Mark Isherwood: 4. What plans does the Welsh Government have for sustainable energy efficiency in Wales? OQ57133
Mark Isherwood: —and opportunities of the Welsh veterans community, recognising their contribution to UK armed forces. To conclude, I once again express gratitude for the significant contribution made by the armed forces to the COVID-19 response in Wales, emphasise the need to strive for peaceful resolution to all conflicts and remember all those, military and civilian, who have lost their lives in war.
Mark Isherwood: In this centenary year of the Royal British Legion, it is pertinent that our cross-party motion today proposes that this Senedd remembers and recognises the contribution of all those who have served and continue to serve in our armed forces, particularly those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. As our motion also states, we must welcome and pay tribute to the support that third sector...
Mark Isherwood: On 28 April 2020, the UK Government announced that COVID testing would be extended to all care home staff and residents in England. That was not the case in Wales, with you, First Minister, saying you saw no value to providing tests to everybody in care homes at the time. That was a pivotal moment for Mr and Mrs Hough, who ran Gwastad Hall nursing home in Cefn-y-Bedd, Flintshire. It was not...
Mark Isherwood: 3. How is the Welsh Government supporting the care sector during the pandemic? OQ57132
Mark Isherwood: As chair of the cross-party groups on hospices and palliative care and on funerals and bereavement in both this and the last Senedd, I've worked with our group member, Rhian Mannings, who submitted this petition and who founded the all-Wales charity 2 Wish Upon a Star, providing essential bereavement support for families who have suddenly or traumatically lost a child or young adult under 25,...
Mark Isherwood: Diolch. During Lupus Awareness Month last month, the Rare Autoimmune Rheumatic Disease Alliance published the experience of a person diagnosed with lupus during childhood, who stated that, in England, 'Regular monitoring and open communication' kept her lupus and her own stress about her health well under control. She also stated, however, that when she moved to Wales she couldn't find a...
Mark Isherwood: 4. How is the Welsh Government supporting people with autoimmune diseases? OQ57098
Mark Isherwood: Prior to coming to this place, I was proud to work in the mutual sector for more than two decades, and I strongly support the success of mutuals and co-operatives and the benefits they bring to our market economy. But the organisation I worked for crashed a few years after I left and had to be taken over by another organisation. So, do you recognise they're not a magic bullet, and unless they...
Mark Isherwood: Diolch. Three very short questions. You refer to the North Wales Economic Ambition Board. Given that the growth deal offer was originally a UK Government offer that the Welsh Government signed heads of terms in November 2019 with the UK Government, which is primarily focused on infrastructure and will be co-funded by the two Governments, the UK Government must already be involved in the north...
Mark Isherwood: Thank you, and whilst I welcome your comments about the Warm Homes plan, the question was specific to the cold weather plan, which NEA Cymru's annual fuel poverty monitor have called for for a long time, and which the Minister in the last Welsh Government accepted in 2019 and said the Welsh Government would be developing. But, moving on, on 1 October, the energy price cap set by energy...
Mark Isherwood: Thank you. The connection between fuel poverty and health is very real. Speaking here in November 2018, I noted that the annual cost to the Welsh NHS of treating people made ill by living in a cold, damp home was approximately £67 million, with health impacts caused by cold homes predominantly relating to cardiovascular and respiratory problems. Low temperatures also diminish resistance to...
Mark Isherwood: Diolch, Llywydd. As chair of the cross-party group on fuel poverty and energy efficiency in previous terms, I'm working with National Energy Action, NEA Cymru, and the Fuel Poverty Coalition Cymru, to re-establish the cross-party group in the sixth Senedd. Our first meeting will take place via Zoom at 11 a.m. on Monday, 8 November—diary note for everybody, please—and I thank you for...
Mark Isherwood: A Flintshire-based charity providing professional high-quality mental health support and recovery in the community, including a project that empowers young people to build resilience, boost confidence and manage difficult emotions, has told me that school leaders they’ve spoken to in Flintshire are facing a significant increase in the numbers of young people in their care presenting with...
Mark Isherwood: 3. How is the Welsh Government working cross-sector to provide mental health support for children and young people? OQ57035
Mark Isherwood: How is the Welsh Government ensuring accountability in local government?
Mark Isherwood: In your statement, you refer to 'improving the condition of habitats to enable some of our most iconic species to have greater freedom to roam', and I was grateful that one of the species you named was the curlew. Further to your very positive and welcome response to Gylfinir Cymru / Curlew Wales's action plan for the recovery of the curlew, do you recognise that this is about a lot more...
Mark Isherwood: In April 2020, as a one-year response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the universal credit standard allowance received a temporary uplift of £20 a week. In his March 2021 budget, the UK Chancellor announced an extension of this temporary uplift for a further six months, alongside other advances to universal credit. The temporary uplift was always time-limited and it is misleading to pretend...
Mark Isherwood: After the Welsh Government announced its plans to turn the Clwydian range and Dee valley area of outstanding natural beauty into a national park, concern was raised with me by people whose living comes from the business of farming livestock and land within the area of outstanding natural beauty. What discussion and engagement did you therefore have with people whose living comes from the...
Mark Isherwood: It's regrettable I have insufficient time to question you about our report's recommendations themselves.
