Huw Irranca-Davies: Our committee's report sets out an integrated package of proposals for a strengthened Parliament to better represent the people of Wales, and a route-map for getting us there. We believe that our proposals can command the support of at least the 40 Members necessary for a supermajority here in this Senedd. As we state in the report, we firmly believe that these reforms are essential and they...
Huw Irranca-Davies: Therefore, in looking forward to Members' contributions today, let me conclude by saying that this report is far from the end of the journey to delivering Senedd reform. The Welsh Government Bill to make change happen will need to be addressed without delay. We will then have further opportunities to scrutinise that legislation, but today we must take the first step. Today, we can provide a...
Huw Irranca-Davies: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. It's a pleasure to follow the balanced and constructive comments of the Counsel General, but can I also thank every Member who's contributed today, regardless of the different views and different opinions? It has been a lively—argumentative at times and passionate at all times—debate, and I think that's what this place is for. I think the reforms we're talking...
Huw Irranca-Davies: I probably haven't got time, Alun, I'm afraid, unfortunately—I'm really sorry to Members on this. We have heard from Conservative Members a consistency, and it's a consistency that was clear as well in their leadership even while the committee was sitting, I have to say: no more Members et cetera, et cetera. It's been repeated and repeated, and here we are today. What was also mentioned...
Huw Irranca-Davies: 7. What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the impact of the rising cost of living on the people of Ogmore? OQ58193
Huw Irranca-Davies: I think the First Minister's response describes well the tsunami now that is affecting people right across Wales, from Ogmore north, south, east and west, and it really is happening, and it's not hidden away—we're actually seeing it now evidently every single day. But there are things we can do. Much of the measures, the well-targeted measures of Welsh Government, have been mentioned this...
Huw Irranca-Davies: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. One of the defining characteristics of much of the support that Welsh Government has provided to date is how well targeted it is at those who are most in need. So, whether we look at the fuel voucher scheme, the heat fund, the healthy start fund, the new fund for carers, it's really going directly to those who most need it now. The same cannot be said, Dirprwy Lywydd,...
Huw Irranca-Davies: How is the Welsh Government supporting the regeneration of the Garw, Ogmore, Llynfi and Gilfach valleys?
Huw Irranca-Davies: As everybody heads out for the summer to make the best of the great outdoors that we have here in Wales, could we have a statement on Welsh Government support, past and going forward, for Adventure Smart Cymru? It's a brilliant website, platform, social media presence that seeks to promote safe, healthy outdoor activities—hill walking, mountain biking, paddle boarding, canoeing, boating,...
Huw Irranca-Davies: What engagement will the Minister have with environmental organisations in Wales prior to and during the COP 15 UN Biodiversity Conference in October 2022?
Huw Irranca-Davies: Thank you very much for taking the intervention. I didn't want to speak in this debate, but I'm really pleased to support this debate today and to hear others speak, and it's great to hear the Minister talk about the engagement with the co-operative centre of Wales. Would she recognise that much of the motion here today, cross-party as it is, actually reflects very accurately the long-running...
Huw Irranca-Davies: Thank you very much indeed, and my thanks to Llyr for chairing the evidence that we heard in this inquiry into NRW and bringing forward this report, and also our clerking team and those who gave evidence to us as well. At the same time as we face this double whammy of a climate crisis and a nature and biodiversity crisis, our report pointedly says that NRW needs a much-needed reset in funding...
Huw Irranca-Davies: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I really welcome this pilot and the statement today, focusing as it does on care leavers with the basic income. It will add, despite some of the doubters today, to that pool of international evidence, both in terms of basic income pilots but also on support for care leavers themselves towards an independent life as well. Just to build on the points that were made by my...
Huw Irranca-Davies: Minister, I start from the premise that I want inter-ministerial and inter-governmental working to be effective and efficient. It's in all our interests. But if there were ever a concerted and deliberate attempt to undermine the newly installed machinery of government, it would include lack of communication, lack of timely sharing of information and timely engagement with devolved...
Huw Irranca-Davies: Minister, my colleague Sarah Murphy and I recently visited Hope Rescue near Llanharan. We saw the brilliant work they were doing, but they told us about the massive increase in enquiries they're having from owners who simply are asking, 'How do I afford now to keep my pet? How do I feed it? How do I pay vet fees? How do I pay for insurance?' They're also having increasing numbers of abandoned...
Huw Irranca-Davies: I hadn't intended to stand, but I do recall, from correspondence with the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee, that today is the second meeting scheduled for the Interministerial Standing Committee, and one of the items—one of the two items—that was scheduled, and we thank Ministers for their transparency with the Senedd on this, was, indeed, UK inter-governmental relations....
Huw Irranca-Davies: The support that the Welsh Government has provided to bus services and rail services in Wales during the pandemic has enabled our public transport system to come through, albeit battered by events, but ready to move on to the next stage, which will involve enhancements and extensions to rail services, including on the Maesteg line, legislating to return power to the people over buses and...
Huw Irranca-Davies: First Minister, I've challenged you and the Counsel General before to give us a programme full of made-in-Wales legislation. I think this current Senedd of 60 Members will have its hands full in the year ahead, I have to say—there is plenty to get our teeth into here. There isn't everything for everybody, but there is a lot in here. And you'll be pleased to know I will not be talking about...
Huw Irranca-Davies: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. We thank the Counsel General for his introductory statement and also for adding to our committee's busy scrutiny programme by bringing forward this historic—in more ways than title alone—first consolidation Bill in Wales. Now, the arrival of this first Welsh consolidation Bill has by some been eagerly anticipated, and, in fact, as we've just heard, if there's one...
Huw Irranca-Davies: 7. What assessment has the Minister made of the impact of the UK Government's proposed Bill of Rights on the legislative and policy framework in Wales? OQ58292
