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Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language: Our economic future
I thank Samuel Kurtz for a very wide range of questions, and welcome him to his new responsibilities. I very much look forward to our discussions across the Chamber, and perhaps outside the Chamber from time to time as well. The premise of the Member’s…
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Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language: Our economic future
Finally, the inclusion of economic policy and the Welsh language within the same ministerial portfolio for the first time will support our economic development work in communities where Welsh is widely spoken. We know that the economic health of those…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language: Our economic future
We want our entrepreneurs, businesses and our workforce to thrive in all regions of Wales. To accomplish this, I want us to set ourselves the bold ambition to make Wales the best place to start, invest in and grow a business in the United Kingdom, and to…
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Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language: Our economic future
Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd. The foundation of our economic mission is an economy that delivers a just transition to a sustainable future, with fair work at its heart. This includes providing good opportunities for young people, investing in the skills and…
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Short Debate: The impact of renewable energy infrastructure on rural communities
So, what the group needs to do is to help us build that understanding of the impact of the various options, taking the full extent of those impacts into account and building that deeper understanding of the possible alternatives, the possible approaches, to…
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Short Debate: The impact of renewable energy infrastructure on rural communities
I'm not able to confirm that. I don't have that information. Building on the work from the renewable energy deep-dive, I want to work with industry on a sector deal. A sector deal will clarify how this Government will support industry to deliver on our…
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Short Debate: The impact of renewable energy infrastructure on rural communities
In 2020, the Welsh Government published our policy statement on local ownership of energy generation, which included definitions of local ownership, shared ownership and community ownership. We published guidance for developers and stakeholders and decision…
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Short Debate: The impact of renewable energy infrastructure on rural communities
We all understand that we need to move to a low-carbon energy system if we are to achieve our net-zero targets. We've also been clear that we want to see the profits and benefits remaining in Wales in order to ensure that transition is fair and that it…
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Short Debate: The impact of renewable energy infrastructure on rural communities
Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd, and can I thank James Evans for bringing this debate and for colleagues who gave us five instalments of Just a Minute, without any hesitation, repetition or deviation? It's a pleasure to respond to this debate as the Minister…
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Debate on the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee Report, 'Nuclear energy and the Welsh economy'
The report's first recommendation builds on the conclusions and calls for a decision sooner rather than later from the UK Government on project siting, along with clarity on how and when a project is likely to be brought forward in north Wales. A commitment…
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Debate on the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee Report, 'Nuclear energy and the Welsh economy'
Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. May I thank the members of the committee for their report, which comes at a very important time in the development of the nuclear industry in the United Kingdom? And this is particularly timely in Wales with the news that…
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Nomination of the First Minister under Standing Order 8
Vaughan Gething.
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Short Debate: Mobile phone use in schools in Wales: The challenges for teachers and learners
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I'd like to thank Hefin David for tabling this short debate today, and for the points he made on the use of mobile phones in schools, and much more importantly, can I thank the digital leaders at Bedwas High for writing the speech? I…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
I thank the Member for those questions. In terms of the bursary, we do pay the education costs for the people on that scheme and we ask them, as a response to that, to commit to the system here in Wales for two years. In terms of attracting people who are…
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Questions to the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
It's a comfort to me that the Member did that, because I gave the wrong answer to the previous question, or I started to do so at least. [Laughter.] Educational psychologists play an important role in the education system in north Wales. We have committed…
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Questions to the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
Well, as the Member says, there's a consultation on these matters, which he's welcome to respond to. I'd be grateful for any thoughts that he has in relation to it, as I'm sure there will be many responses. The consultation closes on 25 April. I don't accept…
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Questions to the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
There is statutory guidance in place that sets out the Welsh Government's policy on children missing education. This is available on the Welsh Government website.
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Questions to the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
Well, the Member will know that we've reviewed the definition of persistent absence in Wales, I think, from the statistics that he's citing, so it no longer is defined as missing school at 20 per cent. It's now reduced to 10 per cent, so that the support can…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
Yes. Diolch yn fawr. I am committed to ensuring there is a relentless focus on continuing to improve attendance. That's why I established the national attendance taskforce in January to drive improvements in attendance and to re-engage our learners.
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Questions to the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
There is statutory guidance—. No, forgive me; I turned too many pages.
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Questions to the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
Well, I won't comment on the specific example that the Member has given because I have no personal knowledge in relation to the incidents that he, I think, is alluding to, but, just to say, in the way that I answered the question from Jack Sargeant, we as a…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
Well, I'm grateful to Jack Sargeant for bringing this issue to the Chamber. It is a very, very important issue. We are in the course of updating our statutory guidance on anti-bullying for schools and, as he will know, schools are required to have regard to…
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Questions to the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
The Welsh Government has a zero-tolerance approach to any form of bullying in the Welsh education system and we expect the same from schools. We provide a range of resources and support to schools so they can prevent and tackle bullying, including our…
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Questions to the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
Well, I'm not sure about the divisive tone of that question, Mike Hedges. [Laughter.] But, in all seriousness, I think the Member is right. We can have as many initiatives as we like, as I've just talked about with Paul Davies and we've discussed in the…
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Questions to the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
That's great to hear. I was actually at Pembrokeshire College quite recently talking to them about—. They're very much leading the way, I think, in terms of renewables education more broadly. I was able to talk to some apprentices, and some of the apprentices…
