Leading the Welsh Conservative Debate on the North Wales Growth Vision, I called for the Welsh Government to devolve powers to North Wales. The UK Government is looking for the Welsh Government to devolve powers down and invest in the region as part of a Growth Deal for North Wales, and the North Wales Economic Ambition Board’s ‘Growth Vision for the Economy of North Wales’ calls for the devolution of powers by the Welsh Government over employment, taxes, skills and transport to boost our region’s economy, jobs and productivity.
Responding to the First Minister’s ‘Programme for Government’ Statement, I asked him how he proposes to work differently with the voluntary and private sectors, given that wage levels in Wales remain below the levels in Scotland and England, that child poverty and working-age worklessness levels in Wales remain above the UK average, and that prosperity per head in Wales remains the lowest amongst the 12 UK nations and regions - and the gap has actually widened?
I also called on him to deliver an Autism Act for Wales and Sign Language Legislation.
Responding to the Health Secretary, I expressed concern that although specialist nurses save money and ease pressure for health boards, there is only one MS specialist nurse in North Wales for a population of 1,100 patients, when the recommended level is four.
I called for Welsh Government Statements on the shortage of qualified nurses providing children’s palliative care in the voluntary sector highlighted by charity ‘Together for Short Lives’, and on the UK Government announcement that it would be devolving funding to the Welsh Government for Supported Housing benefit.
Speaking in the debate on Membership of the European Single Market, I stated “This process is not about picking which bits of our membership of the EU we like and want to keep; it’s about forging a new role for ourselves in the world”.
I Chaired both the briefing on Bovine TB by the British Veterinary Association and the Cross Party Group on Funerals and Bereavement, and attended Assembly events including Allied Health and Social Care Professions.
North Wales engagements included the 40th anniversary celebration of charity CAIS, providing drug and alcohol addiction, employment and Veterans services, and Brymbo Heritage Group’s ‘Brymbo rocks’ concert.
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