Lynne Neagle: Will the Minister provide an update on the Welsh Government's draft international strategy?
Lynne Neagle: What steps is the First Minister taking to ensure that the revised individual patient funding request process in Wales is working well for patients in Torfaen?
Lynne Neagle: 4. What assessment has the Counsel General made of the impact of a no-deal Brexit on third sector organisations in Wales? OAQ54420
Lynne Neagle: Thank you. I'm sure, Minister, that like me you've seen the letter that was sent by numerous third sector organisations, including very many from Wales, to the Prime Minister, warning of the grave concerns about a 'no deal' Brexit. The letter says a 'no deal' Brexit would be detrimental to civil society and the communities that we work with. The uncertainty, the predicted economic shock, the...
Lynne Neagle: There is an attempt to make this debate about one word used by Leanne Wood. It is, after all, the simplest thing to do, but then it is simpler to arrest someone who steals a loaf of bread than ask why they are hungry. It is simpler to jail a woman moved to violence than address decades of coercive control. It is simpler to censure a woman of colour than listen to her call out everyday racism...
Lynne Neagle: And we should not ignore the backdrop to this inconsistency, and that is the tone set by journalists and commentators of a certain age, gender and class. They are wonderfully quick to claim that equality’s a done deal, despite all evidence to the contrary. There is a belief amongst this class that feminism in the UK is anachronistic, and as for women’s rights, well, ‘God help us all’,...
Lynne Neagle: What steps is the Welsh Government taking to improve bus services in the south Wales valleys?
Lynne Neagle: 6. What discussions has the Minister had with the Minister for Health and Social Services about improving joint working between the housing and health sectors? OAQ54498
Lynne Neagle: Thank you, Minister. I'm sure I'm not alone in this Chamber in finding that the constituents who come to see me with housing problems almost invariably have health issues, usually mental health issues as well. It is therefore absolutely vital that health boards proactively work with housing providers to meet the needs of the communities. In my experience, that work can be patchy and is not...
Lynne Neagle: What discussions has the First Minister had with the Minister for Finance and Trefnydd regarding the sufficiency of the funding allocations for education in Wales?
Lynne Neagle: Thank you, acting Deputy Presiding Officer. As you've acknowledged today, Minister, and as other Members have referred to, we have got a situation where one in four of our children starts school either overweight or obese. And, as you know, the Children, Young People and Education Committee was very keen to influence Welsh Government's thinking in this area and to make sure that children and...
Lynne Neagle: 6. How is the Minister ensuring that the new guidance on talking about suicide is implemented in all schools in Wales? OAQ54602
Lynne Neagle: Thank you, Minister. I was delighted to join you at the launch and also to welcome the guidance, but, as I said, of course, it is a first step. It's excellent guidance prepared by Professor Ann John, but it will only be as good as the implementation. I wondered, too, whether you were aware of guidance issued this week by Public Health England, which stated that a single suicide in a school...
Lynne Neagle: 2. How is the Minister ensuring access to new cancer treatments for patients in Wales? OAQ54603
Lynne Neagle: Minister, I’ve been raising concerns about the individual patient funding process with you throughout your time as Minister. I did the same with your predecessor and the same with his predecessor too. My constituent, Gemma Williams, a young mother with two young children, has stage 3 breast cancer. Her oncologist wants to treat her with Kadcyla to prevent the progression of the disease....
Lynne Neagle: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I'm pleased to open this debate today on the Children, Young People and Education Committee’s report into school funding in Wales. Access to high-quality education is a fundamental right for all our children and young people. It should not depend on where you live, on your social background or the language in which you learn.
Lynne Neagle: A good education is one of the most important building blocks a child can receive. However, all too often we hear about the huge pressures being faced by schools in trying to manage their budgets where the funding they receive is not sufficient. This is clearly having a negative effect on the provision of education, including schools having to make staff cuts in order to balance their...
Lynne Neagle: Thank you, Llywydd, and can I thank all the Members who've contributed to the debate this afternoon and thank the Minister for her contributions? I will try and respond to some of the points that Members made in the debate. Suzy Davies, obviously, you supported the premise of the report. There was a slight dispute about the amount of money that we've got coming to us in Wales. My...
Lynne Neagle: Thank you, Siân. I was going to come on to say that you made the point in your speech that you didn't think the review should be a reason to wait to put more resource into education, and I absolutely agree with that, and I'm sure that the Minister also agrees with that. There is no reason to wait. The purpose of the review, which was also highlighted by Dawn Bowden, is that the committee was...
Lynne Neagle: Yes, absolutely. I think that's a given—that it's about school funding, the cost of running a school, the cost of educating individual pupils and also the cost of the reforms. Can I thank David Rowlands for his support for the committee report? David raised the issue of direct funding for schools, as did Alun Davies. As the Minister has highlighted, there are very diverse views on that. We...
