Rhianon Passmore: Outside of the fact that I doubt any of us, potentially, in this room have ever gone five weeks without any income whatsoever, would you acknowledge that in nearly every single pilot that there's been, especially in Wales, there are significant arrears as a result of this?
Rhianon Passmore: Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on the work of the European Advisory Group?
Rhianon Passmore: First Minister, the education Cabinet Secretary recommitted in the Chamber on 24 October the Welsh Government's mission to promote teaching in Wales as a high-status, valued and flexible profession. I know personally, as a former teacher and visiting lecturer, how demanding and challenging, as well as exciting and satisfying, the teaching profession can be. First Minister, the Welsh Labour...
Rhianon Passmore: Would you agree, as the leader of Plaid Cymru has already stated, that it's good use of public money to use reserves to fund ongoing pay rises?
Rhianon Passmore: Cabinet Secretary, will you agree with me that there was no greater champion from this Senedd for our armed forces than Carl Sargeant? As Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children, Carl last year outlined in the Chamber Welsh Government action to support our armed forces and veterans, such as the innovative housing referral pathway to ensure that former members of the armed forces...
Rhianon Passmore: Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on what the Welsh Government is doing to help private renters in Wales?
Rhianon Passmore: Thank you. Whilst accepting the fundamental principle of local democracy and the reasoning for the suspensions in the areas that we've discussed, would you accept that the word 'haemorrhaging' reflects the 46 per cent loss of social housing through right to buy? Would you accept that, by losing more of a precious commodity, you're not protecting it?
Rhianon Passmore: Will you take an intervention?
Rhianon Passmore: First Minister, the Welsh index of multiple deprivation suggests that households containing children have a higher rate of income deprivation than the overall population, with 24 per cent of such households in deprivation, compared with 16 per cent overall. Members in this Senedd are very well aware that universal credit, the single monthly payment that replaces the six current working-age...
Rhianon Passmore: First Minister, the Welsh Labour Government has shown that, through its proactive approach to regulation, enforcement and wider initiatives, great progress can be made to protect the Welsh environment. This is clearly evidenced in the Welsh Labour Government's proactive ambition for Wales to recycle 70 per cent of all waste by 2025 and zero waste by 2050, with over 60 per cent of our...
Rhianon Passmore: First Minister, figures released last week showed that 86,238 landlords are now registered, meaning an estimated 3,762 are letting properties illegally. Registering as landlords costs £33.50 if completed online, and £80.50 on paper, irrespective of the number of properties they have. The scheme was launched on 23 November 2015, giving landlords 12 months to register, before it became law...
Rhianon Passmore: Diolch, First Minister. The UK Tory Government's Chancellor, Philip Hammond, will deliver his budget on 22 November in the House of Commons chamber. Recently, the Welsh and Scottish finance Ministers jointly met with Treasury officials at the finance quadrilateral meeting in London. At that meeting, the Welsh and Scottish finance Ministers delivered a clear and unambiguous call for the UK...
Rhianon Passmore: Diolch, Llywydd. Carl Sargeant, Assembly Member for Alyn and Deeside was my friend, is my friend, and will forever be my friend. No words are sad enough to express his loss. To Bernie, Carl's wife, and to Jack and Lucy, his son and daughter, I want you to know that you do not walk alone. There are many Members of this National Assembly for Wales who loved and respected Carl. As a proud...
Rhianon Passmore: 2. What assessment has the First Minister made of the impact that the UK Government's austerity programme has had in Wales? OAQ51268
Rhianon Passmore: Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on budget allocations to the economy and infrastructure portfolio in relation to the Welsh railway network?
Rhianon Passmore: Will you take an intervention?
Rhianon Passmore: Thank you. In terms of, as has been stated, improving the life chances, well-being and potential of young people, how do you see factoring in the side of the coin whereby you are going to get rid of the education maintenance allowance to pay for this wonderful proposed policy?
Rhianon Passmore: Will you take an intervention?
Rhianon Passmore: Imagine my surprise to see that this Tory debate before the Senedd offered supposed largesse—the same group of Members opposite who support this ideological, obsessive policy of austerity that the Tory UK Government is inflicting on victims with no mercy: the removal, for instance, of housing benefit for 16 and 17-year-olds, and, where they are in power, as in England, removing from those...
Rhianon Passmore: Diolch, Cabinet Secretary. The figures released, as you said, earlier this month, show that 86 per cent of all social housing dwellings met the Welsh housing quality standard by 31 March, which was a rise of seven percentage points, unlike in England where there has been disinvestment. This significant investment by Welsh Government is having a significant and far-reaching impact and indeed...