MY WEEK

JULIE MORGAN AM

LABOUR WELSH ASSEMBLY MEMBER FOR CARDIFF NORTH

MY WEEK: 2011

On this page, I will endeavour to keep you updated about some of my activities each week in both the Senedd and Cardiff North.

I’ll let you know about my contributions in the chamber, where I’ve visited, press appearances, what I’ve been campaigning on, and what my views are on any issues that have arisen during the week.

For ARCHIVE of DECEMBER 2011, click here.

For ARCHIVE of NOVEMBER 2011, click here.

For ARCHIVE of OCTOBER 2011, click here.

For ARCHIVE of SEPTEMBER 2011, click here.

JANUARY 27th - FEBRUARY 2nd 2012

IN THE SENEDD

At my office in the Assembly.

On Tuesday, January 31st, I came in on Question 6 in First Minister’s Questions and brought up the sale of Peacocks:

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Julie Morgan : Would the First Minister agree that a successful sale of Peacocks would be a boost to us here in Wales? Would he also agree that a successful sale means keeping the head office, the three distribution centres and shops across Wales, including in the district shopping centres, such as Whitchurch in my constituency of Cardiff North?

○	To read the rest of the discussion, click here.

I also spoke about Sustrans, OYBike and Cardiff Bus Station in the debate about The National Transport Plan:

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Julie Morgan : A key ongoing commitment of the national transport plan is to encourage walking and cycling, as the Minister said in his introductory speech. I would like to focus first on the success that can be achieved by sustained efforts to shift people from cars to healthier, more sustainable forms of transport. Sustrans worked for a three-year period with two hospitals in my constituency of Cardiff North—the University Hospital of Wales in the Heath and Velindre hospital.

○	For the rest of the debate, click here.

I also attended the Public Accounts Committee.

On Wednesday, February 1st, I attended the Children and Young People Committee.

○	I also asked a question about booking rooms for big events in the Assembly in Questions to the Assembly Commission:

○	Julie Morgan : What assessment has the Commission made of the adequacy of accommodation for meetings of large groups of people in the Assembly?

○	For the discussion, click here.

It was the launch of LGBT History Month Cymru 2012 in the Oriel in the Senedd – this was organised by the LGBT Excellence Centre. What a great range of stalls at the event, including SPLAG Wales – Support for Parents of Lesbians and Gay Men – phone 0845 652 0321/0322. I’m pictured at the SPLAG stand below:

Gillian Clarke, the National Poet for Wales composed and read out a poem written especially for the event:

OUT and ABOUT

Here I am pictured with Dilwar Ali and Siobhan Corria with plans for the new Llandaf train station – the plans will improve accessibility for passengers:

On Wednesday, February 1st, I went to the Cochrane Colloquia on healthy living at UHW – inspiring to say the least!

IN THE NEWS

31/1/2012: Read my press release about the review of Cardiff’s community alarm service here.

1/2/2012: Read my press release about Peacocks here.

JANUARY 11th - JANUARY 26th 2012

IN THE SENEDD

On Tuesday, January 24th, I went along to support Wildlife Trusts Wales’ Petition Fish in the Senedd – this is a campaign for Marine Protected Areas:

In Plenary, I came in on Question 1 to the First Minister about Scottish independence:

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Julie Morgan: Does the First Minister agree that when voters in Scotland come to put their crosses in the vote on Scottish independence, they should consider that they are breaking away not just from England, but from Wales and Northern Ireland—two fellow Celtic nations? Does he think that they should consider that when they vote?

○	To read the rest of the discussion, click here.

I also spoke on adoption in response to the statement from the Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services on the Progress of the Social Services Bill:

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Julie Morgan: I welcome the Deputy Minister’s statement on the progress of the social services Bill and welcome the fact that it has had, so far, a good reception from local authorities and from the voluntary sector. I particularly welcome her plan to bring in an all-Wales adoption agency. I am sure that this will give children who are available for adoption much more choice. However, has she made any assessment of whether the adoption process can be speeded up in view of the sensitive nature of the issues involved in removing children from their birth families and the fact that the average time between entry to care and adoption in Wales is approximately two years and seven months?

○	Read the full discussion here.

On Wednesday, January 25th, I attended the Finance Committee.

In Plenary, I came in on Question 4 to the Minister for Environment and Sustainable Development about switching energy suppliers:

○	Julie Morgan: As well as lacking access to broadband, people who do not switch also tend to be younger and on low incomes. The fact that Consumer Focus Wales found that they tend to be younger is probably a bit of a surprise. Do you think that the Ofgem recommendations will address that issue?

○	Read the full discussion here.

I came in on Question 4 to the Minister for Housing, Regeneration and Heritage about participation in sport:

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Julie Morgan: Will the Minister join me in congratulating Cardiff City Football Club on its magnificent win in the Carling Cup last night after a very tense evening? Does he agree that such high-profile events are very important in encouraging young people to take part in sport, and in combatting the dangers of childhood obesity, which is one of the big health dangers of the future?

○	Read the full discussion here.

I met with the Lisvane 50+ Club after their tour of the Senedd. It was good to say hello and to answer their questions:

I chaired the CPG on Children in Wales on the physical punishment of children. It was an inspiring and very successful meeting.

On Thursday, January 26th, I attended the Children and Young People Committee.

OUT and ABOUT

On Saturday, January 21st, I ran a workshop and spoke at Labour’s Black Asian and Minority Ethnic Communities Conference (BAME). It was great to see such enthusiasm for politics!

I was happy to celebrate the Chinese New Year with Cardiff Council candidates Cecilia Love and Peter Wong, as well as Mark Drakeford AM and Vaughan Gething AM. Happy it’s the year of the dragon! (JM, VG, CL, PW, MD pictured).

On Monday, January 24th, I went to a meeting at Hawthorn School in Llandaff North.

On Thursday, January 26th, I spoke at the Temple of Peace in a debate about Burma organised by the UNA. Wales has shown great solidarity with the people of Burma in their struggle for freedom and democracy. I spoke alongside Moe Bu, an exiled campaigner from the Burma Campaign UK:

Read my press release here.

Read my press release about Cefn Onn nursery in Llanishen here.

SURGERIES

To see the latest schedule for my advice surgeries, click on the poster below:

JANUARY 10th - JANUARY 19th 2012

IN THE SENEDD

JANUARY 17th-19th:

On Tuesday, January 17th, I spoke on the Urgent Question concerning Peacocks:

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Julie Morgan : Does the Minister agree that it is a very frustrating situation that a profitable company, which is also progressive in making fashionable clothes available to a mass market, has been brought to the brink of insolvency because it was overloaded with too much debt when taken over by a hedge fund several years ago? Do you not agree that this is a very frustrating situation, and will you do what you can, working with the local authorities, to try to save the thousands of jobs at stake, both in the Peacocks headquarters, and in the stores, including the store in Cardiff North?

○	To read the rest of the discussion, click here.

I attended the Public Accounts Committee.

I was glad to support the National Deaf Children’s Society’s campaign to make schools more accessible to children with a hearing loss:

On Wednesday, January 18th, I asked Question 5 to the Minister for Finance and Leader of the House:

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Julie Morgan : What plans does the Minister have to improve the process of allocating grants. What support does the Welsh Government offer to applicants for Government grants from black and ethnic minority communities who may have English as a second language and may need help with understanding the criteria for the grants and with filling in the forms?

○	To read the rest of the discussion, click here.

I also spoke in the debate about Flying Start and the Foundation Phase:

○	Julie Morgan: We clearly see the Welsh Government’s commitment to children. I will end with what the great North American social reformer and former slave, Frederick Douglass, said: 'It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men’—and women, of course.

○	To read the rest of my speech and the rest of the debate, click here.

On Wednesday, I was also pleased to sponsor an Ofgem event and to back plans for simplifying the energy market for consumers.

I also took part in Consumer Focus Wales’ Big Energy Week event – a Question Time panel at the Wales Millennium Centre.

I attended the Children and Young People Committee.

On Thursday, January 19th, I went along to support the launch of the new look and expansion of the All Wales Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Helpline funded by the Welsh Government. The number is 0808 80 10 800. More information can be found on the website:

JANUARY 10th-12th:

On Tuesday, January 10th, I asked Question 7 in First Minister’s Questions:

○	Julie Morgan: What discussions has the First Minister had with the Secretary of State for Wales and Network Rail about the electrification of the Valleys Lines.

○	To read my supplementary question and the rest of the discussion, click here.

On Wednesday, January 11th, I came in on Question 1 to the Minister for Communities and Local Government:

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Julie Morgan: I am sure that the Minister is aware that the OYBike cycle hire scheme was withdrawn from Cardiff on 23 December, despite the fact that there were 2,000 registered users and that it was a good base on which to build a sustainable form of transport. Does the Minister agree that the loss of this scheme is a big disappointment, and what discussions has the Government had with Cardiff Council in seeking a replacement?

○	To read the discussion, click here.

I attended the Finance Committee.

On Wednesday, I also attended an inspiring meeting about relief work in Haiti and a powerful meeting about stillbirths.

On Thursday, January 12th, I attended the Children and Young People Committee.

IN PRINT

Read my recent press releases/press coverage about...:

Dangerous Dogs – see the BBC report here and the Western Mail article here.
Private hire taxis and bus lanes – read the South Wales Echo article here.
Investment in Llandaf Train Station in Llandaff North

Read my representations to the Planning Committee on...:

Whitchurch Hospital
Eglwys Wen/Melin Gruffydd
Eglwys Newydd

OUT AND ABOUT

I went to several events over the Christmas and New Year period including...:

A celebration of 50 years of the Whitchurch High School Carol Service at Llandaff Cathedral.

A Christmas lunch at the WRVS Whitchurch Social Club. The club is a fantastic way for older people in north Cardiff to get out and about, and feel included and less isolated in their community:

The New Year celebration of the Cardiff Malayalee Association – this is a a non-profit, non-political and non-religious organization of Keralites from India residing in the United Kingdom. It was a wonderful event. Find out more on their website here.