Siân Gwenllian: Will the Minister provide an update on the north Wales growth deal in relation to business parks?
Siân Gwenllian: Unlike the Tories, you’ll be pleased to hear that Plaid Cymru is very pleased to see this Bill begin its journey. I have to add one caveat to that, and that is: 'at last'. That is to say it has taken us some time to get to this point today, although one does appreciate that we have got here, and I do believe that the Assembly passed in principle the need for a Bill of this kind back in...
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you, Llywydd. Five years ago, I represented Gwynedd Council on the Cartrefi Cymunedol Gwynedd board, which is the housing association responsible for managing over 6,300 homes in Gwynedd. The majority of the staff of the organisation are Welsh speakers, the Welsh language is a language of the majority of the population served by this organisation, and the headquarters is in one of the...
Siân Gwenllian: Will you intervene to ensure that one of the cornerstones of your million Welsh speakers strategy, in terms of the workforce, is maintained, by sending a public letter to urge Cartrefi Cymunedol Gwynedd to reconsider?
Siân Gwenllian: The job description doesn’t even mention learning Welsh; it doesn’t mention that it’s desirable, it’s only an 'understanding'—however you interpret that. The truth of the matter is that you do have powers to impose standards on housing associations. And in 2015, following the original fallout, the Welsh Language Commissioner looked into the whole situation, and came to the...
Siân Gwenllian: I’ve heard you talk of Brexit in the past as a reason for not recommencing the programme of introducing standards for new organisations. If anything, the threat of Brexit makes it even more of a priority to safeguard our language rights. You published your action plan for a million Welsh speakers for 2019-20 a few days ago. And this was an opportunity for you to confirm your plans and the...
Siân Gwenllian: Will the Minister outline the Welsh Government's international relations strategy?
Siân Gwenllian: The new curriculum has the potential to transform the learning experiences of our children and young people, but I am shocked to think that it also has the potential of failing entirely. The life of every school is very busy on a day-to-day basis and is filled chock-full with challenges, and a lot of time is spend dealing with cuts in budgets that are shrinking. Now, you've suggested that...
Siân Gwenllian: Will you take an intervention?
Siân Gwenllian: Let me just show you a map.
Siân Gwenllian: I would like to ask for two statements. Many pupils are placed at a disadvantage because revision textbooks for some GCSE subjects aren’t available through the medium of Welsh, and that’s just weeks before the exams. I’m specifically talking about higher maths and business. Now, there’s no point whatsoever for them to arrive in time for the exam, as WJEC have stated today. In the...
Siân Gwenllian: Will the First Minister provide an update on the Welsh Government's future support for the Arfor project?
Siân Gwenllian: 3. Will the Minister provide an update on plans to develop businesses in Parc Bryn Cegin, Bangor? OAQ53796
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you. Yesterday, it was very appropriate that we were celebrating establishing this Assembly 20 years ago. A number of people in my constituency place the blame on the Assembly for one of the big scandals of the time, namely that Parc Bryn Cegin, near Bangor, continues to be completely empty, with no jobs created. However, it's not the Assembly’s fault, but the fault of the Labour...
Siân Gwenllian: 3. What steps is the Welsh Government taking to prepare for a people's vote on the UK's exit from the EU? OAQ53799
Siân Gwenllian: In the past, Plaid Cymru and Labour have worked hand-in-hand. That is how we have won referenda in the past. Given recent developments, are you and the Welsh Government willing to put party politics to one side so that we can work together once again—work together in order to push the UK Government to hold a referendum in order to give the final word to the people? We are willing to work...
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you, Llywydd. Last week, the funeral of Llywelyn Williams from Llanrug in my constituency was held. He was a bright, intelligent, young man. His loss is a loss to Wales, to Arfon and his community, but mainly, of course, to his family. He attended Ysgol Gynradd Llanrug and then Ysgol Uwchradd Brynrefail, before studying a degree course in Aberystwyth in politics and history. He was...
Siân Gwenllian: 4. Will the First Minister make a statement on the availability of revision textbooks in our schools? OAQ53909
Siân Gwenllian: The roll-out of the new curriculum will be an excellent opportunity for publishing all relevant materials in both languages from the very outset, unlike the situation as it currently stands. But the clock is ticking with that. There are some who are concerned that there won't be sufficient time for defining needs, administering tenders, commissioning, writing, trialling, designing,...
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you for your statement. Now, as per usual, I have to ask how much substance there is to the words contained within this statement. May I remind you of some recent events that this Government has been involved with in terms of the Welsh language? An intervention by a Deputy Minister in an employment process by the National Library, where he tried to ensure that the job wouldn't go to a...
