By Mark Isherwood

MS for North Wales

Having long campaigned with disabled people and others across Flintshire to remove barriers along the Wales Coastal Path, I raised the matter with the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government, stating “the current situation contravenes both the UK Equality Act 2010 and the legal and policy frameworks” in Wales.

Questioning her over Housing, I said by slashing funding for housing from 1999 and ignoring repeated warnings of a housing crisis, Labour Welsh Governments set in train the housing supply crisis which has led to almost 140,000 people in Wales on social housing waiting lists now; referred to Shelter Cymru’s new report showing that, in 2023-24, the total cost of temporary accommodation in Wales reached £99 million, more than double the figure in 2020-21, with over 11,000 people, including almost 3,000 children, now in temporary accommodation; and highlighted the need for “a whole-market solution to the housing crisis in Wales”.

Questioning the Counsel General, I asked what engagement she is having with the Law Commission for England and Wales regarding their current review of the law on social care for disabled children in England, stressing that “both Disability Charities and my own casework confirm that problems, including overlapping assessments, confusion and inefficiency, postcode lottery to access services, and blurring between child protection and need” exist in Wales.

I also referred to Action for Children’s recommendations for immediate change at Welsh Government level to ensure criminally exploited young people are effectively safeguarded and supported, and made fresh calls for Wales to match England’s offer of a Level 7 legal apprenticeship, stating “their introduction could help increase the number of Solicitors in areas where there are currently ‘advice deserts’”.

I Chaired meetings of the Senedd Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee, and the Cross-Party Group for North Wales, where I was re-elected as Chair, and attended meetings of the Cross-Party Groups on Cancer, Small Shops, and Mental Health and Eating Disorders.

I met the Lloyds Bank Foundation to discuss how some of their charity partners could help with my proposed British Sign Language (BSL) (Wales) Bill, and co-sponsored and attended a Smart Energy Breakfast Roundtable Discussion.

Other engagements included a meeting with the Director and Founder of Farm Fit Club in Mold, working to create an inclusive wellness hub, and Eat Game Event hosted by Rossett-based British Association for Shooting and Conservation,

I also attended Mold Remembrance Sunday Parade and Service and laid a wreath during the Act of Remembrance at Mold Cenotaph.

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