Angela Burns: I’m delighted to speak in this debate. I wasn’t a member of the committee at the time, but I have read the report and the Government response, and I have spoken to a number of organisations who’ve brought forward concerns on this matter. I’d like to thank everyone who contributed to this report. I’d like to thank the Chair and his clerking team, and I’d particularly like to thank...
Angela Burns: Sounds like a great mum.
Angela Burns: Patients not only need to have access to good GP surgeries and good GPs, but also they need to have quality in that access. We all accept, and I think there’s a growing recognition, that GPs should be left to deal with the more complex cases and those with multiple comorbidities. We welcome the growth in the allied healthcare professionals, and we welcome the growth in having counsellors in...
Angela Burns: I’m delighted to be able to speak today in the debate. I’d first of all like to actually thank very much Allison Williams, the chair of the diabetes implementation group, and all of the partners within it, because, reading both the 2016 delivery plan and the 2017 annual statement, I do see real progress. There are some very good ways forward. There have been some very strong and...
Angela Burns: I don’t dispute that observation at all. The reality is that PE lessons have reduced by one minute and thirty seconds over the last decade, so they’re certainly not on the increase. I do think we should try and normalise activity. It’s very difficult to do, though, when schools are being shut down more and more in terms of play facilities, outdoor facilities et cetera. That’s why I...
Angela Burns: Will the Cabinet Secretary outline the Welsh Government's plans to improve transparency in Welsh local authorities?
Angela Burns: Will the Cabinet Secretary outline the Welsh Government's plans to increase democratic participation in local government?
Angela Burns: First Minister, a number of deaths by suicide have occurred in the recent past in schools in my constituency. Now, earlier this year, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom made an announcement that every secondary school in England should be offered mental health first aid training, which teaches people how to identify young people who might be developing a mental health issue, and this...
Angela Burns: The Welsh Conservatives intend to support all the amendments in this section as we’ve been most concerned that the proposed public health Bill had done so little to tackle the issue of obesity. In debate after questions after statement, concerns are raised from all parties over the prevalence of obesity in Wales and the corresponding pressures that illnesses such as diabetes, high blood...
Angela Burns: Whilst the Welsh Conservatives will be supporting the amendments in this section, we are concerned that this legislation is likely to have the largest impact on the working practices of small businesses. In many aspects, the success of this Bill is dependent on the ability of small firms to comply with the changes in legislation, so it is vital that businesses are able to fully understand the...
Angela Burns: Diolch, Llywydd. In keeping with the Welsh Conservative policy intent to protect small businesses from undue penalisation from this legislation, we have tabled this amendment that sets out an intent to protect retailers and their data by ensuring that only relevant information is held about them on a retailers register. We welcome the willingness of the Minister to work with us in this regard...
Angela Burns: Just to say: thank you very much, Minister, for your co-operation. I would like to reiterate once again that the Government lawyer was most helpful in this matter.
Angela Burns: We will be supporting all the amendments in this group. However, I wish to put on record that the Welsh Conservatives believe that no individual should be exempt from obtaining a licence if administering a special procedure. Therefore, that is why at Stage 2 we tabled amendments that sought to remove this exemption. If an individual does not have that specific regulated competence to do the...
Angela Burns: Due to previous provisions in the Bill, Welsh Conservatives will be abstaining on the following amendments relating to the tattooing of eyeballs. We accept that the intent of the proposer is to ensure that this extremely risky procedure is only carried out by highly skilled individuals. However, this procedure was not raised as an issue at committee stage by the medical community, and there...
Angela Burns: Diolch, Llywydd. The Welsh Conservatives have tabled this amendment inserting a new section into the Bill that seeks to ensure that Welsh Ministers have to produce a comprehensive report on an annual basis detailing progress made in the delivery of public health objectives, with emphasis on those that protect and improve the health and well-being of young persons. There is no doubt that...
Angela Burns: Thank you very much indeed. I’m very disappointed to have your response, Minister. I do not believe that the fragmented approach that you’re having of looking at the various outcomes for child health will have the desired effect of these amendments. Time and time and time again this Assembly sits and talks about public health issues. We all bang on about how much smoking people are doing,...
Angela Burns: Air pollution must be regarded as one of the many growing challenges to improve public health in Wales. Air pollution is a direct result of human activity, whether through vehicle usage, agriculture and industry, and burning fossil fuels. Although there have been some vast national improvements in air quality management in recent years, the need to target localised pockets is essential to...
Angela Burns: 1. Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on the roll-out of the Welsh Baccalaureate? OAQ(5)0117(EDU)
Angela Burns: Thank you for that answer, Cabinet Secretary. But I do have a concern about the implementation of the Welsh baccalaureate, which I would like your take on. We have individuals who are at the high-functioning end of the autistic spectrum, or who have another learning need, and yet able to cope with academic subjects. However, these individuals often struggle with undertaking the skills...
Angela Burns: Did he just say he wanted to kill us?