Dawn Bowden: Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. I know that you agree that it's vital we continue making sure that all our communities can benefit from broadband and digital roll-out. So, can I ask you what further benefits you feel will arise for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney in particular from the recent Tech Valleys announcement, which is clearly going to be based in the Ebbw Vale area, but is hoped will have...
Dawn Bowden: I'm pleased to add my support to this motion today, and hope that this debate will play some small part in the important task of raising awareness on the issues around bowel cancer—particularly awareness of the symptoms, and the vital importance of taking up screening, as so many others have already mentioned. When I first started looking at this issue I was particularly struck by the...
Dawn Bowden: 8. What action has the Welsh Government taken recently to help tackle poverty in valleys communities? OAQ52232
Dawn Bowden: Thank you for that, First Minister. Securing the well-being and prosperity of our Valleys towns and communities remains a significant challenge, as shown by a number of health, social and wider welfare indicators, and I was alarmed by the recent report from the Equality and Human Rights Commission that suggested more people would be driven into poverty by UK welfare reforms. That follows...
Dawn Bowden: 4. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the importance of breakfast clubs in schools? OAQ52230
Dawn Bowden: Thank you for that answer, Cabinet Secretary. You may not be aware, but this week Merthyr Tydfil council has started a 45-day statutory consultation period with trade unions around cuts to the vital service provided by breakfast clubs across the borough. There are 150 or so staff who are likely to be affected by this proposed cut; they are predominantly female, part-time and low paid. I think...
Dawn Bowden: Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on services for mesothelioma patients in Wales?
Dawn Bowden: 7. Will the First Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government’s overall strategy for the funding of local government? OAQ52266
Dawn Bowden: Thank you, First Minister. I think in these times of Tory austerity, the approach that the Welsh Government has taken is to be welcomed. I'm aware, of course, that, for the current 2018-19 budget round, less of this money was hypothecated or ring-fenced, therefore giving greater flexibility and discretion over local authority spending priorities. From my recent questions to the education...
Dawn Bowden: 1. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on Welsh Government funding for festivals and events in Wales? OAQ52267
Dawn Bowden: Thank you for that answer, Cabinet Secretary, and outlining what is clearly an impressive record of investment by Welsh Government. Many of these local festivals, of course, provide an opportunity to showcase our heritage and our history. I'm sure that you would want to join me in congratulating the team behind the recent Merthyr Rising festival. Over five years, they've steadily developed a...
Dawn Bowden: 1. What assessment has the Counsel General made of the Welsh Government’s powers to encourage pay bargaining in Welsh workplaces? OAQ52276
Dawn Bowden: Thank you for that answer, Counsel General. You'll know that the Wales TUC has asked our colleague Mick Antoniw—he has just gone—to chair a group looking at ways in which pay bargaining can be extended across the Welsh public sector and also in those sectors where companies receive grants from the Welsh Government. Given what you've just said, can you outline the support that the Welsh...
Dawn Bowden: First of all, can I thank the committee for this hugely important report? I'm not a member of the committee myself, but I can see from the amount of work that's gone into producing it and from the significant evidence taken, it's going to be a great help to Welsh Government and I think that Welsh Government's response to it is largely to be welcomed as well. It's fair to say, I think, that...
Dawn Bowden: Can I thank you, Cabinet Secretary, for this statement setting out clearly the potential risks to the NHS in Wales that Brexit presents? I have to say, I don't agree with Angela Burns that this is about scaring people. I think it is about facing the reality and preparing people for it, and I think not to do so would be irresponsible. I certainly don't want our Government to be as complacent...
Dawn Bowden: 1. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the educational well-being of adopted children? OAQ52403
Dawn Bowden: Thank you for that response, Cabinet Secretary. We've both just attended the launch of the report called 'Bridging the Gap', which deals with the educational well-being of adopted children. And I'm sure that all of us want to play our part in ensuring that every adopted or looked-after child has an equal chance in school. And while I know that budget decisions are for debate in the financial...
Dawn Bowden: Can I certainly thank the Petitions Committee for bringing this report forward for discussion? I wasn't here when these petitions were originally submitted, but I'm well aware of the battle that my colleague Lynne Neagle has, and I'm facing similar battles now in my constituency with the applications for Nant Llesg, which I'll cover in a moment. So, I have followed the consideration of the...
Dawn Bowden: 2. How will investment in rail and metro services benefit the Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney constituency? OAQ5245
Dawn Bowden: Thank you for that information, which sets out the clear benefits as we deliver the 2016 manifesto commitment in this regard. In the recent report by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, entitled 'Effective housing for people on low incomes in the Welsh Valleys', there was a recommendation—it was recommendation 3 in fact—to improve access to employment. And the report states that...
