John Griffiths: Nonetheless, First Minister, there are still far too many deaths and injuries on our roads, and one important response, which is developing at pace internationally and within the UK, is to increase the amount of 20 mph maximum speed limits in inner urban areas. This makes it easier to avoid accidents, reduces the injury if an accident occurs and allows the streets to be reclaimed from the...
John Griffiths: I very much agree with what Leanne Wood has just stated, Dirprwy Lywydd. I think that the criminal justice system in the UK is nothing short of disastrous and horrific. It's inhumane, it's unproductive, it creates a lot of damage for our communities, and it needs to change. So, the more power we can draw down to Wales to have a much more enlightened and effective system, the better, and the...
John Griffiths: —much more effectively than we have been hitherto. Yes.
John Griffiths: Well, you know, I think we can look back and see history through different eyes, and not always understand the obstacles that might have been in the way of a particular route that we might have liked to have seen. So, without getting into a tortuous explanation of where we were and where we are now—
John Griffiths: It is complicated. But what we know now is that we are seeing real progress, again, as the Cabinet Secretary has briefly outlined, and what we need to do is to strengthen that, I think, and quicken the pace. I would just like to say a little bit, Dirprwy Lywydd, in terms of the issues around homelessness and making sure that when people are released from custody, they do know where they're...
John Griffiths: I think it's clear that the planet is in peril, Dirprwy Lywydd, and the overwhelming opinion of science and scientists on these matters makes that clear. That's why the IPCC have said that climate change is happening earlier and more rapidly than expected and that we have 12 years left to halt this dangerous climate change and that Governments must take immediate, radical steps to prevent...
John Griffiths: Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on Welsh Government policy to support locally owned businesses?
John Griffiths: Diolch, Llywydd. I'm pleased to contribute to today's debate as Chair of the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee following our scrutiny of the Bill. I'd like to thank all those who provided evidence to help inform our work, particularly tenants, landlords and letting agents across Wales who took time out to attend our focus groups. We also set up an online dialogue forum and...
John Griffiths: In our scrutiny, we have considered the general principles and provisions in detail, focusing on the impact on tenants, landlords and letting agents, how the changes will be communicated and whether there is a need for a single or lead enforcement body. Having considered the evidence, we concluded that we agreed with the general principles of the Bill and have recommended that these be agreed...
John Griffiths: I'm pleased to speak in this debate as Chair of the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee. The commission, of course, is one of our committee's key stakeholders, and throughout this reporting period we have continued to have an effective and constructive relationship, which has helped inform a range of our work. I was pleased to welcome the EHRC to the Senedd earlier today to...
John Griffiths: 8. Will the Cabinet Secretary consider introducing a legal ban on the shooting of Greenland white-fronted geese? OAQ52845
John Griffiths: I thank the Minister for that response. At the last count, there were only 22 Greenland white-fronted geese on the Dyfi, and there's limited protection for those birds wintering in Wales outside of areas of voluntary moratorium on shooting. So, given the very low population and that limited protection in Wales, I would be very grateful if the Minister did introduce a legal ban, and I'm...
John Griffiths: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I am pleased to open this debate on behalf of both the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee and the External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee. I believe this is the first time that such a joint committee debate has taken place. I think that indicates the importance of the issues we are here to discuss. It is important that we continue to set...
John Griffiths: In responding to our letter, the First Minister stated that discussions were under way with the UK Government about a political agreement that would endorse the existing framework of equal treatment legislation in force across the constituent parts of the UK. The First Minister also told us that they would continue to work with the UK Government to seek assurances on individual...
John Griffiths: Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the Welsh Government’s partnership with local government?
John Griffiths: I congratulate the Finance Committee on its very important report and recommendations, Dirprwy Lywydd. We all know that the challenges involved with Brexit are immense, and the uncertainty is great, and that poses all sorts of very, very difficult challenges for organisations, and, indeed, everybody in Wales. Trying to find a way through is very, very difficult, given the complexity and the...
John Griffiths: 2. What action will the Welsh Government take in response to the Equality and Human Rights Commission Wales 2018 report, ‘Is Wales Fairer?’? OAQ52990
John Griffiths: Leader of the house, the Tory UK Government's political choice of austerity is causing more and more misery and hardship for our communities—rising poverty, homelessness and rough-sleeping, queues at food banks, mental and physical ill health. All of this in the world's fifth-largest economy. Professor Philip Alston, the UN rapporteur on poverty and human rights, has just issued a report,...
John Griffiths: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd—
John Griffiths: No problem at all. Leader of the house, as you will know, the committee that I Chair, the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee, is taking a general approach of returning to reports and, indeed, legislation that we've scrutinised, to make sure that implementation is what it needs to be, and that includes this particular piece of legislation. So, one aspect that we've been...
