, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Finance and Local Government
Thank you, Minister, for your response. I would certainly agree with you that power lies best where it is closest to the people making those decisions. Interestingly, yesterday, I was at an event talking about community assets and the potential, perhaps, for…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Finance and Local Government
5. What plans does the Minister have for further devolution from the Welsh Government to local authorities and regional bodies? OQ60185
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Perhaps Peredur might come in in a moment, Chair, but are you instinctively comfortable that what you've outlined in here goes far enough, or would you, if you had your own way, as it were, be wanting it to look different to what it does in this Bill?
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Thanks, Chair. Just to build on some of that, really—so, there are two things on the go here, I guess. Section 28, which is a duty to provide services to promote diversity, and it refers to protected characteristics and the socioeconomic circumstances of…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Thanks, Chair.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
To build on that, I guess it's similar with a piece of paper coming through a letterbox; it's not the volunteer or the Royal Mail person who is, perhaps, legally responsible, but again, it's the agent or the candidate themselves. Thank you. Finally—and I…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Going back to the point that Michael raised—and rightly so—about risks of disinformation, I guess the point of this, Minister, as you outlined, is to try and provide as much clear information as possible. At the moment, when you get a leaflet through your…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Very good. In 2026, obviously, there's the Senedd elections. There will probably be a few hundred candidates, you'd expect, with information. In 2027, with the local authority election, you're talking thousands of candidates. I just wonder how you expect the…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
In terms of 2026, there was slightly different language between the two; I think Michael called it a goal and I think the Minister perhaps called it something a bit stronger than that, so it will be interesting to see what happens there.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
With that in mind—there are a couple of points there—when do you expect that platform to be in place? And secondly, who do you expect to be responsible for both its creation and its upkeep?
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Thanks, Chair. I just want to take a moment to focus on the voter information platform, which is section 27 of the Bill. I was wondering whether, Counsel General, you would want to briefly outline why you think that it's important to have that included and…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Yes, of course. Right, thank you.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
What you're saying, therefore, is that it will be down to the Senedd to decide which committee would be most appropriate to scrutinise the report coming from this body.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Just to follow-up from Peredur's question, your response to the question around where it would be scrutinised was that it would go to the Senedd and be tabled in the Senedd. So, just to be really clear on that, you're saying then, therefore, it's up to the…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
Llyr Gruffydd is absolutely right to raise this as a specific example, an example that many of my constituents in north Wales, like Llyr's, have to experience far too often. And what we're seeing, of course, is a symptom of years of underinvestment and poor…
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Homelessness
I think it is an important debate here this evening, to talk about homelessness, because it's an issue that afflicts far too many modern developed societies, and Wales is no exception. In particular, as Janet Finch-Saunders articulated right at the start, the…
, Plenary
Debate on the Local Government and Housing Committee Report, 'Local Authority Library and Leisure Services'
I just want to start by also thanking those involved in bringing this report together: colleagues on the committee, in particular the Chairman, John Griffiths, for leading us through another committee report process, but of course also those members of staff…
, Plenary
Topical Questions
Thank you for your initial response, Minister. You will know, Minister, that councils and the services they provide are some of the most important in our communities, from schools and social care right through to emptying bins and filling potholes. So…
, Plenary
Topical Questions
1. What discussions is the Minister having with the leader of Denbighshire County Council following his warning that the council is facing bankruptcy unless services and jobs are cut? TQ882
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services
Minister, you'll be aware that regulators are only as good as the data and reporting available to them. And you'll also be aware that one of the significant issues identified in health services in north Wales in recent times has been the accuracy and…
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Mental health
Thank you for taking an intervention. Just on that particular point of the years that you mentioned there, very sadly, in my family, we lost a grandparent to suicide during the COVID pandemic, and it left many of us wondering why at that point. So, I wonder…
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Mental health
Will you take an intervention?
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip
I'd like to declare that my brother-in-law is a firefighter in the North Wales Fire and Rescue Service. The Deputy Minister will be aware of the recent opportunity for members of the public in north Wales to be able to have their say on the North Wales Fire…
, Plenary
Debate: 'NHS in 10+ years: An examination of the projected impact of Long-Term Conditions and Risk Factors in Wales
I'm grateful to be able to take part in this debate. As Vikki Howells said in opening her contribution, it's a really important debate that we have in this Chamber. Because sometimes, it can feel like we have some of the same conversations in here about our…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
Thank you to Mabon ap Gwynfor for raising this important issue here today. I certainly support the premise of Mabon ap Gwynfor’s question, because, First Minister, you’ll know that, by 2035, stroke incidence is set to increase by 120 per cent, a significant…
