Senedd Watch - March 2013

Several Welsh Ministers took part in events marking St David's Day. First Minister Carwyn Jones visited Barcelona to encourage tourism. Leighton Andrews (Lab, Rhondda) took part in a promotional event in London. Dep. Minister for Housing, Regeneration and Heritage, Huw Lewis (Lab, Merthyr Tydfil & Rhymney) visited China. Business Minister Edwina Hart (Lab, Gower) visited Los Angeles to promote Wales as a venue for film and TV production, and...

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Welsh Government's low stakes on problem gambling

Is problem gambling being treated as a second-rate illness by the Welsh Government? (Pic : casinocenter.com) The Welsh Government currently runs an annual National Health Survey that asks a certain number of people questions about their lifestyles and health conditions. I've mentioned recently that I believe those surveys...

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Heartlessly logical, but still knifing political criticism?

The #daftarrest judgement seems to have been made by an emotionless, pointy-eared, green-blooded hobgoblin. I was itching to say something on this while the court case was ongoing, but it was sensible to wait until there was an outcome. I've been following the case closely via Twitter, Y Cneifiwr, Inside Out and Broken...

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Re-reshuffle, when the crowd says bo....meh

This post was originally going to be on problem gambling, but I've decided to postpone that to the weekend due to this afternoon's "dramatic" developments in Cardiff. Tomorrow could also prove to be another "dramatic" day for unrelated reasons, but more from me on that when appropriate. I said back in December that I expected a Welsh cabinet reshuffle "early in 2013" and without sounding too smug, I was right.Actually, there's no reason to get smug...

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The European Games - Where could this leave Wales?

The first European Games will be hosted in Baku in summer 2015. Will this cause long-term problems, or opportunities, for Welsh "sporting independence"? (Pic : gamesbids.com) Back in December, the European Olympic Committee (EOC) voted overwhelmingly in favour of creating a "European Olympics". It'll be a multi-sports event...

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Census 2011 : Disability, Carers & Health

People waddling on single crutches, mobility scooters and ex-miners, steelworkers and factory workers shifted from the dole. That's the stereotypical image of vast swathes of Wales. But it looks as if - despite relatively high numbers of long-term sick, and "headlines of doom" - it's starting to change. (Pic : South Wales...

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Preventing deaths in the womb : Stillbirths inquiry

The UK currently has one of the worst stillbirth rates in Europe. In Wales – while the numbers of neo-natal deaths have fallen over the last few years - there are around four stillbirths every week (~150 per year). That's shockingly high and a real eye-opener – probably because it's not a particularly nice thing to think...

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