Mabon ap Gwynfor: I also want to make a plea in terms of our sea fishers and the industry in general. There was a presentation to the cross-party group on fisheries and aquaculture that gave us a disastrous picture of the sector, with the number of fish landed falling, income falling and jobs reducing. There is huge potential in the sector, but it’s about to be destroyed without significant support from our...
Mabon ap Gwynfor: These regulations in front of us today are a real cause for concern. Huw Irranca-Davies, Chair of the LJC committee, has eloquently and powerfully explained the details of the concerns regarding what is an extraordinarily defective piece of work. I understand that you will be concerned that this has to be passed before the end of this year, and I would echo the LJC's question: what are the...
Mabon ap Gwynfor: 5. What is the Minister doing to increase the average salary in Dwyfor Meirionnydd? OQ58883
Mabon ap Gwynfor: I thank the Minister for that response, but I fear that the Government is looking for far too simplistic solutions to questions that are far more complex. There are a range of vacant jobs in Gwynedd at the moment; some pay very well, some not so well—doctors, vets, lecturers, teachers, planning officers, carers, and many more. But, nobody is asking the question why people aren't taking up...
Mabon ap Gwynfor: 7. What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the adequacy of ambulance services in Dwyfor Meirionnydd? OQ58884
Mabon ap Gwynfor: I thank the Minister for that response, and I was pleased to hear the Minister speaking earlier thanking health sector workers, but words and claps don't pay bills; you need to discuss with unions in terms of wage levels. But that aside for the time being, the stories of patients waiting hours for ambulances are far too common, I'm afraid. I can point to the case of a 78-year-old woman having...
Mabon ap Gwynfor: 1. What steps is the Government taking to tackle the antibiotics shortage over the Christmas period? TQ699
Mabon ap Gwynfor: Thank you to the Minister for the response. A large number of parents and pharmacists have approached me over the past few days concerned that they're unable to source penicillin, amoxicillin, clarithromycin, and erythromycin. Pharmacists are unable to give liquid antibiotics to children, as they're not available, and they have to show carers or parents how to open the capsules and then mix...
Mabon ap Gwynfor: Diolch yn fawr iawn, Dirprwy Lywydd. And congratulations to Peter Fox for succeeding to bring this Bill this far, and I'd like to take a moment to express my general support for this Bill. The COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing Russian war on Ukraine has demonstrated how sensitive food supply chains and agricultural commodities can be to global events, serving as a stark reminder of the dangers of...
Mabon ap Gwynfor: May I ask the Minister for Education and Welsh Language to make a statement on how the Government intends to ensure timely Welsh-medium assessments for children who require an autism assessment? I have a few cases in my constituency of children who require Welsh-medium autism assessments but who are having to wait years. For example, Rhodri—not his real name—who is eight years old was...
Mabon ap Gwynfor: I want to make two points and ask two questions, if possible. The Minister said earlier that Wales has more GPs than England. But, I'm concerned that this shows a lack of understanding of the situation that we're facing. The population density of England is far greater than Wales's is. It's far easier to access a doctor when you have 1,000 people per square mile than in south Meirionnydd,...
Mabon ap Gwynfor: The Minister mentioned the open-pool Australian lightwater reactor project. I've actually spoken to some of the experts in Australia in medicinal nuclear; I've spoken to experts in Canada as well, and I'm due to have a meeting with the Jules Horowitz research reactor in France and the München research reactor before long. The Minister mentioned there that there's no comparable development....
Mabon ap Gwynfor: May I make a declaration of interest that I am a shareholder in many community initiatives, which is on the public record? Thank you for the opportunity to contribute to this debate this afternoon. As you know, I introduced a motion before the summer of last year on empowering communities—a motion that was passed by this Senedd. But, despite the fact that we had agreed on a way forward as a...
Mabon ap Gwynfor: Thank you to Russell George for tabling this important debate this afternoon. At the outset, I want to emphasise that we on these benches and, I know, those on the opposite benches too are friends of the air ambulance. We approach this issue as critical friends, and the reason for that is because this excellent charity and the wonderful service that it provides are so crucially important to...
Mabon ap Gwynfor: We, of course, agree with the final statement made by Janet Finch-Saunders there. We don't oppose in principle the content of the Bill. Indeed, in considering the good record of this Parliament in promoting the nature emergency, there was an opportunity for us to lead the way in this area, and it's a shame therefore that we haven't seen a Welsh Bil and have had to let Westminster legislate in...
Mabon ap Gwynfor: I regret the fact that we are once again having a debate on another LCM, legislation made in Westminster for England, without any real opportunity for us to consult on it or even scrutinise it thoroughly. But, on the fundamental principle, we on these benches don't oppose the Bill or what it's trying to achieve.
Mabon ap Gwynfor: Many people who hear of the Bill for the first time will be concerned that the intention is to allow GM, which is genetic modification, as we heard the Minister say. But, that's not the meaning of 'gene editing' at all. At the moment, gene editing is part of genetic modification legislation, but it shouldn't be, because they are two very different things, and the intention of the bill is to...
Mabon ap Gwynfor: 5. What discussions has the Minister had with local authorities about the expectation for them to maintain non-statutory public services following the 2022-23 budget? OQ58968
Mabon ap Gwynfor: Thank you very much for that response, and you're placing the responsibility on local authorities, of course, but you're the one making the cuts. What advice do you therefore have for local authorities who are now having to decide between closing day centres for the elderly, cutting economic development programmes, closing leisure centres and libraries, reducing public transport, doing less...
Mabon ap Gwynfor: Thank you, Llywydd. The Government has ambitious tree planting targets, which are reflected in the proposed Agriculture Bill. The Deputy Minister for environment has been vocal in talking about the possible economic benefits of tree planting for farms and communities in Wales. But the work of planting trees on farms has been ongoing for years, through the Glastir woodland creation scheme. So,...
