Siân Gwenllian: As we know, the Family Fund offers about £500 a year to low-income families who most need help. The fact that this money can be used so flexibly is key. One charity manager told me that this is the only source she can turn to now for a number of issues, including, for example, money to support families to have short holidays, which they deserve—weekend breaks that are so beneficial, but...
Siân Gwenllian: 2. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the initial response from local authorities to the white paper on Welsh local government reform? OAQ(5)0111(FLG)[W]
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you. The initial response that I’ve received from councillors mainly, from all parts of Wales, does note a number of grave concerns. While supporting the efforts to make public services in Wales more effective, many are concerned that the proposals outlined in the White Paper put at risk the core principles of local government—principles related to being responsive and being...
Siân Gwenllian: Plaid Cymru is disappointed that the funding for the free parking programme is being distributed through the revenue support grant, rather than there being a specific pot available for councils to bid for, because there is a risk that this funding won’t be used to its intended purpose. But I do understand, following the meeting I had this morning, and at my request, that you will be...
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you, and warm congratulations to Dai Lloyd on his attempt to introduce a Member’s Bill as regards the protection of historic place names in Wales. I’m very pleased to support him today, and I’m confident that he will receive cross-party support. The historic names of Wales are part of our proud heritage, and they deserve the same protection as rare plants and animals. Very often,...
Siân Gwenllian: Will the First Minister make a statement on direct payments to farmers?
Siân Gwenllian: Better jobs, closer to home—for my constituents, what this means is creating quality jobs in north-west Wales, and the Welsh Government is duty-bound to show the way in this regard and to have deliberate policies to ensure that Government jobs are distributed across Wales. When, then, does your Government intend to reform its job location strategy? We need to include specific new criteria...
Siân Gwenllian: It’s crucial that we develop and enhance the work of the Mudiad Meithrin as part of the Government’s 1 million Welsh speakers strategy. Now, of course, we need to work on a number of other fronts, too, in order to achieve that goal. Last week, this was launched—’Reaching the Million’—by Plaid Cymru, setting out the strategic priorities that we must work around. This includes...
Siân Gwenllian: Anyone who regularly travels between north and south knows that it’s not a pleasant experience to say the least. Unfortunately, the most practical way of travelling across Wales for very many people is by car, and there have been no significant improvements to the main road linking the north and south of our country since the days of Ieuan Wyn as Deputy First Minister. What work is being...
Siân Gwenllian: Mae Bil diddymu arfaethedig Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig yn bygwth datgymalu setliad cyfansoddiadol Cymru yn llwyr, gan gynnwys pwerau Llywodraeth Cymru dros faterion sydd wedi eu datganoli, fel amaethyddiaeth. Yn dilyn y bleidlais ddoe, yma, ar y ddadl ar danio erthygl 50, mae’r ffordd yn glir ar gyfer Bil parhad yr Undeb Ewropeaidd i Gymru. A ydych yn cytuno bod Bil parhad yn...
Siân Gwenllian: Plaid Cymru supports all efforts to increase the social housing stock too and, of course, Carmarthenshire has been a council that’s been in the vanguard in this area. One restriction that could impact on the ability to build more social housing is the decision of the Office for National Statistics to re-allocate housing associations as public bodies, thereby restricting the availability of...
Siân Gwenllian: It’s important that the Assembly continues with the good work of tackling waste. It’s an issue that affects us all. The seas, coastlines and beaches of Wales are habitats that are seriously damaged by waste and, in supporting Simon Thomas today, I want to mention the impact of waste on marine habitats and the impact of polystyrene particularly. Following the plastic bag tax, introduced...
Siân Gwenllian: I’m going to focus on the role of women in the workforce in the construction sector. The words ‘women’ and ‘construction’ don’t go together traditionally, and it’s time for that to change. At present, there are far fewer women than men in this sector. Encouraging more women to join the construction workforce could overcome some of the problems in the sector for the future, as...
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you, Llywydd. I move amendments 1 and 2 in the name of Rhun ap Iorwerth. I’d like to thank the Conservatives for tabling a motion that does recognise the importance of local authorities and, in that regard, how local democracy contributes towards public services that are of a high quality. Just a few words on some elements of the original motion—point 3 refers to acknowledging the...
Siân Gwenllian: Well, clearly, there are also other reasons that would account for that as well, but certainly the introduction of proportional representation would improve that. We have seen the situation in local authorities in Scotland where, certainly, the turnout has been far higher in those elections. I believe that we need a new electoral system in order to raise people’s confidence in politics,...
Siân Gwenllian: 2. Will the First Minister make a statement on plans for a medical school for north Wales? OAQ(5)0562(FM)[W]
Siân Gwenllian: The case for a medical school to serve north Wales, and rural areas of our nation, is clear and robust. The Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health Board will have spent over £21 million on employing agency medical staff over the past 11 months up until the end of February this year. And the Royal College of Physicians summarises the situation in one sentence: Yn syml, nid oes digon o...
Siân Gwenllian: 8. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on business rates relating to community energy projects? OAQ(5)0117(FLG)[W]
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you. Yesterday, during First Minister’s questions, Steffan Lewis urged for an update on the First Minister’s fair work commission and the leader of Plaid Cymru asked for a sign of support to the principle of scrapping zero-hours contracts in the public sector in Wales. Now, I want to follow that issue up further with you this afternoon. Do you agree with me and with the leaders of...
Siân Gwenllian: You’ve referred today, and the First Minister yesterday referred, to these issues that there are in Wales in terms of scrapping zero-hours contracts, and you’ve argued in the past that including amendments to abolish zero-hours contracts in the social services Bill could have undermined the Bill, making it open to challenge in the High Court. But it would have been possible for you to...
