"Without specific rights-based legislation, the Welsh Government's generic legislation is going nowhere"

MS for North Wales

Four months after my motion proposing a British Sign Language (BSL) Bill for Wales was passed in the Senedd, I asked the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution what discussions he has had on ways in which the proposed Bill's objectives could be promoted through legislation, where "too many disabled people continue to suffer social injustice".

As I have previously said, "without specific rights-based legislation, the Welsh Government's generic legislation is going nowhere".

Questioning the Social Justice Minister, I noted that Wales had retained the highest poverty rate of all the UK nations throughout devolution since 1999, and that the Bevan Foundation had also stated 'poverty was a significant problem in Wales long before the arrival of Covid-19', and called for the Welsh Government to "work in real partnership with, and empower, the voluntary sector, community groups and other social entrepreneurs to help deliver solutions to the long-term problems of our most deprived communities".

In the Opposition Debate on Climate and Biodiversity, I called for legislation during the first year of this Welsh Government to set legally binding targets for nature's recovery, and, as Wales Species Champion for the Curlew since 2016, also emphasised that Curlews, an ecological indicator species, will be extinct as a breeding population in Wales by 2033 without intervention.

Questioning the First Minister, I emphasised the importance of cross-border partnership working on community safety, recognising North Wales Police's established integrated working with Police Forces in North West England.

It was an honour to be elected as the chair of the Welsh Parliament's Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee, established to consider any matter that relates to the economy, efficiency and effectiveness with which resources are employed in the discharge of public functions in Wales. Following this, I had a helpful online introductory meeting with the Committee's Clerking Team to discuss the Committee's remit and future working.

I sponsored and chaired a virtual (Welsh) Parliamentary Briefing on Rare, Genetic & Undiagnosed Conditions, organised by the charity Genetic Alliance UK in Wales.

Other online meetings included the Welsh Parliament's Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee, a meeting with the National Autistic Society to discuss plans to re-establish a Cross Party Autism Group in the new Senedd, and the inaugural meetings of the 6th Senedd's Cross Party Groups on Coeliac Disease and Dermatitis Herpetiformis, and on Co-operatives and Mutuals.

I also joined Marine Conservation Society (Wales) at Llandudno North Shore for a volunteer 'Beachwatch' summer beach clean.

• If you need my help, email Mark.Isherwood@senedd.wales or call 0300 200 7219.