Siân Gwenllian: Will the First Minister make a statement on the future of the Welsh Government building in Caernarfon?
Siân Gwenllian: I thank David Rees for raising this important issue. The Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee has been looking at human rights over the past few months, specifically on the same issue that you’ve raised: the concern expressed by a number of organisations the length and breadth of Wales on the decision of the UK to leave the European Union, as well as the UK Government’s...
Siân Gwenllian: I want to look at the Housing (Wales) Act 2014 and the changes required. David Melding has referred to this legislation already. Certainly, the 2014 legislation includes many positives. For example, it extended the time that individuals can approach local authorities when they are at threat of becoming homeless, from 28 days to 56 days, and it also placed a duty on local authorities to...
Siân Gwenllian: Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the Welsh Government's vision for the north Wales economy?
Siân Gwenllian: What concerns me on this issue is that Wales could become a haven for circuses using wild animals. Scotland has banned their use, Westminster is considering a ban, but Wales is falling behind in this area despite the fact that the UK leader of your party is in favour of a ban. So, what exactly is holding you back, and wasn't it a mistake to confuse two things in this consultation? Isn't it a...
Siân Gwenllian: Since 2010 local authorities across Wales have been working in a very difficult financial climate as a result of the destructive austerity policies of the Conservative Government. This means that local services have been lost and the most vulnerable in our communities are being affected most. Following years of cuts to local government budgets in Wales—a cut of 1.4 per cent in 2016-17 and...
Siân Gwenllian: Will the First Minister make a statement on the use of wild animals in circuses in Wales?
Siân Gwenllian: As this is the first time I have questioned you in your new role as the Cabinet Secretary for local government, may I congratulate you and wish you well? I would like to ask you first what sort of style you will adopt in your new role.
Siân Gwenllian: I agree with you that the relationship that you develop with the leaders of different councils and authorities is key. Your predecessor took the approach of collaboration, with a relationship built on the basis of respect, even though there are tensions that sometimes exist between the Government and local authorities. But that wasn't always true, looking at former Ministers in your party. I...
Siân Gwenllian: I look forward, therefore, to seeing how exactly you're going to sustain that important accountability, which is what I was asking about. Turning now to the electoral system and the White Paper on local government reform, it notes that reforming the electoral system to the single transferable vote would not be mandatory to all councils in Wales and that councils would have a choice to bring...
Siân Gwenllian: 2. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on Welsh Government efforts to tackle any weaknesses in the tax system in Wales? OAQ51625
Siân Gwenllian: I wanted to raise the issue of taxing holiday homes and second homes. Steffan Lewis and I sent you a letter before Christmas, noting concerns about the issue of second homes transferring into the holiday home category in order to avoid paying council tax. There are 500 properties that have been transferred from council tax to business tax in Wales, leading to a loss of over £1.7 million to...
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you very much. As you are responsible for issues of equality, can you explain how you ensure that all departments within the Welsh Government, and the bodies that you fund, do take equality issues seriously?
Siân Gwenllian: You will have seen over the weekend that the British Medical Association Cymru has expressed concerns about the behaviour of officials and health boards in relation to the development of sexual identity services for Wales, which was part of the first budget deal between your party and mine. A recent report by Stonewall has found that 36 per cent of transgender people in Wales haven’t been...
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you very much. I’m pleased to hear every word of that. Of course, we are now talking about how decisions by public bodies can have an impact on services for trans people, but there are also examples of decisions having a negative effect on other groups, which perhaps wouldn't have happened if we had more diversity among senior management in the public sector. You will be aware that...
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you very much, Llywydd. It’s a pleasure to bring this debate forward today. I will be inviting Jane Hutt, Joyce Watson, Suzy Davies and Julie Morgan to participate in this debate. I’d like to thank them for their contributions. A century since women were given the vote, is Wales a truly equal nation? I will be presenting evidence to demonstrate that Wales is a long way short of...
Siân Gwenllian: In arguing that there is a lack of equality in Wales today, we will now turn to equality in public life. Twenty eight per cent of councillors in Wales are women. The same figure, 28 per cent, of MPs from Wales are women. And here at the Assembly, 42 per cent of AMs are women—where there was equality back in 2003, and where the Assembly was in the vanguard at a global level. And...
Siân Gwenllian: 2. Will the First Minister make a statement on Welsh Government efforts to tackle the issue of homelessness in Arfon? OAQ51655
Siân Gwenllian: The increase in rough-sleeping is seen as a problem for Cardiff and the large urban areas, but I am very concerned to see an increase in Bangor, which is developing into a destination for homeless people from across north-west Wales and beyond. There is some support available—there are two hostels—but we do need a welfare centre in the city where people can access practical, medical and...
Siân Gwenllian: I want to focus on three aspects that you've noted in your statement this afternoon, and all three relate to increasing participation and better representation within local government. The way that young people come into contact with politics in their early years is crucially important for the future of representative democracy, and therefore Plaid Cymru welcomes your intention, as a...
