat fly-tipping?
Rhianon Passmore: First Minister, yesterday, the economy Secretary kicked off a week of job announcements with the outstanding news that the BBI Group is consolidating and expanding its UK manufacturing operations onto a single site in Crumlin, in my constituency, at the Border Technology Park. This is, in great part, thanks to a Welsh Government grant of £1.8 million, and this considerable investment will...
Rhianon Passmore: The ‘Community safety in Wales’ report, conducted by the auditor general, underscored the complexities associated with improving community safety in Wales. I therefore thank the Cabinet Secretary for making this statement to the Chamber today, and welcome the establishment of the oversight group to review the recommendations made in the auditor general’s report. Whilst there is no...
Rhianon Passmore: Last year, the Welsh Government published data that showed persistent school absence at its best-ever recorded level, and it’s well known the correlation between attendance and attainment, on many levels. The Cabinet Secretary’s predecessor reported that the Welsh Labour Government had introduced a series of measures in recent years to address school attendance, including for those pupils...
Rhianon Passmore: Will the First Minister outline what action the Welsh Government is taking to support learners with additional learning needs?
Rhianon Passmore: Firstly, I suppose I should declare an interest in this topic, as a musician. I was born on a council estate and accessed the world of professional music via state provision and its exemplary county and national youth orchestras. I was a recipient of a thriving music support service that provided access to instrumental tuition, not just to me as a clarinettist, but to members of my family who...
Rhianon Passmore: 2. What discussions has the Counsel General had on the application of EU laws in Wales post Brexit? OAQ(5)0025(CG)
Rhianon Passmore: Thank you for that. What is the Counsel General’s assessment, then, of the areas of legislative competence that will be most affected and what action is the Welsh Government taking in mitigation, post Brexit?
Rhianon Passmore: I would like to place on record my appreciation to the Chair of the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee, John Griffiths, for his adept chairing of our committee. It has been interesting in my short time there. Our short inquiry in the autumn last year was an important piece of work to review the progress of the groundbreaking, landmark Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse...
Rhianon Passmore: Will the First Minister outline what actions the Welsh Government is taking to provide extra support for high street businesses in Islwyn?
Rhianon Passmore: Will you take an intervention?
Rhianon Passmore: Thank you. Would you agree, if you look at the data for those who are on zero-hours contracts, that many are taking two or three jobs and trying to operate on that basis, and a lot of them are not doing it out of choice—they’re doing it because it’s the only thing available to them?
Rhianon Passmore: Will you take an intervention?
Rhianon Passmore: I am actually proud to rise in this Government debate to mark International Women’s Day. Today, I gathered on the Senedd steps with my fellow female Labour Assembly Members and I was very proud to shine a light on Welsh women who have made an impact in public life across Wales. You may have heard of Benjamin Hall, who was a man from Islwyn, my constituency, who Big Ben was named after....
