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Written by Mark Isherwood AM
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Friday, 17 February 2012 10:32 |
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My week began with a trip to Whitehall with Anglesey-based Eagle House to discuss its work with young disadvantaged people.
I questioned the First Minister over the recently published Estyn report on the importance of learning for those aged 65 and over, which stated that 'Welsh Government departments do not currently do enough to join up the different elements of the Older People’s Strategy and the Delivering Community Learning Policy Statement, and that current emphasis on skills for employment has resulted in gaps in provision for older learners.'
I also questioned the First Minister about NHS dental services in Flintshire.
Concerned that Welsh Government bus services funding cuts are more than in England, and that bus operators were given inadequate notice about them - compared to the 18 month notice period in England, I called for a Welsh Government Statement on bus user services. I again highlighted concern that these cuts could have a significant and detrimental impact on bus users.
Questioning the Education Minister about his new school banding system, I asked whether it is true that Welsh Government officials told the North-East Wales Headteachers’ Conference that funding for schools in bands 1 and 2 will be reduced in order to increase funding for those in lower bands. His reply left me none the wiser.
Responding to the Statement on Anglesey County Council, I questioned the Local Government Minister over his decision to postpone the elections on Anglesey by a year, concern that corporate governance had always been the core of the problem, why it has been recommended that Anglesey should only have multi-member wards, and why he called for 'a refreshed membership' when almost half of the current councillors are new.
Assembly engagements included British Association of Social Workers, Consumer Focus Wales on changes to the Post Office network, Marie Curie Cancer Care, Reforming Social Care Seminar, Cross Party Group on Waterways (including Pontcysyllte Aqueduct World Heritage Site presentation), question panel with sixth form students and Cross Party Group on Older People and Ageing.
North Wales meetings included West Rhyl Housing Regeneration Project and Public Health Wales.
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Written by Mark Isherwood AM
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Friday, 10 February 2012 09:46 |
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Speaking in the National Transport Plan debate, I criticised the Welsh Government for pouring millions into the Anglesey-Cardiff Airlink without a proper Business Plan and subsidised Premier Express Trains from Holyhead to Cardiff, whilst pulling the plug from March 31st on the Community Transport Concessionary Fares Initiative for very elderly and disabled people and only last week informing bus operators that from 1 April it intends to cut the bus service operators grant and Councils that it intends to cut the Local Transport Services Grant, which will affect public transport service users across Wales.
Questioning the First Minister, I referred to the call by the Welsh Council on Alcohol and Other Drugs for peer-based recovery with abstinence.
Quoting Prestatyn Park Home residents during the proposed Park Homes Bill debate, I stated “Park Site owners must be stopped from getting away with charging retired people what they want”.
Questioning the Health Minister I was concerned when she failed to reveal whether the Welsh Government has data on the increasing number of ex-forces personnel returning home to Wales and on the sort of ongoing physical and mental health needs that they have. Without this data, the Welsh Government would be planning services for ex-forces personnel in a vacuum.
Speaking in the Welfare Reform debate, I stated “it is not fair that since devolution the Welsh Government has concentrated on the top 2%-3% of the poorest but neglected the most vulnerable, locking them into dependency.”
As Chair of the Cross Party Group on Funerals and Bereavement, I called for a Welsh Government Statement on the provision of bereavement counselling in Wales.
Assembly engagements included Cross Party Group on Housing meeting with the First Minister, Deeside College students, Kennel Club, Occupational Therapists and Cross Party Group on Beer and the Pub.
Recent North Wales engagements included discussions with North Wales Construction Industry leaders on their serious concerns, discussions on the need for larger GP premises in Flint and a meeting with the Deeside College Principal. I also attended Flintshire’s Holocaust Memorial Day event and commend the excellent play and poetry performances by young people.
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Written by Mark Isherwood AM
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Thursday, 02 February 2012 12:20 |
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Speaking in the debate on the new Communities First Programme, I stressed that Welsh Conservatives would have left more money than the Welsh Labour Government in the Supporting Communities Budget and stated “We must be concerned by the Wales Audit Office findings which identified governance failings in Plas Madoc Communities First - and concerned that the Welsh Government appointed AVOW, Wrexham, as Grant Recipient Body for Plas Madoc Communities First, after AVOW's own serious governance problems had been identified and exposed at Employment Tribunal.”
I questioned the Environment Minister about new data identifying three Wrexham wards amongst the top six with the highest mortality rates in England and Wales – and about Welsh Government action to help the most vulnerable consumers find the best energy deal.
Questioning the First Minister, I asked about the Welsh Government’s role in delivering the UK Government’s Work Programme in Wales.
Speaking in the Pay Day Loans Debate, I expressed concern that it is too easy for people to access the short term benefits of pay day loans and that Citizens Advice report a four-fold increase in the number of people with payday loans asking for debt advice.
I questioned the Housing Minister about suggestions that empty properties brought back into use could be used for intermediate rent, above social rent levels but below market rent.
Speaking on the UK Government’s Social Mobility Strategy, I noted that this sets out progressively to tackle the causes of poverty, rather than just the symptoms.
Speaking in the European Programmes Debate, I welcomed the contribution of third sector-led projects to providing employment for some of Wales’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged groups.
Assembly engagements included hosting an Active Ageing seminar, chairing the Cross Party Group on Fuel Poverty and meetings with National Autistic Society and Centrica British Gas.
North Wales engagements included discussions with North Wales Construction Industry leaders on their serious concerns, discussions on the need for larger GP premises in Flint and a meeting with the Deeside College Principal. I also attended Flintshire’s Holocaust Memorial Day event and commend the excellent play and poetry performances by young people.
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Last Updated on Thursday, 02 February 2012 12:25 |
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Written by Mark Isherwood AM
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Thursday, 26 January 2012 13:27 |
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I called for a Welsh Government Statement on the Auditor General ‘s report on Social Housing in Wales?which found? that the main shortfall in council homes meeting the Welsh Housing Quality Standard is in areas where tenants voted against transfer to a new housing association - such as Wrexham, or where tenants have yet to be balloted on such proposals - such as Flintshire, and that the Welsh Government has not acted swiftly enough to monitor progress.
Questioning the Finance Minister, I asked what consideration she has given to economic regeneration via? projects such as the Llangollen rail extension to Corwen, the Dee Valley Tramway Trust, the Cefn Mawr Plas Kynaston Canal Group and the Brymbo Heritage Group.
Responding to the Housing Minister’s ‘Meeting the Housing Challenge’ statement,? I noted that? both England and Scotland have announced schemes that would only require 5% deposits from first time buyers, but Wales has not.
Speaking in the Safer Communities debate, I noted that violence against the person, sexual offence and robbery incidents in Wales increased between 2001 – 2009, that the Welsh Government’s ‘Right to be Safe’ strategy has been described as "cumbersome and confusing" and that Shadow Chancellor, Ed Balls, recently said that Labour too would have police cuts.
Closing the Welsh Conservative debate on the Welsh Government’s Early Years Programmes, I noted the 2011 Evaluation of ‘Flying Start’ found that it is having least success in reaching disadvantaged families.
Speaking on Older?People’s Rights, I noted that life expectancy is increasing, but levels of long-term illness and disability are higher in Wales than the rest of Britain
Questioning the Local Government Minister following his decision to delay Anglesey Council elections, I stated "You don’t bring about democratic renewal by "postponing elections."
Assembly engagements included Chairing the Cross Party Group on Neurological Conditions, FUW Farmhouse Breakfast, National Deaf Children’s Society, Consumer Focus Wales Energy Question Time, Disability Wales, Ofgem, All Wales Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Helpline, Association of Educational Psychologists and Ysgol Pen Barras, Ruthin.
I also met the Welsh Ambulance Service and held surgeries in Caernarfon, Bangor and Bethesda.
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