I want to write to Luke Fletcher
Luke Fletcher: Diolch, Gweinidog. I think we should all be very concerned about the Department for Work and Pensions' latest pilots in England and Scotland, which mandate face-to-face attendance for up to 10 days every two weeks for claimants, with the threat of sanctions if this isn't adhered to. Areas within my region rank consistently high on the Welsh index of multiple deprivation, and if these...
Luke Fletcher: 2. What assessment has the Minister made of the impact of welfare sanctions upon claimants? OQ59363
Luke Fletcher: I'm sure the Minister won't be surprised to learn that my opinion hasn't changed when it comes to free ports. This is nothing more than an abdication of power to companies through creating deregulated zones—trickle-down economics in its purest form, extractive by design. Now, there are a number of questions that need answering in detail. I'm really interested to know how the Government will...
Luke Fletcher: I and colleagues have brought this matter up time and time again. Communities in my region are underserved when it comes to public transport. It doesn't help that there's a lack of investment in rail from the UK Government, for example. If we look at Ogmore, the vast majority of the constituency isn't covered by rail. And this isn't a unique characteristic of Ogmore; this is something that...
Luke Fletcher: Most of us here will know someone who is entirely dependent on buses to get around—be they members of our families or constituents, people need buses to get to work, to go to the shops, to attend school and medical appointments, or to access leisure opportunities. It is certainly true of my region—communities that are underserved by the rail network, for example—that people are...
Luke Fletcher: —this Saturday, we should remember our language's influence on some of the world's most famous stories.
Luke Fletcher: I'll close by sharing my favourite passage. It comes after Gandalf and Frodo have found the ring. 'I wish it need not have happened in my time' said Frodo. 'So do I' said Gandalf, 'and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.'
Luke Fletcher: 'One Ring to rule them all / One Ring to find them / One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them / In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.' Dirprwy Lywydd, though I haven't read the full verse, the Ring verse will be read by many people, not just in Wales but across the globe this Saturday as people celebrate Tolkien Reading Day. Why 25 March? It's the chosen date for the...
Luke Fletcher: Thank you for that response, Minister.
Luke Fletcher: A few weeks ago, a £2.12 million cut to Bridgend council's school budget was announced, meaning an increased risk of redundancies. Worryingly, of course, Bridgend is a microcosm of what seems to be happening throughout Wales at the moment. In November, Heledd Fychan highlighted the National Association of Head Teachers survey, which said just 5 per cent of schools say they will be able to...
Luke Fletcher: 10. What is the Welsh Government doing to facilitate discussions between local authorities and schools during this period of severe financial hardship? OQ59253
Luke Fletcher: I just wanted to make the point in terms of the sport going underground, I was wondering if the Member realises the size of the track and the size of the ground you would need to be able to race greyhounds, essentially, and if he would be able to explain how that would be able to be hidden.
Luke Fletcher: Now, Members will argue for and against what's included in the petition, but I will seek to focus on a particular point. As was noted by the committee Chair, greyhound racing is not regulated here in Wales, so naturally, for some, this argument should begin and end with the regulation of the sport. But we only need to look over the border to see what regulation looks like. Regulation doesn't...
Luke Fletcher: From the outset, I'd like to thank the Chair, fellow committee members and the clerks in particular for their work in putting this together. I'd also like to thank those who gave evidence from both sides of the debate as well. Now, I imagine the Chamber clerks had put me down to speak on this debate today before I even indicated that I wanted to speak, so it is, no doubt, of no surprise that...
Luke Fletcher: Thank you for that answer, Minister.
Luke Fletcher: Of course, this work is going to be vital, especially when you consider the challenges facing SMEs up and down the country, and, of course, how do we balance that, then, with our need for a vibrant high street at the same time? Let's take a look at the retail sector as an example, the Welsh Retail Consortium announced that, despite some signs of recovery over the past 12 months, the footfall...
Luke Fletcher: Diolch, Llywydd. The Digital Inclusion Alliance Wales has published the second edition of its digital inclusion agenda, 'From Inclusion to Resilience', building on the first edition of the agenda that was introduced in early 2021, which outlined five key priorities to make Wales a digitally inclusive nation. Now, although the report outlines the very good progress that's been made by Welsh...
Luke Fletcher: What steps is the Minister taking to prioritise and embed community wealth building in Wales?
Luke Fletcher: Will the First Minister provide an update on the Welsh Government's strategy relating to community wealth building?
Luke Fletcher: Diolch, Llywydd. As I close this debate, I'm reminding myself of what I'd said in my opening to the debate around having faith in the Government to be better than UK Labour and Conservative Governments. I have to say, though, it is quite disappointing to not have a single contribution from the Members of the Labour backbench. There was an offer of solidarity on behalf of the Labour group, but...
