, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
Minister, as you know, I've talked to you about this long before I ever came here, about how devastating sheep scab is for our farmers right across Wales. We've heard from you today how tight the Welsh Government's budgets are, but I know you're well aware of…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
The UK autumn statement did go some way to helping people with cost-of-living pressures: a cut to national insurance, one of the biggest tax cuts in a generation; the rise to the minimum wage; and also, rising benefits in line with inflation, which is…
, Plenary
Short Debate: The importance of grass-roots rugby in communities
These clubs—. I could name a couple of them because I've played most places, Jack. [Laughter.] These clubs serve as crucibles for aspiring young talents, where the ethos of hard work, discipline and camaraderie is instilled. The grass-roots level is where…
, Plenary
Short Debate: The importance of grass-roots rugby in communities
Diolch, Deputy Presiding Officer. Today, I'm going to talk about the importance of grass-roots rugby here in Wales, and I intend to give a minute of my time to Sam Kurtz, Tom Giffard and Luke Fletcher. It's great today to delve into the heart and the soul of…
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Small businesses
Small businesses define the economic and cultural landscape of my constituency of Brecon and Radnorshire. As we navigate the picturesque streets and the rolling hills of my constituency, it becomes evident that these businesses are not merely contributors to…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Scrutiny of Children's Commissioner for Wales Annual Report 2022-23
Thank you.
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Scrutiny of Children's Commissioner for Wales Annual Report 2022-23
Fast-food restaurants, and that sort of thing.
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Scrutiny of Children's Commissioner for Wales Annual Report 2022-23
—just one more, if that's okay, and it's actually on some of the questions that Ken was asking about health as well. Obesity is a major issue facing our young people across Wales, and we know obesity links to a number of life-changing diseases and different…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Scrutiny of Children's Commissioner for Wales Annual Report 2022-23
If you indulge me, Chair—
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Scrutiny of Children's Commissioner for Wales Annual Report 2022-23
Okay. A final question, Cadeirydd, if that's okay, and it's on free school meals. It's something that you've advocated for in the past, and also the role that a free school meal perhaps for secondary-age children—. I just wonder, have you made any progress on…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Scrutiny of Children's Commissioner for Wales Annual Report 2022-23
Do you think the new curriculum could help in this? Do you think schools are making full use of the new curriculum to actually find new ways of engaging learners, and actually having a curriculum that is enjoyable for pupils as well, and fits the demographic…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Scrutiny of Children's Commissioner for Wales Annual Report 2022-23
Getting children back into the classroom, it is an urgent issue, but making sure that when they're actually in the classroom they're getting a top-class education is as well, isn't it? So, what recommendations have you put to Government around how we can…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Scrutiny of Children's Commissioner for Wales Annual Report 2022-23
Okay. I want to move on to the Programme for International Student Assessment results, if that's okay. They're due to be announced now on 5 December. It's probably looking like Wales is going to be the lowest of the UK league tables, again. Is this something…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Scrutiny of Children's Commissioner for Wales Annual Report 2022-23
So, do you think that mental health, ALN and poverty are the main causes, or do you think there are any other causes for absenteeism in our schools?
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Scrutiny of Children's Commissioner for Wales Annual Report 2022-23
Okay. Thank you. Moving on to another area now, which is pupil absence, pupil absence has been stable for the last five years—about 94 per cent-ish. It's gone down now, to 88 per cent. The Welsh Government announced measures to try and address absenteeism in…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Scrutiny of Children's Commissioner for Wales Annual Report 2022-23
Yes. On your casework, we're getting evidence from families who say they need to have assessments—I mentioned it to the education Minister—so they can actually can get any support put in place at all from the school. Is that something you're seeing coming…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Scrutiny of Children's Commissioner for Wales Annual Report 2022-23
One of the questions I do have—and you mentioned it earlier—is about additional learning needs. One of your aims for the office and priorities was about the effectiveness and the consistency of the application of the new ALN reforms. So, I'm just interested…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Scrutiny of Children's Commissioner for Wales Annual Report 2022-23
You carry on, Ken.
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Scrutiny of Children's Commissioner for Wales Annual Report 2022-23
That's fine. I know it's a frustration I have with all the commissioners' offices.
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Scrutiny of Children's Commissioner for Wales Annual Report 2022-23
I have a really quick question. How seriously do you think the Welsh Government take the role of the Children's Commissioner for Wales? Because I get frustrated at every one of these sessions we have, I'll be honest. You've made recommendations on policy…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Scrutiny of Children's Commissioner for Wales Annual Report 2022-23
Thank you.
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Scrutiny of Children's Commissioner for Wales Annual Report 2022-23
In terms of casework, that you actually don't have enough influence and power, really, to make a difference. I know it sounds a bit of a put-down, in a way, but I'm trying to be honest. I know somebody who came to me who had looked at you as a children's…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Scrutiny of Children's Commissioner for Wales Annual Report 2022-23
In terms of the number of people who access your office, do you think it could be fewer numbers accessing your office because they don't think your office has enough teeth to actually make a difference to the problems that they have?
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Do disabled children and young people have equal access to education and childcare? - evidence session 13
There are other questions from the online advisory group, but I think the Ministers have answered those in response to other questions. Diolch, Gadeirydd.
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Do disabled children and young people have equal access to education and childcare? - evidence session 13
And a question that came from the advisory group again was about the length of time people have got to wait on waiting lists for a neurodiverse sort of diagnosis. So, I'd just be interested to go a bit further on that—what are the Government doing and what…
