Mohammad Asghar: Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the effect of the Welsh Government's draft budget on council tax rates in Wales?
Mohammad Asghar: Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the effect of the Welsh Government's draft budget on funding for the environment and rural affairs portfolio?
Mohammad Asghar: Cabinet Secretary, may I ask for a statement from the Cabinet Secretary for Education on the problems facing supply teachers in Wales? Last week, I spoke to a constituent in Newport who raised concerns that employing supply teachers through agencies had resulted in lower pay and poorer terms and conditions in the sector. Instead of receiving £140 a day, they’re receiving £95, because the...
Mohammad Asghar: Cabinet Secretary, the growth of the gig economy and the rise in non-standard working practices has created problems for significant numbers of workers and has tested the limits of existing labour market protections. It is also a problem for employers, who struggle with this regulatory and tax system, designed for formal and reliable employment. The UK Government set up the Taylor review,...
Mohammad Asghar: Leader of the house, may I ask for a statement from the Cabinet Secretary for the environment on progress toward banning the release of sky lanterns from public land in Wales? Sky lanterns present a significant danger to animals and cause injuries and deaths. They can also cause fire, damage habitats, and destroy animal housing and their feed. Back in 2013, the Welsh Government wrote to...
Mohammad Asghar: Last week, I asked for a statement on whether the Welsh Government had plans to review the terms and conditions on which grants in Wales were made to businesses, following the job losses at Newsquest and the threat to jobs at Essentra in Newport. Both companies have received grant aid from the Welsh Government. Since then, it has emerged that of the £320 million spent on business support...
Mohammad Asghar: Thank you very much for the reply, Minister. Sacral nerve stimulation is a therapy to help those who experience the embarrassment, discomfort and pain of bladder and bowel problems. It is, quite simply, a life-changing treatment. However, funding for sacral nerve stimulation is limited, and there is no centre in Wales to carry out the required procedures, with patients having to travel to...
Mohammad Asghar: Cabinet Secretary, figures from Stonewall Cymru reveal that more than half of LGBT young people in Wales have experienced physical or verbal abuse in school. Only a quarter of bullied LGBT pupils said that the teachers intervened, which I find very concerning and disturbing at the same time. Stonewall Cymru is calling for all school staff to be trained in tackling anti-LGBT bullying and for...
Mohammad Asghar: 1. What action will the Cabinet Secretary take to improve services for people with bladder and bowel problems in Wales in the next 12 months? (OAQ51099)
Mohammad Asghar: What action will the Cabinet Secretary take to improve services for cancer patients in Wales in the next 12 months?
Mohammad Asghar: May I ask for a statement from the Cabinet Secretary for economy on support for businesses in Newport? In March this year it was revealed that Newsquest was closing its sub-editing hub in Newport with the loss of 14 jobs, in spite of receiving more than £340,000 in grant aid from the Welsh Government. Then, in July, Essentra announced plans to close its packaging factory, putting hundreds of...
Mohammad Asghar: The Federation of Small Businesses has claimed that Welsh Government offices overseas have failed in their aim of boosting exports to those countries. Figures suggest that exports to those countries have, in fact, fallen between 2013 and 2016, down 13 per cent to the United States, down 22 per cent to Belgium and 55 per cent to Japan. First Minister, what plans does the Welsh Government have...
Mohammad Asghar: Will the First Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government's strategy for boosting exports?
Mohammad Asghar: This ‘Prosperity for All’ strategy represents another attempt to relaunch this tired, directionless and not-successful Labour Government in Wales. The fact is that, although the aims of this document are laudable, it is sadly lacking in details. Without the details on matters of delivery and measurement of outcomes, these commitments are simply ambitions. Welsh Labour has been in power in...
Mohammad Asghar: Cabinet Secretary, I heard your answer to Jayne just now. Further to that, Welsh Government figures reveal that spending on central administration by local authorities is increasing by £11 million this year. Meanwhile, across Wales, budgets for roads and libraries are set to fall by nearly £6.73 million. The central running cost is rising and spending on vital public services is falling....
Mohammad Asghar: Cabinet Secretary, could I ask the Minister to make a statement on the Rohingya Muslim refugees from old Burma, now Myanmar? The country has sent tens of thousands of people in an appalling and very desperate situation to neighbouring countries, Bangladesh and India. Only yesterday, Nicola Sturgeon had already approved £120,000 of initial aid to the Rohingya Muslims. These refugees—they...
Mohammad Asghar: Will the First Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government's strategy for supporting businesses in South Wales East?
Mohammad Asghar: The Welsh Government consultation document entitled ‘Services fit for the future’ set out a number of proposals with the declared aim of strengthening the voice of citizens in health and social care. However, in the view of many people, the proposal regarding community health councils will not provide an effective and independent voice for patients in Wales. The consultation proposes to...
Mohammad Asghar: Thank you for that answer, Minister. Modern slavery in Wales is on the rise. In 2015, there were 134 referrals of potential victims of slavery. This showed an increase of over 91 per cent on the previous year. However, the real figure is likely to be much higher due to the secrecy and the tight control that the perpetrators have on their victims. Cabinet Secretary, what further measures does...
Mohammad Asghar: Thank you for the long answer, Minister. One measure that would certainly not support Welsh farmers would be the Welsh Government’s proposal to designate further areas of Wales as nitrate vulnerable zones. A recent survey by NFU Cymru found that nearly three quarters of farmers who responded did not have sufficient slurry storage on their farms to meet the proposed NVZ requirements and it...
