I sponsored and spoke at the Assembly Wales Cancer Alliance event, noting that the number of people living with cancer in Wales is expected to reach 240,000 by 2030. As the father of two daughters affected by thyroid cancer, it was both humbling and inspiring to meet cancer patients and survivors, young and old. The Alliance promotes cancer prevention, treatment, research and care, investing over £30m annually in Wales.
It plays a vital role in both developing cancer policy and delivering practical services, recognising that people affected by cancer and their carers should be at the heart of co-creating new services and cancer policy.
Questioning First Minister Carwyn Jones about the 72 per cent increase in rough sleepers across Wales, with Wrexham having the highest proportion of people sleeping rough in Wales, I asked him to respond to the statement by Wrexham Town Centre Forum Steering Group’s Chair, Andrew Atkinson, that it’s time to put politics aside, stop blaming each other and work together to get to grips with the town’s issues. It is shameful that his highly political response washed his hands of responsibility.
Welsh Labour Government has been responsible for housing in Wales since devolution. It is they who are responsible for Wales’ lack of affordable housing and for services including homelessness, housing advice, housing related support, substance misuse, financial inclusion, community safety, mental health and Veteran’s health in Wales.
I asked the Communities Secretary how the experience of developing rehabilitation programmes at Wrexham’s Berwyn Prison will be developed at the new prison in Port Talbot.
I also called on the Lifelong Learning Minister to provide assurances for parents of children with Type 1 Diabetes that the Welsh Government’s Additional Learning Needs Bill will not compromise funding to support their children in school.
Assembly engagements included Boys Brigade in Wales, which now has groups in Caergwrle, Llay, Wrexham, Shotton, Brymbo and Ruabon, and meeting pupils from Corwen’s Ysgol Caer Drewyn delivering their petition calling for reinstatement of the Wrexham-Bala Mobile Dental Service.
North Wales meetings included charity Creatasmile, for children and young people with autism/aspergers and their families, and constituents to discuss poor understanding amongst service providers of the transitional needs of people on the Autism spectrum when facing changes in their lives.
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