Rhianon Passmore: Okay. The question that I would put to those clamouring for a return to selection is: do you really want to segregate the pupils of Wales? The answer is clear: you wish to segregate and separate the children of Wales. I strongly oppose this motion.
Rhianon Passmore: Will you take an intervention?
Rhianon Passmore: Could you clarify your position through this motion in terms of Welsh-medium grammar schools?
Rhianon Passmore: Thank you—I won’t say ‘Llywydd’—Deputy Presiding—?
Rhianon Passmore: Acting—okay, thank you. Firstly, I’d also like to thank you, Vikki. As a former teacher, I’m grateful to the Member for Cynon Valley for raising this important issue, and I fully support the Welsh Government’s commitment to promoting outdoor education throughout the foundation phase. In my constituency, it’s amazing facilities such as the Cwmcarn Forest Drive and Ynys Hywel Outdoor...
Rhianon Passmore: 9. Will the First Minister provide an update on the performance of the Welsh ambulance service? OAQ(5)0185(FM)
Rhianon Passmore: Thank you for that answer. Obviously, the First Minister’s mentioned the fact that the Welsh ambulance service has responded, again, to almost 81 per cent of the most life-threatening calls in eight minutes or less in August and in doing so has met the target for the eleventh successive month. That is a huge testimony to our Welsh ambulance staff. So, would the First Minister state the...
Rhianon Passmore: In terms of today of all days—for the Tories to talk about u-turns when the budget surplus is suddenly no longer necessary for austerity. But there we are. I digress. Right. I want to welcome strongly today’s statement from the Cabinet Secretary and the positive co-constructive approach with stakeholders pan Wales today, which outlines new ways of working, further clarity and further...
Rhianon Passmore: I will reflect upon it.
Rhianon Passmore: The promised and guaranteed missing money from Wales—. Perhaps Paul Davies has gone to buy breakfast for somebody. This issue, secondly—
Rhianon Passmore: This issue was only further exacerbated by an ever-increasing and growing need demographically for excellent local public service delivery. Would the Cabinet Secretary agree that the need for a timely, resilient and strong framework is vital for Wales, and that the time is now for this Chamber to step up to the consensual plate, stop procrastinating over political points and reach a...
Rhianon Passmore: Will you take an intervention?
Rhianon Passmore: Although I tend to agree with you that it was a very popular initiative, as a direct impact of this policy significant amounts of needed social housing were removed from the sector. This, combined with the necessary instruments not being in place at local authority level, as a direct result of the initiatives that you talked about, has meant that there’s a legacy of waiting lists for...
Rhianon Passmore: Do you know what the data—statistics—are around house repossessions for those that have used the right to buy?
Rhianon Passmore: 5. What importance does the Welsh Government place on broadcasters in receipt of public money, providing high levels of original programming? OAQ(5)0201(FM)
Rhianon Passmore: Thank you for that answer, First Minister. The chief executive of S4C, giving evidence to the Culture, Welsh Language and Communications Committee last week, stated that 57 per cent of its programmes had been shown before compared to a target of 20 per cent when S4C was launched in 1982. Funding from the BBC licence fee for S4C will remain at £74.5 million a year until 2022, and S4C has also...
Rhianon Passmore: I’m glad that Plaid Cymru have chosen for debate the issue of mental health this week, a week in which mental health day was observed throughout the world. Figures show that mental ill health will affect one in four people during their lives, and by 2020, mental ill health-related problems will be second to heart diseases as the leading contributor to the global burden of disease. That is...
Rhianon Passmore: [Continues.]—this important debate and, equally, Welsh Labour Government’s strong determination to confront the challenges of mental health provision head on. Thank you.
Rhianon Passmore: First of all, thank you, Joyce Watson, for letting me participate in this short debate. I would firstly, though, like to congratulate the Member for Mid and West Wales on her excellent work representing Commonwealth women parliamentarians of the British isles and Mediterranean region on the international Commonwealth parliamentary steering committee—it is a mouthful. It’s fantastic to see...
Rhianon Passmore: 8. Will the First Minister make a statement on the difference the pupil deprivation grant is making to educational outcomes in Islwyn? OAQ(5)0214(FM)
