Dawn Bowden: 4. What is the Welsh Government's response to comments made by the owner of Trago Mills that Welsh language signage is visual clutter? 194
Dawn Bowden: Thank you for that response, Minister. You'll be aware that the bilingual signage was actually only one aspect of the comments that were reported last week, but I want to deal specifically with the language issue because it is a fact that Merthyr Tydfil has one of the lowest levels of identified Welsh speakers in Wales. I want to see that change and I've been supportive of Welsh language...
Dawn Bowden: It's important that we should all support the language and that includes Trago Mills.
Dawn Bowden: Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on the implementation of 'Prosperity for All: the national strategy' in Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney?
Dawn Bowden: Can I thank the Cabinet Secretary for the update? I think there is, Alun, much to welcome in the statement that you've presented today. Like you, representing a Valleys community, I've been hugely supportive of the work of the taskforce, what it has set out to achieve and the way in which it has engaged with communities right the way across the Valleys to get to the point that we're at...
Dawn Bowden: 2. What assessment has the Cabinet Secretary made of the impact on Wales of the UK Government not reaching a deal with the EU-27 on the arrangements for leaving the EU? OAQ52535
Dawn Bowden: Thank you for that response, Cabinet Secretary. With Tories resigning almost every day, and others doing all they can to undermine their beleaguered Prime Minister, I'm sure I'm not alone in finding the whole debacle around the Brexit negotiations pretty alarming for the future of Wales. At the very moment when calm heads are required in order to deal with a tough set of negotiations, all we...
Dawn Bowden: What further consideration has the Cabinet Secretary given to a tourism tax following his statement about new taxes in February?
Dawn Bowden: Cabinet Secretary, throughout the summer recess I've been taking a close look at local healthcare services in my own constituency, and can I say that I appreciated you taking some time out to come up to Merthyr and join me in one of those discussion sessions? In this and other work that I do, I continue to be so impressed by the work of the professions allied to medicine and their key role...
Dawn Bowden: 7. What action is the Welsh Government taking to help prevent identity fraud? OAQ52628
Dawn Bowden: Thank you, First Minister, and, as you'll know, identity fraud is a serious criminal activity that can cost individuals heavily. An analysis by the anti-fraud organisation Cifas shows that, in Wales, there's been some reduction in the overall number of frauds, but identity fraud rose by about 14 per cent between 2016 and 2018, and there were over 4,000 cases in Wales in 2017. So, would you...
Dawn Bowden: 4. What discussions has the Counsel General had in relation to making the laws of Wales more accessible? OAQ52634
Dawn Bowden: Thank you for that answer, Counsel General. I know you spoke at the Bevan Foundation event recently at the Eisteddfod on these issues, and you talked about how access to justice, and the accessibility of our laws, are fundamental requirements of the rule of law. It's how people have their voices heard, exercise their rights, challenge discrimination and hold decision makers to account. But...
Dawn Bowden: Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the delivery of the transport elements of the Wales infrastructure investment plan?
Dawn Bowden: 6. Will the First Minister make a statement on NHS support for mental health services in the criminal justice system? OAQ52678
Dawn Bowden: Thank you for that answer, First Minister. During my recent work with health services in Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney, I was very struck by the high incidences of mental health problems amongst people in parts of our criminal justice system, and I took particular interest in the amount of police time being taken up by the duty of care that they hold towards such vulnerable people. I know we...
Dawn Bowden: In the continuing difficult financial landscape, Cabinet Secretary, can I welcome your statement, which I think is certainly as good as we could expect in the current circumstances? There's certainly lots to absorb and comment on, but I want to just briefly focus on three areas, if I may. And forgive me if I am repeating some of the points that have already been covered, but I guess that...
Dawn Bowden: 5. Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on progress in relation to the Welsh Government's strategy against fly-tipping? OAQ52672
Dawn Bowden: Thank you for that answer, Minister. Sadly, there are parts of my constituency that continue to suffer from extensive problems of fly-tipping. It's quite difficult to understand the mindset of people who will drive a truck up a hill and dump rubbish, causing visual blights on areas of natural beauty like the Gelligaer common. I believe that many of these issues do come from unlicensed...
Dawn Bowden: Can I thank you, Cabinet Secretary, for your statement, and can I also place on record my deepest sympathy and concern to anyone who's been affected by the situation in Cwm Taf health board? As you would expect, I've had long and detailed conversations with Cwm Taf health board about the situation there and how this came about. I was given no indication or impression that they were in any...
