Speeches by Witherden.

“I would like to question all three members of the panel, but I will start with Ms Thomas. Are local health boards adequately funded to deliver the services required by prisoners in Wales? If not, what funding is needed, and who ought to provide it?”

“Survivors of domestic abuse and violence, along with their children, must be able to access affordable housing. The local housing allowance, introduced by the last Labour Government to cover the lowest 50% of private rents, now covers only 1% of private rents in Wales and 2.4% in England. Does the Minister agree that u…”

“5. What steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help tackle violence against women and girls.”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Dowd. I thank the hon. Member for Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe (David Chadwick), with whom I share a health board, for securing this important debate. Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr is served by two of the three Welsh local health boards that directly border England—65% by…”

“As a teacher of 19 years, it is very nice to be asking Estyn questions, not the other way round, so I will start with Ms Scott, if I may. What is the impact of the lack of data regarding participation and achievement by learners in Wales, and why is equivalent data available in England?”

“For my follow-up question, I was going to ask what particular dataset you would like to see more than any other, but that has been addressed in the responses, so I will move to my final question. Ms Scott, how do Estyn and Ofsted ensure that inspection methodologies enable effective comparison?”

“One in three children in my constituency is growing up in poverty. With the Budget approaching, what discussions has the Secretary of State had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer about scrapping the two-child limit—a policy widely recognised as one of the biggest drivers of child poverty in Britain today?”

“I would like to ask Ms Rowson-Woods a question first. My constituency contains an old chemical plant, which was absolutely huge. It was the biggest producer of the chemical phenol in the world in the 1920s, straddling three villages, Acrefair, Cefn Mawr and Trevor, and two constituencies, as one village is in the neigh…”

“I had a follow-up question for Ms Rowson-Woods, but you have largely answered it in your initial comments. The question was about what mechanisms exist for communities to acquire local industrial sites and buildings that have been left in a state of disrepair by their owners. You touched on that in your response, but i…”

“Is there anything you would like to add to that, Mr Thomas?”

“No pressure, then. How confident are you that the industrial strategy will boost economic growth in disadvantaged communities rather than concentrating on areas that are already prosperous?”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Twigg. I thank the hon. Member for Caerfyrddin (Ann Davies) for securing this important debate to ensure that the Government’s proposed ban on new coal licences stays true to its legislative aim, while putting the safety of our constituents over profit-making opportuni…”

“Would the hon. Gentleman agree that if we narrow the curriculum, take out the music and drama lessons, fill the curriculum and stack it to the rafters with numeracy and literacy-heavy subjects, all the pedagogies, and teach to the test, with exams, exams, exams, that will lead to better PISA results but not necessarily…”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Ms Lewell. Before being elected, I spent nearly two decades as a teacher. I know all too well the realities of working in a system that prioritises teaching to the test at the expense of a creative curriculum, broader educational experiences and, most importantly, pupil w…”

“Yes, I agree 100%. In 2025, more than 75% of pupils with SEND and over 90% of those with an education, health and care plan did not meet expected standards in their end-of-primary SATs. Many carry that label of failure into secondary school before they have even had the chance to flourish. As someone who is dyslexic, d…”

“Although education is devolved in Wales, I speak in my capacity as chair of the all-party parliamentary group for education and parliamentary convenor of the Socialist Educational Association. Before getting elected, I was a teacher for nearly two decades, so I know all too well the realities of our education system. D…”

“Does my hon. Friend agree that, when a class element applies with less favourable outcomes for those who cannot pay, the very concept of universalism is in jeopardy?”

“Before I ask my questions, I would just like to place on record my solidarity with the Radnorshire farmer that we just heard about. If that is true, that is absolutely disgusting, and I am grateful to my Powys colleague for having flagged that with the upper echelons of the Crown Estate so it can be looked into and tha…”

“I am glad you mentioned developers. For offshore wind in Welsh waters, is there a requirement on developers to support Welsh businesses and the Welsh supply chain? I am worried about the lack of accountability and the local connection.”

“Again, on pushing developers and when things go out to tender, when you are deciding on preferred bidders, how much weight do social and economic commitments have against other criteria?”