Hannah Blythyn: Diolch. Cabinet Secretary, I’m sure you’ll be aware of SHARP, Flintshire County Council’s strategic housing and regeneration programme, the first of its kind in Wales to pioneer ambitious housing investment plans. The council’s leading by example on how to tackle housing shortages, including, for the first time in many, many years, building new council homes. In my own constituency,...
Hannah Blythyn: 4. Will the Minister provide an update on housing regeneration schemes in Wales? OAQ(5)0050(CC)
Hannah Blythyn: Quickly.
Hannah Blythyn: Absolutely, yes. It’s important that trans people and their voices are heard in shaping and being instrumental in strategies and services that are there to support them. Continued action, partnership and vigilance is needed by all, and tackling hate crime and the conduct and compassion of political representatives is integral. This week might be Hate Crime Awareness Week, but today is...
Hannah Blythyn: I welcome the Welsh Government’s position of tackling hate crime as a priority and it continues to take a zero-tolerance approach, as each and every one of us should, to hate crime. It’s right that the tackling hate crime and incidents framework covers hate crime of all kinds, including race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and age. There can be no hierarchy of...
Hannah Blythyn: Can I thank the Minister for her update today? She’ll no doubt be familiar from her postbag that access to superfast broadband is a hot topic for many of my constituents in Delyn. Not only does that highlight the problems people are having in terms of accessing that provision and the provider, but I think, for me, it shows just how far we’ve shifted in the past few years in terms of...
Hannah Blythyn: Will the Minister provide an update on discussions regarding Pride Cymru 2017?
Hannah Blythyn: I recognise the difficulty that the UK Government decision has presented the Welsh Government in terms of the M4 project, and appreciate that it is, in the least, regrettable, but can I ask the Cabinet Secretary about the potential knock-on effects? Does this also mean a deferment in terms of the work being able to be done on the A55 and the A494 in north Wales? As the Cabinet Secretary is...
Hannah Blythyn: Thank you. I welcome your commitment in this area, Cabinet Secretary, and the time you’ve also taken to meet with me and my colleague, Jeremy Miles, to discuss this. One of the things we spoke about in those meetings was the examples of best practice happening in schools across Wales. Will you commit, Cabinet Secretary, to visit some of these schools to see the best practice in action?
Hannah Blythyn: 10. Will the Minister provide an update on attempts to tackle homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying in schools? OAQ(5)0027(EDU)
Hannah Blythyn: Okay. I’m getting there, don’t worry. We’re now looking at ways in which Flint can more permanently recognise Jade’s achievements and our pride in our famous hometown fighter, but also the legacy of what we do locally in terms of building on take-up of taekwondo and other sports. But I’m a little apprehensive about the suggestion I should get into the ring with Jade myself. Of...
Hannah Blythyn: I’m really looking forward to Thursday’s homecoming celebrations. It’s only right and proper that this institution and that Welsh Government recognise the achievements—those amazing achievements—of our Welsh Olympians and Paralympians, and also give a chance for the people of Wales to join us in celebrating as well. I’m particularly proud to represent a constituency that boasts...
Hannah Blythyn: First Minister, I welcome the successful summer for tourism in Wales in terms of day visits and also the recent Welsh Government investment in my constituency, including improvements to Flint castle, and the exciting Let’s Skate initiative, which is coming to Theatr Clwyd later in the year. Can you give assurances that this investment will continue to be built upon so that we can continue...
Hannah Blythyn: As a proud north Walian—I’m not sure I’ve ever mentioned that here before—I welcome today’s debate and the chance to be able to contribute. As others have said, north Wales is not simply, literally, physically connected to our near neighbours in the north-west of England, we’re also economically connected, too. Upgrades and investment in our region’s transport infrastructure is...
Hannah Blythyn: Will the Minister address reform of local government funding alongside any re-organisation plans?
Hannah Blythyn: What plans does the First Minister have to recognise the achievements of Welsh Olympians and Paralympians?
Hannah Blythyn: Absolutely, and you’ve just almost summed up what I was going to say in conclusion that, as I said, going forward, I’d urge the Government and others to make sure the whole of the workforce, through their various professional bodies and trade unions, are a part of shaping a world-class NHS and one that everybody can be proud to be part of.
Hannah Blythyn: Sure.
Hannah Blythyn: I’m grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this debate and pay tribute to the diversity and dedication of our Welsh NHS workforce that work hard, day in, day out, in the face of many challenges, some of which are acute: a workforce that all too often not only finds itself at the sharp end, but also has the collateral damage of what can feel to them like constant criticism,...
Hannah Blythyn: Will the Minister outline what is being done to support the farming sector given the uncertainty following the vote to leave the EU?
