25 January 2023 , Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Thank you, again, for raising an incredibly important civil rights issue and something that also affects devolution. It’s worth saying, isn’t it, that when this issue first arose on minimum service levels, it was with regard to transport, and was of course a…
25 January 2023 , Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
This Bill is unnecessary and it is ill-conceived. It cuts across devolution and attempts to undermine our social partnership approach here in Wales.
25 January 2023 , Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
I remember Brynle Williams well. It's a really important question, and one that is arising so frequently on items of legislation. The Public Order Bill continues the UK Government's regressive approach towards the right to protest and free expression. It is…
25 January 2023 , Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
The Public Order Bill impacts on the vital right of people in Wales to have their voices heard and express their concerns freely. I will continue to impress upon the UK Government that Wales’s views must be heard in respect of the importance of the right to…
25 January 2023 , Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Thank you for the question. The points you raise in terms of the Welsh legal profession, I think, are important ones. The UK inquiry team did indicate its intention to draw staff and legal support from across the UK, with the Welsh Government inquiry team…
25 January 2023 , Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Determining legal expertise is a matter for the chair to the inquiry. The Welsh Government is committed to supporting the inquiry, and has been proactive in making the inquiry aware of Wales’s constitutional and legal arrangements so that levels of expertise…
25 January 2023 , Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Well, I'm sure, had the Member been around at the appropriate time, you would have been making exactly that speech when we went from seven days to a six-day working week, and I suppose you're still angry about the fact that we don't send children under 12…
25 January 2023 , Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Can I thank the Member for raising this? I think it is really important that these ideas are raised within this Chamber and questions is an appropriate way to actually do that. It does remind me that the controversy suddenly when the suggestion was made that…
25 January 2023 , Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
I thank the Member. Whilst we have not committed to a pilot, we recognise the potential benefits of a shorter working week alongside other forms of flexible working. We are committed to working with social partners to encourage progressive working practices.
25 January 2023 , Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
What I can say is to reiterate what the First Minister said, which is that, yes, we do wish to have those powers. It is an area that we wish to legislate in. What the precise content of that legislation might be, I'm sure the detail of that would still need…
25 January 2023 , Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Thank you for the question. And, of course, this is an incredibly important issue that has arisen. Can I just say, firstly, on the gender recognition issue, of course the Gender Recognition Act 2004 is a reserved matter, so we are in a different position to…
25 January 2023 , Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Well, I think whatever legislation is brought before this place will only be out of competence if it goes beyond what is the statutory competence that we actually have. And if my confirmation is that I will ensure that the legislation that is brought before…
25 January 2023 , Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Thank you. The first thing is, we will be able to give a more definitive response once we've got to the stage of having draft legislation in front of us, to be able to look at that. And as you know, one of my obligations as Counsel General—and, again, the…
25 January 2023 , Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Well, thank you for the question. The issue of a Senedd reform Bill is dependent on the policies being determined by this Senedd, so it's not a policy development that is being led by Government. There is considerable policy work that is going on at the…
25 January 2023 , Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Thank you. You've raised an important area, where Welsh Government has been looking at how it can support the development of the legal profession, those having access to it, and, ultimately, those being able to provide legal services within communities. The…
25 January 2023 , Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Thank you. Welsh Ministers have made it clear, since the time of its introduction, that the Welsh Government is not in favour of the UK apprenticeship levy. We've worked closely with the legal sector to introduce apprenticeships that will support growth and…
25 January 2023 , Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Well, this is a very serious Bill, a very serious piece of legislation, with very serious consequences. The concerns about those consequences, I believe, are shared across all political parties at the moment. I believe it is legislation that is ideologically…
25 January 2023 , Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Thank you for the question. As currently drafted, the Bill could see UK Government Ministers given unfettered authority to legislate in devolved areas, contrary to the democratically established devolution settlement. We have reiterated, at both an official…
17 January 2023 , Plenary
Initial Consideration Debate on the Historic Environment (Wales) Bill
Thank you for that. It's a very important point, because it is a balancing exercise, isn't it? We have a very active, very demanding, legislative process, our own legislative programme, and, of course, we also have the UK Government's legislative impact…
17 January 2023 , Plenary
Initial Consideration Debate on the Historic Environment (Wales) Bill
Thank you. Can I first of all thank all those who have participated for their contribution, and can I thank the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee for the very, very long session we had going through the Bill and the very detailed scrutiny of all…
17 January 2023 , Plenary
Initial Consideration Debate on the Historic Environment (Wales) Bill
Llywydd, I want to focus today on whether the Historic Environment (Wales) Bill should proceed as a consolidation Bill. The committee's report contains 14 recommendations and five conclusions, many of which bear directly on this question, and it is the second…
17 January 2023 , Plenary
Initial Consideration Debate on the Historic Environment (Wales) Bill
Thank you, Llywydd. Six months or so have passed since I introduced the Historic Environment (Wales) Bill. At that time, members of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee expressed their enthusiasm to scrutinise this historic piece of…
16 January 2023 , Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Welsh Government's Draft Budget for 2023-24 (spending in relation to justice) and general scrutiny: Evidence Session with Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Thank you very much.
16 January 2023 , Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Welsh Government's Draft Budget for 2023-24 (spending in relation to justice) and general scrutiny: Evidence Session with Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
—we might be putting some bunting up at some stage in the future. But, has it worked? Sadly, I think it is still too early to say. I think all the chaos—governmental chaos—at UK Government level, up until, really, the summer, has really prevented any of that…
16 January 2023 , Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Welsh Government's Draft Budget for 2023-24 (spending in relation to justice) and general scrutiny: Evidence Session with Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
No, it wasn't. I wasn't so much putting the bunting out, but I was saying that it is, potentially, a significant step forward if it works. I suppose it's a case of saying—
