Heledd Fychan: The Scottish Government this week confirmed that it would provide an initial £4 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine, as well as medical supplies, as part of the global humanitarian effort. You've hinted at this, but I would like to seek assurances from you, First Minister, in terms of what is going to be our response here in Wales. Will you also commit that we will provide financial aid...
Heledd Fychan: 3. What support does the Welsh Government provide to vets? OQ57708
Heledd Fychan: Thank you, First Minister. Recently, I was contacted by Councillor Larraine Jones, who represents Gelli and Ystrad, to draw attention to the fact that there is a shortage of veterinarians in the Rhondda. She has shared many heartbreaking stories, including a dog dying at home and in pain because the local vet had closed permanently and no-one else had room for new animals. There is also a big...
Heledd Fychan: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, and thank you for the statement, Deputy Minister. Yes, Wales is an excellent place to grow up, to live and to work, but, of course, there is huge inequality at the moment, and that isn't true for all children. We share the ambition that this should be the case for everyone, wherever they may be in Wales.
Heledd Fychan: I'm glad to note that, through the co-operation agreement between my party and your Government, we will be able to start delivering for children and young people across Wales, whether that's through the expanded provision of free school meals and childcare to tackling climate change, or through education. Wales and the world face a myriad of crises, and the effect of these crises will weigh...
Heledd Fychan: Thank you for this very important statement. I'd like to declare that I am a councillor on RCT council, and I was part of the working group that looked at this. I was pleased to hear Sioned mention Elyn Stephens. She was extremely brave, as a young woman, coming into a council and starting to talk about periods. You should have seen the shock on the face of the councillors and they felt...
Heledd Fychan: Thank you, Minister, for that statement. I'd like to endorse your tribute to Aled Roberts. I attended the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly with Sam Kurtz over the past few days, and I have to say that there were so many heartfelt tributes across the two islands—people who had met Aled when he'd given evidence before them in 2019 and who admire what we do here in Wales. But,...
Heledd Fychan: I'm grateful to Rhun for opening today's debate and outlining why we as a group wanted to table this important motion today. And, as has already been referenced, it's timely that we're able to do so during Eating Disorders Awareness Week, which once again provides a spotlight on an issue that affects so many. I'd also like to put on record my appreciation of the work of Beat, who work...
Heledd Fychan: I wish to declare at the beginning of my contribution that I am a member of CND Cymru. So, it will come as no surprise that I am therefore speaking in favour of the amendment that calls on every state to sign and ratify the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
Heledd Fychan: Russia's attack on Ukraine and Ukraine's right to self-determination represents a threat to all of us. These attacks violate a central principle of international law and Putin's claim that he is demilitarising or denazifying Ukraine needs to be called out for what it is: gaslighting on a global and horrific scale. Without a doubt, this conflict increases the risk of nuclear war, something...
Heledd Fychan: Trefnydd, last week, Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board announced that they would be closing two vaccination centres this week—one in the Rhondda and one in the Cynon Valley. Vulnerable people who will be receiving their booster in the spring will be expected to travel to Bridgend, Llantrisant or Merthyr Tydfil. This means that if you don't have a car or a lift, you'll have to travel for two...
Heledd Fychan: Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd. I welcome very much today’s announcement, which stems from the agreement between our parties. Until you see the impact of flooding on homes and communities I think it's impossible to comprehend the impact, not just in the immediate aftermath but in the long term, over decades and years. The trauma is ongoing, and people still cry when I meet them when they...
Heledd Fychan: I would like to endorse the comments made by Alun Davies and the Minister. Certainly, this is a political choice, and we can't avoid that fact, and you have to take responsibility if you make political decisions that do have an impact on the cost-of-living crisis. Last month, I organised a cost-of-living summit in Treforest for my region, bringing third sector organisations and voluntary...
Heledd Fychan: Diolch yn fawr iawn, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Why are we here as Senedd Members if not to get this right? After all, politicians have been here before. I'm sure many of us remember that target of eradicating child poverty by 2020—something that was at the core of the 1997 election campaign for the Labour Government, and that was reinforced then by Tony Blair in 2002 and adopted also by this Senedd...
Heledd Fychan: Thank you, Deputy Llywydd, and thank you for your statement today, Minister. Like Laura Jones, I think we have to recognise the ongoing trauma for our children and young people. The pandemic is not over. We're seeing high numbers of teachers, children and young people not in school at the moment, and that the situation remains, and we're not yet in a period where we can look back and rebuild....
Heledd Fychan: First and foremost, whilst acknowledging the need to raise education standards, there is also a clear need for post-COVID education recovery, as was mentioned by our colleague Laura Jones. Massive amounts of education has been lost already, so a certain amount of recovery needs to happen before actually improving standards. I know some investment has been made, but teachers and parents have...
Heledd Fychan: Minister, you mentioned that
Heledd Fychan: our learners deserve the best, and they deserve to be able to access and use the best too.
Heledd Fychan: Of course, I agree with that, and would welcome any investment towards that. But, as I said, every pupil must be able to benefit from that, and we must also ensure that they should be able to benefit in both languages. At the moment, that isn't the case. We know from speaking to our children and young people that they can't access breakfast clubs, after-school clubs, and so on, and some of...
Heledd Fychan: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. If you follow the Conservatives' logic, then we don't need any laws at all. I disagree with that, and I think if we have laws to protect adults, then we should have laws to protect children, and I'm glad to be able to note that physically punishing children is now illegal in Wales after the new law came into force yesterday. And after all, you were right, Deputy...
