, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Introductions, apologies and substitutions
Thank you very much. Do Members have any declarations of registrable interest they wish to declare? No. Thank you. Headsets are available in the room for you for translation and sound amplification, translation on channel 1 and amplification on channel 0…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Introductions, apologies and substitutions
Bore da, croeso. Good morning and welcome to members of the committee. Apologies for absence have been received—. Or is that not the case now? Fay, do we have any apologies for absence?
, Plenary
Short Debate: Pathways from referrals to diagnosis and beyond: the challenges of living with autism and other neurodivergent conditions
Autism is covered by the Equality Act 2010, requiring understanding of and adjustments for autistic service users, each of whom is a unique person with individual needs, just like everyone else. However, although autism spectrum conditions are not mental…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services
The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 places a specific duty on local authorities to promote the involvement of people in the design and delivery of care and support services. However, almost daily, I receive cases where public bodies have…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services
8. How is the Welsh Government monitoring the implementation of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014? OQ57996
, Plenary
Business Statement and Announcement
I call for a statement on medical provision for people in Wales who suffer from ME/CFS—myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome—which can have a devastating impact on functionability and quality of life. This is ME Awareness Week, 9 to 15 May. Now…
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: The Welsh Economy
Wales has the highest business rate in Great Britain, and only one business in the FTSE 100. I'll conclude: the Welsh Government is ignoring warnings by the united voice of the key Welsh tourism industry that its proposals for them have not being based on a…
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: The Welsh Economy
Oh, I didn't appreciate.
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: The Welsh Economy
Diolch, Llywydd. Thank you to Paul Davies for opening this debate, stating that the Welsh economy continues to lag behind other parts of the UK with the worst GVA—meaning the value of goods and services produced per head—since 1999. As he said, we've had so…
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Local Communities
The last sentence, then. Believing they cannot be removed from power, delusional Labour Welsh Government has been failing the local communities of Wales for too long.
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Local Communities
And he's defending his party, which bequeathed austerity to the incoming UK Government in 2010, austerity that would have led to far greater imposed cuts if the UK Government had not taken the action they did. There were only two EU Members—and obviously, we…
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Local Communities
During the boom years based on unsustainable debt, poverty fell, but then it started rising again pre 2010, and by 2010—. Look at the Record of speeches I made and colleagues made in the Chamber here in 2010 highlighting that problem and calling for action to…
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Local Communities
Very brief, if you would.
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Welsh Conservatives Debate: Local Communities
Well, we're a bit short on time.
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Welsh Conservatives Debate: Local Communities
I'm sorry?
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Welsh Conservatives Debate: Local Communities
And the party—[Interruption.] Sorry.
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Welsh Conservatives Debate: Local Communities
Well, Welsh Government policy was to support that local government funding formula. [Interruption.]
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Local Communities
You have been party to the campaigns by Flintshire county councillors, cross party, to have the Welsh Government's local government funding formula changed, so that Flintshire ceases to be one of the worst funded councils in Wales.
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Local Communities
I'll take one short intervention.
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Local Communities
Thanks to Sam Rowlands for opening the debate. As he said, councils are so important in our cities, towns and communities, when properly empowered to be so. As he said, the Labour Welsh Government is failing communities in three key areas. Funding: councils…
, Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Well, according to my dictionary, I think you're referring to 'austerity', which is defined as not having enough money, and, as such, it was an inheritance, not a choice, but tough decisions then have enabled the improvements now being announced. And…
, Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Thank you. Well, you referred to, among other things, welcoming the removal of means testing, but how do you respond to the inclusion within March's announcement of funding to ensure that professionals are better paid for the work they actually carry out, and…
, Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Diolch, Llywydd. What engagement have you had with the UK Ministry of Justice regarding their 15 March announcement that an extra £135 million will be spent on the legal aid sector every year to match the recommendations made by an independent review of the…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Social Justice
I've sat here for 19 years listening to Welsh Government Ministers telling me how they work in partnership and co-production with third sector organisations to achieve social justice in Wales. However, I'm a patron of a charity that supports disabled people…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Social Justice: Update on Ukraine
Diolch. Thank you for your statement, which is obviously becoming a weekly occurrence at the moment. Questioning you last Tuesday, I referred to your written statement update about the Homes for Ukraine scheme on 21 April. In your subsequent update on support…
