Neil McEvoy: There is a lack of resource at the front line, but it's not just a question of money; it's how the money is spent. Let's look at children in care. There are roughly 6,000 children in care in Wales. In the last nine years, the number of children in care has gone up 36 per cent. So, there are 1,700 more children in care. The rate of children in care in Wales now stands at 102 per...
Neil McEvoy: Okay. Diolch. Children's services: time for change. This is both a negative and positive contribution to a debate we need to have. I think, in Julie Morgan, we have a Minister who cares. So, I think that's a good starting point. Every single detail of this speech relates to a real individual, a real-life situation. None of this is abstract or academic. Minister, the status quo is not working....
Neil McEvoy: The Barry incinerator is a travesty. It's just not a good idea at all. Barry is a lovely place to live. It's got a beautiful coastline. People want to live there, and people from all over the world go to Barry because it's such a great place. So, why on earth would you want to stick a huge incinerator on the waterfront, bring in rubbish from all over and burn it on the Barry coastline? Do you...
Neil McEvoy: What progress has been made as part of the city deal on improving transport infrastructure around the Llantrisant Road corridor?
Neil McEvoy: I declare an interest as a county councillor. I won't be supporting this legislation. In Catalunya, they do politics by judiciary—the unionists, that is. And in Labour Wales, we have politics by tribunal. The abuses of the system are actually very similar in principle. I feel we have an ombudsman system lacking in integrity, lacking in accountability of the ombudsman himself, who uses...
Neil McEvoy: Will the First Minister make a statement on access to Welsh Ministers?
Neil McEvoy: I'll be supporting the motion. Just to outline my experience of dealing with Natural Resources Wales, back in September 2017—the very first meeting about the nuclear mud. Honestly, I really had absolute confidence that the officials of NRW would be able to assuage my concerns about the mud and the testing regime, and so on. They knew nothing about the testing, despite being the body issuing...
Neil McEvoy: Will the First Minister provide an update on the implementation of local development plans in South Wales Central?
Neil McEvoy: In context, in the last few months, two people have contacted my office to say that our intervention with them stopped them killing themselves. One was a dad. One was a mother. Something must be done. Diolch yn fawr.
Neil McEvoy: A constituent wrote to me, to five other AMs and to the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee with quite serious concerns about the Talk to Me national conference. I’ve had messages this morning from constituents, messages this afternoon, a phone call at around 8:00 this morning to discuss the report. Constituents do feel let down by the report. They do not feel that a vulnerable group of...
Neil McEvoy: I'm glad the report was done, and I'm glad to hear that you will be returning to the issue, but there are gaps in the report. I'd like to pay tribute to all the work done in this area. I met with the Jacob Abraham Foundation, and they do brilliant work in Cardiff.
Neil McEvoy: Will the Minister make a statement on the number of long-term empty properties in Wales?
Neil McEvoy: What assessment has the Minister made of the future of nuclear energy production in Wales?
Neil McEvoy: Last week, it was reported that Lucy Bagnall was struck off from being a social worker with immediate effect. She was found guilty on all counts by Social Care Wales. It transpired that Bagnall had lied about my constituents and it's also alleged that a third party was told that a disputed care order will remain in place and the family will never see their children again. I'm calling for an...
Neil McEvoy: Will the First Minister make a statement on the importance of bus routes to residents in South Wales Central?
Neil McEvoy: Thanks to Deffo! and to those who gave evidence to the committee and to Stuart Parkinson as well for e-mailing. Also thank you to Cardiff Deaf Creative Hands. I went there once for a visit and it was really, really informative as well as enjoyable. I don't think the deaf community really gets a fair crack of the whip. I think they're very excluded. When I launched the Propel group in the...
Neil McEvoy: I remember hearing Steffan on the radio for the 2006 by-election in Blaenau Gwent—his speech for the declaration. I was in bed and I sat up in bed because his words were electrifying—really, really inspirational. I worked with Steffan in 2008, in the Caerphilly council elections, and we got to know each other better when we were first elected for the first time in 2016. And, some...
Neil McEvoy: Will you give way?
Neil McEvoy: I take your point there, and it's a really valid point, but would you concede that, with a sale, stipulations can be put on so in future that doesn't happen? That can easily be done.
Neil McEvoy: Thanks, Minister. The ethos behind the scheme is first class, but some of my constituents have written to me with concerns that some children from disadvantaged backgrounds may be missing out. That's because their difficult lives at home may make it difficult for them to consistently get into school on time to benefit from the free food, which can affect their learning. It's a sad fact that...
