Julie Morgan: I’m of course concerned that Cardiff and Vale are facing targeted intervention and would not want to deny any issues there are, and I know that the health board is very keen to work with the Government to improve the situation. But I do think there are particular circumstances in Cardiff that are having an impact on Cardiff and Vale’s financial performance rather than its clinical...
Julie Morgan: What estimate has the Welsh Government made of the levels of prosperity in Wales?
Julie Morgan: I’m very pleased to support this motion and speak in this very important debate, because I think the BBC plays an absolutely vital role in our country, and it is absolutely essential the BBC communicates with the public and gives all the information and the issues about policies and developments here in the Assembly. Both tv and radio have a very important role to play in that. With the...
Julie Morgan: What opportunity has the Minister had to meet with members of Haemophilia Wales?
Julie Morgan: Thank you, Presiding Officer. I wanted to raise two areas. One was the issue of people with disabilities and the difficulties that they have travelling on any form of transport. We know, for example, from the Royal National Institute of Blind People that 54 per cent of people who are blind or partially sighted experience difficulties on the trains, and this can be due to poor lighting,...
Julie Morgan: I thank the Cabinet Secretary for that response. In the recent EU referendum, 73 per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds voted to remain in the EU. However, only 43 per cent of those eligible to vote actually voted, and that’s compared to the overall turnout of 72 per cent. Actually, during the Assembly elections, I met the only voter in Cardiff who turned 18 on the day of the election, and she went...
Julie Morgan: The Queen’s Speech was delivered on 18 May and it seems a very, very long time ago when you think of all the things that have happened since. There’s been the bitter, divisive European referendum campaign, the tragic murder of our colleague in Westminster, Jo Cox MP, the narrow victory for Brexit—and I know the Secretary of State and I campaigned together for the ‘remain’ side on...
Julie Morgan: 6. What plans does the Minister have to improve pupils’ understanding of politics and current affairs in schools? OAQ(5)0015(EDU)
Julie Morgan: With all the sort of political turmoil over the last few weeks, the ending of the PCS museum strike may not have received the attention that it deserves, and I want to pay tribute to the staff at the museum, who fought for years, it’s turned out, to protect the weekend pay of the lowest paid workers. I’m glad the Welsh Government was able to intervene to help end the strike. However,...
Julie Morgan: One of the key planks of the city deal is the metro, which could transform transport services in south Wales and the Valleys. As the First Minister has said, a sizeable amount of the project money has not yet been signed off. What opportunity would the First Minister have to negotiate directly with Europe about the continuation or obtaining the rest of that money?
Julie Morgan: 2. Will the First Minister provide an update on funding for the Cardiff City Deal? OAQ(5)0097(FM)
Julie Morgan: Diolch, Lywydd. Thank you very much for all the contributions to the debate. I’m very pleased to wind up this debate about the ways we can strengthen inter-departmental working to improve outcomes for looked-after children. Making sure our children have happy, fulfilled lives must be one of the most important functions of this Assembly. Children don’t have a voice, so that’s why we have...
Julie Morgan: I second.
Julie Morgan: Certainly, I would have welcomed a much higher registration of young people and a much higher percentage vote. I certainly accept that, but I want to draw attention to the feeling of the young people who weren’t able to vote, and who did vote and who wanted to express their frustration about the result of the referendum. And, as I say, they were calling for votes for 16 and 17-year-olds,...
Julie Morgan: Yesterday, I joined young people on the steps of the Senedd—people mainly from Cardiff and the Vale and some from further afield—who came to the Senedd calling for a second referendum and for votes for 16 and 17-year-olds, and I think it’s important in this debate that we do acknowledge and state how people have felt as a result of this vote. Jane Hutt, as the Assembly Member for the...
Julie Morgan: I thank the First Minister for that response. It’s been very disturbing to hear of the racist comments that have increased since the result of the EU referendum and we hope that that won’t affect the really good welcome that’s been given in Wales to the Syrian refugees. But what more does the First Minister think can be done to help refugee children in particular, and unaccompanied...
Julie Morgan: 2. Will the First Minister provide an update on the Syrian refugees being resettled in Wales? OAQ(5)0085(FM)
Julie Morgan: Thank you. Diolch, Presiding Officer. Just to say at the beginning of the debate, I’ve given a minute to Rhianon Passmore and a minute to Joyce Watson at the end of my speech. The title of the debate that I chose was ‘Should I Stay or Should I Go? What factors have influenced public opinion over the EU referendum campaign?’ Now, I tabled this debate before the terrible events on...
Julie Morgan: I thank the Cabinet Secretary for that response, and I congratulate the Government on the progress with the National Adoption Service. I have been approached by adoptive parents in Wales who are concerned about their status in possible contested adoption proceedings. Would the Cabinet Secretary confirm that the Welsh Government will be seeking to make amendments to clause 9 of the Children...
Julie Morgan: I welcome very much that the Government is going to move forward on this legislation on a cross-party basis and I’m sure that we’ll be able to get consensus to bring this in. Could the Cabinet Secretary tell us whether he believes there are any reservations in the draft Wales Bill that would affect the competence of the Welsh Government to remove the defence of reasonable punishment?
