Mark Isherwood: Our inquiry into apprenticeships in Wales exposed concerns that the number of disabled apprentices in Wales is far below the rate achieved in England, that economic barriers are preventing young people from taking up opportunities, that a stubborn gender segregation remained and that a lack of providers may be preventing young people from undertaking apprenticeships through the medium of...
Mark Isherwood: Well, clearly, I am using this opportunity to raise these matters with the Welsh Government. For confidentiality reasons, I can't disclose what further action might be taken and what information might be within that further action that I'm privy to. I am sharing the information I'm authorised to share at this point in time. Again, what action, given that you're responsible for the...
Mark Isherwood: Well, I fully appreciate that, but you'll be as aware as I am, from your time in this Assembly, of the number of occasions when Welsh Government has supported third sector bodies financially that have suffered similar allegations, and ultimately the Welsh Government has been held to account for its failure to intervene. Given the financial commitment that the Welsh Government is making, I...
Mark Isherwood: Diolch, Llywydd. Well, it's essential that the Welsh Government should be supporting voluntary sector providers delivering key front-line early intervention and prevention services, which I know you agree support thousands of lives and save millions for statutory services. But, equally, it's essential that, when the Welsh Government provide financial funding, due diligence is in place...
Mark Isherwood: Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd. You referred to the 1 per cent expenditure. The Office of Rail and Road annual report on UK rail industry financial information, published last year, found that Wales actually receives 9.6 per cent of net UK Government funding for franchised train operations and Network Rail, and 6.4 per cent of total net UK Government funding for Network Rail routes, as submitted...
Mark Isherwood: In your statement to us, you state, 'anyone who has taken the time to read the report carefully should appreciate the thoroughness of the investigation and understand how the conclusions have been reached.' We have to disagree. But, of course, we're not alone. The chief officer in the north Wales community health council has said that dismissing the testimony of Tawel Fan families is akin to...
Mark Isherwood: Last week, the UK Government and Welsh Government confirmed that they had reached an agreement on the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill for subsequent tabling in the UK Parliament. This means that the Welsh Government will now recommend that the National Assembly for Wales pass a legislative consent motion for the Bill. So, let me repeat the thanks and congratulations I gave to Mark Drakeford...
Mark Isherwood: Well, may I both acknowledge your endurance and call for two Welsh Government statements, the first on the Welsh independent living grant? As, amongst other things, the chair of the cross-party group on disability, I've been articulating concerns in this Chamber and in correspondence with the Welsh Government since the decision was taken by the Welsh Government to move the Welsh independent...
Mark Isherwood: Thank you very much indeed. Well, in 2014, the chair of the north Wales local medical committee wrote to Members calling for urgent action to tackle a growing crisis unfolding in general practice. In 2016, the vice-chair of the north Wales local medical committee wrote to Members saying that they were very aware of how precarious general practice is in north Wales, with some areas, such...
Mark Isherwood: 1. Will the First Minister make a statement on the provision of GP locum services in Wales? OAQ52065
Mark Isherwood: Will you give way?
Mark Isherwood: You talk about Norman-era princes of Wales. Will you accept that Prince Charles, through the Tudor line, is not only descended from an ancient Anglesey family, but from Cadwaladr, the last ancient British king with a truer claim than the post-Norman claimants?
Mark Isherwood: Unlike the perhaps predictably Pavlovian response from certain quarters, may I start by thanking and congratulating you and David Lidington, the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for the measured, mature and pragmatic way you've conducted negotiations to secure agreement on clause 11—
Mark Isherwood: —of the EU withdrawal Bill, reversing the current clause 11 so that returning EU powers in otherwise devolved areas will pass to the devolved Governments and legislatures? I also thank you for the inclusive way you've approached this with regard to myself and David Melding, and not only the evidence that you've consistently given to the external affairs committee, which I'm sure my...
Mark Isherwood: Last month, I called for a Welsh Government statement on multiparametric—or mp—MRI scans for NHS patients for suspected prostate cancer. Subsequently, you wrote to a patient to say that Betsi Cadwaladr university health board does provide mpMRI scans in line with the current NICE guidelines for prostate cancer. The guidelines state that multiparametric MRI should be considered 'for men...
Mark Isherwood: 4. How is the Welsh Government improving prostate cancer diagnosis rates? OAQ52016
Mark Isherwood: Despite the valued contribution of the Wales health impact assessment support unit to the A494 Queensferry-Ewloe public inquiry in 2007, the lack of teeth given to it led to my giving evidence on air quality to the public inquiry, which the inspector accepted, and which contributed to the successful recommendation that that programme or that proposal at that time should not go ahead. How will...
Mark Isherwood: The Welsh Government response to our report’s recommendations claims that it 'mobilised quickly following the result of the referendum to build capability across Government to respond to the challenges and explore the opportunities presented by EU withdrawal.' However, we know from feedback received during Brexit-related Assembly committee visits to Brussels, Dublin and elsewhere that it...
Mark Isherwood: And my final question, again, on a similar theme, I have—probably because I'm the chair of the cross-party autism group, I get a lot more approaches regarding this—an increasingly bulging case load of families where children, particularly girls, are being denied autism assessment and diagnosis because of the gender-based misconceptions about how autism presents itself. I've got an example...
Mark Isherwood: Thank you very much. Well, on a similar subject, and, again, wearing your equalities hat, the Welsh Government publication early last month of its evaluation of the integrated autism service and autism spectrum disorder—a word I hope the Welsh Government has stopped using; it should be 'condition'—and strategic action plan interim report found weaknesses and inconsistencies in both...
