Last week I met with the chair of the North Wales Transport Commission in response to the publication of its interim report to discuss some of the issues raised and to make representation on behalf of constituents and our communities. The final report will be available later in the year, but for now it’s worth taking a look at some of the draft recommendations in the interim report – it’s available at www.gov.wales/north-wales-transport-commission-interim-report-june-2023.
The commission is largely looking at ways in which public transport across the region can be better connected, more accessible and a more attractive alternative. Over the coming weeks and months, I will be exploring further ways in which I can make sure our voices and the needs and diversity of Flintshire residents are heard, but in the meantime you can contact the commission direct by emailing NorthWalesTransportCommission@gov.wales.
I also travelled to London last week to meet with the UK Government ministers responsible for veterans and fire and rescue services and I attended a reception to mark the LGBT Veterans Independent Review at the Imperial War Museum. The review was set up by the UK Government to examine the long-lasting effects the pre-2000 ‘gay ban’ the UK Armed Forces has had on LGBT veterans and will seek to better understand the experience of LGBT veterans who served between 1967 and 2000, including those still in the military. The ban on homosexuality in the military was wrong and hurtful, so the work Lord Etherton and his team, with whom I’ve engaged on this issue, is essential to inform governments of the best ways to support LGBT+ veterans in the future.
While in the UK capital, I also met with the general secretary of Unison Christina McAnea to discuss social partnership working in Wales and the new Social Partnership & Public Procurement Act which I introduced and which gained royal assent in May. This landmark legislation will give workers more of a say in shaping public services, workplaces and Wales and will help to make Wales a stronger and fairer place to live and work.
There has been a lot of talk and misinformation on social media in recent days about the Welsh Government’s Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) plan for schools as part of the Welsh curriculum, with one Conservative politician claiming that children as young as three are being taught about sex. Of course, this is totally untrue and a gross distortion of the actual facts – all teaching in Welsh schools about RSE is age-appropriate, with the subject of ‘relationships’ rather than adult issues being the focus in primary schools. It’s a real shame that the Welsh Conservatives are so desperate to slam Wales and its government that they need to resort to misleading the public.
Are you looking to volunteer for something rewarding that supports your local community? Flint Coastguard Rescue Team is currently recruiting volunteers to carry out rescues and help those in distress around our coast and the work you’d be doing will really help to save lives. For more information about the Coastguard Rescue Service, visit www.hmcoastguard.uk/volunteer or to request an application form email area15@mcga.gov.uk by June 30 and include your name, age, current address and contact number. Please also specify which Coastguard Rescue Team you have an interest in joining in your local area – you’ll then be sent an application form.
As usual, if you would like advice and/or support, please don’t hesitate to get in touch on any of the following contact details – 52 High Street, Mold, Flintshire, on 01352 753464 or by email hannah.blythyn@senedd.wales You can also keep up to date via my Facebook page – www.facebook.com/HannahBlythynForDelyn. Constituents are, of course, welcome to contact my office to arrange an appointment to see me, you don’t need to wait until an advice surgery.