Siân Gwenllian: Well done, and it's good to see this scheme developing. But I would like to know if any further work is ongoing to ensure that the necessary percentage of prospective students who have skills in the Welsh language will attend the medical school. A new scheme was announced for 'More than just words', and I would like to know how the themes in that scheme are being implemented in Bangor,...
Siân Gwenllian: 5. What plans does the Government have to improve the energy efficiency of the housing stock in Arfon? OQ58899
Siân Gwenllian: As you'll know, the problems experienced by some of my constituents with energy efficiency measures under the Arbed 2 scheme still haven't been resolved. I am grateful that your officials are dealing with cases relating to two specific contractors, and it would be useful to hear when we can expect an update on this. As we look to future schemes, it's exceptionally important, isn't it, that...
Siân Gwenllian: Many constituents have contacted me on this issue, and the strong feeling is that the north-west is in danger of being excluded from a very important service once again. I know how much the service means to local people, the lives that have been saved and the benefits of having this rapid response service on our doorstep. So, I call upon the Welsh Government to prove—to prove—that the...
Siân Gwenllian: 11. What discussions has the Minister had with the Minister for Climate Change about how farmers can contribute to improving energy efficiency in Arfon? OQ58969
Siân Gwenllian: Recently, I had an opportunity to visit a new centre on the site of an old factory in the Nantlle valley, which is decarbonisation hub or centre in Tŷ Gwyrddfai in Penygroes, which brings a number of partners together with a core aim of improving energy efficiency of people's homes, not just in Arfon, but across north Wales and further afield. An important part of this work will be...
Siân Gwenllian: 5. Will the First Minister provide an update on vascular services for patients in Arfon? OQ58981
Siân Gwenllian: Once again, I'm supporting a constituent from Arfon who has suffered terribly because of fundamental and very serious errors by the vascular unit at Glan Clwyd Hospital. I've consistently argued that the health board has destroyed a high-quality unit in Bangor for all the wrong reasons. This is just one of the poor decisions made with the approval of your Ministers over recent years, which...
Siân Gwenllian: 1. What plans does the Welsh Government have in place to help the young people of Arfon with the costs of traveling on public transport? OQ59096
Siân Gwenllian: It's good to hear that there are plans in the pipeline, and, of course, we need to extend them and to bring new plans forward too. But in rural parts of my constituency, it's not the cost of travelling on buses that's the only problem. There's a lack of bus services in the first instance, with some communities without a way to travel at all at times, because there are no trains, metro,...
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you very much, Dirprwy Lywydd. I want to give time to Jane Dodds and to Rhun ap Iorwerth, and I very much look forward to hearing their contributions. Maternity and childbirth are positive experiences for many of us, but in some circumstances, it can be a very challenging and difficult time, and in this evening’s short debate, I want to focus on the mental health issues that face...
Siân Gwenllian: It is a cause of great concern that Betsi Cadwaladr health board has no budget set aside for low-level or moderate perinatal mental health services, even though £3 million has been allocated for this every year across Wales. This is a significant gap, and it's truly concerning. I ask the Deputy Minister to investigate this and to rectify the situation at once. This funding gap means that...
Siân Gwenllian: Would you take an intervention?
Siân Gwenllian: Did you look at the alternative model, which was the one that the committee recommended in the report that you chaired—the alternative model of providing the unit in Wales, and therefore the Welsh language needs would be met and it would obviously be nearer to home for many women, rather than the model that is now on offer, which is going to create a lot of problems around the linguistic...
Siân Gwenllian: 4. Will the First Minister provide an update on the plan to create a health and well-being centre in the centre of Bangor? OQ59158
Siân Gwenllian: I was extremely disappointed to hear that the UK Government had rejected the bid for £15 million towards this important project. Once again, we see the Tories ignoring Bangor and showing just how little they care about the people of Arfon and the north-west of Wales. But I am determined to continue campaigning for this plan and to support the efforts of Gwynedd Council, and all the other...
Siân Gwenllian: We've been here before, of course, but the major, necessary changes were not introduced, and, indeed, poor decisions were made in the previous time in special measures. The board was in special measures when the vascular service in Ysbyty Gwynedd was dismantled in the name of centralisation, and we all know what the upshot of that was. So, the fundamental question is what will be different...
Siân Gwenllian: I will ask one further question. The First Minister, in the question session, mentioned that there were other pieces of information that led you to this announcement yesterday. What is that information? Is all of the information underpinning yesterday’s decision out there in the public domain, or is there more to come?
Siân Gwenllian: 2. Will the Minister provide an update on the impact of sewage discharge on water quality in Llyn Padarn? OQ59245
Siân Gwenllian: Constituents have contacted me expressing concerns because they’ve found an invasive plant growing in Llyn Padarn in Llaneris, and they are convinced that sewage discharge into the water is feeding its growth. A specialist has confirmed that it’s a plant called lagarosiphon that is in the lake—it’s a new one on me, but that’s what this specialist has identified. These plants have...
