Mark Isherwood: Diolch, Llywydd. Building on what you've said in your previous responses, although we cannot support Gordon Brown's constitutional reform recommendations announced by the UK Labour Party on Monday in their entirety, there are elements that, in our view, merit consideration, including proposals to ensure that Wales has a permanent voice, not just in the House of Commons, but in the second...
Mark Isherwood: Thank you again, Minister, for attending last week's meeting of the cross-party group on fuel poverty and energy efficiency, at which you, amongst other things, stated that the Welsh Government's focus is on improving the energy efficiency of Welsh homes, noting, amongst other things, improvements to the Nest scheme, and that the Welsh Government will seek to maximise opportunities presented...
Mark Isherwood: Although the UK Government announced an independent public inquiry into its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK in May 2021 and, three months later, the Scottish First Minister announced the creation of a Scotland-focused investigation into the impact of Scottish Government decisions on how the pandemic was handled, the Welsh Government has repeatedly denied our requests for an...
Mark Isherwood: I'll finish—yes. —and although they describe the establishment of the disability rights taskforce as good practice, they state that there is an implementation gap between the policy developed and the impact of it on disabled people in Wales?
Mark Isherwood: You state in your statement that the 'Welsh Government is a staunch advocate of people's right to control their own life, and for many disabled people, receiving direct payments can be crucial to achieving this goal.' Yet, despite the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 supposedly addressing this, and incorporating much of my private Members' Bill, which had been proposed before...
Mark Isherwood: Can I call for a single statement, from the Minister for Economy, ideally with the Deputy Minister for Climate Change, on support for businesses affected by the closure of Menai suspension bridge? Last Friday, I met online with the local MP, Virginia Crosbie, my fellow North Wales MS Sam Rowlands, and Menai Bridge businesses concerned about the impact on them of the Welsh Government’s...
Mark Isherwood: Thank you. Research from consumer champion Which? this month found that one in five people say they would struggle to cope in a cashless society, with those on lower incomes, older people and people with physical or mental health difficulties being particularly dependent on cash. Speaking here in 2010, I raised the risk management and capital adequacy requirements and regulation a new...
Mark Isherwood: 8. How is the Welsh Government ensuring the accessibility of ATMs in communities in north Wales? OQ58775
Mark Isherwood: I'll be as brief as I can, because there's a lot of interest in this. You referred to assets and then community connections. Do you recognise and support the concept and delivery of asset-based community development, which is about unlocking the strengths of individuals within their communities to empower them, remove the barriers they encounter and enable them to contribute to building...
Mark Isherwood: Sorry, you referred to Men's Sheds. One of the sheds, which was named earlier, I've visited a number of times, and it turns out that a lot of the men there have been through the prison system or in the care system, and they've all been labelled with mental health conditions, but, some years ago, I was invited as a guest to the opening of their autism shed, because it turned out that a...
Mark Isherwood: How is the Welsh Government supporting additional learning needs pupils?
Mark Isherwood: Thank you. It's not often I start with a splash. [Laughter.] Thank you for your statement. As you said, events in Ukraine can have a direct impact on the number of Ukrainians who may arrive in Wales. You referred to the UK Government figures showing that more than 8,450 visas have now been granted to people from Ukraine who have sponsors in Wales, and that just over 6,100 Ukrainians sponsored...
Mark Isherwood: The Welsh Government and UK Ministry of Justice published women's justice and youth justice blueprints in May 2019, to improve partnerships, as the Minister indicates, between devolved and non-devolved services, developed jointly with HM Prison and Probation Service and the Youth Justice Board. I'm sure the Minister will agree with the statement by the UK Government justice Minister at the...
Mark Isherwood: One question: given that the March 2010 budget statement by the last UK Labour Chancellor, Alistair Darling, stated that the scale of the deficit meant the UK didn't have enough money—defined as austerity—and he was therefore cutting borrowing, spending and growth forecasts; given that current inflation rates are higher in 23 European countries, and 16 out of 27 EU member states, than in...
Mark Isherwood: I was fortunate to host the Guide Dogs event in the Senedd last month. As we've heard from our colleague Jack Sargeant, Guide Dogs research published last month showed that 81 per cent of guide dog owners responding to their survey had been illegally refused entry to a business or service because they were with their guide dog. They've launched what they've called the Open Doors campaign...
Mark Isherwood: Diolch. Well, key to the delivery of the Equality Act 2010 is the availability of Changing Places toilets, which go beyond the provision of standard accessible toilets and are designed so that everyone, regardless of their access needs or impairments or reliance on the assistance of carers or specialist equipment, can use a toilet facility with dignity and hygienically. They're larger...
Mark Isherwood: Are you unaware that the Welsh Government agreed from the outset in 2011 that they would decide how to use and match fund the UK Government funding they received, by agreement, to roll out superfast broadband across Wales?
Mark Isherwood: How is the Welsh Government ensuring access to cash in Welsh communities?
Mark Isherwood: Without the evidence I referred to, we can't tell whether it is working any better or any worse than it would if devolved. The suggestions might be to the contrary in the absence of such evidence. And of course, those police officers, the cuts were reversed, and we're now well on the road to deliver on 20,000 new police officers within the three-year target. But responding to you in May, I...
Mark Isherwood: Without this gaping hole being filled, there's clearly no real basis to go forward on the basis of an only partial report. But responding to you in May, I detailed evidence showing that the UK Government is actually more aligned with the Welsh Government approach to justice than otherwise and has stated repeatedly that it favours policy based on prevention through tackling social challenges...
