Rhianon Passmore: Thank you, Deputy Llywydd. I do actually welcome very much today's statement and in particular I am pleased to welcome the new Creative Wales brand. Creative industries are critical and of vital importance economically, socially and culturally to Wales. This exciting new international brand will help in promoting our ever-growing creative sector. As you reference in your statement, Minister,...
Rhianon Passmore: Minister, this April the Welsh Government announced a £3 million funding package for Food Skills Cymru, which will run until 2023, and over the first three years, this programme is expected to support 650 businesses. Minister, with the Welsh food and drink sector already generating £6.9 billion to the Welsh economy, isn't the Welsh Government investment a sign of the importance of improving...
Rhianon Passmore: Minister, the Welsh Labour Government has shown strong strategic and stable leadership for the Welsh nation by declaring a climate emergency, as acknowledged by climate extinction activist Greta Thunberg. Recently the Welsh Government received advice from the Committee on Climate Change recommending that emissions of greenhouse gases in Wales can and must fall by 95 per cent over the next 30...
Rhianon Passmore: This is indeed an important debate. The Welsh Labour Government greatly values the vital role that young adult carers play in supporting those they care for, and this is reflected in the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014, which provides for enhanced rights for all carers in Wales. The Act gave carers for the first time the same rights as they people whom they care for. Carers no...
Rhianon Passmore: Minister, the Welsh Labour Government has been proactive on the issue of high-street rate relief and it’s clear that a busy and productive high street is of fundamental importance to my constituency, including the towns of Blackwood, Risca, Newbridge, Crosskeys and many others across Islwyn. Indeed, the First Minister, whilst Cabinet Secretary for finance, in December last year issued a...
Rhianon Passmore: 1. What actions is the Welsh Government taking to support businesses in Islwyn to prepare for the future? OAQ53976
Rhianon Passmore: First Minister, thank you. More than 200 businesses in Wales have signed up to the Welsh Government's economic contract in its first year. The economic contract is designed with the express intention for the Welsh Government to develop a new and strengthened relationship with business to drive and nurture inclusive growth and responsible business behaviours. First Minister, isn't this...
Rhianon Passmore: Far fewer pupils are actually excluded in Wales than in the middle of the last decade, from over 450 in 2004-05 to just 150 in 2016-17. So, Minister, would you agree with me that this is to be warmly welcomed and that pupils are best served in nurturing and supportive education environments, and that such positive outcomes validate the progressive guidance issued by the Welsh Government...
Rhianon Passmore: Minister, the First Minister, when he held the finance Secretary portfolio, announced that the Welsh Government was committing £2.9 million to fund specialist employment and training services for people with sensory loss, and Rebecca Woolley, the director of Action on Hearing Loss Cymru, said at the time that 'We are delighted to receive this funding. Not only will it ensure that people with...
Rhianon Passmore: Will you take an intervention?
Rhianon Passmore: In regard to the comments earlier about having a social fabric and being involved in your community, do you think that that is actually possible for somebody that's working two, three, and sometimes four zero-hour contracts?
Rhianon Passmore: I'd like also to thank my fellow Gwent Welsh Labour colleague John Griffiths AM for bringing this very important debate to this Chamber. I agree with much of what has been said by most Members. So, let us be frank: we live in a capitalist economy in a world dominated by capitalism and the divergent economic pyramid it produces. Whilst this indeed offers many opportunities for some—and the...
Rhianon Passmore: Counsel General, yesterday I met with representatives of Women Against State Pension Inequality, who stoically and resiliently continue to campaign on this critical issue. What assurances further to what you've already given us can you give that the Welsh Labour Government, in its capacity, will continue to make every legal representation possible and continue to press the case to the UK Tory...
Rhianon Passmore: Will you take an intervention?
Rhianon Passmore: In that regard, do you believe that the media also has a very important elemental and pivotal role in this in terms of how politics, politicians and civil society are portrayed?
Rhianon Passmore: The higher education sector, as we know, plays a critical and vital role in the social, cultural and economic life of Wales, and maintaining and developing a vibrant and successful higher education sector is therefore at the very heart of the Welsh Government's vision in developing a world-class education system. It is unfortunately the case that higher education in Wales, much like the rest...
Rhianon Passmore: I will, briefly.
Rhianon Passmore: I absolutely concur that there are real pressures and real challenges, but not just for the higher education sector, bearing in mind the topic of this debate. The radical reforms this Welsh Labour-led Government has implemented in response to the Diamond review are radical and they will create a strong and sustainable funding settlement. This radical and progressive approach will also mean...
Rhianon Passmore: 4. What action is the Welsh Government taking to ensure that air quality in Islwyn continues to improve? OAQ54191
Rhianon Passmore: Thank you. As the Assembly Member for Islwyn, can I welcome the determined, hard work of both the Welsh Labour Government and the Welsh Labour-run county borough in working together to combat the negative effects of nitrogen dioxide pollution on the A472 at Hafodyrynys? Only recently, a resident of the affected street, Mr Martin Brown, visited one of my advice surgeries with the local Labour...
