Mark Isherwood: The Welsh Government’s White Paper consultation document, ‘Services fit for the future’, claims to focus on the principles of enabling and empowering organisations, staff and citizens. However, it also proposes to replace our regional community health councils, which are independent and therefore able to challenge and scrutinise the NHS on behalf of patients, with what it describes as a...
Mark Isherwood: How do you respond to the statement made to those AMs in north Wales who were able to attend a meeting with the north Wales medical committee last week that they would want that collaboration—this is the GPs medical committee—to include the neighbouring universities in north-west England, which have also provided student doctors and doctors to the region in the past?
Mark Isherwood: I endorse that point. The Welsh Government has said it’s not possible to make comparisons of numbers of eligible households between 2015-16 and 2016-17 because of issues of data quality of the 2015-16 figures, and of course changes to the returns for 2016-17 with the new legislation. We hope figures of suitable or sufficient data quality will be available soon. However, in the five...
Mark Isherwood: I think more the issue is that Porto Alegre, which piloted this, is clearly ahead of the curve, and has quantifiable outcomes that can be looked at. And what this is is part of a broader agenda, which I hope you might look at and embrace. My final question is to move to housing in the context of communities. As you know, Community Housing Cymru signed a compact with the Welsh Government and...
Mark Isherwood: Thank you. Well, in the context of both the budget process and the Bevan Foundation latest ‘state of Wales’ briefing, published at the end of July, which said Wales has the third highest poverty rate in the UK, behind only London and the west midlands, with ‘little change in the headline rate’, how do you respond to the Public Policy Institute for Wales August report, ‘Participatory...
Mark Isherwood: Diolch, Llywydd. We heard at Citizens Advice Flintshire’s annual general meeting this summer that the Welsh Government was moving to the commissioning of advice services. I wonder whether you could say a little bit more about that, and confirm how you will ensure that organisations operating in Wales providing critical work—not only the larger ones, but the smaller ones—in terms of...
Mark Isherwood: I’ll avoid an attempt to enter into a debate on economics; I’ll wait for the next economy debate in order to give in to that temptation. But as a UK Government Minister said last week, we’ll have an immigration system ‘that suits the UK, not slamming the door—but welcoming the talent we need, from the EU and around the world. Of course we will make sure that business gets the...
Mark Isherwood: I actually—
Mark Isherwood: As I said in the debate on the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill here on 18 July, the Bill is needed to ensure that the statute book is able to function on the day we leave the EU. It’s technical in nature, making inoperable legislation operable, giving both UK and devolved Governments a time-limited power to correct laws by secondary legislation that would otherwise not function properly...
Mark Isherwood: Clearly, that’s a matter the cross-party group on disability has also been taking evidence on. I think 80 per cent of appeals by people with sensory loss are successful, indicating the problem that stands before us. So, we do share your concern on this matter. But at a meeting of the cross-party group on disability in north Wales in June, and similarly in a meeting of the cross-party autism...
Mark Isherwood: On a similar theme, I’ve also had similar concerns raised with me regarding the feasibility study—the procurement document you refer to—which does, I’m told, talk of there being a sports museum in Wales, so I’m reassured by your comments. But do you agree that it is important that what comes out of this ensures that the north-east is recognised for its pioneering role in promoting...
Mark Isherwood: On 9 July, I had the pleasure, with many others, of watching Bryan Adams at Eirias Park in Colwyn Bay who was, of course, preceded the night before by Little Mix, and I’m looking forward, as you may be, on 4 to 6 August, to one of the highlights of my year, which is the Mold Blues and Soul festival—absolutely wonderful: great music, great local ale, great food, and, hopefully, fantastic...
Mark Isherwood: Briefly.
Mark Isherwood: Wales has been Labour since 1999, nothing to do with England, and England numbers have gone up since Labour left power. That’s what the statistics say. You created the crisis. You live with it. You do something about it. The explanatory memorandum to this Bill states that between 2011-12 and 2015-16, a total of 11,508 additional housing units were built, but this has been inflated by the...
Mark Isherwood: The explanatory memorandum to this Bill begins: ‘The Welsh Government is committed to doing all it can to help people meet their housing needs….This Bill…recognises the importance of safe, secure and affordable homes as being part of the fabric of people’s lives and of strong communities.’ A bit, sadly, of a tragic and sick joke. By the time the Conservatives left Government in...
Mark Isherwood: [Continues.]—make-up of a vibrant UK post-Brexit. I’m sorry, I’m time limited. I’ve already had one intervention. The UK Government intends to work closely with devolved administrations to identify areas that do not need common frameworks and which could, therefore, be released from the transitional arrangement. Beyond that, however, we do need agreed UK-wide frameworks that respect...
Mark Isherwood: Hefin.
Mark Isherwood: Well, wait and hear the rest of my speech. I haven’t discussed this with the UKIP group. [Laughter.] The UK Government expects there to be a significant increase in the decision-making power of each devolved administration. Because the Bill affects the powers of the devolved administrations and legislatures, the UK Government will seek the consent of the devolved legislatures for the Bill....
Mark Isherwood: I’ll just conclude that by saying let’s find solutions together. The European withdrawal Bill ensures that, so far as possible, the same rules and laws will apply on the day after exit as on the day before, providing the maximum possible certainty and continuity to businesses, employees and consumers across the whole UK that they will not be subject to unexpected changes, and ensuring...
Mark Isherwood: Getting back to the original question, the Vale of Clwyd Trades Union Council, in responding to the 29 June Welsh Government White Paper, quality and governance of health care in Wales, proposing the abolition of community health councils, said that because of its make-up, the North Wales Community Health Council is the ideal body to be our patients’ voice and watchdog. How do you respond...
