Heledd Fychan: Thank you very much. I have to say, Jack, I disagree with one thing you said. I don't find this dull; I find this extremely interesting, because, actually, pensions affect all of us. One constituent wrote to me, 'It makes little sense to worry about the financial viability of a pension I can access in 32 years' time when current projections place my house, here in Cardiff, underwater by 2050,...
Heledd Fychan: Thank you, Minister. I welcome the fact that the Government published the well-being statement to coincide with the programme for government, and stated in it that you will, and I quote, 'use our budget process to ensure that resources are allocated to deliver the well-being objectives'. I was also very encouraged to find the word 'future' appearing 46 times in the draft budget for this...
Heledd Fychan: 8. What consideration does the Minister give to the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 when determining the budgets of Welsh Government-funded public bodies? OQ58094
Heledd Fychan: Thank you to the Minister for the statement and this investment, and we very much welcome that there is recognition that a 10-year plan is needed to develop the Welsh in education workforce. But I'd like to echo a number of the concerns expressed by Samuel Kurtz as well, because, as he said, the data that goes along with the plan shows that the situation as it currently stands is extremely...
Heledd Fychan: Trefnydd, last week a written statement was published announcing a £750,000 investment in libraries and museums. Of course, I welcome this very much, and it's good to see libraries and museums across Wales receiving investment. I would like to ask for an oral statement by the Deputy Minister for arts and sport, before the summer recess, providing further information on the Government's...
Heledd Fychan: I’m pleased that we’re having this very important discussion today. Although we've had a commitment from the Minister, I think the fact that so many constituents continue to contact us demonstrates the importance of raising awareness with every opportunity that we have with regard to women's health, and the health of those assigned female at birth. I know that plans are afoot in this...
Heledd Fychan: Thank you, Minister. It is to be welcomed that you are aware and trying to respond to the demand. One of the challenges raised with us was the time that it takes to care for one's health and well-being, because of the pressures. So, it is a challenge. One of the things that was emphasised to us was that they are still continuing to cope with COVID and those challenges, the additional support...
Heledd Fychan: Thank you, Llywydd. Minister, on 11 May, Jayne Bryant and I met with members of NEU Wales for a session that focused on raising awareness of the impact of workload on the mental health and well-being of staff in schools. A recent survey of its members found that 95 per cent of educators are working longer hours than those specified in their contracts, and that 44 per cent of educators are...
Heledd Fychan: Can I thank you, Minister, for the regularity of these briefings? Obviously, it is a fast-moving situation, and I think that is reflected with the response and regularity here. I just wanted to reference two things briefly. It was obviously great to see the emphasis with English language tuition; what does this mean in terms of access to Welsh language immersion as well? Because obviously...
Heledd Fychan: Minister, I very much welcome this and what's been achieved through the co-operation agreement. I certainly welcome also the appointment of Professor Evans, and I look forward as an elected Member to contributing to that. I was reassured by your commitment—because, obviously, we haven't seen the terms of reference as Members yet—that the voices and experiences of those victims will be...
Heledd Fychan: Thank you. I'd like to welcome this announcement today and note specifically how pleased I was to hear one word being repeated by the Minister, namely the 'joy' of music. The emphasis on the importance of music in terms of the health and well-being of all of us is something that all of us should welcome, and, particularly in the context of the cost-of-living crisis and the child poverty...
Heledd Fychan: Thank you, Minister. Over the past year, it's been an honour to meet with many social enterprises across the region and to see the excellent work that they do in regenerating our communities and supporting people of all ages and developing the local economy. Can I ask you what discussions you have had with other Ministers to ensure that social enterprises and the social economy are things...
Heledd Fychan: Thank you, Minister. I very much look forward to hearing more announcements over the next year. But the facts do speak for themselves at the moment, when we do compare to the other portfolios. Obviously, as you would expect, we have seen 301 coronavirus announcements, but 51 on communities and regeneration. Culture and sports and arts do deserve to be heard here, and if we are not vocal and...
Heledd Fychan: Diolch, Llywydd. A year ago, shortly following my election to the Senedd, and your appointment to your role, I asked how you would ensure a more central role for the arts and culture in the Government of the sixth Senedd, as compared to the fourth and fifth Senedd, and how you planned to tackle the underinvestment that has been seen for over a decade. I'm sure you will recall that I thought,...
Heledd Fychan: Thank you very much, Deputy Minister, and I'm pleased to hear you referring to the framework, which of course is part of the programme for government. I'm sure many of us could refer to projects that we're aware of in our regions and constituencies that show the value of social prescribing in terms of the health and well-being of those that we represent, and not just those who feel isolated,...
Heledd Fychan: 6. What support is the Government providing to health boards to enable them to implement social prescribing? OQ58008
Heledd Fychan: 11. What support is the Welsh Government providing to develop social enterprise and the social economy in South Wales Central? OQ58007
Heledd Fychan: Thank you very much. That is very encouraging to hear. We, myself and Mike Hedges, through our role with the cross-party group on PCS, have heard from PCS that some organisations funded by Welsh taxpayers are using these fire-and-rehire practices, so it's good to see that the Commission is having an influence in this regard. Would you agree with me that, in terms of contractors, it is...
Heledd Fychan: 1. What assessment has the Commission made of whether any of its contractors use fire-and-rehire practices? OQ57963
Heledd Fychan: Absolutely, and I think that's why we are concerned. I know Darren Millar was saying, 'Wait and see', but we are rightly—. We have seen the track record of the UK Government on this, and we should rightly be concerned. All these Bills go against everything we stand for here in Wales, particularly the treatment of immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers. It is incompatible with our desire...
