Mohammad Asghar: I am just giving you the facts and figures that are actually in the world domain. Interviewed by the Western Mail at his manifesto launch, Carwyn Jones said 'We know that education is the route out of poverty for many people in Wales.' Thanks to his education policies, the First Minister has put considerable obstacles in the way to block that route. I would like to mention another pledge...
Mohammad Asghar: Sir Christopher Wren was the leading architect of London's reconstruction after the great fire in 1666. He lays buried beneath the floor of his most famous building, St Paul's cathedral. An elaborate dome marks the site of his burial. Instead, there is an inscription on the floor and it says, 'If you are searching for his monument, look around.' Deputy Presiding Officer, if we were to look...
Mohammad Asghar: Cabinet Secretary, new ways of working are indispensable for sustaining the quality and scope of service delivery by local authorities faced with budget constraints. This requires adoption of innovative solutions, coupled with the development of new technology. Does the Cabinet Secretary agree that strong, top-down leadership is required if this is to be achieved and would he support each...
Mohammad Asghar: Thank you very much for the reply, Minister. The Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee recently expressed its disappointment at the lack of transparency surrounding the funding and operation of the apprenticeship programme. The committee also expressed concern that this lack of transparency poses a challenge to the effective scrutiny of this flagship Welsh Government initiative....
Mohammad Asghar: Cabinet Secretary, are you also going to agree with me that one way to assist Welsh taxpayers' understanding of their tax deductions would be to have the Welsh rate included on both pay slips, where people get salaries either monthly or weekly, and the P60 form, where, if some people are working in England and in Wales, the end-of-year deduction should be showing what was taken out in England...
Mohammad Asghar: 5. What discussions has the Cabinet Secretary had with the Cabinet Secretary for Education about the funding of the Welsh Government's apprenticeship programme? OAQ53025
Mohammad Asghar: What discussions has the Cabinet Secretary had with the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service about the number of grassland fires in Wales?
Mohammad Asghar: May I ask for a statement, leader of the house, from the Welsh Government on what it is doing to promote the use of electric vehicles by public sector bodies? Last week the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee heard complaints that Welsh Ministers had not given clear signals on that issue, and that leadership was desperately needed. The view is reinforced when you consider that all 72...
Mohammad Asghar: Basically—. I'm on the last few lines now. This economy is going to grow. Brexit is only the answer. What Theresa May has put in black and white—please read. That is in the interest of the nation and the interest of our next generation. This people's vote I think is a nonsense and a non-starter, because we already had one, so there is no need for that to be had and to endorse another...
Mohammad Asghar: Listen: wait till Brexit on 29 March next year. We will be trading with China and other nations—Japan and others, Brazil. Don't forget—you're talking about Welsh lamb. We have the best commodities—Welsh water, even, we can sell to Arabs. You forget these areas. Look—[Interruption.] Go on.
Mohammad Asghar: I'm glad to know that, but when I went there 10 years ago, I and Plaid Cymru leader at that time, Ieuan—ask him—do you know what the Chinese told us? 'What is Wales? Where is Wales?' I'm glad this Chamber has promoted our part of the world. London has promoted Wales, and now we are—. And don't forget there is over a billion population there, and we are like a little village for them,...
Mohammad Asghar: I've just given way.
Mohammad Asghar: Mike, you forgot the swinging 1960s. You probably didn't enjoy the time when Great Britain was actually in the lead in everything, and they were leading the world in all walks of life. [Interruption.] Wait a minute. We will control, after Brexit, Presiding Officer, we will control our own borders and free movement, once and for all. That isn't Brexit. We protect our jobs in this country,...
Mohammad Asghar: After listening to so many good speeches, I don't think I will have much to say, but the fact is, I will say a few things. When the first election happened—devolution for this Chamber in 1997—there was only a 6,721 majority and we are here, and the majority for the UK to leave Europe was 1,269,501. So, actually, there was a clear majority for people to leave Europe. There is no quarrel....
Mohammad Asghar: What plans does the Welsh Government have to reduce the pressures on GPs in Wales this winter?
Mohammad Asghar: All right, thank you very much for the statistic, but I think you know better than—. Your Government has cut the funding for the most prosperous councils in Wales. All six councils in north Wales would have seen their budget cut by at least half of 1 per cent. Three would have received a 1 per cent budget cut already. Once again, rural councils will suffer compared to Labour-led urban...
Mohammad Asghar: Local government in Wales is facing a funding crisis. Since 2009, local authorities in Wales have received a real-term cut to their budgets of 22 per cent—£1 billion of funding cuts due to the policy of this Welsh Government. Under the original draft funding proposals, 15 of the 22 local authorities in Wales would have seen a reduction in funding. Needless to say, the proposals were met...
Mohammad Asghar: Leader of the house, may I ask for a statement from the Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport on the results of the latest school sport survey? According to the survey, the gap between children from the most and the least deprived areas taking part in sport has widened in the last three years. The number of children taking part in sport outside school three or more times a week has remained...
Mohammad Asghar: The Welsh Government is committed to providing 100,000 apprenticeships in this term. However, the 'Is Wales Fairer?' report found that, in apprenticeships, strong gender segregation remains, ethnic minorities are under-represented and the representation of disabled people is particularly low. What is the acting First Minister—your Government—doing to tackle gender segregation and to boost...
Mohammad Asghar: Afro-Caribbean, disabled people, LGBT and others also need to be put into further education. And poverty, finally, should not be a barrier to education. Thank you.
