Rhianon Passmore: The people of Islwyn will welcome this important statement today, and this budget will take Wales forward. As the Minister noted, we have in no way escaped the years of Tory austerity before this pandemic hit. The lack of fair funding for Wales, pernicious over the last decade, and the lack of UK infrastructural spend in Wales, including the lack of HS2 consequentials, has been shocking and...
Rhianon Passmore: Yes, it is. We're having problems with the video. It has to be intermittently put back on. I've almost finished. If I can just come to my question, Deputy Presiding Officer.
Rhianon Passmore: That's absolutely fine. It's doing that, and they're trying to sort it. So, Minister, how do you explain, then, to my constituents how it is that Wales will only receive £46 million this year from the UK Government's community renewal fund, on an ad-hoc, non-transparent basis, compared to the £375 million that we would have received from EU structural funds from January 2021? That's a...
Rhianon Passmore: The public health position in Wales today still remains fragile; an estimated one in 20 citizens infected, cases testing positive around 50 per cent and, as a direct consequence, staff absences across the Welsh NHS running at just over 8 per cent last week, with some trusts double this. So, it's no surprise then that the Aneurin Bevan health board in Gwent has decreed essential-only hospital...
Rhianon Passmore: 4. What discussions has the Minister had with the UK Government regarding the Afghan citizens settlement scheme? OQ57427
Rhianon Passmore: Diolch, Minister. We know that the physical evaluation of an individual is critical to an individual’s needs, but it is just the beginning of a person’s journey to being settled and secure in a new country. As a nation of sanctuary, I know that in Wales we pride ourselves on offering the support necessary to make sure that people can rebuild their lives and integrate with their...
Rhianon Passmore: 6. What consideration has the Counsel General given to the impact on Welsh law of the UK Government's review of human rights legislation? OQ57428
Rhianon Passmore: Thank you. Martha Spurrier, director of human rights group Liberty, has said that: 'This plan to reform the Human Rights Act is a blatant, unashamed power grab from a Government that wants to put themselves above the law. They are quite literally rewriting the rules in their favour so they become untouchable.' The Law Society of England and Wales's president has said that: 'People from all...
Rhianon Passmore: 2. Will the Minister provide an update on the number of patients hospitalised with COVID-19 in the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board? OQ57479
Rhianon Passmore: Diolch, Llywydd and Minister. Thank you for that update. Sadly, 1,160 people have died in the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board with deaths relating to COVID-19. The citizens of Islwyn and Wales have sacrificed so much in our continued fight against this vicious virus during the pandemic. The World Health Organization's COVID chief, David Nabarro, this week stated: 'Looking at it from a...
Rhianon Passmore: The Tory UK Government's cost-of-living crisis is hitting the people of Wales hard. It is a crisis and, yes, it is one that's been seen approaching. But we do have to acknowledge that the Tory Government is in charge of the parafiscal levers that will radically make a difference. And yet, the want-to-be heir of the Tory crown, the apprentice-apparent, Rishi Sunak, has been missing. He was...
Rhianon Passmore: 7. What representations has the Welsh Government made to the UK Government concerning the governance of the British Broadcasting Corporation? OQ57513
Rhianon Passmore: Diolch, First Minister. As a former member of the BBC Broadcasting Council for Wales, I want to declare for the record. Since the Tories took control of the UK Government in 2010, the BBC's budget has taken an estimated 30 per cent cut in real terms. Now Nadine Dorries and the Tories want to propose a further two-year freeze in the licence fee, and that's equivalent to the entire UK radio...
Rhianon Passmore: 8. Will the Minister provide an update on railway services in Islwyn? OQ57511
Rhianon Passmore: Diolch. On 12 December last year, following the £1.2 million investment to upgrade the Ebbw Vale line, an hourly direct passenger service between Crosskeys and Newport recommenced after a gap of 60 years. Minister, I along with colleagues met with representatives of Network Rail and Transport for Wales recently to discuss the further expansion plans of the line northwards through Newbridge...
Rhianon Passmore: Diolch, Llywydd, and thank you for taking the intervention. It's a very simple question, and it goes to the root of some of the points that have been made, Darren Millar. How is it good for democracy if it is harder to register to vote and it is therefore harder to vote?
Rhianon Passmore: Will the Minister provide an update on what community facilities are available in Islwyn as a result of the 21st century schools programme?
Rhianon Passmore: Thank you, Minister, for an important update to the Senedd. I very much welcome the experience and expertise that Derek Vaughan will bring to this role. As you rightly state, it's imperative that we do all that we can to maintain and foster that excellent working relationship between Wales and the European Union, and that we do continue to seek proper inter-governmental relations and working...
Rhianon Passmore: On behalf of the people and communities of Islwyn, I want to place on record our appreciation of the loyal and dedicated public servant that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has been and remains today. Nobody, irrespective of whatever position taken on the monarchy, would not have been seriously moved, as was I, by the sight last year of Her Majesty sat alone in the chapel at Windsor at the...
Rhianon Passmore: 1. What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the funding Wales will receive from the UK Government to replace European Union funding? OQ57608
