Rhianon Passmore: The Welsh Labour Government was re-elected in May of this year for another five-year term by the people of Wales. For me, the starting point is those discussions on the 2022-23 budget preparations. They can be found within the pages of that contract between the Labour Government and the people of Wales. We know—all of us in this place—that we must end this pandemic and build back fairer...
Rhianon Passmore: I very much welcome this first supplementary budget for 2021-22. It is an extraordinary time for this legislature and for the Welsh people never seen in peacetime. As we grapple with the climate change emergency and transformation, Wales continues to receive block funding 3 per cent below that of 2010 per population head. We face genuine insecurity over EU exit transition, financial ambiguity...
Rhianon Passmore: Diolch. The Newbridge mass vaccination centre opened its doors last Saturday for a walk-in clinic for all of those Islwyn adults who have yet to receive a first dose. The Welsh health Minister, Eluned Morgan, has rightly stated that we will have to live with the virus. The fantastic success of the speed, though, of the Welsh vaccination roll-out, thanks to our Welsh NHS, has afforded us...
Rhianon Passmore: 8. Will the First Minister provide an update on the COVID-19 vaccination rates in Islwyn? OQ56757
Rhianon Passmore: Mike Hedges.
Rhianon Passmore: Thank you, First Minister. Yesterday, as you stated, the Cwmcarn forest drive reopened for the first time since 2014 after undergoing a multimillion pound investment. First Minister, there is a newly improved campsite, lake, several new all-ability trails with access for all, three new play areas, a woodland sculpture trail and a wooden cabin with panoramic—truly, actually—panoramic views...
Rhianon Passmore: 7. What action is the Welsh Government taking to utilise Islwyn’s natural environment to benefit its people? OQ56644
Rhianon Passmore: I note the Tory proposed amendments and I very much welcome this debate. Much of the contributions here today actually have been very interesting. We only have to look across the border to England and to the actions of the UK Government to see the very stark contrast in approaches to housing policy. It was revealed this week that the billionaire property tycoon John Bloor gave the Tory party...
Rhianon Passmore: Diolch, Llywydd. The excitement and passion that Wales feels for its sport can be seen tonight, as we all know, at 5 p.m., as the men's team take on Turkey in our second match in the European Football Championship. So, I don't want to cross you, Llywydd, but I can't help but say 'good luck' to Robert Page and his team. Our Welsh Labour Government, though, has a proud and an enviable record of...
Rhianon Passmore: Will the Minister provide an update on the Welsh Government’s progress to make the circular economy in Islwyn a reality?
Rhianon Passmore: I warmly welcome this statement this afternoon from the Minister for Health and Social Services, and the recognition of the innovative work of Aneurin Bevan health board that was mentioned earlier. The Office for National Statistics has estimated that more than 1 million people in Britain have so far suffered from long COVID, and The Sunday Times only this week christened the UK as the long...
Rhianon Passmore: Diolch, Deputy Presiding Officer. First Minister, on behalf of the people of Islwyn, firstly, I wanted to briefly congratulate you on a stunning election victory in May, and for all that you have done personally in keeping Wales safe during the pandemic. The unprecedented pandemic continues to rightly dominate all our minds and has changed all assumptions about how we will live, work and play...
Rhianon Passmore: Diolch, Deputy Presiding Officer. The constituency of Islwyn, which I represent, is made up of very strong communities of, in the main, working-class men and women, who continue to dream of a better tomorrow, even though our todays have never, ever been more challenging. So, that the Hollywood movie giants Warner Brothers Pictures recently portrayed Islwyn and Wales on the silver screen with...
Rhianon Passmore: The creative sectors across Wales and the UK have undoubtedly been devastated and traumatised by the ongoing COVID pandemic, as has already been referenced. The Welsh Labour Government is to be commended on its election pledge to establish a national music service to make sure that a lack of money is no barrier in Wales to young people learning to play an instrument or study voice. Members...
Rhianon Passmore: Minister for Health and Social Services, may I warmly, firstly, welcome your appointment on behalf of the people of Islwyn? Your statement today is informative on where Wales stands in this pandemic, and Wales is recognised as the world leader amongst countries over 1 million inhabitants for its vaccination programme. One of my pledges to the people of Islwyn in the election was that every...
Rhianon Passmore: Education Cabinet Minister—can I also begin by congratulating you on your appointment as Minister for Education and Welsh Language? I know that the children of Islwyn and Wales will have no greater champion and I thank you for your informative statement today. Islwyn schools, children, staff, families and governors have done all they can and more to maintain learning and resilience during...
Rhianon Passmore: I want to also thank the Chair and committee staff for their unprecedented work on the future generations scrutiny in a virtual landscape, and providing Wales-first best practice on access and engagement, as I have highlighted to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association members and, of course, across the public accounts work in the Senedd. The Member for Monmouth, Nick Ramsay, has been a...
Rhianon Passmore: It's been a privilege to sit as a member of the Finance Committee of Senedd Cymru/Welsh Parliament, and this is especially so when it comes to the piece of work of this committee looking at the Wales Act 2014, which within it saw the biggest changes to the Welsh devolution settlement in over 800 years. I do wish to thank the Chair for his hard work and to my fellow committee colleagues for...
Rhianon Passmore: Diolch, Llywydd. First Minister, today marks a year of the national lockdown, yet on 8 March 2020 Scott Howell, then 48, from Blackwood in Islwyn, became the first person from Gwent to go into intensive care due to complications caused by what turned out to be COVID-19. Scott Howell epitomises the communities of Islwyn and he thanks the Welsh national health service for saving his life. But...
Rhianon Passmore: I'm coming to it. Minister, thank you. How will, then, Islwyn communities and schools benefit from this innovative £3.7 billion programme, going forward, and what do you feel is your legacy?
