Rhun ap Iorwerth: I want to change tack for my third question. There was a general welcome recently when the UK Government announced that a menopause taskforce would be created as part of the women's health strategy. It's not entirely clear where the boundaries lie in terms of devolution in this regard, but certainly there are greater expectations among women in Wales now, and that's a good thing, as a result...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you for that response. The Minister talks about some things taking a back seat, and that's what I'm concerned about. And there are serious implications—the most serious—when some things take a back seat, and I'm thinking particularly about cancer and the need for early cancer diagnosis, for example. There are many people who are still staying away from primary care. They may have a...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you very much, Llywydd. The Minister has enthusiastically described how she's going to create a vaccination army to accelerate the booster programme. We don't have many details yet; it's at an early stage. I look forward to seeing more of those details. And although I am aware of the statement published today on amending contracts for general practice, we have heard concerns from the...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you very much, Deputy Llywydd. I'm very pleased that we as a Senedd have an opportunity to mark World AIDS Day. It's an opportunity to praise everyone involved with HIV Testing Week Cymru, which was co-ordinated by Fast Track Cardiff & Vale, and the aim was to break down the stigma that prevents people from taking a test. It then ties in to the target of preventing new HIV infections by...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you very much, Deputy Llywydd. Thank you for today's update. This is another twist in the tale of this pandemic, and as we've just heard, it's a development that certainly needs to be taken seriously. It's a matter of concern that there is evidence that it can reinfect those who have already had COVID-19 or have been double vaccinated, as we've already heard. But these are early days,...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Also, I'd like to ask for an oral statement by Welsh Government congratulating the people of Barbados on their transition to a republic. The country gained its independence, I think, some 55 years ago and is now taking the final step on that journey. And, speaking to the crowd on the newly renamed National Heroes Square, the Prince of Wales said: 'Emancipation, self-government and...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: May I ask for one written statement, if I may, from the Minister for Economy and/or the Minister for culture on the level of financial or practical support that can be provided to cinemas, theatres, arts centres as they operate the COVID pass? I'm thinking about organisations such as Ucheldre Centre, Theatr Fach and the Empire cinema in Anglesey, which are run as social enterprises and just...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you very much, Llywydd. Extending the regulations until the end of February is the aim here and we will certainly be supporting these regulations. I'm surprised to hear the comment made by the Conservatives that they don't now support having any restrictions in place, to all intents and purposes, because this is the framework, and it's within that framework that the regulations are...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer, and thank you for the statement. The situation is still very serious obviously, although I am pleased to see figures reducing somewhat, in terms of numbers, and in terms of the positivity rate too. But this afternoon, I'm thinking particularly about Ffion Parry, a 10-year-old girl from Amlwch, in my constituency, who's been gravely ill in Alder...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Diolch yn fawr iawn, Dirprwy Lywydd. I appreciate the comments about the discussions that were had around the port of Holyhead, and you're quite right that there's squeezing from both sides, with the increased traffic directly to the continent, but also there's the Northern Ireland link. Can you give me an assurance that you will press the UK Government to not in any way allow Liverpool...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: I’m very pleased to have an opportunity to say a few words in this debate. It’s important that we discuss this, and I think it’s inevitable, in a way, that people have looked to our own welfare and well-being over the past year and nine months. And in so doing, we could be referring to ourselves as nations, as communities, as key workers, as families or as individuals even, but one of...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: A small number of cases, we hear from the Minister, but we are hearing increasing concerns about this. We heard about that earlier on today. Local families and farmers have no hope of competing. We’ve seen in the past what happens when land is lost, socially, economically, culturally and linguistically. We think about Epynt and Tryweryn and the huge forestry plans of the last century. The...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: 6. What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the impact that investors purchasing agricultural land to plant trees for use as carbon credits has on family farms? OQ57184
Rhun ap Iorwerth: We deliberately brought a broad scope to this motion today, because we do feel that there is huge scope to bring benefits to Wales in having a clear, ambitious strategy, properly supported in financial terms, in order to support fisheries and the fishing industry more generally. And the benefits could come in a number of different forms—economic benefits first of all, yes, in terms of...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you for that response. The Government is preparing for a number of COVID-related scenarios in looking to next summer, and I understand that. But, of course, it does create great uncertainty for GCSE and A-level pupils. In terms of A-level, I declare a particularly interest here—not only have I a son who will be taking his A-levels this year, but this is the age group that I trained in...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: 7. Will the Minister make a statement on GCSE and A-level qualifications next year? OQ57161
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you very much, Llywydd. Well, once again today, there is great interest in what we're discussing here, and I'm very pleased about that. These, like everything we've discussed over the last 20 months, are very difficult decisions that have been taken, and very important issues. I said last week that Plaid Cymru would likely vote in favour of these regulations today. We will do that, and...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: I want to close with the words of the young man who prompted today’s debate and prompted the questionnaire that is being launched by me today. Here are Gareth's words: 'My experience of having support from my GP was excellent, but unfortunately this isn’t the same for everyone throughout Wales. There are cases where people have been turned away from having support and that's not...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: That Mind Cymru report says that 29 per cent of the young people questioned had tried to access mental health support during lockdown, and it goes on to say that more than 1 in 3 young people in Wales, 39 per cent, were unable to access the support that they sought, higher than the equivalent figure for England, which was around 23 per cent. That to me cuts to what I'm trying to do with this...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: I'm not the first to ask these questions, of course, but it is important that we do look for new ways of reaching out to young people, and to do that consistently. The Welsh Youth Parliament did excellent work in this area, we have to say, a year ago, in their report 'Let's talk about mental health'. Only half of the parents or guardians who responded said that they were confident in terms of...
