3 June 2024 , Equality and Social Justice Committee
Annual scrutiny of the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales
Thank you, Chair. I wanted to ask you about your relationship with Audit Wales and the auditor general. I was wondering first if I could just get a better idea—. You mentioned at the start that one of your missions is to look at artificial intelligence and…
22 May 2024 , Plenary
Debate on petition P-06-1407, 'We want the Welsh Government to rescind and remove the disastrous 20mph law'
I fully support this petition, I fully support the petitioners, and I fully support the vast majority of this country that want to see this scrapped. Thank you.
22 May 2024 , Plenary
Debate on petition P-06-1407, 'We want the Welsh Government to rescind and remove the disastrous 20mph law'
No. Let me carry on first and then I'll—. Speed bumps and chicanes, but I would also argue that it actually increases the likelihood of dangerous driving, because people become frustrated and take greater risks, overtaking in dangerous conditions and rushing…
22 May 2024 , Plenary
Debate on petition P-06-1407, 'We want the Welsh Government to rescind and remove the disastrous 20mph law'
One of the things that has struck me the most throughout this whole debate is how surprised the Welsh Government has been at the level of public anger and resentment there has been regarding the 20 mph roll-out. For months and months leading up to it, there…
22 May 2024 , Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for North Wales and Transport
As you will know, Cabinet Secretary, I have brought up previously in this Chamber that, for some time now, buses in England have been retrofitted with fans to help improve air quality. Indeed, it has been found that, over a 100-day period, one bus can remove…
16 May 2024 , Local Government and Housing Committee
Group 17: Disqualification from being a Member of Senedd Cymru or local government (Amendments 112, 113, 10, 114, 125, 126, 128, 129)
Yes, thank you, Chair. I hope you don't mind. I'm grateful for my colleague Peter Fox's support on this, but given the comments of the Welsh Government—and I'm really delighted that they support the principle of it, and I understand it needs a bit more…
16 May 2024 , Local Government and Housing Committee
Group 17: Disqualification from being a Member of Senedd Cymru or local government (Amendments 112, 113, 10, 114, 125, 126, 128, 129)
Yes. Thank you, Chair. Yes, it's so nice to be back, actually, although it's all changed from when I was last on the committee. Also I want to start by apologising: I'm on the back end of a cold, so it's quite a struggle for me to talk. So, I hope I'm not…
8 May 2024 , Plenary
Plaid Cymru Debate: Coal tip and opencast mine remediation
I'm the grandson of miners as well.
8 May 2024 , Plenary
Plaid Cymru Debate: Coal tip and opencast mine remediation
It's always unfortunate when people have died during colliery disasters, and I know my family themselves have suffered in such things, but I still maintain that we were not exploited. Let us be clear that Wales has experienced considerable development in the…
8 May 2024 , Plenary
Plaid Cymru Debate: Coal tip and opencast mine remediation
Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd. I'd like to move the amendments in the name of Darren Millar. I want to start by saying how disappointed I am with Plaid Cymru’s intention to continue and further encourage the narrative that Wales and the Welsh were entirely…
7 May 2024 , Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
Thank you, First Minister. As you will know, there have been several recent examples of politicians in Wales experiencing verbal abuse from the public, in ever-increasing voracity. As we all witnessed on the news, the Rt Hon Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, whilst…
7 May 2024 , Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
3. How is the Welsh Government helping to protect politicians in Wales from potential physical and verbal attack? OQ61073
1 May 2024 , Plenary
Debate on the Petitions Committee Report, 'A Warmer Winter: P-06-1326 The Senedd should scrutinise the prepayment meter scandal in Wales'
I'd like to start by thanking the Petitions Committee Chair, Jack Sargeant, for opening such an important debate and all those who took part in the evidence sessions. I think all Members across this Chamber recognise the complex issues that exist around…
1 May 2024 , Plenary
Topical Questions
Cabinet Secretary, can I begin by echoing the thoughts of Heledd in terms of saying how devastated I am for the workers of the Everest site, with so many people being made redundant, as has been reported? I appreciate that this must be a worrying time for…
1 May 2024 , Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language
Cabinet Secretary, it's my belief that in order to properly embed the learning and speaking of Welsh in communities, there needs to be a clear and well-advertised economic advantage for those to speak Welsh. Only through this will people invest and make every…
30 April 2024 , Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
As we've heard, First Minister, the Rhondda Tunnel Society has been campaigning to reopen the old Rhondda railway tunnel between Blaencwm and Blaengwynfi in the hope of creating Europe’s longest indoor cycle path, as well as creating a tourism and community…
24 April 2024 , Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
Thank you, Cabinet Secretary, for your response. Whilst you have said you have been assured that there are no plans for the imminent closure of the national museum at Cardiff, this doesn't change the fact that the chief executive of Museum Wales has publicly…
24 April 2024 , Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
4. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the potential closure of the National Museum Cardiff? OQ60954
24 April 2024 , Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
Cabinet Secretary, as you will be aware from the Welsh Government's child poverty strategy for Wales, the Marmot approach has been found to be an effective way of helping to tackle inequity. We also know that there are 39 local authorities across England now…
23 April 2024 , Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
First Minister, recent research has shown that there's a direct correlation between exposure of firefighters to fire effluents and poor mental health. In particular, it's been shown that endocrine disrupters, such as polychlorinated biphenyls, which are…
22 April 2024 , Equality and Social Justice Committee
Governance of Fire and Rescue Services: evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Housing, Local Government and Planning, and the Chief Fire Adviser
No, that's it.
22 April 2024 , Equality and Social Justice Committee
Governance of Fire and Rescue Services: evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Housing, Local Government and Planning, and the Chief Fire Adviser
With that, then—I hope you don't mind, Chair—I asked your predecessor this, Hannah: one of the things that strikes me with the fire services is almost a reluctance to go out to recruit, and a lot of the chief officers, senior positions, they've gone through…
22 April 2024 , Equality and Social Justice Committee
Governance of Fire and Rescue Services: evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Housing, Local Government and Planning, and the Chief Fire Adviser
And then the last one. It was interesting that you mentioned diversity then, in a previous response, and I know that the Fire Brigades Union have highlighted a concern in terms of the recording of diversity compared to what happens in Westminster. I just…
22 April 2024 , Equality and Social Justice Committee
Governance of Fire and Rescue Services: evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Housing, Local Government and Planning, and the Chief Fire Adviser
Perfect, Chair. Thank you. I suppose I've only got a couple more questions, and one of them is this: you may recall, a couple of years back—actually, it was last year—the Welsh Government wrote to the chief fire officers, highlighting His Majesty's…
22 April 2024 , Equality and Social Justice Committee
Governance of Fire and Rescue Services: evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Housing, Local Government and Planning, and the Chief Fire Adviser
Thank you, Chair. I just want to chat a bit more about Welsh Government actions. I know that, a couple of years ago now—I think it might have been in 2015, 2016—there was a national framework that was published, and I know your predecessor, Hannah, mentioned…
