, Plenary
Statement by the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution: Justice in Wales
Well, thank you for a number of those questions. I read with interest the evidence session of Lord Thomas with your committee, the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee, because it is something that is of direct interest. I think the one thing that…
, Plenary
Statement by the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution: Justice in Wales
Firstly, thank you for those comments. They very much agree with all the sentiments that you have expressed and, of course, the importance of the developments that have been taking place and the engagements that are there, but also how much further we…
, Plenary
Statement by the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution: Justice in Wales
I think one of the starting points, of course, is that—you raised this—it's a very long document, and I agree with that. It could have been, actually, a lot longer, and I hope that the Member has seen the 'Delivering Justice for Wales: Summary and Work…
, Plenary
Statement by the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution: Justice in Wales
I thank the Member for, again, the variety of comments. I also didn't know what 'deep dive' meant when I came here, and I managed to bluff it through for a while and eventually found out. Also, when the term 'challenging' is used, it means pretty well…
, Plenary
Statement by the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution: Justice in Wales
Can I thank the Member for the very substantial number of questions and points he's raised? Can I just perhaps start by saying I do hope, of course, that when he's had an opportunity to consider what is a very, very detailed report, there will be an opening…
, Plenary
Statement by the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution: Justice in Wales
But despite all this, we know that our justice system could be so much better. Nobody here will have forgotten the words of Lord Thomas that the people of Wales are being let down by the justice system in its present state. The Thomas commission was, of…
, Plenary
Statement by the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution: Justice in Wales
I also want to reflect the personal efforts of the Minister for Social Justice, who sits with me on the Cabinet sub-committee, and has done so much to deliver strong and vital partnership working over the years. We were particularly pleased by the exceptional…
, Plenary
Statement by the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution: Justice in Wales
Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd. A fair and effective justice system and the rule of law are the cornerstones of our parliamentary democracy. As politicians, we make laws, but the adjudication of those laws must always be independent of politics. Today, I want to…
, Plenary
Debate: The Platinum Jubilee
Dirprwy Lywydd, I'm sure Members will appreciate how difficult it is to add to the tributes that have been paid to the Queen today. The theme that has run through all the speeches today is one that is familiar to us. It is one we hold high as politicians. It…
, Plenary
Topical Questions
Well, thank you for that question. I have absolutely no doubt whatsoever that the Minister for Economy and the First Minister will utilise every opportunity that there is to ensure that those international interests and UK interests, but in particular the…
, Plenary
Topical Questions
The Member makes his point very well. I have two particular concerns. The first one is the undermining of international law, and that is something that any law officer should be concerned with, and I would hope that the other law officers across the UK…
, Plenary
Topical Questions
Thank you for that question. It is certainly the case that dialogue's important, and I think it's important that you recognise the importance of dialogue with devolved Governments. I don't think it is a minor matter. It is a matter that could involve devolved…
, Plenary
Topical Questions
Thank you for that supplementary question, and, of course, you do raise some significant issues in respect of potential breaches of international law, and those must not be underestimated. The First Minister wrote to the Prime Minister on Monday 16 May to…
, Plenary
Topical Questions
Thank you for the question. We need more detail about these proposals in order to assess their impact. We have a direct interest in anything that affects the way in which goods flow between Great Britain and the island of Ireland, and UK Ministers need…
, Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
You raise very important points. Of course, I've practised from the civil justice centre and there are other Members of this Senedd who are very, very familiar with those facilities. The state of the court, which was raised in the Commission on Justice in…
, Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Thank you for the question. Since I met with senior members of the judiciary at the Cardiff civil justice centre last September, I have continued to press the Ministry of Justice on the increasingly urgent need to replace it with a civil justice centre fit…
, Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Thank you for the question, part of which I can answer, part of which I probably cannot. Can I just say on the constitution commission that I and the First Minister and the leader of Plaid Cymru, as part of the co-operation agreement, met with the commission…
, Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Thank you for the question. We have set the commission’s broad objectives. As the commission is independent of the Welsh Government, the issues they consider within that remit are a matter for them.
, Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Thank you, and I agree entirely with the points that you have made. The internal market Act, I believe, if it's interpreted as UK Government wants it to be interpreted, undermines part of our constitutional settlement. Of course, we disagree with that…
, Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Thank you for the question. An application for permission to appeal against the order of the Court of Appeal, along with a request for expedited consideration, was filed with the Supreme Court on 7 March. The application has not, as yet, been considered…
, Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Thank you for that supplementary question, and I do agree with, I think, most of what you actually said. I've raised a number of times my concern about the democratic health of Wales, and it goes across the United Kingdom. I think it is always of concern when…
, Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Thank you for your question. Reforming local government elections to reduce the democratic deficit is a commitment in our programme for government, and I regularly discuss such matters with my ministerial colleagues.
, Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
I agree entirely with those sentiments. They're sentiments that other Members have made, that my colleague the Minister for Social Justice has made as well, and many other Members have made those comments within this Chamber. I think it was only yesterday…
, Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Thank you for the question. The Welsh Government is proud that Wales is a nation of sanctuary for all. Welsh Government will continue to protect the rights of asylum seekers in Wales and is seeking to discuss these proposals with UK Government. The UK…
, Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Thank you for that supplementary question, and for raising what is, I think, an important law reform issue. And it's worth perhaps just reminding what the Hillsborough law actually is, under, I suppose, the name of the Public Authority (Accountability) Bill…
