Heledd Fychan: Minister, you referenced in your statement that the NHS is still under intense pressure. Many residents in the Cynon valley have contacted me to raise concerns that the A&E local to them at the Prince Charles Hospital has been under extreme pressure during the pandemic. Even now as we speak, there is an average time of eight hours and 15 minutes for people to be seen there, and 70 patients...
Heledd Fychan: Minister, you referenced the benefit of nature on mental health during your statement, but we've also seen and you referenced anxiety, and we've seen the negative impact of the climate and nature emergency on the mental health of people living in communities that have already been impacted by these changes and live in fear of being impacted again. I know that Delyth Jewell raised this with...
Heledd Fychan: Trefnydd, I note the written statement that was published today in terms of coal tip safety, with 33 more tips in the highest risk category, which leads to a total of 327. That's caused a great deal of anxiety in those communities that live in the shadow of those tips, so I'd like to ask for a further statement in the Chamber from the Minister for Climate Change to note when the location of...
Heledd Fychan: Two weeks ago, we heard the sad news about the death of the radio presenter and producer Magi Dodd, at the age of 44. Magi was born and raised in Pontypridd, where she attended Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Pont Sion Norton and Ysgol Rhydfelen, before going on to study at Aberystwyth University. In the early part of this century, she became a familiar voice on Radio Cymru—on C2 programmes and as...
Heledd Fychan: I think how quiet the Chamber is this afternoon in listening to this says it all. The stories and the report are very difficult to listen to, to read, and I know that many of you will have met many of these parents and the families and will have heard from them and know just how emotional it all is. I should also declare at the outset my own son was born in the Royal Glamorgan Hospital and...
Heledd Fychan: Thank you, First Minister. You will be aware, I'm sure, that there have been floods again overnight, affecting businesses and homes in my region. Indeed, I was out this morning looking at the damage in Pontypridd, Cilfynydd and Rhydyfelin. The trauma, not to mention the destruction, is clear, and even in those area that weren't impacted last night but suffered last year, such as Clydach...
Heledd Fychan: 4. How does the Welsh Government support the mental health of people who are suffering trauma as a result of the climate and nature crisis? OQ56977
Heledd Fychan: I've listened carefully to everyone's contributions this afternoon, and I hear many arguments that are contradictory. One challenge for the Tories is the lack of investment from the UK Government before this Senedd came into existence, because this has been a problem that's been with us over many decades, and although I do have some criticisms of the Welsh Government since the inception of...
Heledd Fychan: This week, my community is celebrating Pontypridd Green Week, which is part of a UK-wide Great Big Green Week, celebrating action on climate change. This is a grass-roots event organised by local community activists of all ages who are determined to make a difference and inspire others to take action, as we respond to the climate and nature emergency. And, unfortunately, for Pontypridd and...
Heledd Fychan: Thank you very much to the Minister for her response. In looking at the website of the Welsh Government, anyone can apply for a public appointment. But it is a complex process, with several forms and you need several qualifications too. There is inconsistency in terms of the roles and the wages as well. If we take an example on the website of Welsh Government at the moment, there is an...
Heledd Fychan: 2. What action is the Welsh Government taking to ensure that the membership of the boards of public bodies reflect society? OQ56872
Heledd Fychan: Trefnydd, with winter fast approaching, many people have contacted me expressing concern at the amount of shoal in rivers next to communities that were devastated by flooding in February 2020, including Clydach Terrace in Ynysybwl and Oxford Street in Nantgarw. Though some work has been undertaken in some areas, due to the impact of the floods on the riverbanks, the amount of shoal remains...
Heledd Fychan: Time and time again, the people of South Wales Central have been let down by consecutive Labour and Conservative Governments in the UK Parliament, and by the Labour Government here in Wales. Enough is enough. We need more than empty words from both Governments. We need action. Let's take that first step today.
Heledd Fychan: Jane Dodds was entirely right—cruel is the word, and I think we have to accept today that it's not the fault of people living in poverty that they are living in poverty. I think we have to accept that £20 per week hasn't resolved the issue of poverty. Seeing people smiling and laughing infuriates me when I know about the stories behind these statistics; when I get phone calls from people...
Heledd Fychan: I would hope that there will be no disagreement today across the Chamber on this very important issue, and I will not repeat very valid points made. I echo Janet's calls in terms of that register. I think that is crucial. When you Google at the moment some areas in South Wales Central, I know of some defibs that exist but you cannot find them anywhere. Making sure that everybody is aware of...
Heledd Fychan: On 12 September 1981, CND Cymru was formed in a conference in Newtown. But even though we celebrate this important milestone, this is bittersweet. After all, the organisation was established to campaign specifically against nuclear weapons, and with nuclear weapons still present worldwide, it is a cause of great sadness to many that the organisation still has to exist and still has to...
Heledd Fychan: You will be aware that a number of health boards, including Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, have put measures in place once again to restrict visitors to their sites, which, of course, is understandable. But, once again, we've seen restrictions in terms of when a partner or another individual can be with a woman giving birth, and it's only during birth and immediately afterwards...
Heledd Fychan: I welcome the opportunity to respond to this statement on the resettlement scheme, given the heart-rending situation in Afghanistan, and to discuss how Wales can and will provide refuge and support to those who need it. And I'd like to thank the Minister for organising a brief for us as Senedd Members last week so that there is an opportunity for an update. Plaid Cymru opposed the war in...
Heledd Fychan: Thank you, Trefnydd. You'll be aware, I'm sure, that there has been some coverage in the press and fierce opposition and local concerns about the consultation that took place over the summer on charging drivers to use the A470 between Upper Boat and Pontypridd and also on parts of the M4. I know that the Deputy Minister for Climate Change has stated on Twitter that there are no plans or...
Heledd Fychan: In the region I represent, namely South Wales Central, up to today, 58,615 cases have emerged. From that, 2,095 people have died as a result of COVID-19 and we're all aware, of course, of the heartbreaking stories, with many people losing many loved ones within the same family, meaning that there have been over 2,000 funerals and so many tears shed within our communities. And I'm sure we're...
