By Mark Isherwood

MS for North Wales

Questioning the First Minister, I referred to third sector organisations in North Wales, including Synergy in Flintshire, the Wrexham Town of Sanctuary coalition ‘Ukrainian Friends and Families Link’, and NWAMI, Networking for World Awareness of Multicultural Integration, working to aid Ukrainian nationals and others affected by the war who will come to North Wales, and asked how the Welsh Government will support them.  

 

Leading the Welsh Conservative ‘Armed Forces’ debate, I called on the Welsh Government to work with the recently appointed Veterans’ Commissioner for Wales to ensure ex-forces personnel receive the support they need, and that the Armed Forces Covenant in Wales is upheld, emphasising that “despite the stated commitment of local authorities and the Welsh NHS to deliver as many tailored services as they can to the Armed Forces, my casework provides evidence that this does not go far enough.”

 

Questioning the Social Justice Minister over poverty levels in Wales, I said “ in December 2018, Joseph Rowntree Foundation stated that of the four countries of the UK, Wales has consistently had the highest poverty rate for the past 20 years,” and “ In November 2020, they said that ‘even before Coronavirus, almost a quarter of people in Wales were living in poverty’”.

The Minister blamed the UK Government’s “tax and the welfare system”, dodging the inconvenient truth that issues for which the UK Government is responsible also apply outside Wales, but higher poverty levels in Wales persist after almost 23 years of continuous Labour or Labour-led Welsh Government.

 

In my spokesperson questions to the same Minister, I highlighted the launch of the 24/7 Hourglass Cymru helpline for older victims of abuse, supported by the Home Office in England, and called on the Welsh Government to provide funding for it.  

 

I also raised the concerns of North Wales Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities that there has been no effective engagement with them regarding Local Authority Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessments and that consequently their accommodation needs have not been met, and questioned her over support for learners who have periods.

 

I Chaired  the ‘Zoom’ meeting of the Cross Party Group on Hospices and Palliative Care, ‘Experiences of end of life during the pandemic’ Evidence session 3: A Focus on Children and Young People, which included key messages from Wales’ two children’s hospices, Tŷ Gobaith and Tŷ Hafan, regarding their Family Voices Report and the Impact of the pandemic on families.

 

I also Chaired the CPG on Fuel Poverty and Energy Efficiency meeting, and attended CPG meetings on ‘Climate, Nature and Wellbeing’, ‘Small Shops’, and ‘Conservation and Shooting’.

 

Other engagements included a briefing by Network Rail Wales and Borders on Conwy Valley Railway Resilience, National Trust Cymru’s #BlossomWatch launch, and a meeting with the Flintshire North Police Inspector to discuss their Community Alert/Action liaison.

 

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