Peredur Owen Griffiths: There was no reference to the Welsh language on the face of the Bill, as introduced. I spoke during the committee stage on this legislation about how important it is for the Welsh language to be embedded at the heart of the public procurement framework in Wales, as one of the key social and public policy objectives that we expect this area to contribute towards. It's already Government policy...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: I'm grateful to the Government for supporting these amendments, which will only serve to strengthen the positive outcomes of this Bill and send a clear message out about its intention. I'm particularly happy that the Government has moved on the matter of the Welsh language. Its previous position was incongruous with its policy towards the language and its goal of creating conditions for...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Yes, please.
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Please.
Peredur Owen Griffiths: The purpose of amendments 10 and 11 is to amend section 40, which sets out the information contracting authorities must include in their contracts register. The effect of these amendments is, again, as I have already mentioned in relation to those tabled about section 27, is to futureproof section 40 by adding a similar regulation-making power that will enable Ministers to amend the list of...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Diolch yn fawr. And to close my final contribution in this, the final debate of the Stage 3 proceedings, I'd like to take the opportunity to thank all those who have assisted with the scrutiny process: Senedd clerks, lawyers, and the Plaid team, and I'd also like to pay tribute to the way in which the Minister and her officials have approached the scrutiny process, and I hope she feels better...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Llywydd, can we proceed to the final votes this evening? Thank you.
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Yes.
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Yes.
Peredur Owen Griffiths: 1. Has the Welsh Government had any discussions with Gwent Police and South Wales Police following the fatal crash in St Mellons? TQ740
Peredur Owen Griffiths: How is the Government ensuring there is adequate mental health support for young people in South Wales East?
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Diolch. I'd like to echo the Llywydd's comments and send my condolences to the friends, family and, indeed, the community affected by this tragic event.
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Thank you for that response, Minister.
Peredur Owen Griffiths: There's been a great deal of public distress following the crash, which claimed the lives of three young people following a night out in Newport, and two other people remain in hospital fighting for their lives. The police response is now the subject of an Independent Office for Police Conduct inquiry. It would be wrong to pre-empt any findings of such an investigation, but you cannot ignore...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Jane, would you take an intervention?
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Based on animal welfare there, and you're talking about animal welfare, I've spoken to quite a few councillors with regard to planning applications and their frustration at not being able to turn a planning application down on animal welfare reasons. I'd like to ask the Government if they would consider changing planning laws so that animal welfare reasons might be a reason to turn down a...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Thank you very much, Dirprwy Lywydd. I'm very pleased to speak in this debate today on behalf of the Finance Committee. The committee scrutinised the second supplementary budget on 1 March, and I thank the Minister for her attendance at that meeting. The committee's report was laid before the Senedd yesterday, and the report makes seven recommendations and comes to three conclusions. On the...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: I'd like to begin by recognising the budgetary uncertainties caused by the ongoing disputes relating to public sector pay. We all hope for a swift resolution to those discussions and, above all else, regret the impact it's having on the staff themselves. However, this situation is placing significant pressure on delivery partners across public services. Worryingly, it has the potential to...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Finally, the committee was pleased to hear about the positive meetings held between the Minister and the latest UK Chief Secretary to the Treasury. Fiscal devolution works most effectively when harmonious inter-governmental relations exist, and we hope that the nature and spirit of these initial meetings will continue. As Members will know, this committee has time and again supported the...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has worked on this Bill—everyone from the fantastic team at Plaid Cymru to committee staff, to Senedd lawyers, and not forgetting the Deputy Minister and her officials. Everyone has pulled out the stops to get this to this point in a relatively short space of time. I would have preferred the Bill to have included a stronger provision...
