Janet Finch-Saunders: 1. Will the Counsel General make a statement on the Welsh Government’s recent application to the High Court to intervene in legal action with regard to prorogation? OAQ54312
Janet Finch-Saunders: 5. What legal advice has the Counsel General provided to the Welsh Government on the future of devolved powers in Wales? OAQ54314
Janet Finch-Saunders: Will the First Minister outline what action the Welsh Government is taking to support care homes in north Wales?
Janet Finch-Saunders: Twice your Welsh Government has teamed up with an individual—Gina Miller—to challenge the actions of our UK Government. Most recently, you have intervened in legal proceedings in the High Court, supporting the legal case against the Prime Minister's advice to the Queen to prorogue Parliament. You claimed that you did not make the intervention lightly and stated: 'As the law officer, I...
Janet Finch-Saunders: How much has that cost?
Janet Finch-Saunders: How much?
Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you. Last month, you had the pleasure, as did I and many here, of attending the National Eisteddfod of Wales. Now, despite the Secretary of State, the Right Honourable Alun Cairns MP, having worked hard to deliver a clear and stable devolution settlement, you really did have quite a moan. In fact, you stated, and I quote, 'it is clear that the attitude of the UK government to devolution...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Diolch, Llywydd. I rise to speak against the fundamental principles of this Bill, a Bill that sees this Government intervening inappropriately and excessively in family life. What we have here is a nanny-state approach, which disagrees that it is parents who are best placed to decide on the appropriate punishment or discipline for a child. We know from a UK Government review that the defence...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Yes. She has not actually calculated the potential additional costs, meaning that she's asking us to support a Bill with serious unknown financial implications for struggling local authorities. This is fiscally irresponsible. If you don't believe me, look at the conclusions of the Finance Committee report, and recommendation 20 of the Children, Young People and Education Committee report, to...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Okay. The Deputy Minister has tripped up on awareness too. I know that the Bill was a Welsh Labour manifesto commitment, but I think that it would be responsible—
Janet Finch-Saunders: 3. What effort has been made to ensure a wide variety of speakers at the GWLAD—Future Wales Festival? OAQ54315
Janet Finch-Saunders: Local authorities, of course, across Wales provide services that are greatly valued and, indeed, much needed by our older people. However, despite having the highest percentage of over-65s in north Wales, Conwy County Borough Council has historically been hit by your poor settlements. The local authority is now facing a budget shortfall of £12.5 million for the next financial year. It would...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. These might have been paired, actually, so I'm sorry to come across as a little repetitive.
Janet Finch-Saunders: Diolch, Llywydd. Of course, GWLAD is advertised a conversation starter that will encourage discussion about the future of Wales. Now, despite the festival not having taken place yet, you can certainly be proud that it has technically achieved its aim—it is very much a conversation starter now. Not least, this is because of some of the invitations that have been extended to the speakers at...
Janet Finch-Saunders: I thank the Deputy Minister for bringing forward this statement. As Welsh Conservatives, we are delighted, actually, that the Welsh Government is now implementing the Welsh Conservative policy of providing 30 hours a week of Government-funded childcare for working parents, and we will join with you in paying tribute to the 2,000 childcare providers currently delivering the offer and to our...
Janet Finch-Saunders: 3. Will the Minister make a statement on staff retention in the Welsh NHS? OAQ54384
Janet Finch-Saunders: I can tell you, Minister, that teachers and headteachers that I meet in Aberconwy continue to regularly question the actual effectiveness and value of the regional consortia. Concerns, indeed, have been raised in the committee during the funding inquiry, and I look forward to a review of the regional consortia. Neath Port Talbot Council voted to leave the educational consortium ERW, and GwE...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Diolch, Llywydd. Deputy Minister, you'll be aware, of course, that Care Inspectorate Wales have the key role for inspecting and taking action to improve the quality and safety of services for the well-being of the people of Wales. Now, according to the chief inspector's annual report 2018-19, 2,499 inspections were undertaken. That is 456 fewer than the year before. There were fewer services...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Well, Deputy Minister, thank you for that response, but I have to tell you, here and now, that I do not share your confidence in them currently. According to strategic priority 2, in CIW's strategic plan 2017-20, the organisation is striving to be a great place to work. However, there are serious allegations of bullying and harassment within the organisation, and intense pressure on the...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you, again, Deputy Minister, but we also know too that there have been some documented articles on the Y Byd ar Bedwar programme about their concerns—CIW—and about their ability to actually carry out robust inspections that do protect our most vulnerable in those situations. Now, finally, I have reason to believe, from a reliable source, that these internal difficulties are...
