Bethan Sayed: 1. Will the Counsel General make a statement on the work of the Commission on Justice in Wales? OAQ52084
Bethan Sayed: 7. What assessment has the Counsel General made of the legal barriers preventing the Welsh Government seeking the devolution of legislative powers relating to welfare and social security? OAQ52097
Bethan Sayed: Clearly, with news today that Port Talbot is the most polluted place in Wales, having a low-carbon focus in the city deal is something that I think is crucial. If it wasn't today, it still was when this deal was set up, and one of the programmes, as part of the deal, is homes as power stations, which is a large investment. So, how are you planning to provide international leadership to ensure...
Bethan Sayed: Thank you for that response. Could you outline what the Welsh Government has decided are the potential implications of the commission? I understand that work is ongoing at the moment, but do you have any idea of what you expect out of this commission? For example, would you wish to devolve criminal justice in the future, for example? One of the problems, from my point of view is—and I think...
Bethan Sayed: I thank you for the response. And as has been the theme of questions today, last week, your Government made a deal with the Conservatives in Westminster, where you essentially agreed with them, and trust them not to interfere in devolved matters on powers returning from Brussels. Yet, time and time again in this Senedd, and elsewhere, Members of the Labour Government have repeatedly...
Bethan Sayed: Donald Trump yesterday extended his decision deadline over whether or not to continue the exemption of EU countries to his 25 per cent steel and aluminium tariffs into the United States. Let's not play down the business and market uncertainty that tariffs and trade barriers can bring to industries across the board, but particularly export-reliant industries such as steel. This is crucial to...
Bethan Sayed: Obviously, as Rhianon has outlined, we have a report being announced soon on music in education, so I would want to keep my powder dry on that, but I do know that it has been a productive piece of work and something that the public have been entirely engaged in because this is a really important topic. I don't need to tell AMs here my passion for this, being a viola player myself, my brother...
Bethan Sayed: Sorry.
Bethan Sayed: Will you take an intervention?
Bethan Sayed: I appreciate what you say about the creative learning in schools programme, but what we heard from evidence in our committee was that it had no link whatsoever with the music services and that, in fact, they weren't able to bid for any part of that scheme. So, I was wondering, in future, would you be able to look at amending how that works so that it could be something that the music...
Bethan Sayed: We are going to support the passing of this Bill in the final stage today. We recognise that, due to ONS reclassification, this is a necessary piece of legislation and we note that the Bill, in its final form, resembles similar legislation, as has been mentioned by the Minister, undertaken in England and in Scotland respectively. Although in crafting this legislation the Welsh Government had...
Bethan Sayed: Will the Cabinet Secretary outline current progress on developing animal welfare legislation?
Bethan Sayed: As has been exemplified by my colleague Simon Thomas earlier, the Welsh Government recently announced that it would allow Westminster powers to legislate in a number of areas returning from Brussels, one of which was certain powers relating to animal welfare. So, I was wondering whether you could clarify how you think that could impact upon planned legislation. I was wondering if you could...
Bethan Sayed: Thank you for the answers you've given. I just wanted to clarify whether you meant that Baglan Moors would be taken off any list that you do have. I think that's where the confusion lies. Regardless of meaningful discussion, can you just confirm for the record that even if, for example—not that I'd be happy with it—you did put up a list that would suggest that other areas of south Wales...
Bethan Sayed: I'm tempted to go on this again, but, no, I won't; I'll just annoy people here. [Laughter.] It's now two years since the establishment of the Valleys taskforce to tackle poverty in the Valleys. Can you give us an example, a clear example, as to what one thing, as part of these discussions, has changed Government policy since this Valleys taskforce has come into being?
Bethan Sayed: Thank you for that answer, but isn't the reality of the situation that this is another Welsh Government scheme to kick the can down the road so you don't have to deal with the consequences of your inaction on poverty and inequality? You have a smaller budget and no control over welfare, and this Government seems to have no willpower whatsoever to even try and get various devolution of...
Bethan Sayed: Thank you for the answer, but let's take a look at the record for a few minutes, shall we? Communities First—scrapped, with no replacement scheme, so the budget can be funnelled into bottomless pits in the revenue support grant or go into other areas that are currently struggling for funding, such as health boards. The child poverty strategy—scrapped, so you can avoid having to take any...
Bethan Sayed: Although people from Wales are members of credit unions, as compared to the rest of the UK and Ireland, as you’ve just said, membership is much lower than it is in those other nations. So, when I raised these issues with you in the past, I suggested the concept of having a national hub for credit unions. Yes, funding is provided to them individually, but there’s a great deal that they can...
Bethan Sayed: Thank you. I'd like to concur with the comments made by Jack Sargeant in relation to the importance of Mental Health Awareness Week and the fact that we can, where possible, work together in supporting one another. I think that was something you brought to the table, so, thank you, Jack, for that. I wanted to expand on the comments made by Simon Thomas in relation to Palestine. I've had quite...
Bethan Sayed: I understand that there are Housing First pilots that have been and are going to be developed in parts of Wales, which I welcome, as part of the commitment to tackle homelessness, but the involvement of other services, including justice and healthcare are key in relation to this. So, what are you doing to look at pooling budgets? I've spoken to the sector on many occasions and they've said...
