17 July 2024 , Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Farming
I've got a very brief contribution with a question to the Cabinet Secretary at the end. But just to come back to what James said, I do agree, 'No farmers, no food' is really powerful, but I'd like to also argue that equally important is the message, 'No…
17 July 2024 , Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Motion under Section 37(1)(b) of the Government of Wales Act 2006
I'll just make a very brief statement, if I may, and it relates, sadly, to that kind of exchange and the atmosphere. We're here to just talk about a motion and a process, and that is something I would like to support. The key thing for me is that Hannah…
17 July 2024 , Plenary
Debate on the Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee Report, 'State of play: Public service broadcasting in Wales'
The committee was absolutely correct to bring up the issue of language—an issue, sadly, again, that the Welsh Government does not comment on, but says that they're concerned about. The report says that the UK Government rejected the proposals—that is, to…
17 July 2024 , Plenary
Debate on the Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee Report, 'State of play: Public service broadcasting in Wales'
Thank you very much for mentioning that. It's a very, very important issue.
17 July 2024 , Plenary
Debate on the Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee Report, 'State of play: Public service broadcasting in Wales'
May I just start by thanking the Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport and International Relations Committee for their report? This detailed report is especially welcome in a context where we have seen more rapid changes in the creation and…
17 July 2024 , Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs
Good afternoon, Cabinet Secretary. Just to follow up on some of those issues as well, but just concentrating on the agency here in Wales that we rely on in order to monitor our rivers, and that's NRW, Natural Resources Wales. We know that whistleblowers…
17 July 2024 , Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Cabinet Office
Good afternoon, Cabinet Secretary. Just to follow up from the issue raised by Paul Davies there, we do know that small businesses and hospitality are being directly affected by them not having the 75 per cent small business rates relief, which they previously…
9 July 2024 , Plenary
Stage 4 of the Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill
I've just got a few words to say, really, because both Peter Fox and Adam Price have covered really key areas here. But I'd like to begin by thanking those involved in this Bill to date, including the Counsel General and officials, Members across the Siambr…
9 July 2024 , Plenary
Statement by the First Minister: The Legislative Programme
I'd just like to briefly touch on the Health and Social Care (Wales) Bill. Firstly, I'm proud to be in a Wales that is looking to eliminate the profit from care. And I do urge everybody, particularly if there are sceptics in the Siambr—for example, perhaps…
9 July 2024 , Plenary
Business Statement and Announcement
Good afternoon, Trefnydd. I wonder if I could have an update, please, from the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs on the consultation process in the animal welfare licensing process. Many of us cross-party here in the Siambr have been…
8 July 2024 , Equality and Social Justice Committee
Pre-appointment scrutiny—preferred candidate for the role of Older People's Commissioner for Wales
Thank you very much, and thank you, Chair.
8 July 2024 , Equality and Social Justice Committee
Pre-appointment scrutiny—preferred candidate for the role of Older People's Commissioner for Wales
Thank you very much. The role of the commissioner requires strong leadership, and independence too. How would you navigate potential conflicts of interests or pressures from external stakeholders, whilst upholding the principles of the office too?
8 July 2024 , Equality and Social Justice Committee
Pre-appointment scrutiny—preferred candidate for the role of Older People's Commissioner for Wales
Thank you very much, Chair.
8 July 2024 , Equality and Social Justice Committee
Pre-appointment scrutiny—preferred candidate for the role of Older People's Commissioner for Wales
Thank you very much, and good afternoon, Rhian. I have just one question in this section, because you have answered some of the others. There are a number of groups working with older people, so how do you see yourself collaborating with those groups—those…
2 July 2024 , Plenary
Group 15: Disqualification from being a Member of Senedd Cymru—offence of deception (Amendments 43, 6, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 52, 53, 25)
I want to reaffirm my unwavering support to a principle that strikes at the very heart of our existence: safeguarding the integrity of Welsh democracy and reinforcing the rule of law to enable us here in Wales to live in a freer and fairer society. I am glad…
2 July 2024 , Plenary
Group 9: Welsh language requirements for returning officers (Amendments 37, 38, 51)
I haven't been part of these discussions, but it occurs to me that, with the Welsh Government's aim of reaching 1 million speakers in Welsh, your objection and your reluctance to accept this seems at odds with that. So, I just wonder if you could just…
2 July 2024 , Plenary
Group 9: Welsh language requirements for returning officers (Amendments 37, 38, 51)
I wonder if the Member would take a very brief intervention.
1 July 2024 , Standards of Conduct Committee
Inquiry into Individual Member Accountability: Evidence Session 9
Diolch yn fawr iawn.
1 July 2024 , Standards of Conduct Committee
Inquiry into Individual Member Accountability: Evidence Session 9
Thank you.
1 July 2024 , Standards of Conduct Committee
Inquiry into Individual Member Accountability: Evidence Session 9
I guess I didn't express that very well, but I guess what I'm suggesting is that, if amendment 64 is not accepted by the Senedd tomorrow, which is likely to happen, I still think it needs to be in the consideration of the standards committee to look at a…
1 July 2024 , Standards of Conduct Committee
Inquiry into Individual Member Accountability: Evidence Session 9
No, none at all. I can see that that makes perfect sense, and that would assuage the issues of exhaustion of a democratic process. My challenge to you is still that to have the standards committee putting a vote to the Senedd is not putting it into the hands…
1 July 2024 , Standards of Conduct Committee
Inquiry into Individual Member Accountability: Evidence Session 9
I haven't really thought about that. I guess it does, yes, because it's about the person. The closed list presents a challenge, really, because it's the party making decisions about the ordering of the list, but then you still are about the individuals there…
1 July 2024 , Standards of Conduct Committee
Inquiry into Individual Member Accountability: Evidence Session 9
I think that is an option—yes, I think that's an option. My concern around that is that there's still no process for the electorate to be actively involved in following up the decision that has been made. So, I can see that that is an option. That's a very…
1 July 2024 , Standards of Conduct Committee
Inquiry into Individual Member Accountability: Evidence Session 9
No, it was both. It was 'yes' and 'no'. So, of the votes cast—sorry, maybe I should've said—of the votes cast, 19 per cent was 'yes' and—. No, hang on. No, 19 per cent of the constituents wanted a recall petition—a by-election. Gosh. Brain. You can tell that…
1 July 2024 , Standards of Conduct Committee
Inquiry into Individual Member Accountability: Evidence Session 9
No. And, you know, you go through verification, you go through transparency with all the political parties, so the votes were opened in the same way as on polling night.
