Heledd Fychan: Thank you. I'd like to welcome this announcement today and note specifically how pleased I was to hear one word being repeated by the Minister, namely the 'joy' of music. The emphasis on the importance of music in terms of the health and well-being of all of us is something that all of us should welcome, and, particularly in the context of the cost-of-living crisis and the child poverty...
Heledd Fychan: Minister, I very much welcome this and what's been achieved through the co-operation agreement. I certainly welcome also the appointment of Professor Evans, and I look forward as an elected Member to contributing to that. I was reassured by your commitment—because, obviously, we haven't seen the terms of reference as Members yet—that the voices and experiences of those victims will be...
Heledd Fychan: Can I thank you, Minister, for the regularity of these briefings? Obviously, it is a fast-moving situation, and I think that is reflected with the response and regularity here. I just wanted to reference two things briefly. It was obviously great to see the emphasis with English language tuition; what does this mean in terms of access to Welsh language immersion as well? Because obviously...
Heledd Fychan: Thank you, Llywydd. Minister, on 11 May, Jayne Bryant and I met with members of NEU Wales for a session that focused on raising awareness of the impact of workload on the mental health and well-being of staff in schools. A recent survey of its members found that 95 per cent of educators are working longer hours than those specified in their contracts, and that 44 per cent of educators are...
Heledd Fychan: Thank you, Minister. It is to be welcomed that you are aware and trying to respond to the demand. One of the challenges raised with us was the time that it takes to care for one's health and well-being, because of the pressures. So, it is a challenge. One of the things that was emphasised to us was that they are still continuing to cope with COVID and those challenges, the additional support...
Heledd Fychan: I’m pleased that we’re having this very important discussion today. Although we've had a commitment from the Minister, I think the fact that so many constituents continue to contact us demonstrates the importance of raising awareness with every opportunity that we have with regard to women's health, and the health of those assigned female at birth. I know that plans are afoot in this...
Heledd Fychan: Trefnydd, last week a written statement was published announcing a £750,000 investment in libraries and museums. Of course, I welcome this very much, and it's good to see libraries and museums across Wales receiving investment. I would like to ask for an oral statement by the Deputy Minister for arts and sport, before the summer recess, providing further information on the Government's...
Heledd Fychan: Thank you to the Minister for the statement and this investment, and we very much welcome that there is recognition that a 10-year plan is needed to develop the Welsh in education workforce. But I'd like to echo a number of the concerns expressed by Samuel Kurtz as well, because, as he said, the data that goes along with the plan shows that the situation as it currently stands is extremely...
Heledd Fychan: 8. What consideration does the Minister give to the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 when determining the budgets of Welsh Government-funded public bodies? OQ58094
Heledd Fychan: Thank you, Minister. I welcome the fact that the Government published the well-being statement to coincide with the programme for government, and stated in it that you will, and I quote, 'use our budget process to ensure that resources are allocated to deliver the well-being objectives'. I was also very encouraged to find the word 'future' appearing 46 times in the draft budget for this...
Heledd Fychan: Thank you very much. I have to say, Jack, I disagree with one thing you said. I don't find this dull; I find this extremely interesting, because, actually, pensions affect all of us. One constituent wrote to me, 'It makes little sense to worry about the financial viability of a pension I can access in 32 years' time when current projections place my house, here in Cardiff, underwater by 2050,...
Heledd Fychan: I could not agree more with my colleague there. I think Jack was right in the motion to note progress in relation to our own pension funds as Senedd Members, but it may be surprising to some Members here today that the same is not true for our staff. In fact, it is an issue one of the members of my team has been trying to get to the bottom of since starting with me. The person had, in fact,...
Heledd Fychan: No, thank you. Staff can enrol themselves—[Interruption.] You didn't take an intervention from me, so, please—
Heledd Fychan: May I continue, please? Thank you. Staff can enrol themselves into an ESG option available, but need to know which questions to ask. My team member has now been provided with the details—[Interruption.] May I speak, please? Thank you—of the pension fund manager so that this can be followed up. However, and I quote, my team member told me, 'As a member of staff, I find that I am having to...
Heledd Fychan: 7. How is the Welsh Government working with Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board to improve mental health services? OQ58134
Heledd Fychan: Thank you, First Minister. I'm sure you'll be aware that Healthcare Inspectorate Wales is currently conducting a review focusing and assessing the quality and safety of discharge arrangements for adult patients back into the community from inpatient mental health units within Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board. This follows a number of sad cases that have been reported in the media,...
Heledd Fychan: 'The NHS isn't fit for purpose and people are dying waiting for treatment.'
Heledd Fychan: That's a doctor telling a patient to go private, and speaking those words. Is any consideration being given to placing Cwm Taf Morgannwg into special measures? And if no such consideration is being given, will you commit to look at this further as a Government?
Heledd Fychan: Thank you, Deputy Minister, for your statement today. There are many things that you outlined that I would of course welcome, in particular your comment in relation to the role that national organisations and local cultural sectors have to play in creating an anti-racist Wales. And to become anti-racist, of course, it is important that we are clear today why this action plan is so necessary....
Heledd Fychan: Thank you, Minister, for today's statement. Evidently, it's very important that we do have a specific statement like this on education because, as we've heard already, the role of teaching and raising awareness from a young age is vital if we genuinely want to create a nation where racism doesn't exist. We know from speaking to many of the people that we represent that experiences in school...
