Dawn Bowden: Yes, I am. I am, yes.
Dawn Bowden: I've got a series of questions that—
Dawn Bowden: Okay. Well, my second point is about the process of negotiating necessary change and the need to involve the staff in that. I know from my own experience that that change does require patience and persuasion and communication, but, most of all, it involves taking people with you, because to resist change does lead to stagnation, both for the people the service has to deliver to and the people...
Dawn Bowden: Can I first of all thank the Cabinet Secretary for his statement on this very important report, the recommendations of which are welcome to those of us who have worked in and with our health and social care system over a number of years? I'd also like to add my thanks to Ruth Hussey and her team for the work they've put in to delivering it. I'm going to try not to repeat a number of the...
Dawn Bowden: Thank you for that answer, First Minister. I recently had the great pleasure of officially opening the new refurbished buildings at Ysgol Afon Taf in my constituency and I saw, at first hand, the benefits of the investment by Welsh Government in the future of young learners there. I'm sure you'll agree that such a development shows the clear benefits of our capital investment in...
Dawn Bowden: 8. Will the First Minister make a statement on the 21st Century Schools investment programme in Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney? OAQ51549
Dawn Bowden: Can I thank the Cabinet Secretary for bringing forward this important statement? Before I get to the main issues that I want to ask you about, I'd like to just make a few comments on how the strategic approach to transport has to reflect our wider ambitions for the Valleys. Because it's not just a matter of effective and efficient transport—as important as that is—but it is also about...
Dawn Bowden: Can I thank the Cabinet Secretary for his statement? I want to take this opportunity to reflect on a couple of my recent experiences in my area, which I think reinforce a number of the points that you've raised in your statement. Can I start by saying—? I'd just like to take a moment, really, to stress that Merthyr Tydfil is not the town that was portrayed in the tv series Valley Cops. I...
Dawn Bowden: David Melding has actually just touched very briefly on the Unison event that took place recently. I wonder, First Minister, if you would join me in welcoming successful initiatives like the Unison mental health in the workplace conference that was organised in the Pierhead building, which I think once again showed the central role that trade unions can play in helping to tackle difficult...
Dawn Bowden: Over the weekend, I did a shift collecting food at Tesco in Merthyr with the Merthyr Cynon Foodbank. It was just a couple of hours of my time to assist the food bank volunteers—volunteers who give many hours of their time, week-in, week-out, to provide invaluable support to people at their time of greatest need. Can I say that while I'm willing to do what I can to assist the work of the...
Dawn Bowden: Can I thank the leader of the house for that answer? Irrespective of our views on the merits of Brexit, there are thousands of migrant workers in Wales, including in my own constituency, who do important work and deserve total clarity as we negotiate our future arrangements with the EU. Would the leader of the house agree that while the UK Government has published a technical document for...
Dawn Bowden: Thank you for that answer, Cabinet Secretary. I'm sure you will recall that in 2011, the then Tory Chancellor said that his budget was 'about doing what we can to help families with the cost of living'. He added: 'we have already asked the British people for what is needed, and today we do not need to ask for more'. Well, six years later, many people in our communities are still paying the...
Dawn Bowden: 4. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the impact of the UK Government's financial austerity policies on Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney? OAQ51421
Dawn Bowden: 5. Will the Leader of the House provide an update on Welsh Government support for migrant workers in Wales in preparation for Brexit? OAQ51408
Dawn Bowden: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. First of all, can I thank Mick for the very detailed background to, and analysis of, actually, the issues leading to the tabling of this motion? So, I personally just want to add a few comments of my own to support what Mick has already said, particularly in relation to the impact on some of my constituents. What became apparent to me very early on in my...
Dawn Bowden: First Minister, I've spoken many times in the Chamber about the need to capitalise on the industrial heritage of Merthyr Tydfil as part of an economic strategy for the whole area, and I'm sure that you'll join me in thanking the organisers and the many experts who recently gave their time at the industrial heritage charrette that was held in Cyfarthfa Castle, which looked at new and...
Dawn Bowden: Will the First Minister make a statement on the provision of advice services for people dealing with problems of personal debt?
Dawn Bowden: —lessons learned up until that point in time. But as the Gwent hub is the only one of its type in Wales, and has shown some proved benefits in dealing with missing children and the wider issues associated with this, now would seem an appropriate time for other Welsh police forces and agencies to consider this model to help tackle many of the issues that Llyr has raised.
Dawn Bowden: Can I thank Llyr for the opportunity of making a short contribution on this very important issue? I'm grateful to him for making reference in his speech to the work of the Gwent missing children's hub, which covers the Rhymney side of my constituency. I hope that my contribution can highlight, just in a little more detail, some of the useful work taking place there. I'd certainly urge Members...
Dawn Bowden: Thank you for that answer, Counsel General. Firstly, can I congratulate you, obviously, on your appointment as Counsel General, and wish you well in your work going forward? We know that Wales has a proud record when it comes to embedding human rights in our legislation policies and our actions, but we face a number of uncertainties ahead as the UK negotiates to leave the European Union....
