Adam Price: Of course, this superiority complex that this current Westminster Government has is expressed not just in undermining the independence of the standards commissioner but also that of the Electoral Commission, the appointments commission, of all the independent checks and balances on its power. Our solution to that, of course, is to demonstrate what a healthy, modern, world-class democracy...
Adam Price: Diolch, Llywydd. May I, first of all, also, on behalf of Plaid Cymru extend our deepest condolences to the family of Jack Lis? One can only begin to comprehend the grief that that family must be experiencing, and our thoughts and prayers are with them, with Jack's friends, with the community and with the staff of the school, who I know are also terribly affected by this awful tragedy. First...
Adam Price: One example of where Wales has huge potential is in producing green hydrogen by using our massive tidal power—largely latent tidal power capacity, but very, very significant on an Europe and indeed global scale—off both our northern and southern coasts. In grasping that opportunity, is it the Welsh Government’s policy to reject blue or grey hydrogen, which uses fossil fuel to produce...
Adam Price: Thanks to our wealth of natural resources, Wales has an opportunity to be at the forefront of the green industrial revolution and to be a world leader in the climate energy response. It was heartening to see that, I think, in the three years to 2018, there was a 20 per cent cut in emissions, but between 2018 and 2019 it was concerning to see that that reduction stalled. The committee on...
Adam Price: First Minister, COP26 is the last chance for world leaders to take action in order to safeguard the future of our planet. Westminster holds many of the powers to make a difference, but there's nothing precluding the Welsh Government from taking action now and insisting that full powers for the economy and energy are brought home here to Wales. Liz Saville Roberts has a Bill before the...
Adam Price: Will the Minister make a statement on the progress of digital inclusion in Carmarthen East and Dinefwr?
Adam Price: Constitutional commissions—and we’ve had a few, haven’t we, in Wales—by their very nature, because they’re a mixture of the political and the technical, mean that they sometimes struggle to engage the wider public. So, how can we ensure that the commission acts as a platform, First Minister, for that wider national and civic conversation? How can we go beyond the traditional forms...
Adam Price: I'm sure that the First Minister wouldn't mind me saying that the implicit confirmation by a Welsh Labour Government that independence, though clearly not your favoured option, can be considered a progressive option, will be seen by many in the independence movement as a significant milestone. We do indeed, on our side, look forward to engaging constructively with the commission. Whatever the...
Adam Price: Diolch, Llywydd. First Minister, today, your Government has announced the co-chairs of the independent commission that will be taking forward the national conversation on the constitutional future of Wales. In Professor McAllister and Dr Williams, I think that most people would accept that we have two incredibly impressive individuals to lead this work. Among its objectives, the commission...
Adam Price: Diolch, Llywydd. The death of Sir David Amess has cast the darkest cloud over our democracy, but we can remember him with fondness and warmth, because, everywhere he went, David brought light. He was the very symbol of what a parliamentarian should be—a man of deep principle but with the broadest of affection, a strong conviction but with a kind heart, who died as he lived, listening to the...
Adam Price: A reference was made by Jenny Rathbone during questions to the First Minister yesterday regarding the acute shortage of apprenticeships in the construction sector, and figures from the Construction Industry Training Board show a decline of 20 per cent over the past year. I've received correspondence from many young people in my constituency who need an apprenticeship to secure their...
Adam Price: 1. What discussions has the Minister had with the Minister for Economy about providing additional funding to local authorities to promote local apprenticeship opportunities for young people? OQ56999
Adam Price: I, of course, understand the point about hindsight, but I suppose the crux of the matter here was that the WHO had the foresight at the time to emphasise the importance of community testing. Indeed, I remember our party criticising the Welsh Government's decision to abandon community testing at the time, on that basis, because there was advice there that actually has been borne out in terms...
Adam Price: First Minister, among the report's many findings is its conclusion that the decision by both the UK and the Welsh Government to abandon community testing against World Health Organization advice on 12 March 2020 was a fatal error that cost many lives. Notwithstanding the fact that you haven't had the opportunity to study the report, do you acknowledge that general criticism? Do you accept...
Adam Price: Thank you, Llywydd. Can I at the outset on behalf of my party also send our messages of support to Andrew R.T. Davies? Many people will have taken courage and inspiration from him speaking openly about the challenges that he's facing with his own mental and emotional well-being, something, of course, that many of us will face at different times in our life. First Minister, MPs at Westminster...
Adam Price: I was surprised to hear your fellow Minister saying earlier that the Government doesn't think that this is a huge problem, because I'm aware of 10 farms in the Tywi valley area alone that have been purchased by commercial operators, and we heard the Farmers' Union of Wales saying that they see reports, on a weekly basis, of this happening. So, this is the agricultural version of the wider...
Adam Price: 2. What discussions has the Minister had with the Minister for Climate Change regarding the language impact of Welsh-language family farms being sold to companies in order to plant trees for carbon offsetting programmes? OQ56943
Adam Price: There are already 1,600 vacancies in the NHS in Wales. After the year that they've had, how will a 3 per cent pay increase convince those that remain to stay when even a Labour Government imposes a below-inflation pay award on nurses? Can you really blame them when NHS staff feel let down, undervalued and ignored?
Adam Price: But they're not at the table because you've ruled out discussing with them an across-the-board pay increase. Now, most NHS workers—for most of them, the 3 per cent rise has already been more than cancelled by an increase in pension contributions. The new health and social care levy next year will wipe out almost half of next year's rise, and that's even before you consider the cost of...
Adam Price: Well, I have to say to the First Minister that I spoke to the RCN this morning, and the position that you've outlined I think does not give the real picture—as they see it, certainly—because what they've said is they wanted to talk to the Government about an across-the-board pay increase and you've refused to engage with them on that. You're not convening the pay negotiating committee of...
