Llyr Gruffydd: May I also echo the thanks to the Minister and her officials for the way in which they have engaged with us, and also to the finance and LJC committees for their work, and also to the Conservative spokesperson for the way in which we have been able to collaborate on this Bill? I would just say that we will be supporting all amendments in this group. Amendment 1, as we've heard, is a...
Llyr Gruffydd: The Finance Committee, and many stakeholders, strongly believed that including a retrospective review that was robust was good practice, and would be something that would help to ensure that the objectives of the legislation were delivered in accordance with expectation, and also that there is value for money when it comes to what is delivered. Now, that of course is something that the...
Llyr Gruffydd: Moved.
Llyr Gruffydd: Moved.
Llyr Gruffydd: It's a positive step in the first instance that the Government's accepted the need for a sunset clause, as the Minister mentioned earlier in this session. The Government's original choice, of course, was to do that after five years, with a one-off opportunity to extend the powers for a further five years, and I explained at Stage 2 of this Bill that my concern with that was that it was out of...
Llyr Gruffydd: 6. Will the First Minister provide an update on cross-border health provision for patients between England and north Wales? OQ58373
Llyr Gruffydd: In light of previous problems with funding cross-border health services—and I'm thinking particularly of problems that arose with the Countess of Chester Hospital some years ago and more recently with Gobowen hospital—are you confident that the funding for cross-border healthcare in hospitals such as Walton is adequate to ensure that patients from Wales aren't treated as second-class...
Llyr Gruffydd: Thank you very much, Dirprwy Lywydd, and may I thank the Minister for her statement? It's good to see in it a number of the main elements of Plaid Cymru's council tax reform plans, which we set out in our manifesto, particularly around revaluation; increasing the number of bands, particularly at the higher end of home valuations; and ensuring that council tax is more proportionate to the...
Llyr Gruffydd: I started this process being open-minded on this legislation, as I always do, recognising there are times when one needs to respond to circumstances when such issues arise, but I have to say that evidence provided to the relevant committees scrutinising the Bill, particularly in Stage 1, from some of the most notable legal figures in Wales outlined a number of elements that caused me concern...
Llyr Gruffydd: Sir Paul Silk gave us quite compelling evidence when he said that the Bill, and I quote, 'is an example for me', he says, 'of a more general concern that I have about the way in which the Executive is taking over functions that I think properly belong to the legislature', reflecting some of the comments that we've already heard. The LJC itself in its report reflected on that, and I quote...
Llyr Gruffydd: Yes I will, if the Llywydd will allow me more time.
Llyr Gruffydd: And I'll come to that in a moment, because I do acknowledge that fact, but I have to say that the weight of evidence given during that stage, for me, made me take a step back and look at this through a different lens, and I do hope—. I'm sure many Members will have read the reports, but you as the committee Chair in Stage 1 debate said that the committee had come to the conclusion that the...
Llyr Gruffydd: Seeing that you are quoting me directly, I hope you'll take a brief intervention. I did explain in my opening contribution—
Llyr Gruffydd: All right, okay. Well, the weight of the evidence from the people that we heard from changed my mind. I change my mind; it would be good sometimes if others did as well.
Llyr Gruffydd: I'll start with reference to the over-allocation against the general capital budget. Obviously, because of inflationary pressures, that is coming under considerable pressure, probably reflected in the fact that the over-allocation in the supplementary budget before us is £68 million, or just over £68 million—down £7.5 million from the final budget. I'd ask, maybe, that you could give us...
Llyr Gruffydd: 1. What are the Welsh Government's plans to encourage economic growth in north Wales? OQ58364
Llyr Gruffydd: 8. Will the Deputy Minister provide an update on the provision of mental health services in north Wales? OQ58362
Llyr Gruffydd: Well, thank you for that response.
Llyr Gruffydd: The new census results are highlighting how many local authorities across north Wales are actually experiencing a decrease in population. We’re also seeing the population aged over 65 in Wales increasing and the population of people aged 15 to 25 actually fell during the census period. Now, yesterday, the First Minister effectively denied the existence of a clear trend of losing many young...
Llyr Gruffydd: On 15 June, in response to a question about the abrupt closure of Denbigh Men's Shed, you said, and I quote, 'I've been in touch with the health board and have been advised that, following a health and safety walk around, risks were noted and felt to be of such a nature that a temporary suspension of this service was required.' Now, serious questions have been raised about the validity of...
