Rhianon Passmore: Carwyn Jones.
Rhianon Passmore: First Minister, can you outline the importance the Welsh Government further places on the 11,000 steel-making jobs alone to the communities of Wales, and not just where the steel sites are located, but, for instance, in communities like mine in Islwyn, which was founded in steel, and also in terms of the primary making capabilities of that remaining in Wales? Thank you.
Rhianon Passmore: First Minister, the Auditor General for Wales, in his report, ‘A Picture of Public Services 2015’, last year, noted that, since the UK Government set its austerity programme in the 2010 spending review, Wales has had to manage a £1.2 million—sorry, I’ll say that again, a £1.2 billion funding cut. Despite such savage Tory cuts, local authorities and Welsh councils have...
Rhianon Passmore: 4. Will the First Minister outline how the United Kingdom’s continued membership of the European Union materially affects the economy of Islwyn? OAQ(5)0036(FM)
Rhianon Passmore: Thank you, First Minister. As well as the 190,000 Welsh jobs alone that rely directly upon EU funding, my constituents also benefit from the important rights gained from the UK’s membership of the European Union, whether that’s paid leave—[Interruption.] Excuse me—time off for urgent reasons, breaks during the day, health and safety legislation, and I can go on. You’ve also...
Rhianon Passmore: I wish to congratulate our Minister and the Welsh Government on the continuing strategic commitment to the apprenticeship agenda in securing a more prosperous and resilient and equal Wales. I’m also very proud to have been elected on our manifesto pledge of around 100,000 new apprenticeships, and that’s further to the success of Jobs Growth Wales. I also very much welcome the cross-party...
Rhianon Passmore: Will the First Minister provide an update on the progress of the 21st century schools programme in Islwyn?
Rhianon Passmore: 7. Will the Minister provide an update on progress the Welsh Government has made in meeting its aim of reducing smoking rates in Wales? OAQ(5)0017(HWS)
Rhianon Passmore: Diolch. It’s very good news, then, that the Welsh Government has exceeded its 2016 target of reducing the level of smoking to 20 per cent. How do you plan to achieve our ambitious target of reducing those levels to 16 per cent by 2020?
Rhianon Passmore: Thank you, Llywydd. In terms of the timescales for the ability to scrutinise the Wales Bill through the recess and beyond, are we convinced that there is enough time for us to be able to do that and produce good legislation? Thank you.
Rhianon Passmore: 4. Will the First Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government’s priorities in ensuring enhanced connectivity for railway passengers in Islwyn? OAQ(5)0066(FM)
Rhianon Passmore: Okay. Thank you for that answer. The scheme to reintroduce passenger services back to the Ebbw Vale railway line between Ebbw Vale and Cardiff, including stations at Risca and Pontymister, Crosskeys and Newbridge, has been a resounding success with the public. A great part has been funded by EU structural funding; i.e. it would not have happened if it had been left to the Tory cuts that have...
Rhianon Passmore: Thank you, Llywydd. Firstly, I wish to add my support for the statement and for the Minister for his strong work in this regard. I look forward to and very much welcome the opportunity for increased oversight and mandate of the Senedd pertaining to our wider Wales media scrutiny. I also welcome the pledged Plenary debate on the draft charter and the new service licence for Wales that has been...
Rhianon Passmore: 4. Will the Minister make a statement on the importance the Welsh Government places on ensuring that the physical environment of Wales is accessible to all? OAQ(5)0008(ERA)
Rhianon Passmore: Thank you, Minister. Natural Resources Wales has stated, regarding the tree felling on the seven-mile Cwmcarn forest scenic drive, which temporarily closed in November 2014, that this is a long-term operation that could take between three and four years to complete. Will the Cabinet Secretary reiterate the Welsh Government’s absolute, unequivocal determination that one of the natural...
Rhianon Passmore: 8. Will the Minister outline measures the Welsh Government is taking to ensure local authorities are maintaining levels of air quality? OAQ(5)0010(ERA)
Rhianon Passmore: Thank you for that answer, Cabinet Secretary. The A472 in Crumlin: according to Government data, the levels of nitrogen dioxide here are the highest recorded in the UK outside London. The levels are exceeded in England only by a similar monitor on Marylebone Road in central London, and according to Asthma UK Cymru, 314,000 people have asthma in Wales, including 59,000 children: almost one...
Rhianon Passmore: First of all, I’d like to welcome the Cabinet Secretary to his post and welcome very much his approach and his commitment in the co-production process, moving forward. Yes, I think, in terms of reinforcing the points that have just been made, there is no shadow of a doubt that Wales has not borne the brunt of the cuts that local authorities have borne in England. We’ve mentioned already...
Rhianon Passmore: Diolch, Lywydd. It is also with great sadness that I stand here today and speak to the influences of public opinion. The tragedy here is that this has been predictable in terms of the shift across the media in particular in terms of the tabloid newspapers that have, indeed, fuelled this insidious racism—let’s call it what it is. I feel very sad that, as a result of this type of...
Rhianon Passmore: Okay, thank you. So, instead of pandering to these issues around immigration and ignoring the facts, all I would say, to finish my comments, is that, to honour the memory of Jo Leadbeater—Jo Cox—who was for equal treatment and humanitarian causes, aid for refugees and a fair media, we must choose to collaborate and work within the EU, not outside of it. To use her words, we are all far...
