Sioned Williams: Thank you, Llywydd. Minister, the impact of the cost-of-living crisis is as bad, if not worse, than the effects of COVID for some students. That was the view of the vice-chancellor of the University of South Wales, Ben Calvert, as he gave evidence to the Children, Young People, and Education Committee last week. He warned that he was particularly concerned about mature students who were at...
Sioned Williams: Sorry, okay.
Sioned Williams: Thank you, Minister. Student rent particularly has increased by 29 per cent in Wales over the past three years, and now takes up almost 60 per cent of the student support package as an average. As a party, we've been calling for urgent and radical cost-of-living measures, such as rent freezes and prohibiting evictions, because this increase will be disastrous for a number of students, having...
Sioned Williams: Our motion today is one that seeks to ensure social justice and protection from the worst economic storm in decades. It's about taking action now, saving people from misery and destitution now. It's about insisting that it is protecting the most vulnerable in society that must be the focus of a just Government, not protecting the assets and incomes of those who won't have to face the anguish...
Sioned Williams: No, I think you've spoken enough, Janet. Those in the private rental sector face increasing rent inflation. On top of this, remember, 45 per cent of households in Wales are now trapped in fuel poverty, and 98 per cent of low-income households are living in fuel poverty, having to spend more than 20 per cent of their income on energy. And these figures were published before inflation hit...
Sioned Williams: Exactly, and the health aspect of this has been pointed out today by the Royal College of Physicians, who have said, of course, that poverty causes illness and poor health. The cost-of-living crisis is likely to have a significant impact on the NHS, just as the COVID crisis did. Tenant associations such as ACORN, Living Rent, and Generation Rent agree that the measures brought in by the...
Sioned Williams: Yes. The Welsh Government does not have the power to stop bills soaring. It can't ensure that the Tory Westminster Government increases benefits in line with inflation. But it can take action to give people security that they can stay in their homes, that budgets already stretched to breaking point don't snap due to rent increases, while the cold winds of this terrible economic storm chill...
Sioned Williams: Thank you for your statement, Minister. One of Taith’s stated aims, as you mentioned, is to improve access to international opportunities and the mobility it offers to all learners and students, including those with disabilities, additional learning needs, under-represented groups, and those from deprived and disadvantaged backgrounds. So, I'd like to ask how all of this is being measured...
Sioned Williams: 4. Will the Minister provide an update on the innovation strategy for Wales? OQ58571
Sioned Williams: Diolch, Weinidog. Welsh universities are, of course, vital to the economy, generating over £5 billion and almost 50,000 jobs. I'd like to draw attention to some concerns raised regarding the draft strategy. In the STEM cross-party group meeting last month, it was suggested Welsh Government does not intend to earmark any new money for the strategy, with the Reid review recommendations off the...
Sioned Williams: 1. Will the First Minister make a statement on Welsh Government measures to tackle child poverty in South Wales West? OQ58632
Sioned Williams: Diolch, Brif Weinidog. The latest research by the Bevan Foundation revealed that the number of people in households with one or two children who are having to cut back on food has nearly doubled since this time last year, with one in 10 families with one child, and one in five families with two children cutting back on food for children. So, that staggering number of 6,300 children who've...
Sioned Williams: Thank you for the statement, Minister. It is true that the reports of the war in Ukraine and the intensification in terms of tactics and the inhuman response of Russia are very concerning to those people who have sought shelter in Wales, and likely, of course, to have an impact on the number of refugees. The changes that you've mentioned in terms of the support available to the people...
Sioned Williams: Welsh councils are warning us already that they're going to be facing huge shortfalls in their budgets as a result of the COVID pandemic, market reactions to Westminster chaos, the energy crisis and inflationary pressures because of this cost-of-living crisis. The Welsh Local Government Association has warned that councils are at risk of being forced to make significant cuts to key services....
Sioned Williams: Finally, you refer in your statement that you've had no engagement with Lord Harrington's successor, and he was the Minister for refugees in Westminster, and I want to put on record the Plaid Cymru view that this is entirely disgraceful and unforgivable in light of the crisis facing thousands of refugees in Wales, who are in such a difficult situation in making their homes in a new country....
Sioned Williams: 6. Will the Minister make a statement on the funding of local authorities in South Wales West? OQ58621
Sioned Williams: Diolch, Weinidog. Minister, the leader of Neath Port Talbot Council asked me, in a recent letter, to press for sufficient additional resources to enable the council to continue to support its communities through the current crises. He compares the current cost-of-living crisis with the COVID crisis, when local government demonstrated time and time again how it is uniquely placed to respond to...
Sioned Williams: 1. Will the Government make a statement following the High Court ruling on Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council's education plans? TQ670
Sioned Williams: Thank you. Following a request for a judicial review from Rhieni dros Addysg Gymraeg, the High Court ruled that the decision of Neath Port Talbot Council to open a huge English-medium school in Pontardawe was unlawful because they failed to assess its impact on the Welsh language and particularly on Welsh-medium education. The ruling has been described as being of national importance by Gwion...
Sioned Williams: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I was recently asked by a constituent of mine who is struggling to pay her bills, 'What’s the point of Welsh Government if they can't help us?' It's a valid question, because what good is devolution if we are powerless to protect, at the very least, our most vulnerable citizens? The proposal before you is a way to make the powers that we do have, the resources that...
