Siân Gwenllian: I don’t think that answers my question, and to be honest, it is a briefer response than I got from the First Minister the other day when I asked the same question. But, the answer I got was just as lacking in substance as that one, and I have to say that attempts by Ministers, time and time again, to refuse to answer simple questions is an insult to this Assembly. Work has been done on the...
Siân Gwenllian: Well, let us move on from the question of cost for the time being, and turn to one of the questions I asked you when you were appointed as Cabinet Secretary for local government. That question was what kind of style you were going to adopt in dealing with local government. It may be true that we haven’t seen quite the level of argument and contention in the media between yourself and local...
Siân Gwenllian: The well-being and education of our pupils in schools across Wales should be at the forefront of our minds in this Assembly. Now, schools in Wales have faced a challenging financial situation for a number of years, and have already made great savings. The leaders and the staff in schools have done their best and made the best of a very difficult situation to safeguard the education and...
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you very much. The subject is whether allowing Assembly Members to job-share would lead to the creation of a gender-balanced Assembly and one that is more representative of the population as a whole. I’m very pleased to lead this debate this afternoon. Jane Hutt and Julie Morgan are eager to contribute too, and I look forward to hearing their contributions. A few weeks ago, I led a...
Siân Gwenllian: ‘Enabling candidates standing for the same party or as independents to stand for election on the basis of job sharing arrangements could lead to an increase in the diversity of representation within the Assembly. The flexibility to stand on the basis of job sharing could be particularly beneficial for older candidates, those with disabilities, or those with caring responsibilities.’...
Siân Gwenllian: Job sharing has clear advantages in providing opportunities for women with caring responsibilities—caring for young children or for older members of the family. As women still make up the majority of carers, creating opportunities to combine caring responsibilities with work as an Assembly Member could lead to increasing the number of women represented here at the Assembly. Job sharing...
Siân Gwenllian: Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the effectiveness of the planning system in protecting and developing the Welsh language?
Siân Gwenllian: The aim of creating a nation of sanctuary in Wales is one that Plaid Cymru supports, of course, and supports fully and is campaigning for, but I do think it's important to recognise that there are a number of barriers in trying to deliver that ambition. Many of those barriers emerge from the way in which the public debate on migration has far too often been steered by prejudice,...
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you. Yesterday, we had a statement from you on Wales as a nation of sanctuary for refugees and asylum seekers, and I responded to the debate expressing Plaid Cymru’s support for that ambition. I also highlighted one of the major challenges, namely the prejudice that exists towards refugees and asylum seekers, and the misinformation that is distributed. I called for a constructive...
Siân Gwenllian: One way of dealing with prejudice is by allowing refugees to play an active part in communities and the workplaces around them. And to do that, of course, they have to be able to get fluency in both languages of our nation, both Welsh and English. Families from Syria who have been welcomed to my area have had an opportunity to make swift progress in acquiring language skills, and recently I...
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you for that. It is important that there aren’t unintended consequences happening as a result of changing the way this funding is distributed. Another group that is suffering extreme prejudice is the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, and a report published today demonstrates that 45 per cent, almost half, of members of the trans community fear identifying themselves in...
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you for the statement. I have had a quick glimpse at the 'Enabling Gypsies, Roma and Travellers' plan, and I do congratulate you on certain aspects of the plan, because it does include specific actions and timetables, particularly in terms of providing sites. Clearly, some progress has been made in that area. In the plan you say this: 'we have driven forward a greater focus on Gypsy and...
Siân Gwenllian: Will the First Minister make a statement on rural bus services in Arfon?
Siân Gwenllian: 5. Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on the development of a gender identity service for Wales? OAQ52424
Siân Gwenllian: It is entirely unacceptable that there have been delays of 12 months before introducing this new service, and this creates problems in terms of inconsistency in information provided to people who require this service, with some being told that there is no service available, whilst, in reality, the clinic in London continues to be available to people from Wales until the new service is up and...
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you very much. Fifty-seven per cent of leaseholders regret that they've bought leasehold properties, and this is far too high a figure, and is unacceptable, of course. These issues of concern include the burdensome rent issues that turn to be unaffordable and can make it very difficult to sell on the property, and other payments for consent to adapt the property, and permission to sell,...
Siân Gwenllian: 5. Will the First Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government's legislative programme? OAQ52473
Siân Gwenllian: We look forward to that. But the Minister with responsibility for the Welsh language has stated that she is going to push proposals for a Welsh language Bill forward as part of that programme. The main thrust of those proposals is to encourage a total change of direction in the Government’s language policy, diluting rights, scrapping the commissioner, and taking us back to the legal...
Siân Gwenllian: As I'm sure you know, emergency teams are working in my area, working extremely hard to extinguish fires that have been caused by the very dry weather. Carmel, Bethesda and Bangor Mountain have been affected, with at least 45 families having to leave their homes. I am extremely grateful to the firefighters and the other emergency services, as well as the communities themselves who have come...
Siân Gwenllian: It is entirely appropriate that you criticise Trago Mills for their insulting comments on the Welsh language, but we must bear in mind that what this is in reality is the latest example of a broader problem, and concrete evidence that to believe that we can get fair play for the Welsh language in the private sector without legislation, and by relying on good will, is simply foolish. You're...
