'Problems relating to the Health Board are not just historic'

MS for North Wales

Speaking in the Welsh Conservative Debate on Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, I said: “Regrettably, Labour Ministers have dismissed and derided our evidence-based warnings about this Health Board over many years”.

I also stated that the problems relating to the Health Board are not just historic, and that “the core problems always lay within the Executive”.

In the ‘Police Settlement 2024-25’ Debate, I noted that the total police funding settlement in England and Wales will rise up to £18.4 billion and criticised the Welsh Government for withdrawing funding for the Wales Police Schools Programme.

I asked the First Minister what action the Wesh Government is taking to improve migraine care in Wales.

Responding to the Social Justice Minister’s Statement on ‘The Welsh Benefits System and Charter’, I asked what, if any, specific discussions she has had with the UK Department for Work and Pensions regarding the role that Jobcentre Plus offices can play in an integrated Welsh Benefits System, and again called for a timescale for the System’s introduction.

Responding to the same Minister’s Statement ‘Anniversary of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and Nation of Sanctuary update’, I asked whether Wales is “taking its fair share” of Ukrainians, where England houses 16 asylum seekers for every 10,000 people, but Wales takes just 9, and questioned her over the support that is being provided to Ukrainian refugees in Wales.

I questioned the Deputy Minister for Climate Change, who is responsible for Transport policy in Wales, over bus route provision in North Wales and asked how the Welsh Government would fund bus franchising in Wales, “when they don’t have enough to fund the current network”.

I also Chaired meetings of the Welsh Parliament Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee, and the Cross-Party Group on Fuel Poverty and Energy Efficiency.

Engagements included meeting heroic frontline Ukrainian Paramedics; Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health Wales, to discuss their ‘Worried and waiting’ review of waiting times for children across Wales; Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association UK 'Voices for Peace' Reception; Qualification Wales; and Migrants’ Rights Network’s ‘Words Matter’ Manifesto launch.

At the Welsh Conservative Party Conference in Llandudno, I had meetings with Airbus, Cancer Research UK, Asthma + Lung UK Cymru, Community Pharmacy Wales, RSPCA Cymru, Alzheimer’s Society Cymru, Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists Wales, Guide Dogs Cymru, RNIB Cymru, Bowel Cancer UK and Tenovus Cancer Care.

I also Chaired a panel discussion on ‘How do we deliver 21st century policing in Wales?’.

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