10 May 2022 , Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
1. What discussions has the First Minister had with the UK Government and councils regarding the impact on Welsh residents of the UK Building Safety Act 2022? OQ58004
9 May 2022 , Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Evidence session with the Law Council of Wales—matters in relation to justice in Wales
Thank you, Chair. I'm very pleased to hear about the close working, which the Counsel General mentioned last week. He said that he'd been to every one of your meetings, and I'm pleased to hear about the joint working with officials. But what about the…
9 May 2022 , Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Evidence session with the Law Council of Wales—matters in relation to justice in Wales
Thank you very much. Thank you very much, Chair.
9 May 2022 , Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Evidence session with the Law Council of Wales—matters in relation to justice in Wales
Thank you very much, Professor Lewis. Perhaps I should ask Dr Nerys Llewelyn Jones now as well, and it joins up the education and the firms. We all welcomed the Government's announcement last week regarding apprenticeships up to level 5, and I asked the…
9 May 2022 , Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Evidence session with the Law Council of Wales—matters in relation to justice in Wales
Thank you very much. I was going to turn to Professor Emyr Lewis regarding legal education. I remember your speech in 2017; your two main concerns were the accessibility of Welsh law—that people were aware of Welsh law—and also materials through the medium of…
9 May 2022 , Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Evidence session with the Law Council of Wales—matters in relation to justice in Wales
Is there a plan, for example, if the Law Society pulled their support within the year? How will the council be supported in the future to do this great work that you've discussed already?
9 May 2022 , Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Evidence session with the Law Council of Wales—matters in relation to justice in Wales
The Law Society. How long is that support there for, and what are the plans following that?
9 May 2022 , Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Evidence session with the Law Council of Wales—matters in relation to justice in Wales
Thank you very much. Another concern that I had during your opening statement was the way the council is supported and funded. I'm sure we're very grateful for the support of the lawyers, but for what amount of time is that support available?
9 May 2022 , Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Evidence session with the Law Council of Wales—matters in relation to justice in Wales
Thank you very much, Chair. If I could take a step back first of all, I think I was there when you made the speech in 2017 in favour of establishing the council, and I'm very pleased that the council has been established. But what is your biggest concern…
4 May 2022 , Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
I completely agree with comments you've made previously that this Act undermines the long-established powers of the Senedd and the Welsh Ministers within matters of devolved competency. There is a clear supermajority in this Senedd to enhance and improve our…
4 May 2022 , Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Thank you very much, Counsel General.
4 May 2022 , Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
6. Will the Counsel General provide an update on the status of the Welsh Government’s appeal to the UK Supreme Court on its legal challenge to the internal market Act? OQ57956
4 May 2022 , Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Diolch yn fawr, Cwnsler Cyffredinol. I'd like to concentrate now on the Welsh Tribunals. You'll be aware that we've had several reports now that recommend the separation of the Welsh Tribunals unit from the Welsh Government, and this, in fact, has been…
4 May 2022 , Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. Cwnsler Cyffredinol, at the end of March, the Welsh Government statement on taking forward the recommendations of the Commission on Justice in Wales and the Law Commission report on Welsh Tribunals was pulled. When will the statement…
4 May 2022 , Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Naturally, I welcome the announcement of the new level 3 and level 5 legal services profession. However, I hope we can go further to introduce level 7 solicitor apprenticeships in Wales. I am sure the Counsel General agrees with me that such a post would help…
4 May 2022 , Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
2. What consideration has the Counsel General given to introducing a level 7 solicitor apprenticeship, as exists in England, to help widen socioeconomic access to the legal profession? OQ57964
4 May 2022 , Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Social Justice
Diolch yn fawr, Weinidog. It's fair to say—and I'm sure that everyone can agree with this—that, due to underfunding and reorganisation of the probation services in England and Wales over the past 12 years, they have faced a very difficult time. Often, this…
4 May 2022 , Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Social Justice
10. What discussions has the Minister had with the UK Government and other public bodies regarding the role of probation officers in ensuring community safety? OQ57965
26 April 2022 , Plenary
& 13. Debate on the General Principles of the Welsh Tax Acts etc. (Power to Modify) Bill and Motion to agree the financial resolution in respect of the Welsh Tax Acts etc. (Power to Modify) Bill
And this, Llywydd, is entirely contrary to the commitment made by Welsh Government to make Welsh law accessible to everyone. Some of Wales's leading legal and constitutional minds have raised concerns and fundamental doubts about this Bill. Amending the Bill…
26 April 2022 , Plenary
& 13. Debate on the General Principles of the Welsh Tax Acts etc. (Power to Modify) Bill and Motion to agree the financial resolution in respect of the Welsh Tax Acts etc. (Power to Modify) Bill
'If the law can be changed retrospectively, then it means that something which was lawful at the time it was done can be made unlawful, and someone can suffer consequences which they would not have expected to suffer. That makes for uncertainty in the law.'
26 April 2022 , Plenary
& 13. Debate on the General Principles of the Welsh Tax Acts etc. (Power to Modify) Bill and Motion to agree the financial resolution in respect of the Welsh Tax Acts etc. (Power to Modify) Bill
Because this is a question of principle. As a Senedd and as Members of the Senedd, we need to ask each other to what extent we are content to intervene in the democratic mechanisms of such a young legislature. I understand the Minister's point when she talks…
26 April 2022 , Plenary
& 13. Debate on the General Principles of the Welsh Tax Acts etc. (Power to Modify) Bill and Motion to agree the financial resolution in respect of the Welsh Tax Acts etc. (Power to Modify) Bill
I'm afraid, Minister, that this Bill comes with a similar stamp to the LCMs. We should come together as a Senedd to stop the carving out of the powers of the legislature as contained within this Bill.
26 April 2022 , Plenary
& 13. Debate on the General Principles of the Welsh Tax Acts etc. (Power to Modify) Bill and Motion to agree the financial resolution in respect of the Welsh Tax Acts etc. (Power to Modify) Bill
Plaid Cymru will also be voting against this Bill this afternoon. We as a group understand the rationale behind this Bill and the importance of responding swiftly, as required, to complex taxation issues, and I'm very pleased to hear the willingness of the…
29 March 2022 , Plenary
Legislative Consent Motion on the Elections Bill
I very much hope that we will see a Welsh elections Bill soon in the Senedd, which will show once again how Senedd Cymru, the Welsh Parliament, puts people, rights and justice at the heart of all of our actions. I remember Adam Price telling me one once that…
29 March 2022 , Plenary
Legislative Consent Motion on the Elections Bill
If you would have listened carefully to what I said, leader of the opposition, what I said was we've heard time and time again about Putin's interference in western democracies and in western elections. Having a strong, independent regulator for elections is…
