Peredur Owen Griffiths: Thank you, Mike. We recommend that an independent body should assess both the Welsh and UK Governments' claims around the levels of future funding and how this compares to previous EU funding. We are pleased that the Welsh Government has agreed to this recommendation, but, unfortunately, we did not receive the same commitment from the UK Government. We therefore urge the Minister to pursue...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd, and I thank everyone for taking part in this debate this afternoon.
Peredur Owen Griffiths: It highlights the complexity and the emotive matters that we have been discussing this afternoon. Just briefly, a few comments on the speakers. Peter, to start with, talked about that lack of engagement and that complexity of not talking to each other. Mike, then—one point to make is that Simon Hart didn't send us the workings, but Robert Buckland did, so we did have some of that...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: To close, Dirprwy Lywydd, this report shines a light on these funding arrangements and, more importantly, on how the funds operate in Wales and their impact on the communities that need them most. I would like to thank Members and the Minister for their contributions today. I believe that this is the first committee inquiry to be conducted on this issue in the current Senedd, and I hope that...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Trefnydd, I want to highlight the need for a Government statement by raising the matter of the nursery at Caerphilly Children's Centre, which is left on the brink due to a lack of financial commitment and engagement from the Labour-run Caerphilly County Borough Council. The centre has been providing an incredible service for children with disabilities, developmental delay and additional needs...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: It's been five years since the decision to close Communities First was taken. It was the Government's anti-poverty strategy and it hasn't been replaced. Since then, levels of poverty have increased and they will get much worse due to the cost-of-living crisis, which is becoming a full-blown emergency. Why doesn't Wales have a specific anti-poverty strategy, Minister, and do you agree that we...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Diolch, Llywydd. My first question this afternoon is about a matter in my region causing consternation for constituents, but has a national implication. The application of Merthyr (South Wales) Ltd to continue coal extraction operations at the Ffos-y-Frân mine, beyond the original deadline, and mine for another three years, has caused considerable distress to residents due to concerns over...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Thank you, Counsel General, and I'll certainly write to you on that. Since the last round of Counsel General's questions, we have received the verdict of the Supreme Court that the Scottish Parliament does not have the power to legislate for a referendum. Does the Counsel General concur with the remarks made by the First Minister in the summer, that there is an unambiguous moral and political...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: 4. How is the Government helping to combat poverty in South Wales East during the cost-of-living crisis? OQ58896
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Diolch, Prif Weinidog. Yesterday marked four years since you took office as First Minister. In that time, we've seen an upturn in fortunes for some of our poorest—. We haven't seen an upturn—. Not even able to read my question, sorry. I'll start again. [Laughter.] Yes. In that time, we haven't seen an upturn in fortunes for some of our poorest communities. In fact, it has got a lot worse...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Can we have a Government statement on the fire service please, Trefnydd? Like many who saw the ITN report on South Wales Fire and Rescue Service yesterday evening, I was horrified. There should not be any place for misogyny within the workplace, but this is especially the case with a public service like the fire brigade. I was extremely disappointed to discover that this behaviour has been...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Thank you, Llywydd. I am pleased to move this motion today on behalf of the Finance Committee and to ask the Senedd to agree to appoint Dr Kathryn Chamberlain as chair of the Wales Audit Office board in accordance with the Public Audit (Wales) Act 2013. Dr Kathryn Chamberlain has significant senior leadership experience in the public sector, with a strong audit and governance background. She...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Thank you very much to the committee and the Chair for bringing this debate forward today and for this important report.
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Our communities have faced hardship after hardship in recent years, following over a decade of austerity from the Conservatives in Westminster, then we had Brexit, then the pandemic, and now this pervasive cost-of-living crisis. Yet, above all, we have seen that kindness in our communities has prevailed. Wales is rich not just in terms of resources or talent but in our communities. We have to...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Thank you very much to the committee and the Chair for the work that they've done, and thank you to the Counsel General for bringing this Bill forward.
Peredur Owen Griffiths: We welcome the introduction of this Bill to create a consolidated, accessible and modernised legislative framework for the conservation of Wales's historic environment that will better reflect the dynamics of the devolution landscape. We hope this will make the people of Wales feel more engaged with our rich and diverse national history, and better able to contribute to conversations on how...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: 3. What is the Minister doing to help manage common land in South Wales East? OQ58943
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Thank you for that response.
Peredur Owen Griffiths: I raise this matter as there have been problems occurring on common land within my region. The current relaxed model of ownership and accountability means that all it takes is a rogue landowner to expose the inherent flaws within the system. Without going into too much detail about a local case that springs to mind, there is a glaring example in my region of how a landowner can get away...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Our NHS is at breaking point. Something has to give. There have been long-standing problems with patient flow through hospitals. When you combine this with an increased pressure on our emergency service and more and more patients being added to waiting lists, our hard-working staff are being forced to work harder, and work harder in worse conditions. There will be some in this Chamber that...
