, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip: Holocaust Memorial Day
Minister, can I thank you for your statement? I think that it is important that Holocaust Memorial Day is marked in the Senedd in this way with a ministerial statement every year, in the same way that, on an annual basis, we mark the event in the Senedd, as…
, Plenary
Statement by the First Minister: The final report of the Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales
—in order to make sure that those sorts of debates and discussions can be facilitated. Because this report doesn't dwell on that, but it is an important thing that does need to come out of this work.
, Plenary
Statement by the First Minister: The final report of the Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales
Diolch, Llywydd dros dro. First Minister, I was very taken with the report, which, obviously, I read in detail, and I think there's a lot of useful information to glean from it. Obviously, like you, I'm a committed unionist. I want to see Wales playing a full…
, Plenary
Business Statement and Announcement
Can I call for two statements today, please, Trefnydd, the first on the future of our high streets in Wales? Many town centres have been struggling in recent years. We know that the competition presented by online retailers and out-of-town developments, with…
, Plenary
Plaid Cymru Debate: Apprenticeships
I just wanted to make a short contribution. As Jack Sargeant quite rightly said, there's plenty of support for apprenticeships in this Chamber on a cross-party basis, and I think it's great to hear so many people sharing their enthusiasm for ensuring that we…
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Healthcare inspection and funding
I think one of the concerns about HIW's lack of independence is that, of course, elsewhere in the UK, inspectorates can place organisations into special measures without seeking permission from Ministers, which gives the opportunity for political…
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Healthcare inspection and funding
Will you take an intervention?
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Healthcare inspection and funding
Visited all health boards and trusts—not buildings.
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Healthcare inspection and funding
It doesn't say that they visited every facility. You've just said it engages with every health board. That doesn't mean that it's visiting every building, does it?
, Plenary
Debate: Levelling-up
I'm grateful to you for taking an intervention. I completely agree with you that the Barnett formula is past its sell-by date and we need a new needs-based formula. When this matter was last considered, by the commission that was established by the Welsh…
, Plenary
Debate: Levelling-up
You opposed it.
, Plenary
Debate: Levelling-up
I'll happily give way. I'm delighted to hear that you're making some effort to work with people in Holyhead. I hope that that effort includes working with the local MP, Virginia Crosbie, who of course has been delivering on her commitments to the island…
, Plenary
Business Statement and Announcement
Trefnydd, can I call for a statement from the relevant Minister on Welsh Government support for public library services? I've been very concerned at the moment that Denbighshire County Council are proposing to cut library opening hours. They initially…
, Plenary
Topical Questions
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Minister, people rely on bus services; they're essential services for many people, particularly if you're in a rural area, in a village like Llandegla, where it's impossible to get anywhere if you don't have a car and without…
, Plenary
Statement by the Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism: Statutory registration and licensing of visitor accommodation
Diolch, Llywydd. Minister, I was initially not concerned too much about your statement, but I'm afraid now I am, and I'm rather confused by it as well. I think everybody in this Chamber would absolutely agree that we need to make sure that the accommodation…
, Plenary
Business Statement and Announcement
Trefnydd, can we have two statements, please, from the Government? The first on the bus services across Wales that have been affected by the change in the default speed limit. There's an issue in my own constituency, in that the Arriva 51 service, which…
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Ministerial evidence session
Yes. So, why put it in if it's up to the Senedd? Why place this requirement on the Senedd? I mean, surely it's better just to leave it to get on with it in its own time.
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Ministerial evidence session
Just one final question, if I may. So, other than the First Minister and the former leader of Plaid Cymru, who else—who else—can you name that thinks that a closed system is better than a flexible list system?
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Ministerial evidence session
Wait a second, if it's okay. I was on that special purpose committee. That special purpose committee was going in a very different direction and was going to make very different conclusions than the ones it was told to write by the First Minister and the…
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Ministerial evidence session
Look, I was on that special—
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Ministerial evidence session
But given the evidence that we've received, all of which suggests that closed list systems are bad and that where they have been in place across Europe they've been ditched, because they're bad, in favour of an approach towards a flexible list system—even…
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Ministerial evidence session
And if I can just go back to this issue of closed lists versus open lists, the benefits of an open or a flexible list we are told by the experts is that people, of course, can vote for a person of their choice, which gives some direct accountability then of…
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Ministerial evidence session
But you accept that smaller parties have a lower threshold over which to get over in terms of being able to get elected to the current Senedd than they will in the future Senedd. I mean, it's a mathematical fact, isn't it?
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Ministerial evidence session
How is that more democratic?
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Ministerial evidence session
Okay. So, your argument is a closed system will give you a more proportionate Senedd, even though the threshold over which any party will have to get in terms of share of the votes in each constituency will be around 12 per cent, versus the current 7 per cent…
