, Plenary
Short Debate: Horse-racing: An economic and sporting asset for Wales
Is it okay, with your indulgence? I know it's not normal in short debates to take an intervention.
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
Like Jack Sargeant, I welcome very much these developments in north-east Wales, and feel very much that we ought to be doing much more in Wales to try and attract as much procurement opportunities as possible for the defence sector to our nation. What action…
, Plenary
Business Statement and Announcement
Thank you, Trefnydd, for your statement. Can I ask for a written statement from the Deputy Minister for Social Partnership in relation to the action being taken by the Welsh Government to promote participation in the UK-wide veterans survey, which is…
, Business Committee
Senedd Reform
Creative ways.
, Business Committee
Senedd Reform
No decision has been made yet, no. And I think, even if names aren't on there, everybody will know who is standing, because they will make themselves known to the electorate. So, again, even, there's an element of personal mandate. So, this is a tricky one. I…
, Business Committee
Senedd Reform
So, Llywydd, we do have a list system currently for regional Members on which names are on the ballot paper as well as the political party. So, there is an element of personal mandate too, I would suggest to you. I think there was some—. Am I correct in…
, Business Committee
Senedd Reform
No increase.
, Business Committee
Senedd Reform
I think if we can put in in the Bill, it would be better.
, Business Committee
Senedd Reform
—make a comment on that issue? I do think that, where possible, if we've got three, it should be politically balanced, say—I don't know—in some way. I agree with you that you shouldn't have both the PO and the DPO from the same political group. I think that's…
, Business Committee
Senedd Reform
Sorry, Chair. Can I just—
, Business Committee
Senedd Reform
Again, for some of the same reasons that we had in the previous discussion, I think we ought to set a maximum number and not a minimum, if you see what I mean. Otherwise, you could have a cast of thousands, potentially—or 96 Deputy Presiding Officers or 95…
, Business Committee
Senedd Reform
Can I just make a further point, if I may, Llywydd? I appreciate we're going to go away and look at whether there are any examples. If we effectively currently have a minimum of two—a First Minister and a Counsel General—and we're going to increase that…
, Business Committee
Senedd Reform
I mean, we have effectively have a minimum of two, don't we, at the moment.
, Business Committee
Senedd Reform
We can have a Government with two people in it now, Llywydd, but we don't, because people are responsible, and the Welsh Government appoints Ministers on the basis of the best way that it judges to manage its work. I don't understand; are there any examples…
, Business Committee
Senedd Reform
The additional point I would want to make is that there have been times when First Ministers have chosen not to appoint the full complement of Ministers in the years that I've been here. Sometimes there are sensible reasons to do that—negotiation reasons…
, Business Committee
Senedd Reform
Llywydd, I'm not suggesting there should be a minimum. I'm saying there should be a maximum.
, Business Committee
Senedd Reform
We haven't seen enough of those independent-thinking Government backbenchers in my view over the years. [Laughter.]
, Business Committee
Senedd Reform
I appreciate what Lesley Griffiths has said about the need to futureproof things, but, of course, if there were further powers devolved, there would be an opportunity to look again then at the size, if and when we cross that bridge. But, at the moment, we're…
, Business Committee
Senedd Reform
It's like a waterfall between us. So, I do think that we definitely shouldn't be setting a minimum. We shouldn't say a minimum of 16, but we should set a maximum. My own view is that 16 is appropriate. The Welsh Government says that it can manage with 16. I…
, Business Committee
Senedd Reform
No, it's over there.
, Business Committee
Senedd Reform
Hope it doesn't get any worse.
, Business Committee
Senedd Reform
Llywydd, I don't think we should be setting a minimum number, but I think we should set a maximum in the legislation. I can see we've got a leak in the building by the way.
, Business Committee
Senedd Reform
So, the Senedd—I'll say 'the Senedd', because, as you know, my party has different views on these matters—but the Senedd set out on this journey of Senedd reform to improve the scrutiny of the Senedd to assist it in holding the Government to account. So, we…
, Plenary
Debate: Support for the Armed Forces Community
Can I also thank the Minister for bringing this debate forward today? It is a privilege to work alongside her and Welsh Government officials, and the other organisations that are represented on the armed forces expert group. And it's a privilege also to chair…
, Plenary
Business Statement and Announcement
Trefnydd, can I call for a statement from the Minister for local government on the news that scores of asylum seekers are being housed at a luxury hotel in rural Conwy in north Wales? This is something that has caused a great deal of concern amongst the…
