Leanne Wood: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Although there has been limited media coverage, the recent statement from the UN rapporteur on extreme poverty was very hard-hitting. I'm therefore pleased to open this Plaid Cymru debate on what our response to that statement should be. It seems to me that there are a variety of options for any Government when faced with a critical report from the United Nations. The...
Leanne Wood: Well, they did in Scotland, and I don't hear any Members of Labour arguing that the administration of the criminal justice system shouldn't be devolved just in case the Westminster Government doesn't pass on the cash that goes with it. You argue for the devolution of the criminal justice system on the basis that that cash will come, so you should argue for the devolution of welfare and...
Leanne Wood: Diolch. This report should have been a wake-up call for the Tories, but it's not, so I'm not even going to address the Conservatives' denial. As for the points made by the far right, you are a complete joke. You have no idea about poverty or how the world's poorest will suffer as a result of your climate change denial, or how poor people with protected characteristics will be harmed by your...
Leanne Wood: Of course, Cabinet Secretary, you have a great role in terms of what the public sector does. The airport that this Government bought five years ago is still paying people below the real living wage. We're talking about 100 or so security staff who have a great deal of responsibility if they are to do their job diligently. Are you embarrassed by the fact that these staff are not set to get the...
Leanne Wood: 2. What assessment has the Cabinet Secretary made of the impact of local authority funding cuts? OAQ53053
Leanne Wood: I know you will be aware of the findings from Professor Philip Alston, the UN special rapporteur for extreme poverty, and among many of his stark conclusions were that Westminster cuts have fallen hardest on the poor, on women, racial and ethnic minorities, children, single parents and people with disabilities. He argued that a misogynist would find it hard to do a better job. Has your...
Leanne Wood: Diolch, Llywydd. Minister, you spoke at the Crisis conference on ending homelessness back in June, and I'm sure you've read the report that was produced at that event, which outlines what can be done to end homelessness. It's a very comprehensive report, with recommendations for all Governments, including your Government. Can you tell us what you learnt from that event and from the report,...
Leanne Wood: Thank you, Minister. For some years now in Plaid Cymru, we've been arguing the case for the phasing out of priority need. Now, two weeks ago, you responded to my colleague, saying that that was the subject of a review. But, of course, in 2012, your Government commissioned Cardiff University to review homelessness law, and they recommended abolishing priority need, a recommendation endorsed...
Leanne Wood: You've had since 2012 to work out the unintended consequences on this, and the numbers of street sleepers are on the rise. People are becoming homeless and staying homeless because of your delaying tactics, and we need action on this now. Now, your colleague Andy Burnham in Manchester has pledged to eradicate rough sleeping by 2020, eight years sooner than your Government, seven years sooner...
Leanne Wood: I share the concerns that have been outlined here by the findings of the recent Wales Governance Centre report into violence and self-harm in youth institutions. You are responsible for youth justice services, but, of course, the other services that operate within Parc prison are adult services, and they fall within the remit of Westminster. So, what we really need is to see the criminal...
Leanne Wood: You need to persuade your MPs, though, don't you?
Leanne Wood: What is the Welsh Government doing to ensure that community assets are not lost?
Leanne Wood: What assessment has the Cabinet Secretary made of the impact that devolving the administration of the benefits system will have on the Welsh Government's budget?
Leanne Wood: For the six and a half years that I was the leader of my party, Carwyn Jones was First Minister, and I think it's fair to say that, like many have said already this afternoon, we haven't always seen eye to eye. On occasion there's been fairly robust disagreement between us, as there should be between opposing political parties, but I think it's fair to say that those disagreements have on the...
Leanne Wood: So, good luck to you.
Leanne Wood: All the very best wishes to you and to your family for the future. [Applause.]
Leanne Wood: One of the main findings of the Equality and Human Rights Commission Wales 2018 report is that disabled people are falling further behind and many are being denied their right to independent living. The report also found that there are gaps in educational attainment and employment, and those gaps are widening. Now, contrary to Labour Party policy, this Labour Government is doing away with the...
Leanne Wood: Justice is yet to be devolved. That responsibility can't come to Wales soon enough, as far as I'm concerned. When it comes to the imprisonment of women, I very much agree with the Howard League for Penal Reform, who found that far too many women in Wales are being sent to prison and there is no facility here in this country. They say, and I quote: 'There is considerable scope to improve...
Leanne Wood: I'd like to raise the issue of medicinal cannabis. The relaxation of the laws regarding the prescription of medicinal cannabis as a result of the changes to the misuse of drugs legislation this year has brought about little change. This is more than likely due to the restrictive interim guidance that has been published as a result of this legislation change. The Multiple Sclerosis Society say...
Leanne Wood: Thank you for your statement, Cabinet Secretary. In the first instance, can I say that, as a former probation officer, I welcome the general direction of travel towards a criminal justice system based on rehabilitation as opposed to punishment? Pre-court diversion means significant investment in probation services, and it's a real shame, given that you've outlined the problems caused by the...
