26 February 2024 , Equality and Social Justice Committee
Governance of fire and rescue services: evidence session with the Deputy Minister for Social Partnership and Chief Fire Adviser
I just wanted to come back on one of Ken Skates's questions on the key changes that are required to strengthen governance. What about the role of Government in this? We heard that there were catch-up chats happening, but the issues that have emerged through…
26 February 2024 , Equality and Social Justice Committee
Governance of fire and rescue services: evidence session with the Deputy Minister for Social Partnership and Chief Fire Adviser
Thank you, Chair.
26 February 2024 , Equality and Social Justice Committee
Governance of fire and rescue services: evidence session with the Deputy Minister for Social Partnership and Chief Fire Adviser
And just to return very briefly to the trade unions, you've mentioned the concerns of the authority in terms of separating the scrutiny functions from the operational role and what their concerns were, but what about the trade unions? What were their concerns…
26 February 2024 , Equality and Social Justice Committee
Governance of fire and rescue services: evidence session with the Deputy Minister for Social Partnership and Chief Fire Adviser
Thank you. When the progress report was published in 2020, you, as Deputy Minister for Housing and Local Government at that time, said that you were overall satisfied that the FRAs are doing as much as possible, that they can, to value and develop the…
26 February 2024 , Equality and Social Justice Committee
Governance of fire and rescue services: evidence session with the Deputy Minister for Social Partnership and Chief Fire Adviser
We've already discussed the fact that the Government didn't act on the consultation in 2018, which, as you said, did support the general case for change. Do you accept that that lack of action has led partially to the situation that we've seen arising within…
26 February 2024 , Equality and Social Justice Committee
Governance of fire and rescue services: evidence session with the Deputy Minister for Social Partnership and Chief Fire Adviser
Okay. I just want to return to some of the issues that we've been discussing in terms of reform, and going back to 2018. First of all, if I could refer to the fire and rescue national framework, that is almost 10 years old now. And in April 2022, you…
26 February 2024 , Equality and Social Justice Committee
Governance of fire and rescue services: evidence session with the Deputy Minister for Social Partnership and Chief Fire Adviser
So, were you informed after the announcement was made, or before?
26 February 2024 , Equality and Social Justice Committee
Governance of fire and rescue services: evidence session with the Deputy Minister for Social Partnership and Chief Fire Adviser
But you were aware, before the announcement was made, of the appointment of Mr Millington, and you were content with the commissioners' decision in that regard.
26 February 2024 , Equality and Social Justice Committee
Governance of fire and rescue services: evidence session with the Deputy Minister for Social Partnership and Chief Fire Adviser
Thank you. I will be asking my questions in Welsh. I just wanted to return briefly to the point that Sarah raised on the appointment of Mr Millington. Do you accept the concerns of the FBU on that, and do you accept that it doesn't look good in terms of…
21 February 2024 , Plenary
Short Debate: The importance of Wales's voice in the campaign for peace—Celebrating the hundredth anniversary of presenting the peace petition by the Women of Wales to President Coolidge and Wales's role in speaking up for peace today
Is the Government willing to accept his recommendation, and if so, how can that be realised? What will success look like?
21 February 2024 , Plenary
Short Debate: The importance of Wales's voice in the campaign for peace—Celebrating the hundredth anniversary of presenting the peace petition by the Women of Wales to President Coolidge and Wales's role in speaking up for peace today
'It is high time to invest more imaginatively in local deliberative networks and in ongoing civic education—in the hope of nourishing the confidence that inspired Annie and her colleagues, the confidence that what they said and did was capable of changing…
21 February 2024 , Plenary
Short Debate: The importance of Wales's voice in the campaign for peace—Celebrating the hundredth anniversary of presenting the peace petition by the Women of Wales to President Coolidge and Wales's role in speaking up for peace today
The petition, in its oak chest, had already been presented to the women of America at a grand reception at the Biltmore Hotel, in New York, a few days before. However, during their meeting with President Coolidge, the four Welsh women managed to secure a…
21 February 2024 , Plenary
Short Debate: The importance of Wales's voice in the campaign for peace—Celebrating the hundredth anniversary of presenting the peace petition by the Women of Wales to President Coolidge and Wales's role in speaking up for peace today
Thank you very much, Llywydd. Exactly a century ago this month, in February 1924, four Welsh women landed in New York, holding a bouquet of daffodils, a bound memorial containing an appeal for peace, and a petition signed by 390,296 Welsh women. Their goal…
21 February 2024 , Plenary
Plaid Cymru Debate: Wales-specific COVID inquiry
The inequal impact is immediately apparent when the mortality rates in Wales are assessed according to levels of deprivation. Put simply, this means the risk of dying from COVID was over 80 per cent higher in poorer households, compared with the most…
21 February 2024 , Plenary
Plaid Cymru Debate: Wales-specific COVID inquiry
There was a time when the pandemic was referred to as the great leveller, a catastrophic event that would transcend social barriers and affect us all equally—if the Prime Minister can get COVID, we can all get COVID. But the experience of the past four years…
21 February 2024 , Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
Diolch, Weinidog. I wrote to you recently, as chair of the cross-party group on learning disability, and in the letter I raised a number of issues that the group felt needed to be addressed to ensure young people with a learning disability are not unfairly…
21 February 2024 , Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
9. How is the Government supporting post-16 learners with learning disabilities in South Wales West? OQ60679
21 February 2024 , Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Climate Change
Diolch, Weinidog. In a report discussed this morning by the corporate joint committee for south-west Wales regarding their regional transport plan, they said that the current transport network does not adequately serve the people of the region, and this is…
21 February 2024 , Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Climate Change
2. How is the Government supporting public transport in South Wales West? OQ60682
20 February 2024 , Plenary
Statement by the Deputy Minister for Social Partnership: HeartUnions Week
I grew up in a household where union membership was seen as a natural part of being employed. My parents were both members of teaching unions, and their fathers, both miners, were part of the trade union movement that fought for fairness, safety and dignity…
20 February 2024 , Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip: The Welsh Benefits System and Charter
Thank you for the statement, Minister. Since 2021, as Plaid Cymru spokesperson on social justice, I have supported calls to create a Welsh benefits system many times in the Chamber, and in 2022 the Senedd supported my motion calling for a duty to be imposed…
20 February 2024 , Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip: Anniversary of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and Nation of Sanctuary update
It's a terrible anniversary that we are marking today: two years since Ukraine's lands were illegally invaded, its cities bombed and people driven from their homes in terror. We have rightly condemned the illegal and barbaric actions of Putin and have played…
20 February 2024 , Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip: Anniversary of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and Nation of Sanctuary update
Thank you for the statement, Minister.
7 February 2024 , Plenary
Plaid Cymru Debate: The health service
We all heard the harrowing story that was reported in the news yesterday, about the experience of one of my constituents, Theresa Jones, a 91-year-old woman from Port Talbot, who was lying in pain, and in mental anguish, on the floor of her care home for…
7 February 2024 , Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services
Thank you. A constituent has contacted me saying that, since he was prescribed Buvidal, it has allowed him to stop using heroin, which has made a huge difference to his life. My constituent received the drug because he was in a special programme for…
