, Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General
Well, I hear what the Member says, and I appreciate the work that she's doing in the area. It's certainly very important, and I can speak from my own personal knowledge of work I do at the university in Aberystwyth. It's high on the agenda at that university…
, Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General
While criminal justice, as the Member knows, is largely reserved, the Welsh Government works with policing, the Crown Prosecution Service, courts and specialist services to improve access to justice for rape survivors. Through the violence against women…
, Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General
I have no doubt when I agree with the Member on that point, and the devolution of powers over policing and justice is a priority of this Government. The case for the devolution of justice and policing to Wales, as is the case in Scotland and the north of…
, Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General
I'm pleased you're not fighting with the man next to you. [Laughter.] The devolution of powers over policing and justice has been recommended in a series of independent commissions, dating back to the Silk commission in 2014. Those commissions, all three of…
, Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General
Well, it is a matter that the Welsh Government are acutely aware of, and it's partly because of the narrowing of the scope of legal aid alongside tighter eligibility criteria. That's had a very significant impact over many years on the justice system across…
, Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General
Pressures on legal aid provision in Wales are a very serious concern. Reduced provision means many communities cannot access the legal help they need. Although legal aid is reserved to the UK Government, we will always look for opportunities to bring these…
, Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General
Of course, access to justice means more than just access to the courts. People must understand their rights, get reliable advice at the right time and participate effectively in legal processes that have an impact upon them. The ability to use the Welsh…
, Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General
Forgive me, Mair, I couldn't find you for just a moment there. The ability to access legal services and justice through the medium of Welsh is an important part of access to justice in Wales. As I engage with the legal profession and also the wider justice…
, Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General
No, I'm not—. I'm the legal officer. I thank him for that question, but it's not for me. Thank you very much.
, Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General
I regret, Llywydd, that I haven't got my wellingtons with me. [Laughter.] I've never heard such a load of muck in a long time. And I'm not getting involved in the politics of it, but is the Member seriously saying that nobody within Reform has ever switched…
, Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General
Well, again, I thank the Member for this important question. I do know, actually, that women and people from ethnic minority backgrounds are unfortunately particularly targeted by harassment and abuse. This misogyny is appalling and should be condemned by all…
, Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General
I thank the Member for this question, which is a current hot potato, if I could describe it that way. Ofcom regulates certain online services under the UK Government’s Online Safety Act 2023, including standards to minimise disinformation. The Welsh…
, Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General
I've already said that I'm not a political animal, quite different from some of my colleagues. It's not a question I can answer, with respect.
, Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General
Well, of course, the role of Welsh Government is to defend the devolution settlement, but also to ensure that things such as the Sewel convention are observed, and to defend and extend the relationship, one hopes. In July of this year, I published the Welsh…
, Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General
Well, I cannot give you my opinion on anything other than the law. The law is plain, and I told you and I've explained where Ministers would be engaged, and currently they're not. But it is a prerequisite for that consultation to take its course, in my view…
, Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General
Again, I'm not trying to be unhelpful, but I'm not going to speculate about thresholds, and I cannot, because I do not have the information in front of me. And I'm not going to speculate about the law, either. But what I will say to the gentleman is this: if…
, Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General
Well, the first thing to say—. The Member referred to a moral case. I'm not an arbiter of morality. My job is law—simply law—and the legislation is quite clear. I know that it will disappoint the Member. I fully appreciate that this is a very emotional…
, Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General
I've read the report, obviously. It's an important report, and it's been a fairly long-standing problem in many areas in Wales. In fact, it's been described, in terms of north and mid Wales, as an advice desert, and I do know of pockets of deserts, if you…
, Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General
That is a very good question, and I fully agree with the Member on what he says. What I can tell him, which may cheer him up slightly, is that level 7 apprenticeships at the bar and also solicitors are uppermost in this Government's mind. We are pushing…
, Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General
Well, the transfer to which the Member refers does not apply to the tribunals Bill scenario. That's the first thing to say. As for further devolution, that clearly is a political matter. I am not part of the political machine as such. I am engaged by the…
, Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General
Well, there are some figures being looked at at the moment, but, clearly, as with any new major change, it cannot be known fully at the very beginning. But as regards cross-border function, I don't see that that is an issue in this case. It was, because I…
, Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General
I think the overall priority of this Government is to improve the lot of the people of Wales. If that means prioritising further devolution in some areas, so be it. It's not devolution for devolution's sake. That would be unfortunate, and probably prone to…
, Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General
The Member asks about legal tests. I would surmise that those legal tests were uppermost in the minds of all three commissions when they decided wholeheartedly to suggest that there should be devolution of justice. One of the problems that we have, which was…
, Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General
I thank the Member for this important question. The case for devolving justice and policing to Wales is open and shut, in my view. She referred to the various commissions. They've all said the same thing. They were arm's-length commissions, they decided what…
, Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General
Youth justice should be devolved to Wales. That's the plain truth. It should be an important early step towards the devolution of justice in full. As a starting point, the UK Government’s proposed reforms offer the Welsh Government an opportunity to have…
