Heledd Fychan: After a decade of austerity, schools have made all of the savings that they can, and headteachers are warning that the only things left to cut will have a direct and significant impact on children and young people. A new survey by NAHT Cymru shows that the majority of schools say that they will have to make teachers redundant or terminate contracts due to a funding crisis. Around 73 per cent...
Heledd Fychan: Thank you, Minister, I know that you recently visited Llanishen High School, where the cost of transport was raised with you as one of the barriers that has an impact on the attendance of pupils. This is an ongoing problem that's been raised with me, and something that you have previously said that you are working with the Deputy Minister for Climate Change on. However, I understand from the...
Heledd Fychan: 1. How is the Welsh Government supporting learners in South Wales Central whose access to education has been affected by the cost-of-living crisis? OQ58751
Heledd Fychan: How is the Welsh Government ensuring that transport costs do not impact learners' attendance in school?
Heledd Fychan: Thank you, Counsel General. That's one stance that is contrary to what we feel as a party, and we will also be opposing today. Minister, as you will already know, Plaid Cymru opposes the use of legislative consent motions as a matter of principle. We believe that decisions on devolved matters should always be debated, scrutinised and approved by Senedd Cymru, the Welsh Parliament, rather than...
Heledd Fychan: Trefnydd, I'd like to request a statement, please, with an update from the Minister for health on changes to the Welsh ambulance service and what this means in practice for patients. Over the weekend, I was contacted by a number of constituents concerned by the changes now being implemented to the Welsh ambulance service, with rapid response vehicles no longer operating from Gelli in Rhondda....
Heledd Fychan: May I thank Vikki Howells for submitting this question? Obviously, we share the same region, and I've also had a number of constituents raise the concerns here. I would like to associate myself with all of her comments and questions, and it's certainly a really concerning time as it's such a valuable business, as you've outlined, Vikki. On a slightly different point, the loss of this factory...
Heledd Fychan: Thank you, Deputy Minister. That is very encouraging to hear. The current inflationary crisis is not only impacting individuals and households in the form of the cost-of-living crisis, but also many businesses, particularly those in the culture sector, who are experiencing a cost-of-business crisis. For example, Betsan Moses, the chief executive of the National Eisteddfod, warned that the...
Heledd Fychan: Thank you, Llywydd. On 8 September this year, 2,000 artists and arts workers were selected for the basic income for the arts pilot scheme in Ireland. Each artist or practitioner will receive €325 per week for three years as part of a research project that will collect data from participants to assess the impact of the scheme on their creative output and their well-being, with the aim of...
Heledd Fychan: Thank you to the Minister for the opportunity to discuss this important report today. I'd like to associate myself with the comments made by the Minister and Sam Kurtz in terms of Aled Roberts. Certainly, I think all Members here would agree that his work was respected and admired across the Senedd. The progress outlined in this report is testament to his excellent advocacy for the Welsh...
Heledd Fychan: I do not, in any way, want to distract from the opportunities presented by Wales qualifying for the world cup; it is a fantastic showcase—it's the biggest showcase we've ever had, and I think it's right that we are investing in this. I do, however, want to put on record that I do not believe that the world cup should be taking place in Qatar. I absolutely disagree with that decision. I was...
Heledd Fychan: Thank you, Minister, for your statement.
Heledd Fychan: Universal free childcare has been recognised as the greatest of equalisers by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. While expanding access to free childcare directly benefits children in their formative years, it also—as you’ve acknowledged—has wider benefits in tackling poverty. As we know, it removes some of the barriers to help parents, particularly mothers, to...
Heledd Fychan: Thank you, Deputy Minister. Childcare is an important element of the co-operation agreement, and I'm pleased to welcome this afternoon's statement. The facts that you have referred to demonstrate just why this is so important, and the impact that expansion is already having. I know of casework in the past involving people who would have benefited a great deal from what you have shared with us...
Heledd Fychan: Diolch, Prif Weinidog. I was contacted last week by a single parent with primary-school-aged children who have diabetes, autism and ADHD. Mam works as a school assistant, and has an expired eviction notice as the landlord is selling the house. The local council told her to seek private rental accommodation, but the cheapest she can find is £995 per calendar month. Estate agents said she...
Heledd Fychan: 2. How is the Welsh Government supporting local authorities in South Wales Central to secure a home for everyone who needs one in light of the cost-of-living crisis? OQ58722
Heledd Fychan: So my plea to the Minister today is: please continue the great work that you are already doing, but please go that step further by also enshrining the right to free period products, wherever you are in Wales, in law. Action plans are great but can lose momentum when competing with other priorities. This is the only way to fully realise our shared ambition for ensuring period dignity for all....
Heledd Fychan: Some of you may be wondering why there's a need to legislate on this issue, when we already have a positive action plan in place. Well, as we all know in this Senedd, legislation makes a strong statement that can have a more far-reaching effect on cultural practices and expectations. There are many examples where a legislative change has led to cultural changes that have affected people's...
Heledd Fychan: I’m ashamed to admit that period poverty isn’t something I’d been very aware of prior to becoming a councillor in 2017. It was an issue that was raised by my then fellow Plaid Cymru councillor on Rhondda Cynon Taf council, Elyn Stephens, when she asked us as a group to support a notice of motion that she wanted to submit, urging the council to look into providing free sanitary products...
Heledd Fychan: Thank you very much, Dirprwy Lywydd, and I’d like to thank those of you who will be staying for today's debate. I’d like to confirm that I have given a minute of my time to—
