Statements of Opinion
Assembly Statements of Opinion List
Statements of Opinion can be tabled by any Assembly Member, other than a Member of the Government, on maters affecting Wales. Statements of Opinion may be supported, opposed or subject to comment. I have written many such statements, and they are listed below.
Visteon workers
Raised By:
Bethan Jenkins
1 December 2009
This Assembly:
* Congratulates former Visteon employees in their successful campaign for their right to redundancy pay, after Visteon closed their UK factories;
* Notes that the company pension scheme is now being investigated by the Pensions Regulator and despite support from the Pension Protection Fund some former employees are facing cuts to their pensions of over 50%;
* Notes with great concern that these employees are former Ford employees who were guaranteed Ford terms and conditions, including pensions, for life before they were transferred to Visteon and calls on Ford and Visteon to ensure that this commitment is honoured.
Action for Children’s awareness campaign about neglect
Raised By:
Bethan Jenkins
13 October 2009
This Assembly:
Welcomes Action for Children’s awareness campaign about neglect
Notes
- neglect is regularly failing to ensure a child’s basic needs are met,
- that studies suggest up to 10% UK children are neglected and it is the biggest reason for children needing protection
- Action for Children’s recent report, Backing the Future, (with NEF) which found investment in preventation and early intervention by UK governments would save £871bn over 20 years
- Calls on WAG to spend wisely on services focussed on prevention and early intervention to improve outcomes and end the intergenerational cycle of disadvantage
Protecting Disability Benefit
Raised By:
Bethan Jenkins
1st September 2009
This Assembly:
notes with concern proposals contained in the UK Government’s Green Paper, “Shaping the Future of Care Together”, to abolish Attendance Allowance by integrating it into the care and support system in order to fund future support and care for older people in England;
notes with concern that any changes to England’s care and support system that integrate some disability benefits funding would affect the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland;
supports the retention of Attendance Allowance and Disability Living Allowance as benefits which allow disabled persons to retain financial independence.
Refugee Week 15 – 19 June 2009
Raised By:
Bethan Jenkins
12 June 2009
The National Assembly: recognises the occasion of Refugee Week and notes that are an estimated 30 million refugees world-wide;
- recognises the important contribution made to Welsh life by refugees and asylum seekers;
- supports the five ‘We’ll Keep a Welcome’ pledges of the Welsh Refugee Council;
- and calls for an end to the practice of detaining refugees and asylum seekers by the UK Government.
Give Girls a chance – World day against Child Labour day 2009
Raised By:
Bethan Jenkins
June 2009
This Assembly celebrates the world day against child Labour and calls on Welsh consumers businesses and retail outlets to use their purchase power and influence to press for:
- Policy responses around the world to address the causes of child labour, paying particular attention to the situation of girls
- Urgent action to tackle the worst forms of Child Labour
- Greater attention to the education and skills training needs of adolescent girls – a key action point in tackling child labour and providing a pathway for girls to gain decent work as adults.
End Israeli attacks on Gaza
Raised By:
Bethan Jenkins
5th January 2009
‘The National Assembly for Wales calls on the Welsh Assembly Government to make an urgent public statement condemning the Israeli government’s attacks on Gaza, and calls on the Welsh Assembly Government to echo demands made by the International community for an immediate ceasefire.’
Police Pay
OPIN-2008- 0004 – Police Pay
Raised By:
Bethan Jenkins
Subscribers:
- Chris Franks 29/01/2008
- Leanne Wood 29/01/2008
- Janet Ryder 29/01/2008
- Mohammad Asghar 29/01/2008
- Dai Lloyd 29/01/2008
- Nerys Evans 29/01/2008
- Alun Ffred Jones 29/01/2008
- Helen Mary Jones 29/01/2008
- Trish Law 30/01/2008
- Gareth Jones 30/01/2008
Police Pay
The National Assembly calls upon the UK Government to honour the pay award recommended by the Police Arbitration Board in full.
The National Assembly notes that the Police Arbitration Board was established to recommend a fair pay deal for Police officers and should therefore not be ignored by the UK Government.
The National Assembly further notes its concern at the UK Government’s approach to public sector pay in general, and calls for fair pay deals for all our public sector workers
Fair Trade, Ethical Procurement and a Better Deal for producers in the developing world
OPIN-2008- 0001 – Fair Trade, Ethical Procurement and a Better Deal for producers in the developing world
Raised By:
Lorraine Barrett, Bethan Jenkins, Jenny Randerson and Darren Millar
Subscribers:
- Lesley Griffiths 16/01/2008
- Kirsty Williams 16/01/2008
- Janice Gregory 16/01/2008
- Sandy Mewies 16/01/2008
- Mark Isherwood 16/01/2008
- Irene James 16/01/2008
- Alun Davies 16/01/2008
- Nerys Evans 16/01/2008
- Mick Bates 16/01/2008
- Val Lloyd 16/01/2008
- Nick Bourne 16/01/2008
- Angela Burns 16/01/2008
- Andrew RT Davies 16/01/2008
- Huw Lewis 17/01/2008
- Lynne Neagle 17/01/2008
- Alun Ffred Jones 17/01/2008
- Leanne Wood 17/01/2008
- Dai Lloyd 17/01/2008
- Janet Ryder 17/01/2008
- Helen Mary Jones 17/01/2008
- Mohammad Asghar 17/01/2008
- Chris Franks 17/01/2008
- Mike German 17/01/2008
- Paul Davies 17/01/2008
- Rosemary Butler 17/01/2008
- David Melding 21/01/2008
- Peter Black 21/01/2008
- Trish Law 30/01/2008
- Gareth Jones 30/01/2008
Fair Trade, Ethical Procurement and a Better Deal for producers in the developing world
That this Assembly:
- Is committed to promoting trade justice and ethical procurement, in practice and in policy.
- Is further committed to achieving fair trade country status for Wales.
- Recognises the central part that Fair Trade can play in ending world poverty, ensuring sustainable development and protecting our environment.
Supporting Eating Disorders Awareness Week 08
OPIN-2008- 0023 – Supporting Eating Disorders Awareness Week 08
Raised By:
Bethan Jenkins
Subscribers:
- Jenny Randerson 26/02/08
- Nick Bourne 26/02/2008
- Irene James 26/02/2008
- Lorraine Barrett 26/02/2008
- Joyce Watson 26/02/2008
- Christine Chapman 26/02/2008
- Kirsty Williams 27/02/2008
- Angela Burns 27/02/2008
- Paul Davies 27/02/2008
- Helen Mary Jones 28/02/2008
- Janet Ryder 28/02/2008
- Nerys Evans 28/02/2008
- Alun Ffred Jones 28/02/2008
- Dai Lloyd 28/02/2008
- Mohammad Asghar 28/02/2008
- Leanne Wood 28/02/2008
- Chris Franks 28/02/2008
- Gareth Jones 28/02/2008
- Darren Millar 28/02/2008
Supporting Eating Disorders Awareness Week 08
The National Assembly fully supports Eating Disorders Awareness Week ’08.
As Assembly Members we recognise the importance of raising awareness about eating disorders and challenging the stigma that people with eating disorders face.
It is estimated that there are 58,000 people currently suffering from eating disorders in Wales, and that 20% will die (the highest fatality rate of any mental illness).
Keep the Promise Campaign – Save the Children
OPIN-2008- 0067 – Keep the Promise Campaign – Save the Children
Raised By:
Bethan Jenkins
Subscribers:
- Trish Law 24/09/2008
- Nerys Evans 02/10/2008
- Mohammad Asghar 02/10/2008
- Dai Lloyd 02/10/2008
- Gareth Jones 02/10/2008
- Rhodri Glyn Thomas 02/10/2008
- Chris Franks 02/10/2008
- Leanne Wood 02/10/2008
- Helen Mary Jones 02/10/2008
- Janet Ryder 02/10/2008
Keep the Promise Campaign – Save the Children
The National Assembly for Wales:
Supports Save the Children’s ‘Keep the Promise’ rally at Trafalgar Square on the 4th of October 2008;
Welcomes the commitment of the Welsh Assembly Government to tackle child poverty; and
Calls on the UK Government to keep its pledge to halve child poverty by 2010 and to ensure that resources are made available to meet its child poverty targets.
Anti-Bullying Week 2008
OPIN-2008- 0078 – Anti-Bullying Week 2008
Raised By:
Bethan Jenkins
Subscribers:
- Lesley Griffiths 17/11/2008
- Rhodri Glyn Thomas 20/11/2008
- Nerys Evans 20/11/2008
- Mohammad Asghar 20/11/2008
- Dai Lloyd 20/11/2008
- Gareth Jones 20/11/2008
- Chris Franks 20/11/2008
- Leanne Wood 20/11/2008
- Janet Ryder 20/11/2008
- Helen Mary Jones 20/11/2008
Anti-Bullying Week 2008
The National Assembly for Wales:
Supports those organisations taking part in events to mark Anti-Bullying Week 2008 (17-21 November);
Supports the ‘Being different, belonging together’ theme of this year’s Anti-Bullying Week and calls for all sectors in Wales to engage in efforts to address bullying in all forms including racism, religion and culture, homophobia, SEN and disability, and cyber-bullying;
Applauds the work being undertaken to eradicate bullying at school and in the workplace.
Defending the Welsh National Football Team
OPIN-2008- 0073 – Defending the Welsh National Football Team
Raised By:
Bethan Jenkins
Subscribers:
- Lesley Griffiths 08/10/2008
- Helen Mary Jones 10/10/2008
- Leanne Wood 10/10/2008
- Mohammad Asghar 10/10/2008
- Janet Ryder 10/10/2008
- Chris Franks 10/10/2008
Defending the Welsh National Football Team
The National Assembly:
Supports the Football Association of Wales’ opposition to the creation of a Great Britain football team for the 2012 Olympics;
Supports the continuation of separate national teams for the nations of the United Kingdom;
Opposes any steps which would jeopardise Wales’ footballing independence;
Congratulates the strong stance taken by the Government of Wales in opposition to these proposals.
Red Ribbon Day – World AIDS Day
OPIN-2008- 0099 – Red Ribbon Day – World AIDS Day
Raised By:
Bethan Jenkins
Subscribers:
- Nerys Evans
- Trish Law
- Darren Millar
- Nick Ramsay
- Rhodri Glyn Thomas
- Lorraine Barrett
- Lynne Neagle
- Huw Lewis
- Val Lloyd
- Mark Isherwood
- Jenny Randerson
- Joyce Watson
Red Ribbon Day – World AIDS Day
The National Assembly for Wales notes that, according to UNAIDS estimates, there are now 33.2 million people living with HIV, including 2.5 million children, worldwide.
Around 95% of people with HIV/AIDS live in developing nations. But HIV today is a threat to men, women and children throughout the world. In Wales up until the end of June 2008, 1526 individuals were diagnosed with HIV infection.
The National Assembly for Wales supports the efforts of AVERT – the International AIDS charity in raising awareness of HIV/AIDS on World AIDS Day on the 1st December.
