Following the Brexit Debate, Labour and Plaid Cymru voted through a motion stating: ‘the National Assembly for Wales does not agree to the UK Parliament enacting the Withdrawal Agreement Bill as introduced in the House of Commons’. After a Plaid Cymru Member had dismissed statements that the people have already had a chance to vote, I intervened to point out that in Wales 53% voted to Leave in 2016 and that views haven't changed since — with the Brexit Party winning the most votes in 19 out of Wales’ 22 Council areas in the 2019 European Parliament Elections and with over half of those who voted, voting for strong, pro-Brexit candidates in the 2019 Brecon and Radnorshire by-election. I added that “people where I live - including Labour supporters - are expressing their growing fury at the way they're being treated by this place and people in Westminster”.
In the Homelessness Debate, I supported a motion stating that “current policies to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping are falling short of what is required” and criticised Labour Welsh Government for failing to act on warnings from the housing sector of a housing crisis in Wales.
I called on the Education Minister to recognise the essential need for speech and language therapy for a wide range of children in the school environment.
After the bodies of 39 people were found in a lorry container in Essex, with initial reports stating they had entered the UK via Holyhead, I asked the Transport Minister what action the Welsh Government has taken since Holyhead was first identified as a “soft spot” for people smuggling.
I challenged the Welsh Government over its Draft Statutory Guidance for Local Authorities on Home Education in Wales, following concerns that it is unlawful ‘in implying that the local authority can insist on discussions with parents and/or children’ and ‘in suggesting that the local authority has any role in questioning the parental choice to home educate in circumstances where that education is agreed suitable’.
Other Cardiff engagements included the Royal British Legion’s annual Poppy Ride, Curlew Wales delegation meeting, StepChange Debt Charity’s ‘Wales in Red’ report launch, ‘2 Wish up on a Star’ charity, Electrical Safety First, Autism Friendly College, and British Egg Industry Council.
North Wales engagements included the Cross Party Group on Dementia’s hospital roadshow at Wrexham Maelor Hospital, Royal College of Occupational Therapists training session, and Prestatyn High School’s Wicked Wales International Youth Film Festival event.
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