, Plenary
Business Statement and Announcement
Can we have a Government statement on the fire service please, Trefnydd? Like many who saw the ITN report on South Wales Fire and Rescue Service yesterday evening, I was horrified. There should not be any place for misogyny within the workplace, but this is…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
Diolch, Prif Weinidog. Yesterday marked four years since you took office as First Minister. In that time, we've seen an upturn in fortunes for some of our poorest—. We haven't seen an upturn—. Not even able to read my question, sorry. I'll start again…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
4. How is the Government helping to combat poverty in South Wales East during the cost-of-living crisis? OQ58896
, Standards of Conduct Committee
Inquiry into lobbying: Evidence session 2
Thank you, Vikki. Diolch, Ben.
, Standards of Conduct Committee
Inquiry into lobbying: Evidence session 2
So, if a register was forthcoming, how would be the best way of handling that with your members in particular? Would it be a rolling start, or any thoughts around that?
, Standards of Conduct Committee
Inquiry into lobbying: Evidence session 2
No, just: what challenges would a register cause for your members?
, Standards of Conduct Committee
Inquiry into lobbying: Evidence session 2
Diolch, Ben. Diolch, Vikki.
, Standards of Conduct Committee
Inquiry into lobbying: Evidence session 2
And do you think—perhaps finally from me, really—that Wales is, because of the nature of our society, the nature of our Parliament compared to Westminster in particular, that a potentially self-regulated industry in Wales, as the lobbying industry seems to…
, Standards of Conduct Committee
Inquiry into lobbying: Evidence session 2
So, do you think that—? You talked there about the different types of lobbying and different types of organisations. So, do different forms of lobbying pose different levels of threat to the democratic institutions that they're trying to lobby?
, Standards of Conduct Committee
Inquiry into lobbying: Evidence session 2
I'm just thinking of some of possibly your smaller members that don't have that capacity at all. Is there an inequality then between their ability to influence?
, Standards of Conduct Committee
Inquiry into lobbying: Evidence session 2
You were talking about the TSPC earlier, and the CPA, and your members, and I'm just wondering how far the problem potentially goes, and whether or not it goes there at all, of some voluntary organisations having a public affairs person employed; some people…
, Standards of Conduct Committee
Inquiry into lobbying: Evidence session 2
Diolch, Vikki. Hello, Ben. We've looked at the benefits of lobbying. I'd like to flip it over and look at the other side of the coin. Does lobbying pose any problems to or obstruct the proper functioning of representative democratic politics?
, Standards of Conduct Committee
Inquiry into lobbying: Evidence session 1
Yes. Based on what you've just said—lobbying is a small sector, effectively, in Wales—why is it potentially better? Is it because it self-regulates? Why haven't we had the scandals? Is it just because we're better people? [Laughter.]
, Standards of Conduct Committee
Inquiry into lobbying: Evidence session 1
So, which ones are better than others?
, Standards of Conduct Committee
Inquiry into lobbying: Evidence session 1
So, following on from that, then, do different forms of lobbying pose different levels of threat to democratic institutions?
, Standards of Conduct Committee
Inquiry into lobbying: Evidence session 1
So, do you think that different forms—? Sorry. Gemma's arrived. I'll let Gemma—. Sorry, Gemma.
, Standards of Conduct Committee
Inquiry into lobbying: Evidence session 1
So, is it—touching on something that you said earlier—that smaller charities might not be able to employ a specific person to do public engagement whereas the larger ones can, does lobbying potentially exacerbate that, and the ones with the deepest pockets…
, Standards of Conduct Committee
Inquiry into lobbying: Evidence session 1
We've looked at some of the benefits of lobbying. I'd like to look at the other side of it—the flip of the coin, if you like—so, the disvalue of lobbying. Does lobbying pose any problems to, or obscure or obstruct the proper function of the representative…
, Standards of Conduct Committee
Inquiry into lobbying: Evidence session 1
Thank you, Vikki, and good morning, Naomi.
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Instruments that raise issues to be reported to the Senedd under Standing Order 21.2 or 21.3
Yes, that's it.
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Instruments that raise issues to be reported to the Senedd under Standing Order 21.2 or 21.3
I'm just wondering what the risk of this not passing is. For the public, what does it actually mean?
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Instruments that raise issues to be reported to the Senedd under Standing Order 21.2 or 21.3
Yes, certainly. Even if, as James said, it came before us in English but that the Welsh was following then I'd have no problem with that, as long as it arrives. For expediency, it might be, 'Send it through', but for fullness, and for the same point that…
, Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Thank you, Counsel General, and I'll certainly write to you on that. Since the last round of Counsel General's questions, we have received the verdict of the Supreme Court that the Scottish Parliament does not have the power to legislate for a referendum…
, Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Diolch, Llywydd. My first question this afternoon is about a matter in my region causing consternation for constituents, but has a national implication. The application of Merthyr (South Wales) Ltd to continue coal extraction operations at the Ffos-y-Frân…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Social Justice
It's been five years since the decision to close Communities First was taken. It was the Government's anti-poverty strategy and it hasn't been replaced. Since then, levels of poverty have increased and they will get much worse due to the cost-of-living…
