Rhys ab Owen: Gweinidog, I'm going to raise school admissions also, because I've been contacted by constituents from Cardiff and also the Vale of Glamorgan. They've contacted their local authorities, they've contacted schools, and they've just had no replies, or no information, or just simply saying the school that they wanted, the closest school that they want to attend, is full. Before being elected...
Rhys ab Owen: ...commissioned by Welsh Government published in March 2020 states that one major problem for young people in not voting is that it's difficult for them to understand and that they aren't properly educated, so how can you support teachers in teaching Welsh politics more effectively in our schools? It was also disappointing how few young people registered to vote. I think 54 per cent—
Rhys ab Owen: ...a'i Phobol that you are very musical yourself. I also know, having been in university with the leader of Cardiff Council, that he's a talented musician too. As you will know as a musician, musical education and experiences are crucially important, and, as a national concert hall for Wales, St David's Hall has provided excellent opportunities for schoolchildren across the years. I can say...
Rhys ab Owen: Minister, constituents have been in touch with me saying that they find it very difficult, in Canton in Cardiff, to travel by bike back and forth to school, because of an absence of cycle lanes. What assessment has the Welsh Government made, in terms of decarbonising transport, of funding for Safe Routes to School for councils such as Cardiff council? Thank you.
Rhys ab Owen: Trefnydd, I have been very fortunate recently to meet a number of schools in Cardiff—Gwaelod y Garth, Plasmawr and Cardiff West Community High School—to discuss the great work of the Youth Parliament, and every time there is a question-and-answer session at the end, the environment arises all the time in their questions. Across parties, I think we were all disappointed that the clean air...
Rhys ab Owen: Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. As a young boy, the name Betty Campbell came up many times in conversation at home. She was in school with my auntie, and through education and local politics in Cardiff became firm friends with my father. I was always in awe of Betty. At a young age, I knew nothing about her accomplishments—that came later on. But even as a youngster, I experienced this incredible...
Rhys ab Owen: ...is accessibility in voting. I remember speaking to a young 17-year-old after the polling stations had closed, and she said she didn't have an opportunity to vote. She said she went straight from school to work and didn't have an opportunity to vote, therefore. What discussions are you, as a Government, having with schools and colleges in order to demonstrate how important voting is, but...
Rhys ab Owen: ..., 20 per cent of the people of Cardiff come from BAME backgrounds, and, as you've already mentioned, it's crucial that children in these communities are represented in the curriculum and within the education sector. It demonstrates the importance of things such as the Betty Campbell award. On 13 December, I'm sponsoring an event here in the Senedd where Jessica Dunrod, a black author from...
Rhys ab Owen: ...one point he made was that drivers needed to be more aware of when they are driving into a community that they see an area as a community with people not just homes and buildings. Now, outside the school in Gwaelod-y-Garth, there is a 20 mph zone. Now, the major concern of residents of Gwaelod-y-Garth is that the rest of the village is not a 20 mph zone and that vehicles tend to speed up...
Rhys ab Owen: ...universities' budgets have been healthy, with the number of students attending universities remaining consistent and increasing, indeed, which shows the quality of the workforce we have in higher education. Now I accept what you say, namely that universities and higher education institutions are independent, but you do have influence, Minister, and I hope that you would do more than wish...
Rhys ab Owen: ...on the devolution settlement and their increased use in this Senedd. The letter today from the Deputy Minister for the arts shows the chaotic nature of the LCM process; it really doesn't work. The education Minister said in the Siambr that he was seeking an amendment to the Professional Qualifications Bill, to make sure that UK Ministers could not amend that important devolution Act, the...
Rhys ab Owen: ...that has not been the case. Can we tell the students of Cymer Afan Comprehensive that the future generations Act is watertight and protects their cohesive community? When parents of students at the school tried to implement the Act against the closure of their school back in March 2019, it failed; it failed at the first hurdle. The High Court judge Mrs Justice Lambert argued that the Act...
Rhys ab Owen: 5. What discussions has the Minister had with the Counsel General regarding working with schools and colleges to ensure that more young people register to vote? OQ56947
Rhys ab Owen: 7. What discussions has the Minister had within the Welsh Government and externally to ensure locally sourced food and drink are available in schools, care homes and hospitals? OQ57733
Rhys ab Owen: What discussions has the Minister had with local authorities to ensure that all staff working in Welsh-medium schools have Welsh language skills?
Rhys ab Owen: ...complacent when it comes to this. There are some real areas of concern that I have in this Senedd. We have seen a huge increase in the use of secondary legislation in this place. In questioning the education Minister on the Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Bill, concerns were raised that sections in the Bill gave a lesser scrutiny role to the Welsh Parliament than previously. And...
Rhys ab Owen: We must make legislation that is closely aligned to health and education and welfare services.
Rhys ab Owen: 2. What discussions has the Minister had to resolve the pension dispute in higher education institutions in Wales? OQ57697
Rhys ab Owen: ...been having discussions. It delights me to see children from the Urdd centre, many of them refugees, playing cricket and other games against the wall of the Senedd. It's so wonderful to see all the schools that visit the Senedd. It is so wonderful that we have a Parliament in Wales that is so open to the public. I do very much hope that the world cup can give Wales such a platform and it...
Rhys ab Owen: ...drink driving changed. [Interruption.] Seatbelts are another example. We need to change our mentality on speed, because children walk across all pavements in inner city areas, not just in front of schools and hospitals.
