Luke Fletcher: The main objective of the 2050 strategy is to ensure more use of the Welsh language and a significant way of doing that is through education. However, many families in Pencoed are waiting to hear the results of an appeal, to see if their children will be able to Ysgol Bro Ogwr in September. If the appeal fails then these families will have to choose between sending their children further away...
Luke Fletcher: Thank you, Deputy Minister, and, as I'm sure you're aware, there are several different types of dementia in addition to Alzheimer's disease, which is the most common form, affecting around 75 per cent of people in Wales. Lewy body dementia is the second most common type of dementia in older people, a type that my grandmother lived with, but it's relatively unknown and has very different...
Luke Fletcher: Of course, the Institute for Fiscal Studies has also warned that an extra cost being assumed by struggling businesses could result in tens of thousands of workers facing redundancies. To ensure the possible outcome outlined by the IFS of a reduction and ending of furlough does not occur in Wales, has the Welsh Government undertaken any contingency planning to enable them to continue...
Luke Fletcher: Thank you, Minister, and I'd hope, of course, that conversations continue with the night-time industry so that they can gain some clarity as we go forward. If I could move on to the job retention scheme, of course the Minister again will be aware that we've had several discussions outside this Chamber on this subject. The UK Government has begun the gradual process of winding up the retention...
Luke Fletcher: Diolch, Llywydd. The Minister will know that I welcome the extension of current business support until the end of August, and I was grateful for the opportunity, of course, provided by the Minister for a briefing before the announcement was made. But of course, some of the hardest-hit sectors are those that depend on members of the public mixing together both indoors and in close proximity,...
Luke Fletcher: 6. Will the Minister make a statement on efforts to improve dementia services in Wales? OQ56738
Luke Fletcher: Of course, thank you to the Minister for his statement and the copy of his statement in advance. There's some good news in the steel industry at the moment. I'm told that the market is at a 15-year high, so now is the perfect time to look at developing the sector for the future, which is why I think this statement is very welcome. A few questions and points. First of all, will the Welsh...
Luke Fletcher: I thank you for that answer, Trefnydd. A large number of stakeholders have suggested that the devolution of the administration of welfare could provide an opportunity to create a more compassionate system. The older people’s commissioner, for example, said the Scottish approach helped shift perceptions away from those of stigma and burden around the system. Devolution to Wales could allow...
Luke Fletcher: 7. What plans does the Welsh Government have to pursue the devolution of welfare administration? OQ56748
Luke Fletcher: The economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic is being felt across Wales, and it will be felt across our economy for many years to come. However, by addressing biodiversity decline, underscored by a set of clear targets for delivery, we can create meaningful employment opportunities across the country. By investing in nature, in habitat restoration and green skills, we can boost the workforce...
Luke Fletcher: With bank closures in our towns and villages across Wales being all too common, the vision presented by the team at Banc Cambria is an exciting one. For example, in my region, the constituency of Ogmore has just one bank left, and similar to what we've heard in Clwyd South as well. And, of course, in some constituencies they're at risk of disappearing altogether. The community-based model...
Luke Fletcher: The Minister won't be surprised to hear that Plaid Cymru is very supportive of UBI, and we look forward to seeing the final proposal from the Government on the pilot. Very quickly, has the Minister approached the Department for Work and Pensions to ensure that there's an arrangement in place so that any basic income payment isn't counted against any recipients who might also be in receipt of...
Luke Fletcher: What plans does the Welsh Government have to pursue the devolution of the administration of welfare?
Luke Fletcher: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. There's a lot to welcome in today's statement. It's very similar to the Plaid Cymru offer during the election. We look forward to seeing the detail, and we'll be keeping an eye on its implementation to ensure it delivers for young people in Wales. It's positive to know that the Welsh Government is looking at other examples, not just in the UK, hopefully, but in the EU...
Luke Fletcher: I'd like to obviously thank Huw Irranca-Davies for bringing forward this motion to debate. I think both Huw and I have a shared interest locally as we both hail from the glorious constituency of Ogmore—myself in Pencoed and Huw, of course, in Maesteg. And, of course, I think it's fair to say that both of us have family members who often rely on bus services to get to work or to attend...
Luke Fletcher: What additional support is the Welsh Government providing to local authorities ahead of the 2022 local elections?
Luke Fletcher: Thank you for that response, First Minister. May I draw your attention to Bridgend county for a second? Several families in my home town of Pencoed face a situation now where they won't, perhaps, be able to send their children to the closest Welsh-medium school. Instead, they'll have to choose between sending their children even further away to have their education, or choose English-medium...
Luke Fletcher: 5. How does the Welsh Government protect the right of every child in Wales to access Welsh-medium education? OQ56659
Luke Fletcher: How is the Welsh Government ensuring that every child in Wales has the right to access Welsh-medium education?
Luke Fletcher: —they used as part of the metrics for this fund, such as household income. The average annual household income in Caerphilly is approximately £15,000 per head, which is substantially lower that the UK average of £21,000, and lower than every single English region. I know my colleague Delyth Jewell will be going into some more detail on this later, and as Hefin David just said, he'll also...
