Heledd Fychan: Right now, in Wales, it may feel, with this announcement, that the end of the pandemic is in sight. In fact, I've had a number of messages particularly happy that ice rinks are re-opening. But, in most places in the world, the pandemic is becoming even more deadly. Whilst we've all been enjoying the Euros over the past few weeks and seeing fans back inside stadiums, in Uganda, their national...
Heledd Fychan: Thank you very much, Minister. I should declare here that I am a councillor in RCT too. You will be aware, I'm sure, that the Welsh Government has given funding to a number of local authorities, including RCT, to spend on temporary flood defences for homes, such as the flood gates and so on, and the project is being administered by Natural Resources Wales. Although a number of homes have...
Heledd Fychan: 4. What steps is the Welsh Government taking to address the concerns raised with the Minister by leaders of the WLGA in relation to Natural Resources Wales? OQ56769
Heledd Fychan: I'm sure we're as one in our hope that this will be a budget for recovery rather than a reactive budget, and I'd like to echo Llyr Gruffydd's points: this needs to be a radical budget if we are to address the challenges faced by our communities. It will be crucial, therefore, that the central role played by our cultural, arts, creative and heritage sectors is recognised in it. After all,...
Heledd Fychan: Trefnydd, I'd like to request two statements, if I may, the first in terms of this Government's response to the fact that the UK Government refused last week the demands to give £1.2 billion from pension funds to former miners, and instead insisted on keeping hold of that funding. And how will the Welsh Government support those miners and their families to get justice and that which they...
Heledd Fychan: First Minister, as you alluded to in our first response, Wales and Africa is about much more than trade. Oxfam Cymru, through their partners in Uganda, have been told that COVID-19 cases increased by over 1,000 per cent last month, and that only 4,000 people have been fully vaccinated in a population of 45 million. How is Welsh Government using its voice to push UK Government to share...
Heledd Fychan: It is right that questions are asked of NRW and I raised this very issue yesterday in the Senedd, but I am concerned by the tone of the comments made today. At the end of the day, I think we need to remember that Natural Resources Wales are a Welsh Government sponsored body. In their own review and report into the floods, they stated that they have been underfunded and this has been on record...
Heledd Fychan: What steps are being taken to improve access to cancer treatment and diagnosis for residents of South Wales Central following the pandemic?
Heledd Fychan: The first of the section 19 reports prepared by Rhondda Cynon Taf council into the 2020 floods was published last Thursday and related to Pentre. In the aftermath of its publication, we've seen a public fallout between Natural Resources Wales and RCT council about the conclusions, and calls from some local politicians for compensation and potential legal action. Further, as was reported...
Heledd Fychan: Excellent. Thank you very much and thank you also for the role that you played in ensuring that young people of 16 and 17 did have the right to vote in this year's election. Although many young people took that opportunity, I'm very pleased to hear that you will be looking at the effectiveness of that campaign, but I'd also be interested to know whether that research will also include those...
Heledd Fychan: 8. What steps are being taken to build on the votes at 16 campaign to ensure that more young people have the opportunity to engage with the Senedd's work? OQ56707
Heledd Fychan: What legal advice has the Counsel General given to the Welsh Government regarding progressing the devolution of broadcasting to Wales?
Heledd Fychan: As you will be aware, Ice Arena Wales is the only ice arena in the UK that remains closed. The arena, which is only a stone’s throw from this Senedd, has been closed for 15 months. Now, the hope was that this would have changed on 21 June, but a further delay was decided upon. Ice Arena Wales is the most modern ice arena in the United Kingdom. It has a building management system to control...
Heledd Fychan: Across my region of South Wales Central, countless constituents have been in touch on this very issue, and it is clear that there's an inconsistent service across Wales. And even though there are issues linked to the pandemic that have resulted in reduced services and reduced capacity, the reality is that the bus services have been completely inadequate even prior to this. COVID should not...
Heledd Fychan: Thank you, Llywydd. I'd like to move amendments 2 and 3 formally, and note my thanks for the opportunity to discuss these issues on a day when we're all looking forward to Wales's game against Turkey. On behalf of Plaid Cymru, I'd like to wish the squad well. The aim of our amendments is to add to the original motion in a constructive manner, and I would like to see the Senedd working in a...
Heledd Fychan: I'd like to state very clearly that, when it comes to the climate and biodiversity emergency, there is no place for party politics, and I am committed to work cross-party to secure and support your work. And I'm pleased to hear the Deputy Minister reference the need to take a data and science-led approach to the climate emergency. However, this is at odds with your refusal to commit to an...
Heledd Fychan: Thank you. I know that the Minister is aware of a campaign in my area in terms of Welsh-medium education, specifically in the north of Pontypridd, where campaigners tried to persuade the local council to consider alternative options, rather than the option that's being taken forward, which will move access to Welsh-medium education further from the communities of Ynysybwl, Glyncoch and...
Heledd Fychan: Thank you for that response. It's clear from the report that staffing levels in NRW have been utterly inadequate to deal with the destructive floods of 2020, as was confirmed by the fact that 41 more staff have been working on flood risk management since then, which is still lower than the report reveals is required. Time and time again, the Welsh Government has refused to hold an independent...
Heledd Fychan: 5. How has the Welsh Government been supporting Natural Resources Wales to take forward the recommendations listed in its report on the 2020 floods? OQ56603
Heledd Fychan: 8. How will the Welsh Government ensure that Welsh-medium education is accessible to all children and communities, especially in Wales's most deprived areas? OQ56602
