'More needs to be done to accelerate the pace of regeneration'

MS for North Wales

Responding to the Climate Change Minister’s Statement on the Welsh Government’s ‘Warm Homes Programme’, I noted that this only expected work to be undertaken on 11,500 properties over 7 years, equivalent to just over 1,600 properties a year, and said “based on these figures, it would take over 130 years to improve the energy efficiency of up to 217,700 lower-income households currently estimated to be in fuel poverty in Wales, and many decades even with the Programme’s advice and referral services”.

As Chair of the Senedd’s Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee, I led the Senedd Debate on our ‘Town Centre Regeneration’ report, which found that, whilst there is much good work being done, “more needs to be done to accelerate the pace of regeneration”. Committee visits during the inquiry included Mold and Wrexham.

Although the Committee’s eight recommendations had been accepted by the Welsh Government, I stressed that we still needed further information “to understand more about the monitoring, evaluation, timescales and implementation involved”.

Questioning the Education Minister, I raised concerns that Welsh Government regulations on ‘Children Missing Education’ are targeting home-educated children, when the vast majority of children missing education are registered school pupils.

I was pleased to sponsor and Chair a roundtable meeting in the Senedd with the Iranian Academic Association, which discussed ongoing developments in Iran and the Middle East war, and Iran’s theocratic regime. The global focus on the Middle East war has overshadowed news about Iran. We heard that “As Iranians, we are convinced that the Mullahs' regime is orchestrating these events to divert international attention from the ongoing nationwide uprising in our homeland”.

Other engagements included meeting pupils and staff from Ewloe Green Primary School, Flintshire, and answering pupils' questions, during their education visit to the Senedd; meetings of the Senedd Cross-Party Groups on Deaf Issues, at which I was re-elected as Chair, on STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine), and on Violence Against Women and Children; Association of Convenience Stores' Welsh Local Shop Report 2024 launch; St Patrick's Day reception; Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists Wales 'Swallowing Awareness Day'; Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry Wales; ASH Wales No Smoking Day 2024; and Care Forum Wales 30th Anniversary.

I also met energy company Uniper, to discuss their plans for a new low-carbon gas-fired power station with carbon capture technology at their Connah’s Quay power station site; and with the Wood Panel Industries Federation and Chirk’s Kronospan Wood Panel Plant.

For my help, email Mark.Isherwood@senedd.wales or call 0300 200 7219.