, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
Well, Llywydd, I thank the Member for tempting me down that path [Laughter.] Look, I am on record many times, over 40 years—. I am a believer in mandatory voting. It seems, to me, a basic civic duty. Any one of us in a democracy ought to be prepared to take…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
Well, Llywydd, by far, the bulk of legislation that's been passed in Westminster in devolved areas has been legislation passed in the teeth of the refusal of consent by this Senedd. The number of examples of where we have used Westminster legislation for…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
Llywydd, I defer to the experience of Huw Irranca-Davies in relation to regional bodies, following the work that he did and led on regional economic development post Brexit. Of course, as he was doing that work, the powers that were here in this Senedd to…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
Llywydd, I would want a Senedd that, over the next decade, continues to embrace the progressive agenda of the first 25 years of devolution, equipped now with greater capacity and a membership that fully reflects the diversity of contemporary Wales.
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
Well, I've explained many times on the floor of the Senedd, Llywydd, why I don't think that a Welsh-specific inquiry would give families in Wales the answers to the questions that they absolutely properly ask, and on which I am determined to help find those…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
Well, Llywydd, I answered questions in front of this Senedd with astonishing regularity all the way through the COVID experience. From 28 January onwards, Members of the Senedd were provided with a weekly update by Welsh Ministers of the evolving picture of…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
The same answer applies to the leader of Plaid Cymru as it does to the leader of the opposition. The inquiry is here to ask those questions. That's why it is in Wales. I'm not going to offer a preview of the questions that I will be asked as a witness to the…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
The allegation that the leader of the opposition repeats this afternoon was made by a barrister who asks questions of witnesses at the inquiry. That is why I will not indulge in what he wishes me to indulge in this afternoon. I want to—[Interruption.]…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
I clarified my position on 7 November. I've nothing to add to that. The inquiry has heard from others. If the inquiry wishes to ask me questions on the points that they have heard about, of course I will answer the inquiry, but that is where those answers…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
I am a witness at the COVID inquiry. I will answer their questions, whatever points they put to me. I am not going to offer a preview of what I say to the inquiry. I will pay the inquiry the respect I think it believes, and I will give my answers to them as a…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
I thank Jayne Bryant for the question, for the work that she and her committee have done in this area, and for being at the summit on Saturday. I said in my original answer to Jane Dodds that so many of the ideas that young people put to us are simple ideas…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
Thank you very much to Sioned Williams for that question. We as a Government don't have long-term funding—that's the problem. We don't have funding following the next financial year. But I am confident that the future Government will want to invest in the…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
Llywydd, can I say how pleased I am to hear that question from the Member? Many years ago, when I was the health Minister, I used to argue on public platforms that we took too many children away from their families here in Wales. We do it at a rate that far…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
The Member is right, Llywydd—there are champions on behalf of looked-after children right across the Chamber. Many of us will remember the work that David Melding carried out so consistently during his time on these benches. But had Jane Dodds been at the…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
I thank Jane Dodds for her kind words there.
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
I thank Jane Dodds for the question, Llywydd. On Saturday, I attended the third summit led by care-experienced young people to report to them on our radical reform agenda. They celebrated the progress already made through the declaration and made a series of…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
I thank John Griffiths for that, Llywydd. I look forward to taking part in the next summit, which will happen on 18 March. The point John Griffiths makes is just inescapable. Sixty seven per cent of all the phosphate loading in the Usk, which has had such a…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
I'm afraid the facts and the figures speak for themselves. That industry is no longer able to send its product to the southern Mediterranean in a way that it arrives safe and saleable. And that is a direct result of the deal that was struck when we left the…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
Well, Llywydd, as I've said before, you always know, with the Conservative benches here, the weaker their argument, the louder they shout, and they're shouting again this afternoon. And they're shouting because they simply don't want to recognise the truth…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
Well, Llywydd, I want as many farmers as possible to take up the scheme that we will have negotiated with them. There's a very large sum of money available to those farmers who want to be part of the scheme. Of course, about half of farmers in Wales are not…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
Llywydd, Welsh farmers face a range of pressures, including increased costs, EU exit barriers, hostile trade deals and the impacts of the climate and nature emergencies. We want a successful future for Welsh farming and continue to work with others to achieve…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
I thank Sarah Murphy for that. I recall the contribution that she made in the Chamber when she was a very new Member of the Senedd. It was a powerful contribution then, and I thank her for raising these matters again this afternoon. In the interim—the two…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
We have provided funding for health boards to continue to improve and expand eating disorder services. We have also identified dedicated resources in the new NHS executive to focus on mental health. That includes a national clinical lead for eating disorders…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
First of all, as ever, these matters turn on definitions. In the report of the Music Venue Trust that claimed that there was a reduction in music venues in Wales, one that they identified was a pub, another was a bed and breakfast with karaoke, and another…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
Creative Wales focuses on the commercial music sector, providing support for infrastructure from grass-roots venues through to artist support. They work with others to agree annual priorities, alongside organisations like the Arts Council of Wales and UK-wide…
