, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
Diolch, Brif Weinidog. In Blaenau Gwent, 48.6 per cent of children live in income deprivation. That's the highest rate of any local authority in Wales, and it's just so heartbreaking and unacceptable that in twenty-first century Wales so many of our children…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
8. What steps is the Welsh Government taking to ensure that a child’s chances in life are not determined by where they grow up? OQ64588
, Culture, Communications, Cymraeg and Sport Committee
Annual scrutiny session with Sport Wales
What would you say, in your personal opinion as well as that of Sport Wales, is the main barrier for people in deprived areas? I know there are so many, but what would you say is that distinct one you see year on year coming out, or maybe getting worse, as…
, Culture, Communications, Cymraeg and Sport Committee
Annual scrutiny session with Sport Wales
The follow-up on that is to do with participation and it ties in with the cost of living as well. The area that I represent is quite a deprived area: Blaenau Gwent Caerffili Rhymni. I feel like there's been really great movement when it comes to getting women…
, Culture, Communications, Cymraeg and Sport Committee
Annual scrutiny session with Sport Wales
When we talk about the state of facilities, I was wondering about community clubs at the moment because, as we know, they're the ones who are really feeling the direct impact when it comes to the cost-of-living crisis. I know you've mentioned it already, but…
, Culture, Communications, Cymraeg and Sport Committee
Annual scrutiny session with Sport Wales
Yes. Just quickly as well, I've got one more question on the state of facilities, if that's okay. Just quickly, I just want to ask a question—
, Culture, Communications, Cymraeg and Sport Committee
Annual scrutiny session with Sport Wales
Diolch.
, Culture, Communications, Cymraeg and Sport Committee
Annual scrutiny session with Sport Wales
Going back a couple of steps, something just popped into my mind about what you spoke about with the lottery funding side of things. I was just wondering if you could provide a bit more detail on the financial situation that you could potentially be facing…
, Culture, Communications, Cymraeg and Sport Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session: Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
Yes. Just to follow on from what Paul has been talking about. One thing that stood out to me, when I was looking at the workforce, was the numbers who are taking Welsh at A-level. We've seen a significant decline in the number of people studying for A-levels…
, Culture, Communications, Cymraeg and Sport Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session: Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
Yes. Just to come back in quickly, for me personally, when I go into a shop in Blaenau Gwent, in my mind, you speak English first before Welsh, compared, for example, with Aberystwyth, where I speak Welsh first and then English. So, how can you do that in…
, Culture, Communications, Cymraeg and Sport Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session: Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
Yes, I agree with what you're saying. Personally, I've seen both sides of things. I went to a Welsh-medium primary and secondary school, and then went to Aberystwyth University and did my course through the medium of Welsh. But for many of us, especially in…
, Culture, Communications, Cymraeg and Sport Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session: Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
I come from an area of lower density of Welsh speakers. I live in Blaenau Gwent, where the numbers, I think, are the lowest in terms of Welsh speakers in Wales. I think I've raised this with you in the Chamber. There's excellent work happening in the area…
, Culture, Communications, Cymraeg and Sport Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session: Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
That would be good. Thank you.
, Culture, Communications, Cymraeg and Sport Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session: Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
I have one other thing to raise. In the previous Senedd, there was a programme of work between the ONS and the Government with regard to the data that's being collected about the Welsh language. Can you provide us with an update on that as well? Do you have…
, Culture, Communications, Cymraeg and Sport Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session: Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
Do you have a timetable?
, Culture, Communications, Cymraeg and Sport Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session: Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
Yes—sorry.
, Culture, Communications, Cymraeg and Sport Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session: Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
Yes, just quickly, I want to come back to that survey. Are you intending to conduct that survey yet? I can see from the previous Senedd that the former Minister for the Welsh language noted that work was happening to ensure that a survey was going to be done…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability: Update on the Deposit-return Scheme
Thank you to the Cabinet Minister for this update today. I'm really pleased to see Wales continuing to show ambition and lead the way with DRS. We know that at the heart of DRS is tackling litter that we see across the whole of Wales and our communities…
, Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General
Diolch, Gwnsler Cyffredinol. Many have called for youth justice to be devolved to Wales, including the Brown commission, and I'm glad that this Plaid Cymru Government also wants to see that happen. Currently, a child in the justice system in Wales has one…
, Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General
2. What legal advice has the Counsel General provided to the Welsh Government on the devolution of youth justice? OQ64502
, Plenary
Statement by the First Minister: Weather, wildfires, drought and resilience
Diolch, Lywydd. Over the summer, I actually witnessed first-hand the devastation that wildfires caused across Blaenau Gwent Caerffili Rhymni. A wildfire actually broke out in my own village. When you see those flames outside of your window—. It's really…
, Culture, Communications, Cymraeg and Sport Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session
Diolch.
, Culture, Communications, Cymraeg and Sport Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session
Just following up on that, and I think you touched upon it, that educational side—I know, again, from my own constituency, we have so many children going through education and they do drama or they do music at a GCSE standard, and then it drops off…
, Culture, Communications, Cymraeg and Sport Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session
Diolch. The other question I had, then, was, again, to do with the creative industries, but specifically on grass-roots music venues across Wales. I was wondering if you'd be able to provide some information that you may have on how you're looking to support…
, Culture, Communications, Cymraeg and Sport Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session
Just following on with the creative industries, just a couple of questions I've got. The first one is specifically on how you're supporting the creative industries, as they're being massively impacted by the rise in AI at the moment. I hear from constituents…
