Alun Cox

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1. 5. 90-second Statements en

   Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. I'd like to congratulate Cwm Taf Morgannwg public health team and the Treherbert learning community team, who recently won the inclusion and respect award at this year's Seren awards. Their work forms part of the wider Treherbert initiative, with Grow Rhondda as a key partner. The initiative asked one simple question: what was needed to help people in Treherbert to live healthier lives? This question was taken directly to the people and some clear themes began to emerge: affordable healthy food, mental health support, youth facilities and much more. Importantly, following this, work has started to act on some of these priorities, resulting, for example, in the creation of a low-cost fruit and veg market at Grow Rhondda's cafe, where nothing costs more than £1.50. This shows the importance of working with and listening to a community when looking for concrete actions to improve people's lives. So, congratulations once again to Cwm Taf Morgannwg public health and Treherbert learning community team, and I look forward to seeing what the future holds and what further activities they deliver. Diolch.

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1. 1. Questions to the Trefnydd, Chief Whip and Cabinet Minister for Culture and Sport cy

   4. Sut mae'r Llywodraeth yn sicrhau bod cyfranogiad mewn chwaraeon yn hygyrch i bawb yn Afan Ogwr Rhondda? OQ64712

   Official English translation

   4. How is the Government ensuring that participation in sport is accessible to all in Afan Ogwr Rhondda? OQ64712

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2. 1. Questions to the Trefnydd, Chief Whip and Cabinet Minister for Culture and Sport cy

   Diolch, Weinidog. A dylwn i fod wedi dechrau trwy ddweud, 'Shwmae?'

   Official English translation

   Thank you, Minister. I should've started by saying, 'Shwmae?'

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3. 1. Questions to the Trefnydd, Chief Whip and Cabinet Minister for Culture and Sport en

   Minister, the programme for government commits to prioritising equality of access to sport for people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities, as well as increasing participation and improving grass-roots facilities. Back in June, I had the opportunity to visit the Margam Stags inclusion football festival, bringing together children and young people of different ages and abilities. The Margam Football Club Inclusion Stags are well known in my constituency for the invaluable opportunities they provide for people who might otherwise face significant barriers to taking part in sport. I also recently visited Afan United's brand-new facilities in Sandfields, where a major investment has transformed the site into a high-quality community football hub. This has put modern sporting facilities right on the doorstep of a community where levels of deprivation are high. These are the kinds of projects that can make equality of access a reality and give young people opportunities they might not otherwise have had. Minister, how will the Government ensure that its commitment to improve grass-roots facilities is targeted towards those communities and groups where barriers to participation are greatest?

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4. 6. Reform UK Debate: Local referendums on council tax rises en

   Can you explain to me, then, given those levels of debt, what does a cap do to reduce those levels of debt that you complain about?

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5. 6. Reform UK Debate: Local referendums on council tax rises en

   Which is already there.

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1. 1. Questions to the First Minister cy

   1. Pa asesiad mae'r Llywodraeth wedi'i wneud i ganfod a yw'r trefniadau cludiant ysgol presennol yn diwallu anghenion disgyblion ag anghenion dysgu ychwanegol yn Afan Ogwr Rhondda? OQ64716

   Official English translation

   1. What assessment has the Government made of whether current school transport arrangements meet the needs of pupils with additional learning needs in Afan Ogwr Rhondda? OQ64716

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2. 1. Questions to the First Minister cy

   Diolch, Brif Weinidog. Mae cyngor Rhondda Cynon Taf wedi cadw cludiant ysgol tybiedig ar gyfer rhai o'r dysgwyr mwyaf agored i niwed, gan gynnwys y rheini ag anghenion dysgu ychwanegol. Ar yr un pryd, mae cost gyffredinol cludiant o'r cartref i'r ysgol yn Rhondda Cynon Taf yn cynyddu yn sylweddol, o £10.5 miliwn yn 2021-22 i £16.9 miliwn yn y rhagolygon ar gyfer 2025-26. Gwyddom fod gan rai dysgwyr ag anghenion dysgu ychwanegol anghenion cludiant mwy cymhleth nag eraill ac y gall cludiant priodol fod yn hanfodol i sicrhau eu bod yn gallu mynd i’w haddysg. A all y Prif Weinidog esbonio sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cydweithio ag awdurdodau lleol i sicrhau eu bod yn cael y cyllid sydd ei angen i barhau i ateb anghenion cludiant gwahanol disgyblion ag anghenion dysgu ychwanegol?

   Official English translation

   Thank you, First Minister. Rhondda Cynon Taf council has retained discretionary school transport for some of its most vulnerable learners, including those with additional learning needs. At the same time, the general cost of transport from home to school in Rhondda Cynon Taf has increased significantly, from £10.5 million in 2021-22 to £16.9 million according to forecasts for 2025-26. We know that some learners with additional learning needs have more complex transport needs than others and that suitable transport arrangements can be vital to ensure that they can access their education. Can the First Minister explain how the Welsh Government is working with local authorities to ensure that they receive the funding that they need to continue to meet the different transport needs of pupils with additional learning needs?

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1. 1. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care cy

   4. A wnaiff y Gweinidog Cabinet amlinellu cynlluniau Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer mynd i'r afael â chlefydau cardiofasgwlaidd yn Afan Ogwr Rhondda? OQ64659

   Official English translation

   4. Will the Cabinet Minister outline the Welsh Government's plans for tackling cardiovascular diseases in Afan Ogwr Rhondda? OQ64659

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2. 1. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care en

   Diolch, Weinidog. I recently met with the British Heart Foundation Cymru, and they estimate that cardiovascular disease costs the Welsh economy in the region of £1.7 billion a year. With around 27,000 people in Afan Ogwr Rhondda living with cardiovascular disease, effective national clinical leadership is key to ensuring they receive consistent, high-quality care. In March, the previous Government confirmed that the national clinical lead role for cardiology would be advertised, and recruitment opened in April for a two-year secondment. However, the cardiac implementation network's website still lists its national clinical lead and several other clinical roles as vacant. What steps is the Government taking to ensure that the cardiac implementation network has the clinical leadership it needs to deliver the quality statement for heart conditions?

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3. 10. Short Debate: The importance of port infrastructure and maritime traffic to the Welsh economy en

   Can I thank my fellow Member from Afan Ogwr Rhondda for allowing time within this debate? Across the Siambr, we can often agree that certain issues are important, even if we don't agree on what should be done or the specific actions that are necessary. We must also learn from history. I don't intend to go quite into the historic depths that Ben did, and just think about the last 150 years, but we must learn from history to ensure that we don't repeat the mistakes of history, where ports were seen as the quickest way to export wealth out of our communities. So, how do we build wealth within them? We also need to acknowledge the damage that Brexit caused to a number of our ports. But there are opportunities. [Interruption.] But there are opportunities. In Port Talbot, the ambition to become a global hub for floating offshore wind fabrication and other forms of energy is one that should be supported. Indeed, many of these ports can see real opportunities relating to emerging low-carbon technologies or even 'net stupid zero', as some Members describe it. And doesn't it make sense that, in order to maximise the benefits to Wales of the maritime economy, we seek ownership and control of the Crown Estate so that those opportunities are ours to explore and we can invest the profit into further developments? Diolch.

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1. 7. Reform UK Debate: Wales and the United Kingdom en

   Since the United Kingdom was formed, 65 countries have become independent. How many of those have asked to come back? And what is unique about Wales that you think Wales is incapable of running its own affairs?

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1. 1. Questions to the First Minister cy

   4. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am y cynnydd o ran datblygu strategaeth fwyd genedlaethol newydd? OQ64561

   Official English translation

   4. Will the First Minister provide an update on progress relating to the development of a new national food strategy? OQ64561

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2. 1. Questions to the First Minister cy

   A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog egluro'r cynlluniau sydd gan y Llywodraeth ar gyfer strategaeth fwyd a sut y gall hynny ddechrau lliniaru tlodi bwyd yn Afan Ogwr Rhondda?

   Official English translation

   Will the First Minister provide an update on progress relating to the development of a new food strategy and how that could start to deal with food poverty in Afan Ogwr Rhondda?

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3. 1. Questions to the First Minister cy

   Diolch, Brif Weinidog. Dros gyfnod yr haf, dwi wedi cwrdd â nifer o sefydliadau sy'n ymwneud â thlodi bwyd a diffyg diogeledd bwyd. O ddarpariaeth rheng flaen i bantrïoedd cymunedol, cynlluniau a chynlluniau tyfu, mae pawb yn dweud yr un peth: mae nifer y bobl sy'n gweithio ac yn defnyddio'r adnoddau hyn yn cynyddu, mae cyfraniadau'n lleihau, ac mae grwpiau o bobl sydd erioed wedi gofyn am gymorth o'r blaen yn dechrau gwneud hynny nawr. Sut mae'r Llywodraeth yn bwriadu ymgysylltu â'r sefydliadau lleol hyn, sy'n gweld yr effeithiau ar lawr gwlad, wrth ddatblygu ei strategaeth fwyd genedlaethol?

   Official English translation

   Thank you, First Minister. Over the summer months, I've met with a number of organisations who are involved in food poverty and food insecurity. From frontline provision to community pantries and growing schemes, everyone seems to be saying the same thing: the number of people who are working and using these resources is increasing, contributions are declining, and groups of people who have never sought support before are starting to do so now. How does the Government intend to engage with these local organisations, who see the impacts on the ground, in developing its national food strategy?

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1. 7. Debate: Fair Funding en

   Diolch. I'm going to be asking Members here to support the motion and to reject the amendments that simply do not address the simple question, which is: does Wales secure a fair proportion of total spending in the UK? And if not, what should we do about that? I'm not overly surprised that both Reform and the Conservative group, as committed unionist parties, with no track record of supporting fair funding, parties that put the interests of the UK before Wales, are not supporting this motion. [Interruption.] Well, you could have supported the motion. But to see a similar position from Labour is disappointing. I've only been here for a few weeks, but I've never been as disappointed as I was with the contribution from the Labour spokesperson. I'm struck, like Kiera was, by the cognitive dissonance of Labour's position. To talk about redistribution of wealth as a benefit of being part of the United Kingdom, immediately followed by a recognition that the UK is the most centralised and imbalanced state in western Europe, is quite frankly a danger to the unwary reader, with a high chance of whiplash. If you read the amendment, you would have to deal with the jarring reverse gear that Labour throws on its ambition for Wales. Labour's amendment implies that Scotland is central to achieving fair funding for Wales, but that argument fundamentally misunderstands the way our fiscal framework works. The Scottish Government might not want the same reforms to the Barnett formula as Wales, but we were elected to stand up for Wales, not Scotland. Our fiscal framework is unrelated to Scotland and requires no decision—[Interruption.] I will take an intervention as long as the Llywydd doesn't tell me off later.

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2. 7. Debate: Fair Funding en

   I will. I will go on to outline how they are not related. Changes to how the Welsh budget operates does not necessitate changes to the Scottish budget. The 2014 and 2017 Wales Acts did not change Scotland's framework, nor did the Scotland Act 2016 change ours. The Welsh needs-based factor in Barnett is also separate to and unrelated to Scotland. Wales's comparability factors in Barnett and the classification of expenditure are separate to and unrelated to Scotland. Wales's borrowing limits are separate to and unrelated to Scotland. Wales's reserves drawdown rules are separate to and unrelated to Scotland. Any argument based on the need to discuss with Scotland for any changes to Wales's funding model is wholly disingenuous, and is a way to keep us in a worse settlement. And it's the first time that I've heard of the Scooby Doo principle being invoked here. The Scooby Doo principle being: if it wasn't for those pesky Scots, we would be allowed to do what we can. The UK Government is the most centralised organisation. If they wanted to do this, they could do it. We know that the Scottish Government also has issues. [Interruption.] I’m not going to take more interventions because I’m wary of what the Llywydd might do. We know that the Scottish Government also has issues with the current Barnett formula, and there is considerable scope for improvement. They agree that devolved Governments sit at the very tail end of UK decision-making processes, often contending with extremely late notification of substantial changes in levels of funding and changes to UK policy that affect devolved finances, and we've seen that very recently. Labour's attempt to put off the need for a fair funding model by causing a rift between the Welsh and Scottish Governments misunderstands our shared concerns and the understanding across this island that the funding formula needs to change. We will always stand up for Wales. We deserve a fairer funding formula, and a Plaid Cymru Government will always fight for it. [Interruption.] No, I'm not, because of the Llywydd. Diolch yn fawr.

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1. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language cy

   4. Pa gamau y mae'r Gweinidog Cabinet yn eu cymryd i sicrhau bod gan brifysgolion fodel cyllido cynaliadwy a fydd yn sicrhau bod darpar fyfyrwyr o Afan Ogwr Rhondda yn cael y cyfleoedd ehangaf posibl i fynychu addysg uwch? OQ64296

   Official English translation

   4. What steps is the Cabinet Minister taking to ensure that universities have a sustainable funding model that will ensure that prospective students from Afan Ogwr Rhondda have the widest possible opportunities to attend higher education? OQ64296

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2. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language en

   Thank you, Deputy Minister. As you will know, many of our higher education institutions are going through continued periods of cutbacks, redundancies and course closures. As a former Unison officer at the University of South Wales until very recently, I saw the effects that these cuts were having on the fabric of the sector. Not only are redundancies at these institutions often concentrated in support functions, robbing the locality of good jobs, but they are also leading to course closures and narrowing of potential options, which can itself lead to further reduction in the participation rate in Wales. Will the Minister outline steps that the Government could take to ensure that our institutions can broaden their offer and begin to close the participation gap in Wales?

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3. 7. Reform UK Debate: Nation of Sanctuary en

   Thank you. I wonder if the Member would like to reflect on a statement: 'Barnet has a proud history of providing sanctuary to those fleeing persecution. Ours was the first London borough to resettle Afghan refugees and I am pleased that we can offer a total of five Afghan households the opportunity to resettle in Barnet. We continue to work with the Government and local organisations to offer a warm welcome to the families'.

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4. 7. Reform UK Debate: Nation of Sanctuary en

   'I am proud that Barnet is living up to our reputation as a welcoming, family friendly borough by supporting those in need.' What would you say to the former leader of Barnet Council, a Councillor Dan Thomas, and why do you think he was wrong?

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1. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness and the Constitution cy

   6. Pa gamau mae'r Gweinidog Cabinet yn eu cymryd i fwrw ymlaen â'r broses o ddatganoli cyfiawnder, fel yr argymhellwyd gan y Comisiwn ar Gyfiawnder yng Nghymru? OQ64144

   Official English translation

   6. What steps is the Cabinet Minister taking to progress the devolution of justice, as recommended by the Commission on Justice in Wales? OQ64144

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2. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness and the Constitution en

   Diolch, Weinidog. We know that the current justice settlement undermines Wales, leading to complexity, confusion and poorer outcomes for our communities. The Commission on Justice in Wales found that, due to the Welsh Government often having to operate in reserved areas, almost 40 per cent of the total funding is actually contributed in Wales, above other tax revenue that is raised from Wales and then allocated by the UK Government to Wales. The commission states that: ‘This position is unsustainable when the Welsh Government has so little say in justice policy and overall spending.' Furthermore, they conclude that there is no rational basis for Wales to be treated differently from Scotland and Northern Ireland when it comes to justice settlements, particularly as Wales has its own long legal tradition. Devolving justice would allow the Welsh Government to align policy with its distinct and developing social, health and education policies and services and the growing body of Welsh law, allowing us to adopt a whole-system approach to tackling the root causes of offending. What assessment has the Government made on the positive effects of devolving justice for constituencies across Wales, such as mine?

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3. 5. Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language: Priorities for Education cy

   Gaf i hefyd ddiolch i'r Gweinidog Cabinet am y datganiad heddiw?

   Official English translation

   May I also thank the Cabinet Minister for today's statement?

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4. 5. Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language: Priorities for Education en

   As others have already indicated, Wales has the lowest PISA scores in the UK and is significantly below the OECD average. This is not good enough, and so I welcome the Cabinet Minister's commitment to improving this for the good of our young people and our country. I am a governor in two excellent schools, Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Llwyncelyn and Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Cwm Rhondda, for which I declare the relevant interests. In those schools, standards and attainment are consistently high, but to improve standards across Wales it is vital that we support the recruitment and retention of teachers. Plaid Cymru's increase of the priority subject teacher incentive will be invaluable in supporting our education system. To build on this and further improve our schools, will the Cabinet Minister outline steps that are being taken to develop a new foundational literacy and numeracy plan?

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1. 5. Reform UK Debate: Childcare offer en

   Will the Member take an intervention?

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2. 5. Reform UK Debate: Childcare offer en

   I'm hoping that the spokesman is not indicating that the Labour group will be aligning with Reform on this issue rather than supporting a credible plan. [Interruption.] I hope that I'm wrong. That kind of political posturing risks undermining a process and delivery on an issue where we may share aims. I understand that, after a crushing defeat for Labour, you will as a group look for what your role is here in this Chamber. I'm just not sure that this will help you to rebuild trust with communities like mine in Afan Ogwr Rhondda.

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