Zoomchat with Eluned Morgan MS, First Minister of Wales - Wednesday 30th April, 2.30pm

[RhiannonEMumsnet]

Hi all,

We’re pleased to announce a Mumsnet Asks Zoomchat with First Minister of Wales Eluned Morgan MS on Wednesday 30th April at 2.30pm. Please post your questions below, and we’ll put a selection to the First Minister via Zoom.

You’ll be able to watch live by registering here but we’ll also be recording so you can catch up if you can’t make it. We won’t be able to take questions during the chat so please do make sure you post on the thread if there’s something you’d like to ask. We’ll be closing the thread to questions on Tuesday.

If you join the Zoomchat, your camera will be turned off by default. Your screen name might be visible, so consider whether you’re happy to use your real name or want to use your MN posting name - or something else entirely.

Please stick to the usual guidelines - one question per user, keep it civil, and if one topic is dominating, please don't continue to post what's effectively the same question or point (we'll be deleting questions that are repeated multiple times). We'll be limited for time so do keep questions as short as possible so that we’re able to ask more of them - as always, we'll try to make sure we cover the topics that we know are important to Mumsnet users.

Thanks,
MNHQ

I echo this, in England there is the right to choose system, whereby people can obtain a private diagnosis from a registered clinic and then use this to access the relevant services through their NHS GP. This move could potentially free up huge numbers from the waiting list (we have children coming through schools in Nursery/Reception who very clearly need more support but can’t even obtain a diagnosis or have an Ed Psych out to see them until they reach year 4/5, whereby their learning has been affected massively - and the learning of others around them sometimes - and it’ll be subsequently see them going into secondary school struggling!)

Croeso Eluned, I listened to FMQs this week and read the written statement of Welsh Govt in response to the Supreme Court ruling.

You talked of needing time to consider next steps and this taking until late summer.

However your own Govt LGBTQ action plan and multiple ministerial statements state that ‘Trans women are women’. That is entirely at odds with the Supreme Court ruling.

So why aren’t you amending that plan here and now? What time do you need?

Women are being discriminated against services in Wales because of your Govt’s ideological position.

I’d also like to know, unequivocally and without any political deflection, whether you agree that a woman can only be an adult human female?

Diolch

Do you think Transwomen are women?

Hello/Noswaith dda Eluned,

What are your plans for Cymaeg (the Welsh language), both to increase the number who speak the language, and respect for those who have no wish to?

Schools in Wales are in crisis.

High tariff extreme behaviour is escalating. I’ve seen teachers hit and punched a number of times just in the past few weeks - support from the LA is limited and difficult to source. We are very much expected to fend for ourselves.

Teachers are facing complex situations that require expert help that isn’t available.

Staff morale is low. Recruitment and retention are not good.

Budgets are stagnant whilst costs are rising. Many schools are having to make staffing cuts. This means larger classes, less support staff and less effective education. More stress for staff.
it’s incredibly sad that teacher pay rises have a negative impact on education.

I’ve been a teacher for 33 years and I do not remember feeling so desperate about the stage of education.

Do you believe that under these circumstances schools will be able to thrive and educate the children of Wales successfully?
What measures do you plan to put in place to support education in Wales?

What is being done about people waiting for many hours in Ambulances at hospitals in Wales and over the border in English hospitals (which are the local District General Hospital to many Welsh residents)?

Why after many years in powers are people being cared for in corridors?

Does the First Minister agree that lesbians in Wales have the absolute right to associate physically and as online groups without men who identify as lesbians being present?

Why did the Welsh government think it was a good idea to have mixed sex toilets in high schools?

Maternity care appears to be shockingly poor in Wales, and families at Swansea Bay health board are calling for a proper investigation into maternity failings there. This isn't an isolated case - we've already had an investigation into failings in maternity care at Cwm Taf, for example. What are your plans for addressing these problems?

Hi Eluned
I'm a survivor of sexual assault.
I suffer with long term physical disability and would like to use local public leisure facilities to try to address some of my issues but it's essential for me to have access to women only sessions and single sex changing rooms.
I've been unable to find a facility which will guarantee that its provision excludes biological males if they identify as women. Some only have mixed-sex changing rooms.
Will these policies change after the Supreme Court ruling and how can you speed up the change?

Why are Welsh NHS health boards waiting for clarification of the Supreme Court ruling on the definition of women to change their policy?
Surely devolution of health care doesn't over rule UK law?

What would you say has been the most significant success and the greatest ongoing challenge of devolution?

Hi Eluned.
WG seems to recognise the importance of the First 1000 Days and it is well known that investing in early years provides clear economic returns and impacts lifelong health. At the moment basic services are stretched and there is a lack of funding for interventions (such as breastfeeding support mentioned by a PP). Do you know what is spent on early years as a proportion of the total health budget? Are there any plans to increase spending on early years to improve the nation's long term health?
Diolch.

Is it treating women with “compassion and kindness” to allow men including transwomen, in women’s changing rooms, toilets, hospital wards and sports?

I don’t believe it is, in my opinion the Welsh Government are abusing women if they allow this - women should be safe and protected from men and men presenting themselves as women.

Why are mental health services so poor in Wales? Why do people in mental health crisis get sent hundreds of miles away to receive care? Why hasn’t the Welsh Government done anything about this?

Drivers in Wales are still having to drive at 20 mph on far too many roads. This is a policy likely to cause upsets in future elections, also the massive expenditure on cycle routes which are never used. Should the money allocated in these areas be spent on services people want and need, health as an example? Or locally keeping libraries open?

I have Multiple Sclerosis, there are times when I can lose mobility and have cognitive difficulties. If the Welsh Govt is not going to accept the ruling of the Supreme Court how can I be sure I will be able to ask for and receive female only intimate care when I need it?

Hi all,

Thanks so much for sharing your questions - we put a selection to Eluned this afternoon and you can watch the interview here: https://www.mumsnet.com/i/eluned-morgan-mumsnet-asks.

Thanks,
MNHQ

Disappointing - we don’t get it right in Wales but England is worse.

@MrsCrochet

your question comes up at 14:12.

Yes, the SC ruling is law and will be followed in Wales.
but its ’very complex’, there’s ’sensitive issues’ and ‘strong feelings’ involved and we first need to think through the ‘implications’.

Agreed. And did I hear Eluned right that there’s 3.1million people in Wales and 2.7million have contact with the NHS every month ?

@IKnowAristotle

Eluned gave
free school meals
free prescriptions
real living wage
2nd best recycling rate on the planet

as example of the most significant success (sic)

and NHS as the ongoing challenge of devolution.

Thanks. I did have the opportunity to watch yesterday and it was a good discussion. I think Eluned is doing a good job as FM.

She also mentioned Future Generations act as a success and bringing more high quality jobs and investment into Wales as an ongoing challenge.

Yes a bit more about her than her predecessor.

She skirted around most issues. The NHS is a complete mess. She fully believes trans women are women. Failures around social care. Only really cares about south wales. People dying waiting on lists.