Llyr Gruffydd: Simon Thomas made reference to the fact that we were reintroducing some of these ideas and we should make no apology for that. I’d like to take this opportunity to reintroduce to Assembly Members some of the findings of the report of the Environment and Sustainability Committee of the last Assembly. The last debate in this place in the last Assembly was on 'A Smarter Energy Future for...
Llyr Gruffydd: We need to be much more proactive, and Ynni Cymru, as we've heard, is one particular vehicle that we can and should utilise to make some of this happen. And, of course, state-controlled energy isn't unfamiliar to the market. It certainly isn't unfamiliar to us here in the UK. I suppose EDF is the most famous company—or infamous, maybe, depending what you think—but it's French owned, or 85...
Llyr Gruffydd: Now, across England, we see local authorities establishing energy supply companies, not-for-profit companies. There’s been an example in the past from Nottingham, Robin Hood Energy, and of course they offer a tariff to the citizens of Nottingham that is different to the rates paid by others. There are steps being taken in Wales: we’ve seen how Bridgend, for example, has been trying to...
Llyr Gruffydd: Thank you, Llywydd. May I thank you for the opportunity to contribute to this debate and to move the amendment in the name of Plaid Cymru? The topic of the amendment won’t surprise many, I'm sure. It's an issue that we raise regularly as a party in this context. It is a very important issue, and that’s been reflected in the comments that we have heard in the debate thus far, namely the...
Llyr Gruffydd: Now, we need to address the issue that we currently have—that net loss of graduates that we've heard about, and also the skills gaps that we have in vital sectors such as medicine and the STEM subjects. The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service's data has shown a decline of around 14 per cent between 2015 and 2017 in the number of Welsh domiciled students applying to study medicine...
Llyr Gruffydd: Now, I want to recognise that the Government, to a certain extent, accepted the principle that action is needed in this area, because we can see what’s happening in the context of the funding of Master’s degrees over the next year. From what I understand, the Government will provide £3,000 to students from Wales to study in Wales, and that will be implemented in various different ways in...
Llyr Gruffydd: But, of course, it isn't just Diamond who's been highlighting some of these issues. In terms of targeting specific skills gaps, the evaluation of the Seren network suggested that, and I quote, 'The historical downward trend in the number of Welsh domiciled applicants studying for Medicine would suggest that there may be a need for targeted intervention to support students applying for...
Llyr Gruffydd: Diolch yn fawr. I'm grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this debate, because I believe passionately that the foundations are there for a succesful sovereign nation here in Wales. We've spent the best part of an hour this afternoon discussing how energy rich we are here in Wales. We export electricity. We generate twice as much as we use, yet of course we end up paying more for our...
Llyr Gruffydd: 1. What discussions has the Welsh Government had with Arla following its decision to close the site in Llandyrnog? OAQ52324
Llyr Gruffydd: Thank you for that response. I know it's early days, but I would like to ask whether the Government would be willing to consider maximising the potential of that site by looking at attracting others to operate from that particular site in future. Because the concern is that, if the site is mothballed, it closes everyone else out in terms of the opportunity to process milk in that area. We...
Llyr Gruffydd: I've just come from a meeting of the cross-party group on sustainable energy, which I chair, and which is highly recommended to all Members, I'm sure you'd agree, Cabinet Secretary. But, amongst the presentations that we had was one about the work of the National Research Network for Low Carbon Energy and Environment, which is funded by the Welsh Government. Amongst a number of research...
Llyr Gruffydd: Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer, and I move this motion on school funding in the name of Plaid Cymru. May I say, at the very outset, that I am not blind to the reality of austerity, and you will note that this isn’t a motion that says, ‘Just give more funding to schools’? But neither am I deaf to the warnings coming from the sector that we are reaching a point, after years...
Llyr Gruffydd: Where does this leave us? Well, we know that schools across Wales face a situation where they can't avoid making substantial cuts in order to cope with the financial deficits, and that means, of course, cuts in staffing levels, in resources, in continuing professional development for teachers, and many other aspects of school activities. The teaching unions have drawn our attention to some of...
Llyr Gruffydd: Now, everyone understands that the situation emerges from the financial settlement that local authorities receive from the Welsh Government, and that the Welsh Government's settlement derives from the settlement from the Westminster Government. But now, of course, the situation has reached a point where the impact on the profession and the pupils alike will be so detrimental that we must...
Llyr Gruffydd: Thank you very much, Presiding Officer. I've been told I have 90 seconds to close, so apologies for not being able to respond to all the points made, but I will start by thanking everyone who has contributed to this debate. I do need to respond to the amendments, so I will do that. We will not be supporting the Welsh Government amendment. In true Welsh Government form, it starts with, 'Delete...
Llyr Gruffydd: 5. What steps is the Welsh Government taking to reduce reoffending rates? OAQ52336
Llyr Gruffydd: Virtually every piece of research that has looked at the size of prisons has shown that smaller prisons have better outcomes for prisoners and communities as compared to large prisons, and superprisons, particularly. So, if you are serious about reducing the levels of reoffending, then would you commit, if and when these issues are devolved, to plough a new furrow in Wales and to move away...
Llyr Gruffydd: Given the cuts to Denbighshire County Council’s budget last year, Denbighshire will have to increase its council tax by 20 per cent, it seems, just to catch up with where they are at the moment. Now, whilst we know that budgets are shrinking, costs are increasing, and many of us will welcome the fact that a number of staff in the council are going to receive a pay rise, particularly those...
Llyr Gruffydd: We all remember, I'm sure, back in 1980, when Deeside saw the worst mass redundancy of modern times when Shotton steelworks axed more than 6,500 workers in a single day. Of course, it took the area a generation to overcome that. In fact, I'm sure the effects are still being felt. But it has re-established itself—the area—as an industrial powerhouse in the north-east of Wales, but, of...
Llyr Gruffydd: I am, I am, yes. The NHS was supposed to enjoy a £350 million a week Brexit dividend. Of course, the Centre for European Reform has told us now that the true cost is already £440 million a week, and that's a Brexit deficit, and this is before Airbus, BMW and the others potentially up sticks. Now, I didn't see that on the side of the Brexit bus that was driven around this country. But does...
