Angela Burns: I would like to second Ann Jones.
Angela Burns: Leanne Wood.
Angela Burns: Will the Minister make an urgent statement following news that support for part-time postgraduate study in Wales has been scrapped? EAQ(5)0001(EDU)
Angela Burns: I’d like to thank the education Secretary for that and welcome her to her role. The loss of support for part-time postgraduate study means that some Welsh universities will face significant percentage cuts in their total HEFCW funding. So, for example: Cardiff Metropolitan University will lose 25 per cent of its grant; Glyndŵr some 20 per cent; and a university such as Cardiff is going to...
Angela Burns: First of all, may I start off by welcoming you to your position? I hope we have the opportunity to work well together to try to improve health services within Wales. I’m very grateful for this statement. For those of you who were here in the last Assembly, you will remember that I very clearly worked very hard on this as an individual Member and I leant the Government my vote, and I’m...
Angela Burns: Diolch, Lywydd. Cabinet Secretary, you’ll be aware that the incidence of cancer is rising, with one in two people born after 1960 expected to be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. So, I’m sure you will agree with me that early screening is vital. You will, no doubt, be aware that this week is Cervical Screening Awareness Week. Cervical cancer is the most common cancer in women under...
Angela Burns: Thank you for that, although, Minister, I think you and I both know where we are on this. The rates are falling and we need to make people more responsible for their own health. My question was actually what can you do to encourage people to have this screening test. So, if we move to bowel cancer, which you’ve already alluded to, one of the ideas is that, here, for example, in Wales, bowel...
Angela Burns: I agree with you that all I’ve heard about the test is that it’s deeply unpleasant. However, test or having cancer, it’s a self-evident choice and I will do anything to support you to try and get this message out to people that they should be doing this. Because bowel, lung, prostate and breast cancers account for over 50 per cent of diagnoses in Wales. As you yourself said earlier, the...
Angela Burns: Given my Welsh children, my Scottish husband and my English father, I’ve learnt to tread in a very inclusive manner around the subject of team sports. However, I think I can safely say that the performance of the Welsh team in France will be an inspiration to many young boys and girls and we need to ensure that this enthusiasm and interest is built upon and doesn’t go to waste. I think we...
Angela Burns: First Minister, young children between nought and 14 are far more likely—or, in fact, are twice as likely—to be diagnosed through emergency presentation for cancer. I would like you to consider the children’s charity CLIC Sargent and their call that the refreshed Wales cancer delivery plan, which is intended for later this year, should improve initial and ongoing training in children...
Angela Burns: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Minister, I’d like to thank you for this statement. I too very much welcome some of the news contained within it. I’m delighted to see that smoking has definitely gone down to 19 per cent of adults from 26 per cent. It is interesting to note that that’s a complete correlation with the number of people who use e-cigarettes. I’m delighted to hear the...
Angela Burns: 9. Will the Minister make a statement on his priorities for the communities and children portfolio during the fifth Assembly? OAQ(5)0005(CC)
Angela Burns: Well-being is a very important part of your portfolio, Minister, and as I’m sure you’re aware, the annual NSPCC report, ‘How Safe are our Children?’, highlights a 26 per cent increase in the number of recorded sexual offences against children under 16 in Wales over the last 12 months—figures that have doubled over the last decade. Will you join me in welcoming this report, and will...
Angela Burns: Will you take an intervention?
Angela Burns: Thank you. Cabinet Secretary, I’d be very grateful then—. Listening to what you have to say brought joy to my heart because this is an area I’ve been very concerned about with the Donaldson review. Therefore, given what you say about having five GCSEs at C grade or above as being the measure by which we measure the people here in Wales—and we have so many young people, just under a...
Angela Burns: First Minister, during the week that we commemorate the hundredth anniversary of the battle of the Somme, it is vital that we celebrate the important role that county archives services play, particularly in helping today's generation keep in touch with their past. First Minister, I'm sure that you are aware that Carmarthen's archive is currently being restored, having been severely damaged...
Angela Burns: Diolch, Lywydd. Minister, thank you very much for bringing forward this debate today. I have read the delivery plan with a great deal of interest and I concur with you on the Government’s overriding objectives—what you’re trying to achieve in terms of improving mental health delivery here in Wales. I don’t think anyone would quarrel with your objectives and much of your methodology....
Angela Burns: Thank you for taking the intervention. Would you also acknowledge that one of the issues with having such long waiting times for CAMHS services is that those young people are then thrown back onto local services provided by county councils, people like the disabilities team, the team around the family, and it puts them under immense pressure and takes them away from the people who should be...
Angela Burns: Will you take an intervention?
Angela Burns: Thank you, and I do take the point that Rhun made and that you’ve answered, however, where it falls down is in a place like this: for example, an urgent referral for CAMHS if a child is presenting with self-harm and has said they’re going to kill themselves. If that child is autistic, then they don’t get that help, because CAMHS say that that is not one of the disorders that they deal...
