Following the conviction at Mold Crown Court of retired North Wales Police Superintendent, Gordon Anglesea, for historic child sex abuse, I called for a Welsh Government Statement, stating “When Flintshire’s Internal Audit Manager blew the whistle regarding matters relating to the Waterhouse North Wales Child Abuse Tribunal, and I raised that here, your colleagues and the (Welsh) Government you then represented accused me of bringing the Assembly into disrepute.”
I challenged the Education Secretary over her approval of Flintshire County Council’s closure of John Summers High School, despite the Welsh Government's School Organisation Code specifying the need to pay particular attention to the impact of proposals for school closures on vulnerable groups. Half the pupils live in an area that is amongst the top 5 per cent of the Index of Multiple of Deprivation in Wales, and almost a third fall within Additional Learning Needs categories.
When I questioned the Economy and Infrastructure Secretary, Ken Skates AM, about the North Wales Economic Ambition Board’s call for the Welsh Government to devolve powers over employment, taxes, skills and transport, he pointedly failed to answer.
I called for a Welsh Government Statement on Credit Unions, which need the Welsh Government to provide capacity-building support beyond 2017, and challenged the First Minister over waiting times at North Wales Accident and Emergency departments.
Speaking in the Welsh Conservative Debate on Digital Infrastructure, I expressed concern regarding FibreSpeed North Wales, a Welsh Government project which went nowhere after millions were spent, and the provision of Broadband in rural North Wales.
Speaking in the Debate on the Equality and Human Rights Commission Wales Annual Review, I contrasted the focus in Welsh Government legislation on involving people in how their care and support is decided and provided, with constituents’ practical experience.
Assembly engagements included sponsoring and taking part in the Royal British Legion's first ever Poppy Ride at the Senedd, and meeting the Health Secretary to discuss specialist nurse shortages.
North Wales engagements included HSBC Bank, to discuss the closure of their Caergwrle and Ewloe branches, West Cheshire and North Wales Chamber of Commerce, North Wales Police Federation Community Service Awards, Commissioning Service of the Alyn Mission Area at St Martin’s Church, Llay, and Laying Up of the Royal British Legion Ysceifiog Branch Standard.
If you need my help, please email [email protected] or ring 0300 200 7217.