Altaf Hussain: Thank you very much, health Minister. The signs and symptoms of the condition you describe very well. Endometriosis is a condition that involves all the organs; it's not only the uterus—it's the fallopian tubes, it's the bladder, it's the bowel. So, it becomes really vague to know about it, and it needs a team effort. Thank you for giving me the intervention.
Altaf Hussain: I’m delighted to take part in this important debate today. Dying is something we all do, but dying well is, sadly, something that eludes far too many people. This needs to change, which is why I am proud to be a member of the cross-party group on hospice and palliative care. As our CPG discovered, the pandemic had a very real, very dramatic impact on palliative and end-of life care. Whilst...
Altaf Hussain: Thank you, Minister. I recently attended the centenary celebration at the Maesteg division of St John Ambulance Cymru. My colleague Luke Fletcher was there as well. The Maesteg division was the very first St John Ambulance unit in Wales, and for 100 years, children and young people from Maesteg and the surrounding areas have signed up to become St John Ambulance Cymru cadets. The cadets...
Altaf Hussain: 4. What steps is the Minister taking to promote volunteering in South Wales West? OQ59350
Altaf Hussain: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Yesterday, we marked World Down's Syndrome Day, a day chosen to highlight the challenges still faced by people living with Down's syndrome. The twenty-first of March was chosen specifically to signify the uniqueness of the triplication of the twenty-first chromosome, which causes Down's syndrome. World Down's Syndrome Day raises global awareness, which has been...
Altaf Hussain: Thank you, Minister. Minister, almost three years ago, you established a green recovery task and finish group led by the chair of Natural Resources Wales. In their report to you, one of their key recommendations was reimagining urban areas and green spaces, building space for nature in the design of urban landscapes. There are many dreadful examples of urban development with little thought to...
Altaf Hussain: There are many people in black, Asian and minority ethnic communities who have a range of skills that will benefit the delivery of local authority services, such as language skills and a deep knowledge of different cultural communities. Minister, what should local authorities do to improve the rate of employment amongst these communities to better reflect the people they serve?
Altaf Hussain: 2. Will the Minister outline the Welsh Government's strategy for the delivery of community green spaces? OQ59280
Altaf Hussain: I'm asking about Wales.
Altaf Hussain: Minister, unlike the Welsh Government's narrow definition of social partnership, which is little more than giving voice to their trade union masters, true social partnership puts people and social inclusion at the heart of decision making. The social partnership network brings together higher education institutions who share common values related to lifelong learning and social mobility. It...
Altaf Hussain: Thank you, Minister. The planned diagnostics and treatment centre in Cwm Taf will be a huge asset to those living in the east of my region, but those living in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot will see no such benefit. However, one positive development in Swansea has been the introduction of pioneering blood tests to replace colonoscopies for those recovering from bowel cancer. There are around...
Altaf Hussain: Thank you, Minister. As you are no doubt aware, 95 per cent of UK businesses are microbusinesses or sole traders. With much of the focus of economic development policies on attracting large employers, and preparing young people for workplaces, we have to question whether we are doing enough to encourage self-employment. I was, therefore, pleased to see a scheme run by the Bridgend Business...
Altaf Hussain: 2. What action is the Welsh Government taking to encourage more young people to start their own businesses? OQ59203
Altaf Hussain: 3. Will the Minister outline the steps being taken to improve access to diagnostics in the Swansea Bay University Health Board area? OQ59201
Altaf Hussain: What assessment has the Minister made of the impact that housing shortages are having on Wales's ability to become a nation of sanctuary?
Altaf Hussain: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. It is a pleasure to be moving this important debate this afternoon. Making childhood equal is sadly not something we have excelled at. Article 26 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities states that, 'States Parties shall take effective and appropriate measures, including through peer support, to enable persons with disabilities to attain and...
Altaf Hussain: Minister, I have raised on a number of occasions the plight of residents across my region who have suffered as the result of cuts to scheduled bus services. The most recent issue brought to my attention is a proposal by First Cymru to cut services to Resolven in my region. Many people in Resolven, particularly the elderly, are dependent upon the X7 service, as their nearest post office or...
Altaf Hussain: What recent discussions has the Minister held with colleagues in local government about the actions they can take to improve animal welfare?
Altaf Hussain: Minister, the pathways for care reporting framework is a welcome addition. We're all too aware of the impact that delayed transfers of care have across the NHS. The framework aims to promote closer working between health and care, and we will only be able to assess its full impact when we see a more integrated discharge regime. Minister, has the introduction of the framework led to the...
Altaf Hussain: I'm pleased to be taking part in this debate today as a firm backer of the Celtic free-port bid. The opportunities offered by the Celtic free port to my region and the wider south-west Wales area are immense. That is why the bid has support from across the political spectrum and across the region. Should the UK and Welsh Governments back the bid, the establishment of a free port covering Port...
