Rhianon Passmore: 8. Will the First Minister outline the risks to the Welsh economy if the UK Government does not guarantee every penny of funding which the EU currently provides Wales? OAQ(5)0101(FM)
Rhianon Passmore: Diolch, Lywydd. It is a great honour for me, representing the people of Islwyn, to rise to give the first short debate of this fifth Assembly by an Assembly Member elected in May 2016. As a former teacher, lecturer and former cabinet member for education in local government it comes as no surprise that I have decided to focus this debate on the greatest issue that this home of Welsh democracy...
Rhianon Passmore: I would like to take this opportunity to personally and formally welcome the Cabinet Secretary for Education to her role on behalf of the people of Islwyn. I wish her well in her vital role and she should know that she will have my support in ensuring that we leave no child behind in our drive to lift educational outcomes. ‘Education is “the guardian genius of our democracy.” Nothing...
Rhianon Passmore: I’m referencing it, Llywydd. I’ll move on. I would agree with this motion that it is beholden on the Welsh Government and all of us to safeguard the quality of life of our planet and to ensure that the people of Wales enjoy the highest standards of air quality.
Rhianon Passmore: With the ever-increasing understanding of the importance of safe air quality on quality of life and on health and well-being, precisely because of this, I wanted to speak in this debate, in particular due to the fact that I’m a chronic asthmatic, and my son has been hospitalised on many occasions due to his asthma. There is unease at levels of air pollution, and I note that Crumlin in...
Rhianon Passmore: I nominate Mike Hedges.
Rhianon Passmore: I second that nomination.
Rhianon Passmore: There is no doubt that we all, collectively as a nation and as a people, are standing at the cusp of a new social and economic future and that our people are bitterly divided and we must now come together to tackle our future. Though we must accept the democratic mandate and will of the people, we must also all acknowledge the narrow margin, as has been referenced earlier, and the significant...
Rhianon Passmore: Okay, thank you. So, instead of pandering to these issues around immigration and ignoring the facts, all I would say, to finish my comments, is that, to honour the memory of Jo Leadbeater—Jo Cox—who was for equal treatment and humanitarian causes, aid for refugees and a fair media, we must choose to collaborate and work within the EU, not outside of it. To use her words, we are all far...
Rhianon Passmore: Diolch, Lywydd. It is also with great sadness that I stand here today and speak to the influences of public opinion. The tragedy here is that this has been predictable in terms of the shift across the media in particular in terms of the tabloid newspapers that have, indeed, fuelled this insidious racism—let’s call it what it is. I feel very sad that, as a result of this type of...
Rhianon Passmore: First of all, I’d like to welcome the Cabinet Secretary to his post and welcome very much his approach and his commitment in the co-production process, moving forward. Yes, I think, in terms of reinforcing the points that have just been made, there is no shadow of a doubt that Wales has not borne the brunt of the cuts that local authorities have borne in England. We’ve mentioned already...
Rhianon Passmore: Thank you for that answer, Cabinet Secretary. The A472 in Crumlin: according to Government data, the levels of nitrogen dioxide here are the highest recorded in the UK outside London. The levels are exceeded in England only by a similar monitor on Marylebone Road in central London, and according to Asthma UK Cymru, 314,000 people have asthma in Wales, including 59,000 children: almost one...
Rhianon Passmore: Thank you, Minister. Natural Resources Wales has stated, regarding the tree felling on the seven-mile Cwmcarn forest scenic drive, which temporarily closed in November 2014, that this is a long-term operation that could take between three and four years to complete. Will the Cabinet Secretary reiterate the Welsh Government’s absolute, unequivocal determination that one of the natural...
Rhianon Passmore: 4. Will the Minister make a statement on the importance the Welsh Government places on ensuring that the physical environment of Wales is accessible to all? OAQ(5)0008(ERA)
Rhianon Passmore: 8. Will the Minister outline measures the Welsh Government is taking to ensure local authorities are maintaining levels of air quality? OAQ(5)0010(ERA)
Rhianon Passmore: Thank you, Llywydd. Firstly, I wish to add my support for the statement and for the Minister for his strong work in this regard. I look forward to and very much welcome the opportunity for increased oversight and mandate of the Senedd pertaining to our wider Wales media scrutiny. I also welcome the pledged Plenary debate on the draft charter and the new service licence for Wales that has been...
Rhianon Passmore: Okay. Thank you for that answer. The scheme to reintroduce passenger services back to the Ebbw Vale railway line between Ebbw Vale and Cardiff, including stations at Risca and Pontymister, Crosskeys and Newbridge, has been a resounding success with the public. A great part has been funded by EU structural funding; i.e. it would not have happened if it had been left to the Tory cuts that have...
Rhianon Passmore: 4. Will the First Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government’s priorities in ensuring enhanced connectivity for railway passengers in Islwyn? OAQ(5)0066(FM)
Rhianon Passmore: Thank you, Llywydd. In terms of the timescales for the ability to scrutinise the Wales Bill through the recess and beyond, are we convinced that there is enough time for us to be able to do that and produce good legislation? Thank you.
Rhianon Passmore: Diolch. It’s very good news, then, that the Welsh Government has exceeded its 2016 target of reducing the level of smoking to 20 per cent. How do you plan to achieve our ambitious target of reducing those levels to 16 per cent by 2020?
