Dawn Bowden: Thank you for that answer, First Minister. I know that, across the many elements of the programme for government, you can be proud to have led a Government that's delivering improvements in my constituency. You'll recall that we've opened new schools and refurbished schools, that we've welcomed new investments, including General Dynamics in Pentrebach, Sharp Clinical in Rhymney, and, of...
Dawn Bowden: 1. Will the First Minister outline how the economic priorities set out in the programme for government are delivering for people in Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney? OAQ53102
Dawn Bowden: Leader of the house, hopefully, you will have seen some of the current campaign work being undertaken by Housing Women Cymru to highlight the need for the end of sex for rent. As we know, any arrangement involving sex for rent is illegal—no grey areas. We now know that that's been confirmed. Can I thank the housing Minister for her statement on the support for the campaign that was issued...
Dawn Bowden: Well, thank you, Llywydd, and after that speech, I'm going to change my vote. [Laughter.] Anyway, can I be clear from the start? This current deal—it fails us, it simply isn't good enough. It's unclear, it risks our safety and security, and it puts our economy at risk. Now, I spent many years as a negotiator, and in that time, I've seen lots of so-called 'final offers', but I always found...
Dawn Bowden: Thank you, Llywydd. Can I—
Dawn Bowden: Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on Welsh Government support for bus services in Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney?
Dawn Bowden: Can I just say: if only life were as simple as this motion seeks to suggest? If only we could pass motions that then delivered money to fund our many public services, but life never is that easy, unfortunately, because, from what I know, and in spite of what the UK Prime Minister states, it is clear that austerity is not over and it's the shadow that continues to hang over us. The pressures...
Dawn Bowden: Thank you for that answer, Minister. It's clear to me that the European Union has been a great benefit in funding skills and training opportunities. Certainly in my constituency of Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney, the funds provided by the European social fund have a clear focus on the essential task of getting many vulnerable people back into the labour market. So, can you provide my...
Dawn Bowden: 3. Can the Minister please update the National Assembly on EU funding for skills training in Wales? OAQ52961
Dawn Bowden: Thank you for that, leader of the house. First of all, can I thank you and what the Welsh Government have been doing on this important issue? The scale of the problem was recently highlighted by the Equality and Human Rights Commission report that we debated last week, and it's an important question for all Assembly Members to consider, and even more for all of us to acknowledge that the...
Dawn Bowden: Thank you for that, Cabinet Secretary. The chief economist's report, which accompanies the Welsh budget, highlights the risk to the Welsh tax base if the working-age population continues to decline in Wales, especially when compared to the forecast rise of this age group in England. The chief economist's report goes on to say that this could mean £150 million a year less in the Welsh budget...
Dawn Bowden: 2. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the implications of the Office for National Statistics forecasts for the working age population of Wales? OAQ52911
Dawn Bowden: 1. Will the Leader of House provide an update on Welsh Government action to tackle hate crime? OAQ52912
Dawn Bowden: Thank you for that answer, First Minister. In spite of the significant investment in health services in my constituency, we can see that there still remains an alarming health trend amongst the local population. You'll be aware that in 2016 the annual report of the Chief Medical Officer for Wales highlighted the social inequities that affect areas like Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney. Now, clearly...
Dawn Bowden: 3. Will the First Minister provide an update on Welsh Government action to tackle health inequalities in Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney? OAQ52928
Dawn Bowden: Thank you, Cabinet Secretary, and I'm very aware of the great value of the extensive common land in my constituency, which includes the Merthyr and Gelligaer common. I'm sure you'll know that EU funding has been available both to help in the management of the common land and for local farmers to co-operate and to market their produce through a local butcher's shop, Cig Mynydd Cymru, in...
Dawn Bowden: 10. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on Welsh Government policy for common land? OAQ52863
Dawn Bowden: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I'm not a member of any of the committees that have scrutinised this Bill, so I'm grateful for the opportunity to speak in support of the general principles of the Bill—a Bill that I believe paves the way for further improvements in housing conditions in Wales, and will enhance our efforts to tackle exploitation, especially in the private rented sector....
Dawn Bowden: Thank you for that answer, First Minister. With only weeks left for the Brexit negotiations to be concluded, we're still faced with continuing and huge uncertainty in so many areas, including our higher education system. I'm told that applications from EU students are down across Wales, but, for those EU students actually accepting places at the University of South Wales, which of course...
Dawn Bowden: 2. What recent assessment has the Welsh Government made of the impact of Brexit on recruiting students from the EU 27 countries to educational establishments across Wales? OAQ52862
