(Title Image: Times of Israel)
Duty to carry the memory of Holocaust victims
27th January marked Holocaust Memorial Day which fell on the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp by the Soviet Union.
Marking the occasion in the Senedd, Chief Whip & Deputy Minister without portfolio, Jane Hutt (Lab, Vale of Glamorgan), said: “We have a duty to carry the memory of those who lost their lives during the Holocaust and remember victims of all backgrounds: Jewish people, Roma people, disabled people, LGBT people, and many other groups who faced unimaginable persecution during this period, and ultimately lost their lives because hate and prejudice had become acceptable.
“By marking these days of remembrance, we can ensure that these horrendous crimes against humanity are never forgotten and we move the world to a situation where it is never again repeated.”
Heroin addicts need quicker access to prescriptions
Researchers from the University of South Wales have called for faster access to prescription medications for recovering heroin addicts to prevent self-medication.
BBC Wales reports that some recovering addicts have returned to the street drugs to cope with withdrawal symptoms and there was often a delay between seeing a GP and being put on heroin replacements.
Prof. Katy Holloway said: “They present for treatment, they’ve got the courage to attend, let’s get them into treatment as quickly as possible.”
Senedd launches online consultation hub
The Assembly Commission recently launched Your Wales – an online consultation and political engagement forum.
At present, the site includes moderated, open public forums for subjects under investigation by the Senedd’s committees. It also allows users to ask questions and take part in surveys.
Users can register to give their views here.
Plaid Cymru: Young farmers losing route into the industry
Plaid Cymru revealed figures showing the amount of council-owned land – kept aside for young farmers starting their careers – has fallen by 10% in eight years. Councils are legally obliged to hold farms to stem a decline in farming dating back to the early 20th Century but budget cuts have forced councils to sell some farms off.
The WLGA said a rural council forum was “working to develop a rural deal” which could be used to support young farmers as a counterpart to city region deals.
