Rhys ab Owen: Gweinidog, I'm going to raise school admissions also, because I've been contacted by constituents from Cardiff and also the Vale of Glamorgan. They've contacted their local authorities, they've contacted schools, and they've just had no replies, or no information, or just simply saying the school that they wanted, the closest school that they want to attend, is full. Before being elected...
Rhys ab Owen: Two weeks before the Brexit referendum, Sir John Major predicted that if Brexit happened, the peace process jigsaw would be thrown up in the air and nobody would have a single idea where all the pieces would land. But one man did have the answer, and not any answer, he had an oven-ready answer in 2019, and his Government signed, sealed and delivered that answer through the Northern Ireland...
Rhys ab Owen: Does the Counsel General agree with me, let's all be honest, that the United Kingdom Government has no answers on how to solve the Northern Ireland border question, they have no answers on how to solve the constitutional issues facing the United Kingdom at the moment, and, in fact, their own actions are fast accelerating the end of their precious union?
Rhys ab Owen: Thank you very much, Llywydd, and good afternoon, First Minister.
Rhys ab Owen: 1. Will the Welsh Government commit to the adoption of the maintenance of new housing estates by local authorities? OQ58078
Rhys ab Owen: Diolch yn fawr, Brif Weinidog. This particular issue is from an area that you know probably very well and you probably spent some time there during the recent elections—the Mill estate in Canton. Now, the residents there have to pay an annual fee of £102 for the maintenance of a park that borders the estate, unadopted highways and green spaces and so on. And, of course, this is on top of...
Rhys ab Owen: Cwnsler Cyffredinol, I'd like to congratulate the Welsh Government for producing their vision of what a justice system should look like in Wales. I know that we have in the Minister for Social Justice and in you as Cwnsler Cyffredinol two strong advocates for a better justice system for the people of Wales. However, I have some sympathy with my friend Mark Isherwood for using the same old...
Rhys ab Owen: What consideration did the Minister give to supporting local authorities to provide youth services when allocating local authorities' budgets?
Rhys ab Owen: I thank Tom Giffard for his question, and I thank the Minister for all her work with regard to this valuable women's centre in Swansea. The Minister will be aware of my concerns that it's a five-year pilot not starting until 2024 at the earliest, and will only be able to support 12 women at maximum in the Swansea area. My concern is what happens to the other women in Wales. The pilot doesn't...
Rhys ab Owen: 1. Is the Welsh Government planning to undertake a scoping exercise to assess the amount of extra resources that would be required from the UK Treasury to run a sustainable, successful devolved system of justice in Wales? OQ58120
Rhys ab Owen: Despite a recent tweet from Andrew R.T. Davies declaring that the Welsh Conservatives would never support the devolution of justice, I, and, I know, you too, Counsel General, would agree with the words of Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd that it's a matter of when rather than if justice is devolved to this place. With things moving very quickly in Westminster, the devolution of justice could happen...
Rhys ab Owen: Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Lywydd. Cwnsler Cyffredinol, you'll be more aware than any Member here of the grim milestone passed over the half-term recess of 100 days since Putin's senseless attack on Ukraine and its people. As the Welsh Government's law officer, what work have you undertaken with other law officers across the United Kingdom to investigate the war crimes and human rights...
Rhys ab Owen: Diolch yn fawr, Cwnsler Cyffredinol. You'll be aware that, recently, the Ministry of Justice announced that they've bought an office block next to the Old Bailey for £111 million. As a baby barrister in 2009, people were complaining then about the inadequate state of the civil justice centre in Cardiff. People have continued to complain about it ever since. In fact, when the Supreme Court...
Rhys ab Owen: 4. Will the Counsel General provide an update on the Welsh Government's plans to ensure adequate facilities for the Welsh Tribunals? OQ58119
Rhys ab Owen: Thank you very much, Counsel General. It's fair to say that the facilities of the Welsh tribunals are not adequate. I remember speaking to one judge and she said that her first task every day was moving the tables and chairs in order to ensure that the room was ready for a case. With the lease in Oak House in Newport coming to an end next year—the only designated building for Welsh...
Rhys ab Owen: 5. What discussions has the Commission had to ensure more of a voice for Wales on the Parliamentary Partnership Assembly: the new EU-UK forum set up under the trade and cooperation agreement? OQ58121
Rhys ab Owen: Thank you very much, Llywydd. And I was very pleased to hear, first of all, that Alun Davies and Sam Kurtz had represented this Senedd with honour. But I was also very pleased to read their letter, having represented us. It's good that we were represented, particularly by two such honourable Members, but, certainly, we need to be more than seen and not heard, and it must be very difficult for...
Rhys ab Owen: 1. What steps is the Welsh Government taking to protect renters following the deferral of implementation of the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016? TQ632
Rhys ab Owen: Diolch yn fawr, Weinidog. Following the written statement made over recess, which announced the short delay, I've received correspondence from constituents who are concerned about the issue. I'm also concerned about those who think they are already protected, and they were concerned that the delay appeared to be addressing the concerns of landlords, rather than the protection of renters. This...
Rhys ab Owen: This Senedd is younger than all of its elected Members. And yet, in that short space of time, this institution has developed significantly. We forget that the first Assembly had fewer fiscal responsibilities than community councils. Thank goodness, we have moved away from the early Senedd models that saw Ministers sitting on committees. And yet, despite this, the Senedd is still smaller than...
