Rhys ab Owen: The cladding scandal is a perfect example of where the devolution settlement is failing the people of Wales at the moment. The residents feel as if they're part of a ping-pong game between Westminster and the Welsh Government. They feel that they are not being listened to. We want assurances that the money announced by Robert Jenrick, when he was housing Minister earlier this year, the £3.5...
Rhys ab Owen: Diolch yn fawr, Gweinidog. I'm glad to hear about the building safety Bill that will be brought forward in this Senedd. Hopefully, that can be done sooner rather than later. I'm also glad to hear about surveyors being on site in January, but I am very disappointed with two things—one being the large developers not willing even to entertain discussions with you, Minister. That is hugely...
Rhys ab Owen: Mabon ap Gwynfor asked, 'Who is responsible?', and he said that it's the greed of some causing difficulties and anguish to others. And I hope we will have this Welsh legislation that the Minister has mentioned as soon as possible.
Rhys ab Owen: Jane Dodds also mentioned people's lives being on hold, and reminded us again that people are at the centre of this. I agree with Janet Finch-Saunders—we need to know the number. And I agree that fire safety is far more than just cladding, as the Minister also mentioned.
Rhys ab Owen: I hope—I see that time is up, but I very much hope that Members will support this motion. Thank you very much.
Rhys ab Owen: What discussions has the Counsel General had with the Ministry of Justice about an update to the criminal legal aid review?
Rhys ab Owen: No.
Rhys ab Owen: Thank you very much, Llywydd. Trefnydd, to mark over two years since the publication of the Commission on Justice in Wales report, a conference was staged this morning, chaired by Anna McMorrin, the Deputy Minister for victims and youth services. The trade unions were represented, as was the former Lord Chief Justice Thomas. He praised the steps that have already been taken following the...
Rhys ab Owen: 3. What discussions has the Minister had with the Counsel General regarding the legal sector's contribution to the Welsh economy? OQ57269
Rhys ab Owen: I should also declare an interest in this as a member of the Wales and Chester Circuit, being a barrister. Now, you're quite right about the contribution of the legal sector to the Welsh economy; it's a similar proportion to the agriculture sector's contribution to the Welsh economy. I'm sure, Minister, you'll agree with me that a full range of legal apprenticeships up to level 7 would boost...
Rhys ab Owen: 1. What discussions has the Minister had regarding the capacity of GPs to respond to the demand on services in Cardiff? OQ57270
Rhys ab Owen: Thank you, Minister. In the first quarter of 2022, the Saltmead Medical Centre in Grangetown and the Albert Road Surgery in Penarth will close their doors to thousands of patients for the last time. In addition, if the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board gets its way and proceeds with its proposals, the same thing will happen in Pentyrch. This, despite the fact that hundreds of homes...
Rhys ab Owen: I'm glad that it seems that the south Wales metro line is finally moving forward; we've been discussing it for many years. I think the Counsel General said in the past that he described the south Wales metro line as some sort of Loch Ness project—nobody was quite sure whether it existed or not. But I'm glad, with the endorsement now of the Hendy report, maybe Nessie will come up for air now...
Rhys ab Owen: Would you like me to begin now? Thank you very much, Llywydd. I have agreed to give a minute to my colleague Mabon ap Gwynfor. The Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 was passed in this Chamber six years ago. Its aim was to embed in our law, our public bodies and our culture, seven well-being goals and five sustainable development principles. These five principles were to be...
Rhys ab Owen: It's no wonder that this ambitious and wide-reaching Act was credited as the envy of the world by the Government and many others at the time and subsequently. That's why our future generations commissioner, Sophie Howe, was called by the United Nations to help them in their planning for a similar commissioner role modelled on Wales. That's why, when Lord John Bird, the co-founder of The Big...
Rhys ab Owen: This is what the future generations Act was supposed to accomplish. But, after six years, and many court cases later, we see that the Act does not have the necessary powers to achieve its laudable objectives. I will concede that the Act, to an extent, has changed the way that we think. Some Welsh councils have declared a nature emergency and some other public bodies have taken some positive...
Rhys ab Owen: In the auditor general's study into the future generations Act, he concluded that public bodies overwhelmingly focus on improving economic and social well-being over environmental and cultural objectives. We shouldn't need reminding, Llywydd, that COP26 again stressed the importance of enshrining environmental sustainability into everyday thinking and everyday planning. There is little point...
Rhys ab Owen: These principles were the roots of the Act, but the Act is yet to blossom, and that is because the Act has not had the opportunity to deliver its true potential.
Rhys ab Owen: I fear the Act has become some sort of a tick-box exercise. Local government and public bodies will say that they've considered it, that they've considered the future, and then move on regardless with their present plans. If asked, they will be able to show that they considered the Act whilst making decisions, but I'm unconvinced that they would be able to show that the Act influenced their...
Rhys ab Owen: Unlike the Welsh Language Commissioner, the future generations commissioner has no powers to punish public bodies that have breached their duties. The future generations commissioner has no powers to stop things from happening or to make them happen. On many occasions, and I'm sure this is true for other Members, local campaigners have approached me and have been very critical of the...
