Peredur Owen Griffiths: It's no surprise, therefore, that those entering hospital with undernutrition more than doubled in the seven years to 2017, with high rates among older people between 60 and 69 years of age. Since the publication of those figures, we've had another four years of a Tory Government in Westminster. Their reforms in the welfare state have led to significant cuts in public expenditure, social care...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: To return to foodbanks, one of the most upsetting aspects of this operation are the food parcels that are ready to eat straight away. Why, you might ask, is this upsetting or even necessary? It’s because some people do not have access to cooking facilities, or are unable to afford to turn the electric or gas on to cook the food. How many pensioners will be facing this problem this winter...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: What financial support has the Welsh Government provided to local authorities in South Wales East to enable them to deliver services during the pandemic?
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Diolch, Minister, for this budget update this afternoon. I'm speaking this afternoon as one of the regional Members for South Wales East. I welcome the extra clarity your statement brings, because it allows the Senedd to provide the rigorous and focused scrutiny that is required for each and every Welsh Government budget. I'd appreciate further detail on a couple of important matters. Since...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Thank you for the opportunity to participate in this debate.
Peredur Owen Griffiths: There exist huge inequalities in wealth and health in our society. I don't believe that anyone taking part in this debate could claim otherwise, but I would be delighted to show them around some of the communities in my region of South Wales East if they need further convincing. The pandemic over the last two years has amplified these differences that already existed, exacerbated by more than...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: We face a perfect storm: inequality and poverty, which were at unprecedented levels before coronavirus, have been amplified in the last two years. Life is already a struggle for so many, yet things are set to get worse—much worse. The energy price cap is expected to surge in April. If that was not bad enough, utility prices are set to rise once again six months later. Predictions are that...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: I agree entirely with Rhun there. Forcing people to choose between heating and eating a hot meal is dreadful, and the damage to people who can't access food regularly is unforgivable and frightening.
Peredur Owen Griffiths: To compound matters, we have a Tory Government in Westminster that is beyond parody. While millions of people worry about how they will be able to afford their utility bills over the next 12 months, the lack of a cohesive answer from the UK Government over the looming cost-of-living crisis is unacceptable. If they devoted as much time and effort into tackling the cost-of-living crisis as they...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Thank you to the Minister for this afternoon's statement. May I begin by saying that it's not just an excellent day for the Urdd for celebrating its centenary today, and the fact that we are celebrating Santes Dwynwen's Day, but relevant to this statement, I also wish a very happy birthday to Tŷ Hafan, which is celebrating its twenty-third birthday today? And the statement is an excellent...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: The two children's hospices in Wales have been the poor relations in the UK when it comes to state support. Before this announcement, our hospices received less than 10 per cent of their budget from state sources. By way of comparison, children's hospices in Scotland get 50 per cent of their budget from state sources. We're not talking about parity today with other nations, but it is a step...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Sorry. When you contextualise this announcement today in terms of the financial security that we need for children's hospices, I'm sure there'll be well-spread agreement in our Parliament today, and it's not only long overdue, but it's very, very much welcome indeed. Diolch.
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Diolch, Ddirprwy Weinidog. I welcome the statement that's been issued this afternoon and I thank you for the namecheck in the statement and for mentioning the cross-party group that I've helped to set up with the assistance of the fantastic staff at the drugs charity Kaleidoscope. It's also pleasing to be reminded of the reduction in drug deaths in Wales, although I'd like to see the number...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: 3. Will the Government provide an update on plans to deliver free school meals to primary school pupils? OQ57510
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Diolch, Weinidog. One of the main parts of the co-operation agreement was the free-school-meals policy, which will benefit so many families. I'm proud that Plaid Cymru has helped to bring this to fruition from September of this year. This policy has major and positive implications for local supply chains and combating child poverty. It will also entail a capital cost to ensure that all...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Thank you very much, Llywydd. As Members will be aware, the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales is a Crown appointment made on the nomination of the Senedd under Schedule 1 to the Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Act 2019. The Finance Committee, as the committee with delegated responsibility for overseeing arrangements relating to the ombudsman, has been fully involved throughout the process...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: I'm glad to say that the recruitment process attracted many excellent candidates and it gives me great pleasure to move this motion today, on behalf of the Finance Committee, to nominate the preferred candidate, Michelle Morris, to Her Majesty for appointment as the next Public Services Ombudsman for Wales. I would also like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the current ombudsman,...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: As outlined in the committee’s report, it is vital that the committee’s selection process meets the expectations of the people of Wales in terms of robustness and transparency. It's also vital that the process is conducted in a way that removes it from any suggestion of political interference. As such, we ensured that two party groups were represented on the appointment panel. I was...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: The committee firmly believes that a pre-nomination hearing ensures open and transparent scrutiny of the candidate identified as the most suitable from the recruitment process. It also provides the committee, and ultimately the Senedd, with additional confidence that the preferred candidate is suitable for nomination to Her Majesty for appointment. During the pre-nomination hearing, members...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: I imagine most of us involved in this debate have spent a fair amount of time trudging the streets in our patch, knocking doors, and talking politics to strangers. It's an aspect of being a member of a political party that I genuinely enjoy. Occasionally, it can make you feel a bit despondent when you come across somebody who is not engaged politically. They are completely switched off from...
