By Mark Isherwood

MS for North Wales

With two Scottish pensioners having launched a legal challenge against the UK and Scottish Governments over the Winter Fuel Payment cut, in Spokespersons Question I asked the Counsel General what discussion she has had with the UK Government regarding the impact of the case on the 500,000 pensioners who have lost their Winter Fuel Payment in Wales.

I also asked what engagement she is having with the Law Society in Wales regarding their calls for Wales to match England’s offer of a Level 7 Legal Apprenticeship, and raised concerns that Wales’s new Additional Learning Needs System is failing many children and young people.

Responding to the Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Housing, ‘More homes towards ending homelessness’, I raised the widespread concern that the Welsh Government’s 20,000 affordable homes target won’t be met by the March 2026 deadline.

In a question to her, I highlighted the pressures facing Housing Associations in Wales because they are taking more tenant allocations from priority lists.

In the Member Debate on ‘Women's healthcare’, I said Wales has some of the worst survival rates for ovarian cancer in Europe. I also urged the Welsh Government to heed Marie Curie's findings that gender can affect experiences of palliative and end-of-life care.

In the Short Debate: ‘A fair chance - Ensuring blind and partially-sighted people can live the life they choose’, I called for blind and partially sighted people to be involved in the design and delivery of services.

In the Business Statement, I called for a Welsh Government Statement on Sign Language Rights.

I met with Dr Luke Beardon, Senior Lecturer in Autism at Sheffield Hallam University, to discuss the Research Report on ‘The prevalence and impact of allegations of Fabricated or Induced Illness (FII)’; met with Adrian Pickering CTO InSign AI, and attended a session with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society Cymru Wales and Community Pharmacy Wales on ensuring the sustainability of the community pharmacy network in Wales.

Other engagement included, Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) session; 'The Right to Childhood: First 1,000 Days and Adverse Childhood Experiences' event; Universities Wales event ‘Transforming Lives’; and Sport Wales event.

I also attended the meeting and AGM of the Senedd Cymru Cross-Party Group on STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine), at which I was re-elected as Vice-Chair, Chaired the Senedd’s Public Accounts & Public Administration Committee (PAPAC), and spoke to pupils and staff from St Joseph’s Catholic and Anglican High School, Wrexham, during their Senedd visit.

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