Mark Isherwood: In response to the Taylor review just referred to, which was published on Monday, the review of youth justice, the measures announced by the UK Government include launching two secure schools, concentrating on English, maths and a range of work-training schemes to help reform and to help offenders find work on release. In February 2010, the Assembly’s Communities and Culture Committee...
Mark Isherwood: In fact, I think you’ve just answered my question. I think we’re all relying on that ‘Telegraph’ article in which the UK Government business, energy and industrial department says the consultation ‘has nothing to do with closing branches’, and the Post Office spokesperson said the consultation was part of the Government’s application to the European Union to continue the state...
Mark Isherwood: We welcome this inquiry into human rights, and, as somebody who took part in the fourth Assembly’s Communities, Equality and Local Government Committee’s inquiry into the future of equality and human rights in Wales, I welcome the fact that you wish to follow up on that. I wonder if you could just comment, given that, obviously, equality and human rights are both critically important, but...
Mark Isherwood: How is the Welsh Government helping people in fuel poverty in Wales?
Mark Isherwood: It’s a self-evident truth that increased seasonal demand puts further strain on an already overstretched service, resulting in lengthy waits for patients. As the British Medical Association Cymru warned last October, the frail elderly and a rise in respiratory conditions lead to more and different admissions in winter. GPs report difficulties in arranging for patients to be assessed or...
Mark Isherwood: Diolch, Lywydd. From its inception, Theresa May’s Government has made it clear that its vision for the UK outside the EU is for a fully independent sovereign state and that the right deal for the UK as we leave the EU will be one that is unique and not an off-the-shelf solution. As our amendment states, we propose that the National Assembly for Wales welcomes the Prime Minister’s...
Mark Isherwood: Of course, currency movements are one of the effects of that. It’s funny that it wasn’t factored in by those predicting doom and gloom. Perhaps you could tell us which Jeremy Corbyn was right yesterday, the one who said he wants managed migration or the one who said he was wedded to freedom of movement continuing? Countries around the world like China and Australia are exploring how to do...
Mark Isherwood: When I’m finished with this paragraph, yes. We will have control of our borders, control of our laws, but we still want the best possible deal for UK companies to trade with and operate within the European Union and also European companies to trade with and operate within the UK.’ If you’re quick.
Mark Isherwood: That’s subject to negotiation. I know no more about that than you do. When people voted in the referendum on 23 June, yes, they voted to leave the EU, but they also voted for change, and this year, 2017, is the year when we start to make that happen.
Mark Isherwood: Just on that point, would you accept that, last year, Wales actually had a smaller share than the UK average, quite significantly, and that much of the shift has been a growth in the EU offset by a collapse in other international trade, where we need to be looking at Europe and the world as we go forward?
Mark Isherwood: Last Friday, I visited the British Red Cross Abergele office to hear more about the Community Connect project to tackle loneliness and isolation and reconnect people with their communities, which Joyce Watson referred to, benefiting from the partnership between the Red Cross and the Co-op. This is because Conwy was one of the four areas that you referred to with 32 per cent of people living...
Mark Isherwood: 1. How is the Welsh Government assisting people with disabilities in Wales? OAQ(5)0369(FM)
Mark Isherwood: Diolch. Further to the Welsh Government announcement it was transferring the Welsh independent living grant to local authorities, a campaigner in Wrexham, Nathan Davies, who actually presented a certificate to the Enabling Wales north Wales graduation last month, expressed concern that they felt that disabled people had been ‘sold down the river’, and that all they could see was yet more...
Mark Isherwood: Will you give way?
Mark Isherwood: Diolch. As you know, we both attended a ‘no to pylons’ meeting on Anglesey in December 2015, but do you share my concern that, although the National Grid told me that they’re paid whether they put pylons over or under ground but Ofgem require best value for the customer, the One Voice Wales Anglesey pylon committee, who’ve written to Members on their response to the National Grid...
Mark Isherwood: 4. Will the First Minister outline the Welsh Government’s plan for winter preparedness in the Welsh NHS? OAQ(5)0386(FM)
Mark Isherwood: Thank you. Well, in 2015, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, NICE, published its public health guidance on tackling excess winter deaths, morbidity and the health risks associated with cold homes, outlining a number of recommendations and how health and social care practitioners could reduce the risk of death and ill health associated with fuel poverty and therefore the...
Mark Isherwood: When I discussed this with National Grid a while back they told me they get paid for what they do whether pylons go over ground or underground, but Ofgem require best value for the customer, and this will ultimately be paid through customer energy bills. Given that best value means quality value as well as price, what dialogue will your Government have with Ofgem, given the concern raised by...
Mark Isherwood: Although the people entrust sovereignty, being the authority of the state to govern itself without interference from outside sources or bodies, to a Prime Minister and Government, and although the Prime Minister confirmed last week that the UK Government will put the final deal agreed between the UK and the EU to a vote in both Houses of Parliament before it comes into force, we respect the...
Mark Isherwood: If I could just ask you two questions relating to your statement: you refer to the committee inquiry into the educational outcomes for Gypsy/Traveller and minority ethnic learners. I wonder if you could tell me, did you take evidence from John Summers High School in Flintshire, which has played a great and leading role in engaging with the local Gypsy/Traveller community and improving...
