Rhun ap Iorwerth: We’ve tabled the motion today, as I say, to indicate our support for retaining that bursary as part of a wider package to encourage people from lower-income backgrounds into the profession. Our future NHS needs that. Our future nurses deserve that. The Government needs to stop dithering on this issue and make its mind up.
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thanks for giving way. Just for clarification, we’re grateful that you’re suggesting that you will support the motion today, but can you just confirm that you are affirming what is in the motion in relation to 2016-17 only, and that beyond that is up for discussion still?
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Diolch yn fawr iawn. Thank you very much, Cabinet Secretary. I have a very short period of time just to sum up. Firstly, to thank the Members that have spoken for this motion today. David Rees was absolutely right in pointing out that it’s a breadth of people and not just nurses—including allied health professionals—that benefit from the bursaries. Thanks also to the Conservative health...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you, Deputy Llywydd. I thank the Cabinet Secretary for his statement. I have two or three points and five questions, I believe. In terms of opening remarks, of course we welcome the improvements, the enhanced survival rates and better outcomes for patients for when that occurs. Of course, it’s happening across Europe and the globe because of improvement in treatments, technology and...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: I have highlighted the problem whereby businesses in the Môn enterprise zone were failing to make bids for a reduction in their business rates. I made that point to his predecessor, and I was very grateful to her for acknowledging that there was a problem and for opening a new window for making an application for a reduction. However, it appears that the problem remains. So, what intention...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you, Llywydd. I’m sure the Cabinet Secretary would join with me in condemning the rhetoric of the UK Conservative Government over the past few days and the disrespect that’s been shown towards staff from outwith these isles who make such a valuable contribution to our NHS. I would want to distance myself from virtually everything that Jeremy Hunt has said. But, coming to my...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: I look forward to an increase in places, including of course in Bangor and other parts of Wales. I’d welcome any moves from Welsh Government—and I will continue to press Government and offer my co-operation—on the issue of increasing medical training places. The Cabinet Secretary has, on numerous occasions, said that there are a record number of consultants and doctors in Wales....
Rhun ap Iorwerth: You have stated as fact, again, as the record will show, that there has been an increase in doctor numbers in Wales. One of the further facts that we found interesting is that one particular speciality has seen an extra 207 doctors in the past year. That particular speciality, although listed as a hospital speciality, is in fact ‘general practice (doctors in training)’. Now, we asked for...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: 4. Will the Minister make a statement on developing telemedicine? OAQ(5)0041(HWS)[W]
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you. I have a question about the need for broadband providers to ensure that those who require a high standard of broadband connectivity for telemedicine needs actually receive it. I know of a community on Ynys Môn—a whole community—that are without superfast broadband. Within that community there is a family where the husband has had a diagnosis of spinocerebellar ataxia 6, which...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: 9. Will the First Minister make a statement on trade between Wales and Ireland? OAQ(4)0204(FM)[W]
Rhun ap Iorwerth: In my constituency of Anglesey, the question of borders with Ireland is one of the most crucial questions in terms of the debate on leaving the European Union. If a border is to be placed around the isle of Ireland, as is suggested—and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has said that he wants to strengthen border controls in the ports and airports of Ireland—then what’s the...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer. May I thank you for the statement and for the strategic plan that was published yesterday? I do recognise, certainly, the steps forward that have taken place since the launch of the plan in 2012, but the Cabinet Secretary himself has acknowledged just how much remains to be done, and I do look forward to the debate tomorrow afternoon in the...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: 9. Will the Minister make a statement on the environmental impact of the National Grid’s plans across Ynys Môn? OAQ(5)0050(ERA)[W]
Rhun ap Iorwerth: The Cabinet Secretary will be aware of the decision by National Grid to place cables in a tunnel under the Menai strait. We hope to see a new bridge constructed to go with the Britannia bridge. I’m sure that the Cabinet Secretary would agree with me that there would be less environmental impact in placing those cables on that bridge, rather than actually building a bridge and digging a...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you, Llywydd. I’m very pleased to have the opportunity to have supported this motion and to support the other Members who have spoken so enthusiastically this afternoon on the need to promote physical activity and to ensure that the appropriate infrastructure is in place in terms of active travel, in order to ensure that that can happen within our communities as part of our daily...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you, Presiding Officer. I am pleased to be able to put forward this motion. I look forward to the discussion this afternoon in a week where we’ve been marking World Mental Health Day. In general terms, I think there are two kinds of discussions that we have when we talk about mental health: first of all, how the health service responds to people who do need treatment. Very often, we...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: I’ll refer too to the Government amendment. In the current political climate, I don’t think we can trust the UK Government not to withdraw safeguards from people who are vulnerable in the workplace. There are signs, aren’t there, that the Equality Act 2010 is on the radar of the Government, following the vote to leave the European Union. So, we think that it would be irresponsible for...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you very much, and may I thank everyone who has taken part in the constructive discussion this afternoon for the contributions from across the Chamber? We’ve heard very powerful accounts. I’ll name Bethan Jenkins as one who brought the experiences of one constituent to our attention as part of this discussion in a very powerful way. Felly, diolch i chi am eich holl gyfraniadau. Nid...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Very briefly, as the chair of the CPA Assembly branch, I’d like to pay tribute to Joyce Watson for the work that she did as chair during the fourth Assembly. That was a period when the branch did hold the regional British isles and Mediterranean region conference here in the Senedd in 2014. The theme of that conference was fair access to democracy, and promoting the important role that...
