Eight months ago I led a non-partisan debate calling on the Welsh Government to bring forward an autism (Wales) bill during the fifth Assembly term. Its defeat on party lines caused huge distress. I am therefore delighted that Members have now voted to allow my colleague Paul Davies AM to bring forward an Autism (Wales) Bill. This time the Welsh Government abstained.
Speaking in the debate, I stated “I represent a large number of constituents in the Autism community, fighting the system to get the services needed by them or their loved ones”.
Speaking in the Debate on Hepatitis C, I stated that the elimination of hepatitis C in Wales is a wholly achievable goal and called on the Welsh Government to confirm their commitment to eradicating it.
Questioning the Education Secretary, I noted that despite a commitment to increase the proportion of Welsh local authority school budgets passed on to schools to 85% by 2014, and the Welsh Government setting an expectation for that to reach 90% during this Assembly term, 14 out of 22 Welsh local authorities were still below the 85% figure and all were below the 90% figure in 2016/17.
It was Cervical Screening Awareness Week, and I called on the Cabinet Secretary for Health to provide a Statement on cervical screening. Although this prevents up to 75 per cent of cervical cancers from developing, uptake in Wales is at a 10-year low and diagnosis levels are worryingly high.
With Father’s Day last Sunday, I also called for a Welsh Government Statement on support for fathers in Wales, noting the importance of fathers in child development and parenting.
Assembly engagements included Chairing Cross Party Groups on both Autism and Fathers and Fatherhood, Cross Party Group on Dementia, British Veterinary Association and disability employment group Remploy. I also visited Glasgow with the Assembly Infrastructure and Skills Committee to take evidence for our inquiry in to City Deals and Regional Economies.
North Wales engagements included joining the Wrexham and District leg of the 'By Your Side Walk’ in support of the Cancer Care Campaign launched by Mike Peters of the Alarm and his wife Jules, and the 2017 ‘Lend me your ears’ North Wales Conference for individuals and families living with hearing loss.
If you need my help, please email [email protected] or ring 0300 200 7217.