Heledd Fychan: Thank you, Minister. I'm still not sure whether that means there will be free entry for low-income families to the Urdd Eisteddfod and the National Eisteddfod this year. I would ask, if you're not sure of that yet, it would be good to have clarity as to whether that will be able to continue in any way. Because, as has been demonstrated, there is a whole host of benefits to the Welsh language...
Heledd Fychan: I too would like to thank the Chair of the committee and my fellow Members, the clerks and everyone who contributed, as well as the Minister. This was a very important inquiry. As has already been outlined, we are all aware of the importance of attendance in terms of pupils’ development at school, not just in terms of their academic attainment, but their social, cognitive and emotional...
Heledd Fychan: I’d also like to focus on one other key area that came to light during our inquiry, and that was staffing capacity, or rather lack of, and how it is one of the biggest barriers to tackling pupil absence. As we heard, it is a problem that was made worse because of COVID-19 related staff absences, and difficulties in securing supply staff to cover, but there are other challenges too, linked...
Heledd Fychan: 4. How does the Welsh Government support the welfare of South Wales Central residents who continue to face the risk of flooding? OQ59119
Heledd Fychan: Thank you, Minister, but my question was specifically on the well-being of residents. This week marks three years since the devastating flooding across the region that I represent and beyond as a result of storm Dennis. Three years on, most of the repair work is by now complete, but the impact on both children and adults affected is just as great today as it was then. Many remain traumatised,...
Heledd Fychan: I fully support Janet Finch-Saunders's request for a full debate. We need to be able to digest all the content here—and I do accept that you did apologise, Deputy Minister, for not publishing beforehand—because it is important for our constituents that we are able to engage fully in matters like this, and just glancing during the course of debate doesn't allow for that. You'll be aware...
Heledd Fychan: 1. How is the Welsh Government supporting communities across South Wales Central to access community green spaces? OQ59118
Heledd Fychan: Thank you, Minister. Certainly, we are all aware, as you just listed, of the major benefits of community green spaces, in terms of health and well-being, biodiversity, air quality, and so on. Despite this, a number of green spaces are being lost, including in areas across our capital city, due to various developments. As you will know from previous questions from other Members, a number of...
Heledd Fychan: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Can I just reference the co-operation agreement, as it has been mentioned a number of times? Public transport is in the agreement, including encouraging people to switch to public transport. And I think we all need to take responsibility, in terms of ensuring that priorities are there, but this is part of the cost-of-living crisis, because people are completely...
Heledd Fychan: Thank you, Luke, for introducing this debate on a subject of such importance in terms of anti-poverty measures and in response to the cost-of-living crisis.
Heledd Fychan: This isn't an issue on which I get countless constituents contacting me, but, for those that do, I know the difference it makes, the difference it makes to their families and to those individuals. In terms of other measures, of course it's not just a responsibility for the Minister for education, as you outlined, rightly so; it is a cross-Government, cross-portfolio responsibility, certainly...
Heledd Fychan: Plaid Cymru stands in complete solidarity with the people of Ukraine for showing remarkable resilience in the face of Russia’s continued brutal attacks. And it disheartens me that, a year on since Putin’s illegal and barbaric invasion—as Sioned Williams said yesterday—of Ukraine that the war continues. Horrific war crimes are being committed and the Russian officials leading the war,...
Heledd Fychan: Thank you, Minister, and happy St David’s Day to everyone, for tomorrow, too. Unfortunately, it’s not a national bank holiday, as it should be, but we still very much hope for that. Sam Kurtz obviously agrees, so please persuade your Government in the UK to allow us to have a bank holiday. Hopefully, if there’s another Government after the next general election, they will allow us here...
Heledd Fychan: ‘expansionist and inclusive vision for the Welsh language’
Heledd Fychan: can be delivered meaningfully without a radical change in the way the Welsh language is taught in all schools in Wales. In addition to this, the Government needs to recognise that the foundations for expanding equal access for people of all backgrounds to the Welsh language is fragile at the moment. For example, there is a lack of Welsh-speaking teachers being trained—only 250 a year,...
Heledd Fychan: 7. How does the Welsh Government support South Wales Central residents who are facing fuel poverty? OQ59172
Heledd Fychan: Thank you, Minister. Evidently, you've already referred in your response to Peredur Owen Griffiths to this issue, and you've outlined in your answer to me a number of things that are being done. But the truth is, of course, that this does not go far enough, and that there are individuals and families in my region, and throughout Wales, who cannot afford to heat their homes. As research from...
Heledd Fychan: I make my contribution today also in my role with the PCS cross-party group. Thank you very much, Delyth, particularly for your contribution. I think we must all bear in mind that we've all benefited from what's been achieved by those that have battled before us—each and every one of us have benefited from that as compared with our forefathers. And that's what is under threat here....
Heledd Fychan: We've already heard about the correlation between high levels of union density and positive outcomes in terms of high wages and productivity, and this is corroborated by numerous international examples—Mabon and Delyth have already beaten me to it on this. But, consider Sweden, where 88 per cent of employees are covered by collective bargaining rights, and it has an adjusted net national...
Heledd Fychan: We cannot ignore what the UK Government is trying to achieve through this. Our communities have suffered enough. We've heard clearly from Delyth, Luke, Peredur and others. We know that, having spoken to workers on the ground. We know that people aren't happy in our communities. They're working hard, yet they can't afford to buy food or to warm their homes. They're working harder than ever,...
