, Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General
The independence of tribunals is something that has come up on a number of occasions, not only in the consultation but also in discussions with the new president of tribunals, Sir Gary Hickinbottom, who I am meeting later this week. There is absolutely no…
, Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General
Thank you. Again, that's a very important question, because, following on from the Law Commission recommendations, legislation is in preparation in respect of those recommendations, with a view to a tribunal Bill, to implement the work the Law Commission has…
, Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General
Thank you for those points. Perhaps following on from some of the earlier comments made by the First Minister, we have, of course, as a Government, been advocating the need for appropriate regulation and an appropriate governance and assurance mechanism…
, Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General
Thank you for that question. The rise of AI will create opportunities, but it will also create significant ethical challenges. The Welsh Government recognises the significant economic, public service delivery and wider social benefits that could be gained…
, Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General
Thank you for the question and the very important points that you raised. The former Minister for social justice and I visited Berwyn and other prisons to look at a lot of the issues that you've raised. You're correct to say that there's been a continued…
, Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General
Thank you for that very pertinent question. The recent deaths are deeply concerning, and I would certainly like to offer my condolences to those affected. There have been, I understand, a total of nine deaths within the past two months at His Majesty's Prison…
, Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General
Thank you for your question. We continue to support the devolution of policing and justice to Wales, as recommended by numerous independent commissions over the years, including most recently by the constitutional commission.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Group 18: Review of Act (Amendments 94, 95)
Diolch, Chair. I'm not supporting amendments 94 and 95. We will undertake a post-implementation review of the operation and impact of this legislation, as is our customary practice. As set out in the explanatory memorandum to the Bill, the Welsh Government…
, 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)
Doesn't it become—? Isn't the issue that what you want is, actually, a standard in respect of deception that is effective, whether that's criminal, whether it is civil, and that would apply to all the analogies that you gave earlier? It's not right for me to…
, 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)
It will deal with the issue of deception. It will deal with the issue of recall. It might deal with additional issues that relate to standards as well.
, 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)
The First Minister made a very clear commitment in the Senedd on Tuesday that he wanted legislation, and he was committed to legislation being in place for 2026. I reiterate that commitment. I reiterate the fact that I will work with that. Whether it's the…
, 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)
Chair—. Listen, I didn't interrupt you when you were speaking.
, 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)
Please let me finish what I'm saying—
, 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)
The First Minister has said that is the way he wants to see it done, and that is the—
, 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)
I think any further amendment would be to actually refer this to the standards committee to do it. The—
, 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)
—that that is the appropriate course. Don't forget, what this Bill actually does is it says, 'Here we are, we're creating the offence; we know there's a lot of issues, so what we'll do is we'll hand it all over to Welsh Government and give you 12 months to…
, 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)
Well, I'm not only upbeat, I'm confident that if it's priority, and it's a priority that's been identified by the First Minister—
, 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.
, 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)
The point I'm making is that the most effective way to deliver good legislation and effective legislation is not via this amendment, which I think has inherently a whole series of potential flaws, but is actually through the appropriate committee in any…
, 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)
Honesty is an overarching principle in the code of conduct for Members, and the truthfulness of Members sits at the heart of the standards by which we must be held. Trust is fundamental to the proper functioning of democracy in Wales. At the same time, we…
, 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)
Thank you, Chair. I've listened carefully, and of course we've had quite a number of discussions over the period of time. I'll deal with a number of other issues first of all. I do not support amendments 112, 113 and 114 tabled by Peter Fox. Amendment 112…
, 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)
Back to Kyiv. [Laughter.]
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Group 16: Abolition of the Independent Remuneration Board of the Senedd (Amendment 6)
Thank you, Chair. Well, this issue was indeed discussed during Stage 1, and there were strong arguments made in favour of looking again at the Senedd's remuneration arrangements. I will not, as I think Members will understand, be supporting amendment 6, which…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Group 15: Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru - membership (Amendments 46, 41, 42)
No. I'm happy to move to a vote.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Group 15: Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru - membership (Amendments 46, 41, 42)
Diolch, Cadeirydd. Amendment 41 adds exclusions to the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru so as to ensure impartiality in relation to the new independent remuneration panel functions that have been provided to the DBCC via this Bill. These exclusions are…
