Siân Gwenllian: You talk a great deal about the sector; are you going to discuss the connection between Visit Wales and the communities where tourism exists? I haven’t heard you talk about the communities at all.
Siân Gwenllian: Formally move.
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you very much, and I'll respond to the comments on the pairing system, because this is what has taken the attention of the Business Committee as well. Pairing is an informal arrangement, of course, where Members can pair and both Members don't vote at all, so there is no record of their vote. Voting by proxy allows that Member to record a vote through having another person vote on their...
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you very much, Dirprwy Lywydd, and it’s a pleasure for me to speak this afternoon on an issue that is a signal that we are taking a further step in the creation of a modern, progressive, inclusive Senedd we can all be proud of. The Business Committee by majority view has agreed to propose a number of changes to the Senedd’s proxy voting scheme. The Business Committee is proposing...
Siân Gwenllian: According to a recent statement by the local health board, they are working with NHS England to provide a unit in Chester, with two beds in that unit for mothers from all parts of the north. I understand that it is in the Countess of Chester Hospital that this unit will be based. Could you confirm that? In a report that was published last year by the Care Quality Commission, it was noted that...
Siân Gwenllian: Since the county council elections a year ago, around 35 per cent of councillors in Wales are women. In Arfon, we succeeded in increasing the number of women standing for Plaid Cymru by 21 per cent. This was the result of intentional work by some of us, a great many encouraging conversations, training, mentoring, and the support has continued over the past year for them since the election....
Siân Gwenllian: 1. How will the Welsh Government support the successful efforts taking place in Arfon and elsewhere to attract more women to be county councillors? OQ59302
Siân Gwenllian: 6. What discussions has the Minister held with the Minister for Health and Social Services about a mother and baby unit for north Wales that would serve the people of Arfon? OQ59297
Siân Gwenllian: Will the First Minister provide an update on the plan for the new Waunfawr surgery in Arfon?
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd. I’m afraid the content of your statement doesn’t correspond in the very least with what I hear from patients and dentists in the Arfon constituency. According to a survey of dentists across the north of Wales, 88 per cent believe that they don’t have the capacity to see the new patients expected under the new contract. Ninety-six per cent say that the patients...
Siân Gwenllian: Constituents have contacted me expressing concerns because they’ve found an invasive plant growing in Llyn Padarn in Llaneris, and they are convinced that sewage discharge into the water is feeding its growth. A specialist has confirmed that it’s a plant called lagarosiphon that is in the lake—it’s a new one on me, but that’s what this specialist has identified. These plants have...
Siân Gwenllian: 2. Will the Minister provide an update on the impact of sewage discharge on water quality in Llyn Padarn? OQ59245
Siân Gwenllian: I will ask one further question. The First Minister, in the question session, mentioned that there were other pieces of information that led you to this announcement yesterday. What is that information? Is all of the information underpinning yesterday’s decision out there in the public domain, or is there more to come?
Siân Gwenllian: We've been here before, of course, but the major, necessary changes were not introduced, and, indeed, poor decisions were made in the previous time in special measures. The board was in special measures when the vascular service in Ysbyty Gwynedd was dismantled in the name of centralisation, and we all know what the upshot of that was. So, the fundamental question is what will be different...
Siân Gwenllian: I was extremely disappointed to hear that the UK Government had rejected the bid for £15 million towards this important project. Once again, we see the Tories ignoring Bangor and showing just how little they care about the people of Arfon and the north-west of Wales. But I am determined to continue campaigning for this plan and to support the efforts of Gwynedd Council, and all the other...
Siân Gwenllian: 4. Will the First Minister provide an update on the plan to create a health and well-being centre in the centre of Bangor? OQ59158
Siân Gwenllian: Would you take an intervention?
Siân Gwenllian: Did you look at the alternative model, which was the one that the committee recommended in the report that you chaired—the alternative model of providing the unit in Wales, and therefore the Welsh language needs would be met and it would obviously be nearer to home for many women, rather than the model that is now on offer, which is going to create a lot of problems around the linguistic...
Siân Gwenllian: It is a cause of great concern that Betsi Cadwaladr health board has no budget set aside for low-level or moderate perinatal mental health services, even though £3 million has been allocated for this every year across Wales. This is a significant gap, and it's truly concerning. I ask the Deputy Minister to investigate this and to rectify the situation at once. This funding gap means that...
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you very much, Dirprwy Lywydd. I want to give time to Jane Dodds and to Rhun ap Iorwerth, and I very much look forward to hearing their contributions. Maternity and childbirth are positive experiences for many of us, but in some circumstances, it can be a very challenging and difficult time, and in this evening’s short debate, I want to focus on the mental health issues that face...
