Rhianon Passmore: I know that the leader of the house has herself been instrumental in ensuring that the Welsh Government's Superfast Cymru programme has already transformed the digital landscape across Wales, with more than nine out of 10 premises now being able to access superfast broadband. How important, then, does the Welsh Government believe it would be for the communities of Islwyn that decent...
Rhianon Passmore: 4. Will the Leader of the House make a statement on Welsh Government action to end modern slavery and trafficking in south-east Wales? OAQ52906
Rhianon Passmore: Thank you. The Welsh Government's anti-slavery co-ordinator has stated that raising awareness of modern slavery is key to tackling the issue. What do the latest figures on the number of cases reported tell us about the scale of the problem and the awareness of members of the public in recognising slavery and also in more victims coming forward? As we know, modern slavery does increasingly...
Rhianon Passmore: I'm also proud to be able to speak on Universal Children's Day in this institution, which has done so much for the rights of children here in the National Assembly for Wales. We can be proud that the rights of children are at the cornerstone of everything we do. The Rights of Children and Young Persons (Wales) Measure 2011 ensured that Wales was the first nation of the United Kingdom to...
Rhianon Passmore: Diolch, Deputy Llywydd. Thank you. It is a fact that the Wales railway network has been historically starved of investment. Since 2011, only around 1 per cent of the rail enhancement expenditure across England and Wales has been made in the Wales route areas. The Welsh Government has led the way in strongly demanding that Wales's railways are properly funded. Earlier this week, in direct...
Rhianon Passmore: What measures does the Welsh Government intend to take to promote south-east Wales as an excellent place for GPs to work and live?
Rhianon Passmore: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Cabinet Secretary, as the Assembly Member for Islwyn, I greatly welcome the £7 million Valley regional park announcement, and greatly welcome that Cwmcarn Forest Drive will be among the first wave of projects of the discovery gateways to be announced by the Welsh Government. Members will know how prized the historic Cwmcarn Forest Drive is in my constituency: it is...
Rhianon Passmore: Diolch. So would you then be stating that you would wish to cut the £30 million for social care budget or the £20 million for mental health care budget? Where would you place those cuts if you don't wish, as you stated, to cut the health budget now?
Rhianon Passmore: I rise to support the Welsh Government amendment to this Tory motion, and I view the unedifying spectacle of the Tories opposite standing up saying that local authorities are struggling—well, let's be honest, quite frankly, shake that magic money tree, and we will have more money, more bang for our buck to do so. I, for one, am tired of hearing about austerity, as the people of Islwyn are,...
Rhianon Passmore: I haven’t finished yet, thank you. I will do it later—[Laughter.]—but has actually grown the UK deficit—[Interruption.] I will do this later, okay. We have been suffering now for nine long years, and it is not a laughing matter for the people in my constituency, who are suffering from the results of austerity and welfare reform. This is outside—[Interruption.] This is outside the UN...
Rhianon Passmore: Let me just finish—and in the face of a cut of £850 million to our budget by the UK Government since 2010. That is a fact.
Rhianon Passmore: Thank you for that. I think you cannot divorce that from the fact that, since 2010, there has been an £850 million cut to Wales. This is strategic, this is long term, and we know that there is more to come unless there is a general election, and there’s quite a simple fact here: if your coat is too tight, you will get wet. I met with elected members of Caerphilly County Borough Council...
Rhianon Passmore: Thank you. You've stated often that, as a party, you have no confidence in any agreements with the UK. Do you have confidence that Wales will get the necessary budget to accompany any devolved welfare?
Rhianon Passmore: The UN special rapporteur's report on the extreme poverty in the United Kingdom is a wake-up call. The true impact of this Tory Government's austerity agenda is clear for all of us to see. It is a political choice that is placing the greatest burden on those least able to bear it, forcing people into poverty. I urge Members from across this Chamber to read carefully the report from the UN....
Rhianon Passmore: What is the Welsh Government doing to aid small businesses in Islwyn?
Rhianon Passmore: Leader of the house, last week, the Welsh Government announced an additional £15 million funding to help increase joint working between local authorities and health boards to support adults with care needs in their homes. Leader of the house, what difference will this additional money make to avoiding unnecessary hospital admissions, returning patients back to their homes, and to aid the...
Rhianon Passmore: It is right that this Chamber represents the very passionate and strongly held views of the people we represent. They deserve no less, but they also deserve far more, as we approach the most pivotal point for our citizens and our economy. The deal negotiated by Theresa May is bad for Britain, it is bad for Wales and it is bad for Islwyn. It is often repeated these days that contemporary...
Rhianon Passmore: It's an unfortunate reality that over the past near-decade of UK austerity, a shrink in local government budgets has resulted in a cutback to non-statutory services provided by councils across the UK. I therefore would like to request a statement from the Welsh Government on the status and health of music support services across Wales. As Members will be aware, this is an issue very close to...
Rhianon Passmore: Do you accept or believe that the budget now is not 5 per cent lower than it was in 2010-11? Do you not agree with that?
Rhianon Passmore: That's not answering my question—
