Llyr Gruffydd: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. It’s a pleasure to move amendments 2 and 3 in the name of Plaid Cymru. May I thank the Conservatives for bringing this debate forward this afternoon? I don’t think we discuss FE often enough—in the Chamber, anyway. I don’t think that FE is covered as much as it should be, and I think this is an important opportunity for us. Perhaps we’re all...
Llyr Gruffydd: I do think that it’s about time that we as an Assembly discussed this sector of youth services, because the sector has told us that they do feel isolated and undervalued, and have done over these past few years. When you ask people, everyone agrees that youth work is a positive thing, but maybe they don’t understand the real importance of the sector and the feeling that that isn’t...
Llyr Gruffydd: Well, I don’t think I used the word ‘crisis’, but we know that some 68 per cent of the recruitment targets for primary schools have been achieved—sorry, 90 per cent in primary schools, and 68 per cent in secondary schools. So, it is a problem and it does store up problems for ensuing years, and I do understand that you have acknowledged that risk, of course. There are some 5,000...
Llyr Gruffydd: I am pleased that you acknowledge, perhaps, that the report didn’t meet some of the expectations out there. There is certainly a feeling of frustration that another 18 months’ work is going to take place before we get to a point where we will see a very real difference. Of course, you are also right in recognising that there is increased pressure in terms of the provision, because we are...
Llyr Gruffydd: Thank you very much. The ministerial taskforce for supply models published a report last week on the possible options for supply teaching provision in the future. Of course, this is the second report to be published on the issue in some 18 months. So, can I ask you how much progress the Cabinet Secretary believes has been made in tackling the problems surrounding the provision of supply...
Llyr Gruffydd: May I ask for a Government statement on its policy of devolving jobs to different parts of Wales? We heard, of course, the questions earlier on the decision on the Welsh Revenue Authority. We’ve also heard references this afternoon to the possibility that the Welsh development bank jobs will be located perhaps in north Wales or other parts of Wales. The Secretary for the economy even...
Llyr Gruffydd: You may be aware, First Minister, that the main reason that children visit emergency units today is because of tooth decay, and it’s crucial that good dental care is provided for them at an early age. But, having said that, schoolchildren from the Bala area to the outskirts of Wrexham have actually lost access to a mobile dentist who visited schools because there was no funding in the...
Llyr Gruffydd: There is concern in the Colwyn Bay area that a surgery is closing. Other surgeries are under pressure and three of these surgeries, if truth be told, have only one GP. It is an area where the minor injuries unit in Hesketh Road has been closed for some years. The area’s population is also older than the average, and there are hundreds of homes now being built as a result of the local...
Llyr Gruffydd: 5. Will the First Minister make a statement on dental services in North Wales? OAQ(5)0441(FM)[W]
Llyr Gruffydd: I’d like to focus my contribution to this debate on the role of young carers and the part that they play in keeping our health and social care system afloat and the support, or—very often, or too often, I would say—lack of support in terms of what’s there to help them. There are estimated to be over 11,000 carers who are children or young adults in Wales, although it’s likely to be...
Llyr Gruffydd: There are almost 80 charitable and voluntary groups working with patients and healthcare staff in north Wales alone, and if there are 80 organisations, then there are hundreds upon hundreds of volunteers and therefore thousands of voluntary hours donated to support their work. The return on quite a small investment is very substantial indeed. Can I ask you, therefore, given that you say that...
Llyr Gruffydd: Accessible play is of course very important, but using play as a therapy as well has a big contribution to make, particularly in terms of those with adverse childhood experiences. It is something that I believe we’re not sufficiently utilising, or certainly not in north Wales from my experience. So, could you tell me what plans the Welsh Government have to expand play therapy services in...
Llyr Gruffydd: I’m of the same opinion that voluntary agreements are the best way forward, but, of course, one does recognise that getting that agreement can be difficult at times. What consideration has the Government given, therefore, to appointing a mediator or mediators in such situations—a role that NRW could perhaps play—in order to ensure that we do come to voluntary agreements, which hopefully...
Llyr Gruffydd: Can I thank the Cabinet Secretary for her statement this afternoon and can I reiterate her thanks to Professor Hazelkorn for her work, of course, leading the review? Plaid Cymru supports the general thrust of your statement this afternoon and we are committed, of course, to work in the spirit of Hazelkorn to promote equity between academic and vocational education to eliminate much of the...
Llyr Gruffydd: Earlier this month, the annual safeguarding report from Betsi Cadwaladr health board was published, which was quite a frightening read, I must say. The risk register showed 13 serious risks, including failure to comply with various pieces of safeguarding legislation, or that there was a real risk that a child or a person on the at-risk register wouldn’t be identified if they were to go to...
Llyr Gruffydd: Well, can I thank you for your statement, and align myself wholeheartedly with the comments made earlier about your role in fulfilling your capacity as Chair? And I agree wholeheartedly with the contents of your statement. But I offer a few comments—and questions—not maybe on a particular inquiry, but certainly on a thematic level. Now, I’m particularly keen for the committee to examine...
Llyr Gruffydd: The health board, of course, is in special measures and has been for a year and a half, and I agree with many of the points that have been made on the problems that exist. But would you agree with me that there are some more fundamental issues that need to be tackled and would you agree that three specific things need to happen to that end? One we’ve already heard about is that we need more...
Llyr Gruffydd: It was good to hear Charles Hendry briefing Members of the Assembly at lunchtime, and one of the points that he made, of course, is that it is his recommendation that there should be a delay after the development of the first project in order to learn lessons from it. One understands why that would be beneficial, but there is recognition in that regard that that may create problems for the...
Llyr Gruffydd: Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on local health board risk assessments?
Llyr Gruffydd: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, for the opportunity to ask a few questions, if there’s any time left to do so. I too start with this issue of evidence, because some quotes have been provided—and some of them I intended to refer to—but you did admit that this was no magic bullet, and I understand that. But we are in a situation where resources are scarce and therefore we have to...
