Peredur Owen Griffiths: Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd, and just to let Members know that I've agreed to a request from Sioned Williams to make a short contribution at the end of this debate. Over the past few weeks, I've been getting to know the different aspects of my portfolio. I'm the spokesperson for communities and older people. As you might expect, a large part of this covers social care. For those of you that know...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Now, staff in care homes are working their socks off—I don’t think there’s many here who would deny this—but, inevitably, things move down the priority list. Indeed, dental care, for many of us over the last 18 months, has taken a back seat due to the need for social distancing, and I’m sure care homes, who have been especially vulnerable to infection during the pandemic, have been...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Trefnydd, I'd like to bring up the rights of disabled people living in Wales. Earlier this month, the 'Locked out' report, commissioned by your Government, was a wake-up call to many in authority, as it detailed how the pandemic had led to medical discrimination and limited access to public services and social support, along with general weakening of basic human rights for disabled people. ...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Thank you, Llywydd. I'm very pleased to speak in this debate today on behalf of the Finance Committee. The committee undertook scrutiny on the first supplementary budget on 2 July. I thank the Minister for her attendance and also I thank the Members for meeting at short notice to do that work.
Peredur Owen Griffiths: This supplementary budget shows an increase in allocations to Welsh Government departments of £1.2 billion. That's an increase from £19.7 billion to £20.9 billion. The allocations are mainly based on the Welsh Government’s continued response to the pandemic. The Minister told us this is a technical supplementary budget moving back in step with previous ways of budgeting. However, the...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: I'm pleased to have been able to speak in today's debate, my first for me as the new Chair of the Finance Committee. I understand that the previous Finance Committees have had a constructive relationship with finance Ministers and I look forward to continuing this in my new role. Thank you very much.
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Thank you very much, Llywydd. I'm pleased to be able to contribute to this important debate today in my role as Chair of the Finance Committee. Like buses, they don't come for ages and then you get two at once, and I'm very pleased to be able to take part.
Peredur Owen Griffiths: In previous years, the Finance Committee has led on this type of debate and, in normal times, the committee would hold a big stakeholder event or an online campaign to hear the views of stakeholders on where the Welsh Government should be prioritising its spending. This information would then feed into a debate of this type so that Members have the opportunity to discuss and potentially...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: This draft budget will be the first of the sixth Senedd, and I hope that the Finance Committee can work collaboratively with the other policy committees. Given that the draft budget is likely to be published prior to Christmas, we intend to consult on the priorities for the next draft budget in the autumn term. I’d encourage committee Chairs and members to engage with the Finance Committee...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: I've only got a little to go, so you don't have to be too concerned. I hope that the Finance Committee will be able to collaborate with other policy committees because, as I said, it's likely that the draft budget will be published before Christmas. We intend to consult on the priorities for the next draft budget in the autumn term. I would also encourage committee Chairs and members to...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Thank you very much, Dirprwy Lywydd, and thank you very much for that update from the Minister today. I very much welcome the recognition that there has been work over the summer with key partners to refine the proposals within the early draft of the Bill. There is a great deal within the draft that we welcome in general, and Plaid Cymru has promoted local procurement for several years as a...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Since 2012, Plaid Cymru has continually called for increased public procurement, a policy we featured once again in our most recent manifesto. We want to increase Welsh firms' share of contracts from 52 per cent to 75 per cent of the public procurement budget. It is estimated that this would create 46,000 additional jobs and safeguard many existing jobs in the Welsh economy. That is a...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: I must also declare an interest: I'm a community councillor in Penyrheol, Trecenydd and Energlyn. I want to highlight the reduced day-care provision for disabled adults in Caerphilly County Borough. For some, hours have been reduced from 30 hours a week to just six, an 80 per cent reduction in support that has been devastatingly detrimental for disabled adults and their families. The Plaid...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Diolch yn fawr, acting Presiding Officer. A diolch ichi, Weinidog. I welcome this update on the future of optometry in Wales. There are fewer things more precious than sight and we should never underestimate the difference a well-run service can have on people's lives. I'm pleased to hear from the statement that there is work going on to upskill optometrists to enable them to work at the top...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: 1. What steps is the Welsh Government taking to encourage the use of technology in Welsh elections? OQ56891
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Diolch. During the recent Senedd elections, there was some innovative use of technology in one constituency around the way in which the voting was marked on the register. Traditionally, the record of who has voted has been done by pen and paper, but this was carried out on tablets by polling station staff in Blaenau Gwent. For the avoidance of any doubt, I'm referring to the record of who has...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: I'm very grateful to have an opportunity to contribute to this debate today on such an important topic. A four-day working week has the potential to be transformational for Wales, and we should support the idea for a number of reasons. COVID has given us an opportunity to build a better economy that works for the people of Wales, and we should embrace this opportunity to be innovative. A...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: 'a brave and progressive approach to policy making and long-term thinking that puts diversity, the well-being economy, tackling emissions and biodiversity loss, and life-long learning at the forefront of our minds.' On the subject of the future generations commissioner, I'm aware of work by her office, in partnership with the think tank Autonomy, relating to a four-day week and a universal...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: These are all things that would contribute towards making a fairer, more prosperous and happier Wales. I'm sure that it will be problematic for some in this Chamber to support any steps that would help to create a better working week for ordinary people, and we know who those people are. However, I do call on you today who believe in workers' rights and see yourselves as being progressive...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: As far as Plaid Cymru is concerned, social care is highly skilled work, and should be treated as such in terms of pay and conditions. It is unfair and unjust that social care workers are not given the respect that they deserve. You may remember, last week, I raised the changes to day-care provision for disabled adults in Caerphilly county borough, from the perspective of the families they...
