Readers of the Caerphilly Observer website have been asking about my role as a regional Assembly Member.
My South Wales East region covers a huge geographical area including Newport, Monmouthshire, Blaenau Gwent, Torfaen and Merthyr Tydfil, as well as Caerphilly county borough.
Over the last few weeks, I’ve met NUS students from Cross Keys/Coleg Gwent, who are concerned about the impact of spending cuts to further education. We also talked about the need to provide jobs for young people in the valleys. I’ve also visited The Works/Coleg Gwent at Ebbw Vale.
Two anti-smacking events have been staged at the Senedd involving young people as well as the NSPCC among others. People will know my views that action should be taken by the Welsh Government to ban smacking, something which has all-party support.
I’ve met Sarah Rochira, the Older People’s Commissioner, to discuss scams that involve elderly people and I’m a signatory to an all-party motion on the subject.
I met representatives of the Chilean community here in Wales following on from the 40th anniversary of the coup there.
I also spoke to a group of senior pupils from Ysgol Gwynlliw in Pontypool, who visited the Senedd and I answered their questions on a range of subjects.
My recent questions to the First Minister have ranged from support for food banks to equality impact assessments and the Flying Start Programme.
While my questions to Ministers include regeneration of towns, action on Independent Living, smoking in cars where children are present, cost saving measures in local government, human trafficking, Farmers Markets and organ donation talks in schools.
As well as attending plenary sessions, I’m also kept busy as a member of the Health and Social Care Committee and I’ve also been a member of the Communities, Equality and Local Government Committee. Committees normally meet every week.
Constituents who would like to raise an issue can contact my constituency office at 2 Portland Buildings, Commercial Street, Pontypool (Tel 01495 763278), or e-mail me at lindsay.whittle@wales.gov.uk.
Lindsay Whittle
Plaid Cymru South Wales East AM