Plaid Cymru

Speeches and questions

Speeches and questions in Plenary and in committees, newest first. The Llywydd's and deputies' chairing of Plenary is left out.

1,618 speeches and questions

17 September 2026Health and Social Care Committee
General scrutiny session with the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care, the Deputy Minister for Public and Preventative Health and the Deputy Minister for Social Care, Mental Health and Women’s Health
Like Nerys was saying, it's about empowering women, because the systems need to be there and they need to be working efficiently, but that, in and of itself, won't be enough. Women, firstly, need to have the confidence to go to get symptoms checked, to…
17 September 2026Health and Social Care Committee
General scrutiny session with the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care, the Deputy Minister for Public and Preventative Health and the Deputy Minister for Social Care, Mental Health and Women’s Health
Thank you for that. This is an area where Nerys and I will want to work together on with the women's health plan as well.
17 September 2026Health and Social Care Committee
General scrutiny session with the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care, the Deputy Minister for Public and Preventative Health and the Deputy Minister for Social Care, Mental Health and Women’s Health
That's something that Mabon and I are going to be working together towards. It's an excellent question. Well, to bring it down as much as possible, in terms of that I don't think that we have a defined metric that we have set on this. Again—. Well, firstly…
17 September 2026Health and Social Care Committee
General scrutiny session with the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care, the Deputy Minister for Public and Preventative Health and the Deputy Minister for Social Care, Mental Health and Women’s Health
One in five. I think that, when we look back at—. When that survey data had been conducted the year previously, it was an even more alarming picture. That didn't end up transpiring in reality, but that is not a reason not to be concerned about this in any…
17 September 2026Health and Social Care Committee
General scrutiny session with the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care, the Deputy Minister for Public and Preventative Health and the Deputy Minister for Social Care, Mental Health and Women’s Health
That's a really good question, and, as Albert had mentioned there, it's about recruitment and retention. It's about making sure that social care workers continue to feel valued throughout their careers, that they see those opportunities for progression as…
17 September 2026Health and Social Care Committee
General scrutiny session with the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care, the Deputy Minister for Public and Preventative Health and the Deputy Minister for Social Care, Mental Health and Women’s Health
And there will be an oral statement to accompany it as well. Forgive me, Albert, I should have said that bit.
17 September 2026Health and Social Care Committee
General scrutiny session with the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care, the Deputy Minister for Public and Preventative Health and the Deputy Minister for Social Care, Mental Health and Women’s Health
In October; sorry, I should have said that.
17 September 2026Health and Social Care Committee
General scrutiny session with the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care, the Deputy Minister for Public and Preventative Health and the Deputy Minister for Social Care, Mental Health and Women’s Health
Mabon was setting this out. When we look at the care system, nobody would design it from scratch as we have it. I think we can all agree on that, but, look, we need to find the best ways—. This is something—. Mabon mentioned that there needs to be a national…
17 September 2026Health and Social Care Committee
General scrutiny session with the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care, the Deputy Minister for Public and Preventative Health and the Deputy Minister for Social Care, Mental Health and Women’s Health
Yes. Thanks for the question.
17 September 2026Health and Social Care Committee
General scrutiny session with the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care, the Deputy Minister for Public and Preventative Health and the Deputy Minister for Social Care, Mental Health and Women’s Health
Thank you. Just briefly, this is going to be a challenge—it's already a challenge, clearly—in terms of the care service. There are additional challenges in this regard because in the care estate, there are pockets that are independent, there are pockets under…
17 September 2026Health and Social Care Committee
General scrutiny session with the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care, the Deputy Minister for Public and Preventative Health and the Deputy Minister for Social Care, Mental Health and Women’s Health
Diolch. I'm really sorry about your mother. And, look, there will be too many patients that this is going to be affecting. Delayed discharges are bad for patients, because it means that there will be too many patients who rapidly decondition when they're in…
17 September 2026Health and Social Care Committee
General scrutiny session with the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care, the Deputy Minister for Public and Preventative Health and the Deputy Minister for Social Care, Mental Health and Women’s Health
In terms of women's health, we are going to be doing a listening exercise, reaching out—. And I'm really keen to have the committee's support and your suggestions on how we can do this to the best of our ability, too, with this, to make sure that we are truly…
17 September 2026Health and Social Care Committee
General scrutiny session with the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care, the Deputy Minister for Public and Preventative Health and the Deputy Minister for Social Care, Mental Health and Women’s Health
So, I've got three elements, of course, to my portfolio. In terms of social care, standardising commissioning, giving greater support to unpaid carers, making sure that we are putting the work in place to greater support our workforce. In terms of mental…
17 September 2026Health and Social Care Committee
General scrutiny session with the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care, the Deputy Minister for Public and Preventative Health and the Deputy Minister for Social Care, Mental Health and Women’s Health
In terms of where—. The danger with this is always that I'm going to leave something out. So, these are some—. I'll give that caveat. These are some—
17 September 2026Health and Social Care Committee
General scrutiny session with the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care, the Deputy Minister for Public and Preventative Health and the Deputy Minister for Social Care, Mental Health and Women’s Health
Good morning. It's lovely to be here. I won't repeat what I've already said in the Chamber previously in terms of my priorities. The main thing, the crux of it, is that I want to give more of a voice to people whose voices aren't heard sufficiently at the…
16 September 2026Plenary
Reform UK Debate: Grooming gangs
Llywydd, safeguarding is fundamental to the Wales we want to be. It will continue to be central to this Government's wider ambitions. The Government amendment recognises the seriousness, the terrible seriousness, of these crimes. It recognises that victims…
16 September 2026Plenary
Reform UK Debate: Grooming gangs
We will need a whole-system approach, bringing public services, safeguarding partners, communities and survivors together. We will implement a national training framework, strengthen support for practitioners and survivors, and improve services across Wales…
16 September 2026Plenary
Reform UK Debate: Grooming gangs
Well, I will repeat, because this bears repetition, if I have already got to this point: child sexual exploitation does not stop at national borders. Understanding the full picture requires evidence to be examined across the range of agencies involved in…
16 September 2026Plenary
Reform UK Debate: Grooming gangs
If I can find where I was now.
16 September 2026Plenary
Reform UK Debate: Grooming gangs
Llywydd, I hope you will keep in mind later that I did allow that lengthy intervention, which is, of course, something of fundamental importance here. The nuance here—and nuances are vitally important—is that the COVID inquiry, in terms of the focus of its…
16 September 2026Plenary
Reform UK Debate: Grooming gangs
Learning lessons from this inquiry will be essential, but it's also very important that we respond to today's reality. The children who are at risk today can't wait for the conclusions of the inquiry. Alongside our work for the inquiry, we are doing a lot of…
16 September 2026Plenary
Reform UK Debate: Grooming gangs
Before I go further, Llywydd, I want to acknowledge the courage of victims and survivors whose experiences continue to shape our understanding of abuse and exploitation and drive improvements across our safeguarding systems. I am in awe of your bravery, and I…
16 September 2026Plenary
Reform UK Debate: Grooming gangs
This debate deals with some of the most serious harms, the most horrific harms a child can experience. Child sexual abuse and child sexual exploitation can have a profound and lifelong impact on every aspect of a person's life. These issues can affect…
16 September 2026Plenary
Reform UK Debate: Grooming gangs
Thank you to all Members who've shared either their own experiences or family experiences. I would thank Paul for sharing the terrible—. Paul has gone out, but I will still put on the record the horrendous experience of his daughter, and the thoughts of…
16 September 2026Plenary
Reform UK Debate: Grooming gangs
Thank you, Llywydd. I'm grateful to all Members who have talked about their personal experiences this afternoon.