, Plenary
Statement by the First Minister: The final report of the Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales
I thank Rhun ap Iorwerth. I agree, of course, that the nature of the work, the way that the commission went about its task, underpins the report and gives additional power to the content of the report itself.
, Plenary
Statement by the First Minister: The final report of the Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales
I share the leader of the opposition's positive view of the Silk commission. I think for the job that it was asked to do, it was the right vehicle to do it. It's just that this was a very different job and needed a very different vehicle. To take his final…
, Plenary
Statement by the First Minister: The final report of the Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales
If colleagues are only able to read one chapter of the report, beyond its summary and recommendations, then let me commend to you chapter 3, 'strengthening democracy in Wales'. For anyone who practises on the democratic front line, here are ideas on which we…
, Plenary
Statement by the First Minister: The final report of the Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales
Llywydd, I should also thank those senior members of all the parties represented in this Senedd for their help in identifying those commissioners who contributed the political perspectives that shape the constitutional debate of our nation. It is a remarkable…
, Plenary
Statement by the First Minister: The final report of the Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales
Llywydd, publication of the final report of the Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales, 10 days ago, was a major event in the short history of Welsh devolution. My first job this afternoon is to pay tribute to the 11 members of the…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
Well, Llywydd, I thank Jack Sargeant for that. I too am proud to declare my membership of Unite the Union and to endorse the work that it's done in this area. When I saw the question at the weekend, Llywydd, I was reminded of a famous saying by that great…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
Well, Llywydd, there is no doubt that profiteering has added to inflationary pressure on Welsh household budgets. To cite just one example, the Competition and Markets Authority concluded in November that makers of some popular food brands had raised their…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
Llywydd, can I thank other Members for the relative silence in which the question was put? It wasn't easy to follow, but I think I was able to understand the key gist of what Rhianon Passmore said. She asked me at the end what principles guide the Welsh…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
Llywydd, we constantly look to improve services for the Member's constituency, as demonstrated last week, when Aneurin Bevan University Health Board opened a new £19 million health and well-being centre. Islwyn residents will also benefit from a £14 million…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
Well, Llywydd, I don't disagree that there is a dilemma to be solved there, with the number of letters falling and the nature of the business changing. It is why Ofcom has itself come forward with its proposals. We will engage with those proposals, of course…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
Well, Llywydd, Carolyn Thomas makes a very important point at the end of her supplementary question. I said in my original answer that one of the two key points that the Deputy Minister will be conveying next week are general Welsh needs—. And a universal…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
The challenges faced by Royal Mail are not best resolved by a service confined to only three days a week. The Deputy Minister for Social Partnership will meet Ofcom next week to make it clear that any changes to postal services must take into account Welsh…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
Well, Llywydd, I did eventually understand the point the Member was making. The Minister has a range of topics that she will consider in the coming 12 months in relation to permitted development rights. That will include air-source heat pumps, electric…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
Permitted development rights enable development with limited planning impacts to proceed without needing a planning application. These are kept under review in consultation with planning authorities, businesses and other organisations with an interest in the…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
The Robert Owen co-operatives were on a significant scale, weren’t they? New Lanark was a whole town devoted to the co-operative way of doing things. I was asked a question, as the Member said, earlier in the year about employee-owned businesses becoming…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
Llywydd, I thank Paul Davies for both of those points. It's only a few weeks ago that I was with his colleague Darren Millar in a community-run shop in his constituency, and the person we met, who is the person in charge of it, said to me very directly, 'I'm…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
I thank Vikki Howells for drawing attention to the report. It is an excellent report, if colleagues haven't had a chance to read it. What I think brings the report to life are the case studies that are contained right through it, which show the way in which…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
Llywydd, I thank Vikki Howells for that. Social enterprises and community-led co-operatives are an important part of the social and economic landscape in Wales. Dedicated support to help grow the sector is available through Business Wales, Social Business…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
Llywydd, I'm aware of the CHAIN system and it does, undoubtedly, have many merits in a city the size and scale of London, but I don't believe that the difficulty faced in homelessness services in Wales is one of a lack of information. We have monthly reports…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
As Cardiff Council itself has said, its decision to use Toys 'R' Us was a decision made under the huge pressure that the city is facing. In the run-up to Christmas, Cardiff becomes a magnet for people who come to the city, who find that they have nowhere to…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
The Welsh Government remains committed to our long-term ambition to end homelessness. This year alone, more than £210 million has been invested in homelessness prevention. This funding has been safeguarded for 2024-25, despite the challenging fiscal…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
Of course I recognise that when change happens, you have to be sure that you try to take your local population with you on that journey. The health service has changed from the very first day on which it was inaugurated in 1948, and it will go on changing. We…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
The air ambulance service does exist 24 hours a day and part of the reason why reform is proposed is that it can be more available across Wales. It's difficult for me to fully understand the points the leader of Plaid Cymru is making. He wants to criticise…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
The principles they set out in the beginning, Llywydd, were that the service must not be worse for anybody and the service must advantage new people. Two to three people every single day who currently don't receive this service could receive the service under…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
Of course I recognise the concerns of local people about the future of the service, but this happens wherever there is reorganisation. And that's what's happened here. The people who are responsible for the service have been out to consult with local people…
