26 April 2023 , Plenary
Debate on the Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee Report—Scrutiny of the Welsh Government’s Accounts 2020-21
… the UK Treasury, which would have paid for, he said, the bus emergency scheme four or five times over. He said this Welsh Government is not fond of transparency and clear records are not kept. We can … within its own powers. The committee found it difficult to understand, as I said, why the Welsh Government waited so long to be told it could not do as it wished with the underspend and why such …
30 September 2021 , Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Priorities for the Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee: Evidence session 5 - climate change
… Secondly, I would like to see some real willingness to use the powers in a serious way. Last time we talked about this, I said that, on housing, which for me is a crucial piece, Welsh Government does … still true—working with them in a way that gives them some confidence, given that they are still waiting for DEFRA to produce anything that is of value on this front. I do think that's another really …
22 November 2023 , Plenary
Plaid Cymru Debate: The private rented sector
… cent of the local private sector housing rents, the average. Because freezing the local housing allowance during a time of galloping inflation has had devastating consequences for any low-paid worker who is not lucky enough … back into use, bring them up to a decent standard and lease them to people on the housing waiting list for at least a seven-year term. So, that is available to anybody who has an empty property …
16 September 2026 , Plenary
Reform UK Debate: Grooming gangs
… daughter had a family that would have done anything for her. For a long time , she did not ask us; she was ashamed. The shame belonged entirely to the man who harmed her, but knowing that … next child in Fishguard, Haverfordwest, Pembroke or anywhere here in Wales—before accepting assurance, think about the child waiting for someone to act. If this were a child you love, what answers would be good enough? Diolch …
19 February 2025 , Plenary
Short Debate: Public transport links in Wales's post-industrial communities
… Valleys to just catch a bus to work; watch their weary smile. They know what that means: long waits , longer journeys and timetables full of holes. I'm sure the Minister is going to talk about the potential … like clockwork, trains glide through the Dulais valley, through the Amman valley. Parents reaching jobs in half the time , students accessing colleges without endless and frustrating bus journeys, elderly residents connecting with family and services. The global centre …
24 October 2023 , Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language: Attendance Guidance
… they think fit to facilitate home-to-school transport. The guidance also provides clarity in relation to part- time timetables, which, as part of a pastoral plan, can help learners reintegrate into a school after a long absence … Estyn has recently reported that the pandemic has led to higher referral rates, higher pupil numbers and longer waits , and increases in referrals for younger pupils and pupils with social, emotional and mental health issues. We are currently …
14 June 2023 , Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Additional learning needs
… evaluate it has changed. There isn't any longer a perverse incentive to spend huge amounts of time and resources pursuing financial support, filling in forms and getting assessment after assessment, because that is no longer the way … are not working at this stage is not presented here this afternoon, or not so far, and I wait to hear from other people were that to be the case …
9 May 2023 , Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip: Update on Wales: A Nation of Sanctuary
… about recognising that many will be wanting to return to Ukraine, but at this point in time , with Putin’s invasion and the ongoing scourge of Russia’s assault on Ukraine, we know that we have to support … the asylum applications. The situation is, in terms of asylum applications, that we have thousands who are waiting for applications to be considered. We have—. It's unacceptable. There are over 160,000 cases pending a decision …
14 May 2024 , Plenary
Statement by the First Minister: Tata Steel
… will be seen to conclusion. These are practical things, backed up by real Welsh Government resources, at a time when everyone knows our resources are particularly pressured, after 14 years of our budget being reduced in real terms … why I continue to make the case for a longer transition and make the case to wait for a general election that is imminent. And I spoke to Keir Starmer before flying out, and we're very clear …
17 May 2022 , Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Social Justice: Update on Ukraine
… many more visas that have been approved. I said that in my statement as well—at least three times that number. I meet with the Minister for Refugees, Lord Harrington, every fortnight. I met him on Thursday with … with chief executives. And now, children. I had a wonderful message from a young refugee who's been waiting to get into school in my constituency, who messaged me personally last night to say, 'It is wonderful …
23 October 2024 , Plenary
Debate on the Petitions Committee Report, 'A cashless society? P-06-1335: Welsh Government should take steps to ensure vulnerable adults without bank cards can pay with cash'
… with that. Words really have to mean something, especially when faith in politicians' words is at an all- time low. And so the Welsh Government just has to put its money where its mouth is on this, quite … rights taskforce would look at this issue and raise it with the relevant sectors. We are of course waiting still for the disability rights action plan to be produced. In your response …
23 October 2024 , Plenary
Joint Debate on Committee Reports: The Sustainable Farming Scheme and Farming Connect
… current inquiry into halting and reversing the loss of nature has served as a stark reminder that time is rapidly running out if we are to bring biodiversity back from the brink. For many contributors, the scheme that … will find out about that, because I do think it would be rather unsatisfactory to have to wait too long before we understand the direction that you are moving in. Moving on to the 10 per cent habitat …
9 July 2025 , Plenary
Short Debate: Should the Welsh Government prohibit bottom trawling in Wales?
… the 30x30 target. Wales Environment Link, WWF Cymru and the Marine Conservation Society highlighted that we have been waiting over a decade for new marine conservation zones. RSPB Cymru explained the Welsh Government had written to the marine … where every type of project can take place, including the blue carbon agenda. Alongside this, I have said time and again that Wales should have a national blue carbon recovery plan. Yet, this Welsh Government simply doesn …
22 June 2021 , Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language: Qualifications in 2021
… sensible adaptation that Wales has adopted, which does differ from the rest of the UK, giving learners that time to appeal before the recess, and before the official result stays. This is, of course, to be welcomed … numbers are we talking about, Minister? Will you make a statement on the number of people currently left waiting to take assessments please, so we can monitor the process? Finally, Minister, whilst we're discussing this year …
14 November 2023 , Plenary
Statement by the Deputy Minister for Social Services: Evaluation of the Autism Code of Practice and Neurodivergence Update
… code of practice on the delivery of autism services was implemented in September 2021, I felt it was timely to conduct an independent evaluation of the code. The evaluation will be carried out in two phases. The first … enabling the development of information, resources and the provision of support to people and their families while they wait , and to reduce the urgency of a diagnosis. This evaluation has proved very informative, and has provided clear direction …
16 November 2022 , Plenary
Debate on the Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee Report— 'Cost of living pressures'
… hard cap—that was for two years, and then backtracked to have a six-month period of time . But, even with that support, the average household energy bill has almost doubled compared to April 2021. And the energy … what will be available to us on non-domestic rates, but, of course, we'll have to wait to see what happens tomorrow to understand what that does to the reality of Welsh Government resources. We will …
16 February 2022 , Plenary
Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv): Local Government elections
… the 2021 Senedd elections for the first time , and this year, of course, it will be the first time that they'll be able to vote in local government elections. If you look at the figures, out … Preseli Pembrokeshire. And I remember knocking the door and I remember a woman saying to me, 'I was waiting for the man to come round', to which I said, 'Well, you've got me.' [Laughter.] And I got …
1 March 2022 , Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Education and Welsh Language: Cymraeg 2050—The next steps
… Welsh. We know of the numbers using Duolingo, and that desire is there for some people, having more time at home, to become involved with the language, and that's to be welcomed. But at the other extreme … the Welsh-medium sector and by when, if we are to meet the targets of Cymraeg 2050? Why wait until the Welsh language education Act when a 10-year plan is being prepared at the moment …
11 January 2022 , Plenary
Debate on a Statement: The Draft Budget 2022-23
… also disappointed to note that the introduction of the regional surgical hubs to tackle the NHS waiting list backlog, as previously called for by the Conservatives, was not part of the budget. Would you consider working with … think we need more clarity around the elements linked to flood defences. Because we’re heading to that time of year where who knows what could happen, and I think there is a lack of clarity on what …
14 November 2023 , Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd: Bovine TB Eradication
… cost as well. I've been on farms where TB tests have just been done and they're waiting for the results, or they're looming in the very short term, and it's very clear to see … was going to be two weeks, but we decided on four weeks, and that will give us time over the Christmas recess to have a look and make sure in the new year we’re able …