5 March 2024 , Committee of the Whole Senedd
Group 7: Review of possible job sharing of offices relating to the Senedd (Amendments 4, 62, 63)
Is that something that you're proposing to do, then? Are you in favour of job sharing and introducing it as soon as possible?
5 March 2024 , Committee of the Whole Senedd
Group 7: Review of possible job sharing of offices relating to the Senedd (Amendments 4, 62, 63)
That isn't my argument at all. If that's what you're hearing, I think that says more about you and your attitude than the argument that I'm making. This provides the option, and something to consider further. We're not suggesting that every single Member of…
5 March 2024 , Committee of the Whole Senedd
Group 7: Review of possible job sharing of offices relating to the Senedd (Amendments 4, 62, 63)
Indeed, a number of councils in Wales already enable councillors to share jobs for a number of roles within local authorities, including cabinet members. So, there is a risk that the Senedd will be left behind here, and that we talk a good game about equality…
5 March 2024 , Committee of the Whole Senedd
Group 7: Review of possible job sharing of offices relating to the Senedd (Amendments 4, 62, 63)
'Job sharing with a more experienced Cabinet member has meant I have benefited from a mentoring role...I would never have put my name forward if the role hadn’t been available as a job share.'
5 March 2024 , Committee of the Whole Senedd
Group 7: Review of possible job sharing of offices relating to the Senedd (Amendments 4, 62, 63)
The experience of Mohammed Seedat, cabinet member at Lambeth Council in 2018, suggests that job sharing can also provide mentoring opportunities that enable candidates of underrepresented groups to move into senior roles, and I quote again:
5 March 2024 , Committee of the Whole Senedd
Group 7: Review of possible job sharing of offices relating to the Senedd (Amendments 4, 62, 63)
'People can balance their work and their role in the community. It could go some way to addressing class issues, as it would allow for an in-built mentoring system, and allow people to build and develop confidence in their roles. The job share pair can be a…
5 March 2024 , Committee of the Whole Senedd
Group 7: Review of possible job sharing of offices relating to the Senedd (Amendments 4, 62, 63)
We will oppose amendment 4. If we want to ensure fairness for all and improve representation within our democracy, we cannot disregard the role that job sharing can play in meeting these objectives. For some years now, evidence given by a wide range of…
5 March 2024 , Committee of the Whole Senedd
Group 5: Disqualification from being a Member of the Senedd or a candidate: persons not registered in electoral register at an address in Wales (Amendments 57, 38, 39, 40)
Thank you, Llywydd. We strongly believe that anyone who is elected to this Senedd, regardless of their political affiliation, should be subject to the same laws that apply to the people they represent and should pay their taxes here. We have seen candidates…
5 March 2024 , Committee of the Whole Senedd
Group 4: Increase in maximum number of Welsh Ministers by regulations (Amendments 1, 52, 3)
We've been clear from the outset: although this Bill is an important step forward in the evolution of our democracy, this isn't the end of the journey by any means. The famous quote of Ron Davies about devolution as a process rather than an event is as true…
5 March 2024 , Committee of the Whole Senedd
Group 2: Impact of frequency of ordinary general elections on public appointments (Amendment 35)
We do not support this amendment. As is already done, the Government and the Senedd will still be able to consider the practical implications as they arise. In Westminster, there are no longer any fixed terms of office following the revocation of the…
5 March 2024 , Committee of the Whole Senedd
Group 1: Senedd constituency boundary reviews: definitions and interpretation, representation periods, reports, and implementation (Amendments 59, 60, 76, 77, 91, 98, 100, 79, 105, 25, 54, 55, 56, 108, 15, 110, 16, 17, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115)
Time and time again—I don't think I'm sharing any secrets there—it's been clear that Plaid Cymru's stance is STV, but what we have is a pragmatic way forward. But, certainly, that decision has been challenged time and time again. Our aim as a political party…
5 March 2024 , Committee of the Whole Senedd
Group 1: Senedd constituency boundary reviews: definitions and interpretation, representation periods, reports, and implementation (Amendments 59, 60, 76, 77, 91, 98, 100, 79, 105, 25, 54, 55, 56, 108, 15, 110, 16, 17, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115)
Now, truth be told, there has been a clear need for these reforms for a long time. Although the range of powers that this Senedd has continues to be far too limited, particularly compared to the Scottish Parliament, Wales's devolved competencies have, despite…
5 March 2024 , Committee of the Whole Senedd
Group 1: Senedd constituency boundary reviews: definitions and interpretation, representation periods, reports, and implementation (Amendments 59, 60, 76, 77, 91, 98, 100, 79, 105, 25, 54, 55, 56, 108, 15, 110, 16, 17, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115)
Like Darren, I'd like to thank everyone from the Senedd reform team and everyone in Plaid's team who's been working so diligently on everything in front of us today, and I'd like to begin my contribution by emphasising the genuinely historic nature of the…
5 March 2024 , Plenary
Debate: The Final Budget 2024-25
It's difficult to make comments on today's budget, because there are so many things to be concerned about. We've heard from a number of stakeholders regarding their concerns. In my region, recently, I had a sixth cost-of-living networking event, and a number…
5 March 2024 , Plenary
Business Statement and Announcement
Minister, for many months, I've been asking for a statement from the Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism on the safety of our national collections. We've heard a number of warnings from the National Library of Wales and Amgueddfa Cymru on the safety…
28 February 2024 , Children, Young People, and Education Committee
General scrutiny of the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
Great. Thanks.
28 February 2024 , Children, Young People, and Education Committee
General scrutiny of the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
Could I ask what consideration or work is being done in terms of looking at the benefits of technology in tackling some of those subjects where we really need people to be taking GCSE and A-level, such as French, German, Spanish and so on, so that we do…
28 February 2024 , Children, Young People, and Education Committee
General scrutiny of the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
Also, some of the research shared yesterday did demonstrate that some of the challenges that have emerged in the past year—the word 'Brexit' was used, and people's attitudes towards other languages—were having an influence too.
28 February 2024 , Children, Young People, and Education Committee
General scrutiny of the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
Thank you. If I could ask one further question in terms of modern languages or languages other than English and Welsh. Clearly, we've seen a reduction in the numbers studying those subjects. I had a cross-party group looking at this just yesterday. But…
28 February 2024 , Children, Young People, and Education Committee
General scrutiny of the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
You mentioned earlier that it's not always beneficial in terms of PISA to make comparisons with other nations, but you mentioned the importance of looking internationally too. Can I ask you about this, because clearly COVID has had an impact across the globe?…
28 February 2024 , Children, Young People, and Education Committee
General scrutiny of the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
In terms of the work that's been done in the context of child poverty, clearly there were a number of recommendations made by the taskforce in the summer that were related to education, and the costs relating to education specifically. How much further work…
28 February 2024 , Children, Young People, and Education Committee
General scrutiny of the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
Thank you. Because some of the changes made by councils may come into force either from 1 April or in the next academic year, so it's going to be difficult to know in some counties where the impact of the change has been. But perhaps it's an opportunity too…
28 February 2024 , Children, Young People, and Education Committee
General scrutiny of the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
Yes.
28 February 2024 , Children, Young People, and Education Committee
General scrutiny of the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
Thank you. Is there a timetable in terms of the work that you've commissioned, so that we can understand the data, therefore, in terms—
28 February 2024 , Children, Young People, and Education Committee
General scrutiny of the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
If I could return to those concerns that we've discussed a number of times in terms of school attendance and absence, clearly, there are currently huge challenges in terms of standards if learners aren't attending school. You mentioned collaboration across…
