Last week I was appointed as Chair of the Senedd’s Standards of Conduct Committee, a committee which has been tasked with undertaking a hugely important piece of work and I am grateful to colleagues for giving me the opportunity to lead it. I’m very much looking forward to the change and challenge that comes with it and to playing my part in ensuring and advancing the integrity of the Senedd – from processes to policies and the people who serve within it.
It was a busy week in the Senedd and I had the opportunity to ask questions and contribute in committees during the week. First up, I was able to ask what action the Welsh Government was taking to ensure a just transition for workers in North Wales – creating the environment in which changes in company practices are done with the workforce not to them – following on from the recent announcement that Kimberly Clark will be closing its two mills in Flint, which will not only affect the 230 Kimberly Clark employees, but also 100 GXO employees as well. There is more that we can do to build on work towards that just transition in practice as well as in principle, which involves the voice of the workforce through trade unions, such as Unite the union.
I also had the opportunity to ask how the Welsh Government could accelerate the work into town centre regeneration regarding the issue of affordable housing and how local authorities could play a part as potential public sector landlords during the Housing and Local Government Committee last week. The lack of one-bedroom properties is a real issue for local authorities, particularly for single and younger people, and it’s a real problem in our corner of north east Wales where similar housing stock is in short supply.
Back here at home, I recently visited St Winefride’s Holy Well once again – I was prompted to do so by the BBC programme Pilgrimage which saw a group of participants follow the Pilgrims Way across North Wales. The town of Holywell takes its name from the 7th century well, one of the Seven Wonders of Wales, and the Holy Well is said to spring from the spot where St Beuno brought his niece Winefride back to life. It is reputedly the oldest continually-visited pilgrim site in Britain and it is on the route of the North Wales Pilgrim’s Way that travels along the Llŷn Peninsula to Bardsey Island. It was great to visit the chapel and museum and learn more about some of the important artefacts on display there and to also take a look at the well and bathing area where pilgrims still visit to bathe and take advantage of its reputed healing properties.
On Friday, I returned to Nice-pak International in Flint with Alyn and Deeside MP Mark Tami and met with the new managing director Micheal Docker, who joined the company in August. I’m always interested to talk with local employers and I’ve always had strong links with Nice-pak, which has sponsored my annual Christmas card competition in recent years. Later that afternoon, I hosted an informal help and advice drop-in session for residents and their carers at Llys Jasmine in Mold, partnered by Wales & West Housing Association, where I was joined by David Allmark from Alzheimer’s Society Cymru.
Finally, there is still time to nominate candidates for the third term of the Welsh Youth Parliament – nominations are due to close on September 30. The Welsh Youth Parliament gives young people the opportunity to have their say on the things that matter to them in Wales – I’ve often said that it’s vital that we engage young people in democracy and politics as they will make up the next generation of people who want to make a difference in Wales.
When I speak with young people about the things they care about and how they want to see Wales evolve as a nation in their lifetimes, I’m always struck by their interesting ideas and take on things – every year I host a Democracy in Action day with Flintshire schools in order to get young people interested in politics and the political process. Back in the summer, it was announced that 20 Welsh organisations were appointed as partner organisations for the third term of the Youth Parliament, including Ty Gobaith here in north Wales and Young Farmers Wales. Find out how to nominate a candidate or register to vote at https://youthparliament.senedd.wales.
As always, 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 for an advice surgery.