Siân Gwenllian: 3. Will the First Minister make a statement on the importance of regional economic development in achieving the Government’s target of a million Welsh speakers by 2050? OAQ(5)0352(FM)[W]
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you. Plaid Cymru strongly believes that we must have social activity and economic prosperity in Welsh-speaking areas if the Welsh language is to be strengthened, and we believe in developing specific urban areas, such as the Menai area. Do you agree that we need to take all possible opportunities to create new national institutions in areas where the Welsh language is strong, as part of...
Siân Gwenllian: There is another way of looking at this, of course, and there is a strong argument for restructuring the school year and distributing holidays in a more balanced way across the year. Doing so over the year, rather than having one big block over the summer, would assist in improving attainment levels within schools and make it easier for working parents. Many experts argue that children,...
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you. My questions are to the Minister for the Welsh language. Last Friday, you appeared on the media and said that you believed that the Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 was too complex and that we needed to review the way that language standards are drawn up and implemented. Can you expand a little on that view?
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you. Of course, there is nothing wrong with looking at the way in which legislation is working and to simplify it if possible, but we must be guarded because, to date, there may be a question about the willingness and resolve of Government to implement the Measure. So, it’s important that the aim of any review is to simplify the implementation of the legislation rather than weakening...
Siân Gwenllian: You mentioned action there and the Welsh in education strategic plans are one way of taking action. These have now been introduced by all the education authorities in Wales, but apparently they are disappointing to say the least. I don’t need to remind you how crucial it is that we increase Welsh-medium education if we are to reach the ambition of 1 million Welsh speakers by 2050. This was...
Siân Gwenllian: There are some general concerns about the future of the HE sector in Wales, not only as the result of Brexit, of course; the sustainability of the sector has been vulnerable for many years now. But, the implications of Brexit for our universities will mean that it is crucial that the Welsh Government and the UK Government do take action soon in order to safeguard the future of the sector. As...
Siân Gwenllian: There’s been a great deal of talk of the possibility that the attendance allowance is to be devolved to Wales from Westminster. Some 100,000 people in Wales receive this benefit at a cost of some £400 million per annum. Now, if these benefits are devolved to Wales, we will then have to decide what the role of local authorities will be. Plaid Cymru, of course, always welcomes additional...
Siân Gwenllian: 7. Will the First Minister provide an update on plans for the Caernarfon/Bontnewydd bypass? OAQ(5)0367(FM)[W]
Siân Gwenllian: I met yesterday with the contractors for this programme—Jones Brothers and Balfour Beatty—and they are hugely concerned that no date has been announced for a public inquiry. That, in turn, will lead to a delay unless moves are made very shortly in that regard. The proposal has already been delayed by 12 months, as you will well know, because of arguments about bats. Certainly we don’t...
Siân Gwenllian: It’s almost seven years since the Conservatives formed a Government in Westminster—seven years since they introduced their destructive austerity programme; seven years since the budgets of public services in Wales have been cut to the bone as a result of that. It was disappointing to see Labour Members of Parliament supporting the austerity charter before the general election of 2015. The...
Siân Gwenllian: I’d like to begin my contribution this afternoon by reminding everyone that Plaid Cymru strongly opposed the British state’s Trade Union Act 2016 when it was brought forward to the last Assembly, because Plaid Cymru strongly believes in the importance of the work of the trade unions in our society and supports those unions. It’s only through partnership between workers, industry,...
Siân Gwenllian: Together with the Member of Parliament, Hywel Williams, I gave evidence on the first statutory consultation of the National Grid on the north Wales link, namely the scheme that would create a line of pylons across Arfon and Ynys Môn. In Arfon, specifically, we were calling for a tunnel under the Menai strait, instead of new pylons, because of the completely negative visual impact that would...
Siân Gwenllian: The general opinion is that the rolling stock that is used by the current rail franchise in Wales is of a very poor quality and significant investment will need to be put into it to improve the stock, which impacts on the passenger experience. But, in addition to that, by 1 January 2020, the carriages will have to conform to the new rules for accessibility for disabled people. According to...
Siân Gwenllian: Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the Welsh Government's vision for fair economic development across Wales?
Siân Gwenllian: At a meeting in Bangor last night I had the privilege of saying that Wales is a country that welcomes people that are fleeing from war, famine and persecution. Do you agree that one response to Trump’s terrible actions is to emphasise that Wales is a welcoming country, and that welcoming actions are the best way of actually showing that? There is good work being done by the Government under...
Siân Gwenllian: The White Paper and your inclusive approach as Cabinet Secretary are to be welcomed. The county councils have certainly welcomed the opportunity to present their views, and that is reflected to a certain extent in the White Paper. For example, the way they’re to have flexibility in certain areas with collaboration, and the map that they can turn to, do respond to some of the concerns that...
Siân Gwenllian: We as Plaid Cymru do support these amended regulations. You mention that they were rejected by the fourth Assembly. I wasn’t here personally at that time, but they were weak, and a number of concerns were raised by student representatives and by Plaid Cymru at that point. There was some further delay prior to Christmas—just a week, I hasten to say—at the request of Plaid Cymru once...
Siân Gwenllian: The debate on the annual report on equality is timely, given what’s happening not only in the UK in this post-European Union era but also in the United States, with the racist and discriminatory attitudes taken by the new President against Muslim refugees. Future generations will look at this period in history, and we, as politicians, will be at risk of being harshly judged for not taking a...
Siân Gwenllian: Will the First Minister make a statement on the importance of regional collaboration between county councils in order to strengthen the Welsh language?
