Natasha Asghar: It's a really sad fact that, under Welsh Labour, as my colleague Paul Davies said, Wales has the highest level of business rates, the lowest weekly wages and the lowest amount of disposable household income in the United Kingdom. Let me be honest—it gives me no joy in saying this—that Welsh Labour's stewardship of the Welsh economy has been marked by a lack of ambition and support that...
Natasha Asghar: I will mention them shortly, Mike, don't you worry; I won't leave them out. But, as many of my Conservative colleagues here, inside and outside of the Senedd, do feel and believe, including now, Mike, yes, you'll be pleased to know, our fantastic Conservative council candidates who are standing across Wales in the election tomorrow—. I have spoken about this issue many times in this...
Natasha Asghar: I'd like to thank the Member for Newport East for raising this really important question here in the Chamber today. Deputy Minister, it was no secret, as the Member for Newport East has said, that people, particularly from ethnic minority backgrounds, faced severe health inequalities during COVID-19, and that was quite prevalent and at a much higher rate for those people from the Bengali,...
Natasha Asghar: Thank you so much, Presiding Officer. Deputy Minister, the announcement last week that the UK and Welsh Governments have reached an agreement to establish a new free port in Wales is hugely exciting. This multimillion-pound agreement has the potential to deliver thousands of local jobs, driving innovation and boosting business investment, bringing benefits and opportunities to communities...
Natasha Asghar: Thank you, Deputy Minister. Transport for Wales has warned that the cost of the south Wales metro project is expected to be significantly over its £734 million budget. Although no firm indications of the expected amount of overspend have been given, it is forecast to run into tens of millions of pounds. The south Wales metro project has a complex supply chain, with the availability of...
Natasha Asghar: Thanks, Deputy Minister. As you know better than anyone, your Government is currently trialling pilot schemes to introduce 20 mph speed limits on all restricted roads in Wales. In Caldicot, in my region of South Wales East, local residents are complaining that congestion has got worse since this limit was introduced, especially at school opening and closing times. Cars are, and I quote,...
Natasha Asghar: 3. What discussions has the Minister had with the Minister for Economy regarding how the education system could address the skills gap? OQ58041
Natasha Asghar: Thank you very much, Minister. Firstly, I want to thank you for the entertainment you provided yesterday with you breaking out a beat with the First Minister about your musical programme. I will be asking you a question on that very soon in future. But, for now, Minister, you'll be aware of the concerns that have been expressed by academics about plans to replace physics, chemistry and...
Natasha Asghar: Minister, may I ask for two statements from the Welsh Government? The first on the difficulties and disparities still being faced by many disabled workers. According to research published in April last year, only 52.3 per cent of disabled people are in employment. This compares with 82 per cent of the able-bodied population. In Wales, the disability pay gap is a staggering 18 per cent, with...
Natasha Asghar: There is no denying that Her Majesty the Queen is a remarkable woman who has served this country and the Commonwealth with great loyalty and dedication. It is a great privilege to be standing here today in this Chamber, amongst you all, paying tribute to Her Majesty as the country comes together to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee. Her Majesty the Queen has broken countless records since her...
Natasha Asghar: Minister, may I ask for a statement from the Welsh Government about the Future Valleys consortium and its contract regarding works to complete improvements to the A465 Heads of the Valleys road? In November 2020 your Government confirmed that the Future Valleys consortium had been awarded the contract to take forward improvements to sections 5 and 6 of the A465 Heads of the Valleys road,...
Natasha Asghar: 3. What discussions has the Minister had with Ministerial colleagues about promoting the rights of disabled people? OQ58115
Natasha Asghar: Thank you, Minister. I wish to return to a subject that I recently raised during a business statement here in the Chamber. Too many disabled people still face difficulties and disparities in the workplace. According to the research published in April last year, 52.3 per cent of disabled people are in employment; this compares to 82 per cent of the able-bodied population. In Wales, the...
Natasha Asghar: Thank you, Presiding Officer. Minister, as my colleague just mentioned, news that the Rutherford cancer centre in Newport is to close is deeply disappointing and will be met with great concern by cancer sufferers in Wales. We all know the benefits of proton-beam therapy, which kills cancer cells using pencil-beam scanning that allows treatment to be delivered to the exact shape of the target...
Natasha Asghar: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. A stronger voice for the people of Wales. I have no doubt in my mind that anyone here is going to disagree with this sentiment, and I commend the hard work of everyone who's taken part on the committee. And I also have no doubt that your heart was in the right place. However, I do believe that the proposal within the special purpose committee report was...
Natasha Asghar: First Minister, the pandemic crisis has pushed many families in Blaenau Gwent and elsewhere into hardship and exposes the severity of the UK's food poverty problem, a problem that I cannot deny has been exacerbated by current increases in the cost of living. Last month, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, announced a package of measures to help the most vulnerable people in Wales,...
Natasha Asghar: Minister, unfortunately, late last week, I had to go to A&E at the Grange hospital after taking advice from my doctor. Let me be clear that what I'm about to share with the Senedd is not at all a criticism of the staff, because every single person I spoke to, from the receptionist to the hardworking nurses, was absolutely fantastic, and I cannot fault them at all. Prior to my election last...
Natasha Asghar: So, my question, Minister, after going through all of this, and my issues and concerns are—and they have been raised by numerous patients—that I'd like the Minister to make a statement in this Chamber, as soon as possible, about what the Welsh Government is going to do now to make the Grange hospital fit for purpose as a matter of urgency. Because with the footflow heading its way from...
Natasha Asghar: Minister, one of the aims of the Heads of the Valleys economic strategy is to capitalise on investments on the A465. Last week, during the business statement, I referred to the Future Valleys consortium being awarded the contract to take forward the improvements to sections 5 and 6 of the A465 Heads of the Valleys road in November 2020. One of the directors of the Future Valleys consortium...
Natasha Asghar: 2. What discussions has the Minister had with rail operators about the potential disruption to rail services due to the Stereophonics and Tom Jones concerts in Cardiff this weekend? TQ638
