Siân Gwenllian: Before starting, I’d like to thank, at the beginning of this debate, a few people. Thank you to Suzy Davies for promoting and co-sponsoring this debate, and I look forward to hearing your closing comments. And thank you to those who came to and contributed to a recent seminar that I held here in the Senedd on the history of Wales in the new curriculum. We had an interesting and productive...
Siân Gwenllian: The Government in London is about to announce that schools in England will receive £3 billion in addition. Therefore, can we have a statement explaining what discussions your Government and the education Minister have been having with the Treasury in London on this issue—namely, from the point of view of the Barnett consequential? If schools in England are to receive more funding, then...
Siân Gwenllian: I too welcome this statement from the Minister, and welcome the Bill, too. It is a shame that it has taken so long for the Government to act. It’s a full 12 months since the former First Minister stated that the Government would support a ban on the use of wild animals in travelling circuses, but better late than never. I am pleased that Wales, at last, is catching up with Scotland and...
Siân Gwenllian: Plaid Cymru will abstain on this issue, not because we are sitting on the fence in terms of these regulations, but as a signal of our dissatisfaction with the process. The regulations do scrap the statutory need for schools to set particular targets, because the circumstances have changed. That is sensible, and we do agree with that change, and the move away from that narrow focus on...
Siân Gwenllian: Will you take an interevention?
Siân Gwenllian: Having more of us would mean that there are more of us to look for the regulations or anything that is hidden. My problem is that there is a lot that we don't know about, and because there are so few of us, we haven't got time to actually delve into the lack of transparency that Government seems to like.
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you very much. Recently, Rhun ap Iorwerth requested a debate on dentistry, and, in response, you said that the Minister for health may consider that. May I also echo that demand for a debate on dentistry, please, and that we have that early in the new term, and may I just explain why I’m making that call? The situation of dentistry in my constituency is very grave indeed. There...
Siân Gwenllian: 1. Will the Minister provide an update on the assistance available for water energy projects? OAQ54241
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you very much. As your Government declared the climate emergency and a desire to take action in this area, the people of Wales are looking for proof that those aren't just empty words. And, as you know, I've raised the issue of rate relief for hydro energy projects in this Chamber previously, and Plaid Cymru has so far managed to convince you to continue with this relief until March of...
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you very much, Llywydd. It gives me great pleasure to introduce this annual report on the Assembly Commission's official languages scheme. It's wonderful to have an opportunity to share an update on our work over the past year. Now, the report celebrates successes, but also notes those occasions when we have not always succeeded in meeting the high standards set by the scheme. I would...
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you very much. Perhaps I’ll start by responding to that last comment and the fact that you had said, David Rowlands, before the whole Assembly today that your mum indeed had suffered as a result of the historic issues that were happening in our schools, where people were punished physically for speaking Welsh. I’m still incensed about that, but one turns that anger into constructive...
Siân Gwenllian: We heard last year that the children’s commissioner was extremely critical that no child impact assessments were made on current budgetary proposals, and that is contrary, of course, to article 4 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which makes it a requirement for all levels of government to act in a way that is consistent with the convention. The convention states that you need...
Siân Gwenllian: 'children’s rights appear to be an "add-on" within this budget',
Siân Gwenllian: rather than children’s rights being part of the analysis from the very outset, and that then leading to budgetary decisions. Now that the Government has committed to collaborating with the children’s commissioner, which is excellent as a starting point, that work of setting the budget for 2020-21 has to happen swiftly, and the commissioner has mentioned that she expects to see a...
Siân Gwenllian: It's important that today we explain how dangerous and objectionable Johnson's act in proroguing the UK Parliament was at a period of such crisis, and it's also important that we state how damaging to Wales a 'no deal' Brexit would be. But we can do more than simply express our views, because there is also an opportunity today to discuss a way forward through all of this confusion. I believe...
Siân Gwenllian: Before the summer recess, there was a commitment from you, and I quote, that 'there'll be a debate on 'Designed to Smile: 10 years of improving children's oral health in Wales' on the first day back in September'. Well, today is that first day back and there is no debate. I know that the health committee is to bring a debate forward at the beginning of next month, but the Government has...
Siân Gwenllian: Plaid Cymru supports the general principles of the children (Wales) Bill before us today, and, as a member of the children and young people committee, I have had numerous opportunities to listen carefully to the arguments for and against the introduction of a Bill of this kind, and I have been convinced entirely that children in Wales can only benefit as a result of this minor legislative...
Siân Gwenllian: Despite the picture that you—
Siân Gwenllian: Despite the picture that you paint of the situation in terms of the UK, it’s the responsibility of the Government here to set priorities within its own budget. And you will be aware that the Children, Young People and Education Committee suggested strongly that there needs to be a balance of expenditure towards preventative spend, with education and schools as a central part of that....
Siân Gwenllian: 5. Will the Minister give an update on Welsh Government plans for second homes taxes? OAQ54333
