The Labour Welsh Government again rejected GP warnings when I challenged them over the GP crisis facing North Wales during First Minister’s Questions. In 2014, the Chair of the North Wales Local Medical Committee called for urgent action to tackle a growing crisis unfolding in General Practice. In 2016, the Vice-Chair of the North Wales Local Medical Committee said that they were ‘very aware of how precarious General Practice is in North Wales, with some areas, such as Wrexham, at risk of losing more surgeries in the very near future’.
New figures show a further reduction in registered GPs working in Wales, with just over half of those leaving the workforce rejoining as Locums, who then face disincentives to doing sessions in North Wales rather than England.
When I again called for a Statement on the Welsh Independent Living Grant for disabled people, I was told that nothing has changed in the Welsh Government’s policy to scrap it. This is a betrayal of the right of disabled people to live independently.
The Welsh Government also rejected my call for a Statement on the A487 Caernarfon to Bontnewydd bypass. Whilst supporting a bypass, local businesses have complained to me about ‘the total intransigence of the Welsh Government’ over the impact of route choice on jobs and businesses locally.
Speaking in Plaid Cymru’s Debate on the European Union Withdrawal Bill, I noted that in reaching agreement, compromise was required by both the Welsh and UK Governments, where each recognised the need for UK-wide frameworks in specific areas to avoid disruption to the UK’s own internal market. Contrary to Plaid Cymru claims, Assembly lawyers informed the External Affairs Committee that the UK Parliament will be unable to assume that the Assembly has consented when its ‘consent decision’ was to refuse consent.
As the Honorary President of NWAMI, ‘North Wales Association for Multicultural Integration’, it was an honour to host the ‘Let us Integrate Through Music and Art’ Assembly event put on jointly by NWAMI and Cwmbran based KIRAN, ‘Knowledge based Intercommunity Relationship and Awareness Network’, to promote mutual understanding and removing barriers that keep people apart.
Assembly engagements included NFU Cymru's 'We Are Welsh Farming' campaign launch. I also visited both Amazon's Swansea distribution warehouse and Swansea University’s College of Engineering with the Assembly Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee.
It was a pleasure to visit Bangor University’s magnificent Treborth Botanic Garden to discuss its current activity and future development plans.
If you need my help, please email [email protected] or ring 0300 200 7217.