Delyth Jewell: I thank the First Minister for his answer. I'm sure that he, as he has just said, has been following not only the result of the US election, but the fascinating coverage that has been of it. I'm delighted by the Democrats' victory against probably the worst US President in history, and I'm glad that the First Minister has joined me in congratulating Joe Biden and Kamala Harris on their...
Delyth Jewell: Diolch, Llywydd. We've tabled these amendments to change the voting system in local government to a fairer one. The arguments have been rehearsed before, and I apologise to members of the committee who may have heard me making these arguments previously, but I think it's important to state them again at this stage. First-past-the-post has created many undemocratic outcomes. For...
Delyth Jewell: Thank you, Llywydd, and a thank you to everyone who's participated in this debate. It's disappointing to hear that the Government is to miss the opportunity once again to create a fairer voting system, and we will be pushing these amendments to a vote. Thank you.
Delyth Jewell: Thank you, Llywydd. It's a pleasure to open the debate on this group and to formally move the four amendments—all four tabled in my name on behalf of Plaid Cymru. We have four amendments in two sets, 158 and 159, and 165 and 166. The intention of this first set of amendments is to scrap the anomaly in law that means that returning officers, or acting returning officers, are not subject to...
Delyth Jewell: Yes. Thank you, Llywydd. I thank the Minister for that. I am disappointed to hear that the Minister has said that the Government is willing to agree in principle, but not willing to take action immediately on this. But I do hear her comments and there are some things that we would welcome. But I would just restate that the Government has accepted this approach and this drafting in order to...
Delyth Jewell: Moved.
Delyth Jewell: Diolch, Llywydd. I speak to all the amendments in this group, which have been tabled following discussions with external organisations, who, like myself, are continually disappointed at the lack of diversity in local government. At Stage 2 I tabled a number of probing amendments on equality and diversity, and I hope the Minister will work with us on this agenda, regardless of how this vote...
Delyth Jewell: I thank the Minister. I take those points on those things that could happen as an unintended consequence of the amendments. I do welcome some of the Minister's comments, but because of the importance of these principles, we will push them to a vote. Thank you.
Delyth Jewell: Diolch, Llywydd. We wanted to table amendments to remove the power of the Minister to force local authorities into corporate joint committees. Some of those amendments have been tabled by Mark Isherwood, so ours are consequential amendments to those, but tabled with that same policy intention and, of course, drafted by the legal services here. This reflects our position as a party that local...
Delyth Jewell: Diolch, Llywydd. Earlier in the debate and at Stage 2, the Minister has made points about unintended consequences that there may be to some amendments, and I had accepted that point. I do accept the Minister's point here that the intention of this limited power to compel local authorities may well be meant to be used in a very limited sense. But, again, I would make the same point to the...
Delyth Jewell: Diolch, Llywydd. I wanted to speak very briefly to this group of amendments and to welcome the Minister's commitment, given at Stage 2, to explore the potential for guidance to be issued that would strengthen the role of democratic services within local government, including the potential for a research service function, as has just been mentioned by Mark Isherwood. In that respect, amendment...
Delyth Jewell: I'd like to start by paying tribute to all men and women who've lost their lives in conflict. There is a fundamental distinction between celebrating war and marking the sacrifice of individuals. It is the latter that I would wish to do. When I worked as a researcher in Westminster, I worked closely with Elfyn Llwyd and our much-missed friend, the late Harry Fletcher, on a manifesto for...
Delyth Jewell: Skill always in peace—may it increase / under the patronage of peace; / Idleness is the glory of the sword / and rust is its distinction.
Delyth Jewell: The closing couplet translates loosely as, 'Idleness is the glory of the sword / and its rust is its distinction.'
Delyth Jewell: Diolch, Llywydd. Minister, it's been reported that a quarter of rough-sleepers who had a place to stay during the first lockdown are back to sleeping rough. Why has that happened?
Delyth Jewell: Well, thank you for that, Minister. I would join you in paying tribute to the workers in the third sector and local authorities for all the work that they have done with this. And I'm glad that you have put the record straight. You can obviously see where we had got those figures from. But I do agree with the point that you made too that obviously one person going back to living on the...
Delyth Jewell: Okay. Thank you for that, Minister. In terms of the culture change that's needed, obviously, it's not just the staff of local authorities who design and commission services who need that understanding and that compassion that you've just been alluding to. Recently, there's been—. We've seen some unfortunate comments from a local authority councillor in northern Wales that seem to imply that...
Delyth Jewell: We, as a party, are supportive of a number of aspects of this legislation, particularly extending the franchise to young people at 16 and 17 years old and also those who have chosen to make their home here in Wales. That is to be welcomed and praised, and it's important, and we will be pleased to vote in favour of the legislation this afternoon. But I have to say that there's been an...
Delyth Jewell: So much of the economic reality of the Valleys these past 40 years has been the result of the deliberate destruction of the coal and associated industries by Thatcher's Government. That betrayal was like an earthquake and it's given way to many aftershocks. Our community spirit has never dimmed, but our unemployment levels remain stubbornly high and our health outcomes carry the scars of...
Delyth Jewell: 2. What assessment has the Counsel General made of clause 49 of the UK Internal Market Bill? OQ55917
