Siân Gwenllian: But your arguments are flawed, because that isn't logical. What you've just explained now demonstrates that you don't intend to promote Welsh history, in all its diversity, to the face of the Bill in the way that you have chosen to—and I agree with that choice—include two other specific elements on the face of the Bill. Welsh history in all its diversity must be on the face of the Bill if...
Siân Gwenllian: I agree entirely with you that including these two elements could contribute significantly towards transforming our society in a positive way: helping to eradicate the abuse of women and creating an equal society; helping to deal with prejudice against the LGBT community; and in terms of preventing mental health problems. Education is the key in creating the transformation that we need. But...
Siân Gwenllian: Your Bill is defective, because it's illogical.
Siân Gwenllian: Including the two elements that we're discussing in order to ensure that they are taught consistently across our schools, because they can be complex and difficult issues to teach, and because we believe that learning about them could create a better society in Wales—. Now, you've included them for those reasons, but, again, it's exactly the same argument and exactly the same valid argument...
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer. In three weeks' time, the full Senedd will be discussing the Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Bill. If passed the legislation will set the educational direction for our nation for many years to come. Learning about relationships and sexuality is included on the face of the Bill as a mandatory element to be included in the curriculum of all...
Siân Gwenllian: We heard that there were significant workforce capacity issues before the pandemic and that the pandemic had exacerbated those problems. We are also concerned about the long-term impacts of the pandemic on non-COVID care. Whilst we expect that there will be an increase in non-COVID care over the next year, there will be sustained pressure on the NHS and healthcare workers because of the need...
Siân Gwenllian: This certainly is very much a draft budget. A lack of forward funding figures, with only a one-year revenue funding settlement, has made budget-setting work even more challenging. Additionally, the Welsh Government is holding significant unallocated reserves of around £800 million. The UK Government’s budget is set for 3 March 2021, meaning that the Welsh Government’s final budget will...
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you very much, Llywydd. It's a pleasure to contribute to this important debate on behalf of the Finance Committee. It is of course the debate on the draft budget for 2021-22, and, of course, this will be the final draft budget of this Senedd, and, for the third consecutive year, it's been produced and scrutinised under exceptional circumstances. This year, the pandemic has led to...
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Given the good news that a new funding package worth £6.2 million will be available for the National Library of Wales and Amgueddfa Cymru for the next two years, I do hope that our motion will be passed unanimously by the Senedd today. The Government statement says that the funding for the national library includes funding to support the work of...
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer. As a nation, we celebrate literature and music in our national anthem by talking about 'gwlad beirdd a chantorion'. We have a lengthy tradition in terms of music and live music specifically. And the Government, therefore, must ensure that it does everything within its ability to support and promote the live music industry in Wales. And, as with...
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you for the statement and the report, and I look forward to reading it in detail. The focus of the policy, as you said, is to influence homes where people are already able to speak Welsh in order to help them to use the language with their children. Now, at the end of the day, it's pride in the Welsh language and confidence in its value that will create this great shift that is...
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you for the statement. I want to take the opportunity this afternoon to mention Louise Casella's review, which was commissioned by you following the exams fiasco of last year. At last, on Friday afternoon the independent review of the summer 2020 arrangements for the awarding of grades and considerations for the summer of 2021 was published; it's a lengthy title. This was the final...
Siân Gwenllian: May I ask for a statement on financial support for the National Eisteddfod of Wales, the National Library of Wales and Urdd Gobaith Cymru? They are all facing significant challenges and urgent action is needed within the next budget. Could I ask you, therefore, as finance Minister, to give serious consideration to the situation, given that one of your Government's main strategies, namely the...
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you. It was a privilege to take my mother, who is 92 years old, for her first vaccination at the major event on the Llŷn peninsula over the weekend. As a result of the excellent efforts of local medical leaders and despite a whole host of bureaucratic barriers and snow, 1,200 people were vaccinated. GPs and health workers are doing heroic work in all parts of Wales, and our debt to...
Siân Gwenllian: 6. Will the First Minister provide an update on the COVID-19 vaccination programme in Arfon? OQ56197
Siân Gwenllian: I would like to wish Meilyr Rowlands well on his retirement and thank him for all his assistance over recent years. Meilyr has been a strong voice for community schools, and that vision has an important role as we reflect on what needs to change in coming years. From the inspections that Estyn managed to undertake—around 60 per cent of what was planned—we do see a picture that is similar...
Siân Gwenllian: We will need an ambitious plan for education if we're to support our children in this post-COVID period, particularly those children who have missed out most on their education—many of those from deprived backgrounds. I haven't seen such a plan as of yet, but certainly it won't be possible to pay for the huge amount of additional work required within the local government settlement in the...
Siân Gwenllian: 5. What resources have been allocated in the 2021-22 budget for education in the post-COVID period? OQ56104
Siân Gwenllian: You've just confirmed that you have commissioned some new scientific work on the transmission of the new variant of the virus among children. Before receiving the result of that work, how can you be confident that the education Minister's plans to get everyone back to school by 18 January is wise and sustainable in terms of preventing the spread of this new variant? Aren't the signals...
Siân Gwenllian: I am urging you to support both of Plaid Cymru's amendments today. This Johnson deal is a hard Brexit. The people of Wales have not given a mandate for a hard Brexit, and this Senedd must show strong opposition to it. It's not a choice between two ills—that's not what we're here to do. Our work today is to signify through a symbolic vote that the Johnson deal is damaging to Wales and that...
