Mabon ap Gwynfor: 3. Will the Minister explain how the Welsh Government will measure the success of Cwmni Egino? OQ58178
Mabon ap Gwynfor: I and Plaid Cymru have raised the link between the cost-of-living crisis and the cost of housing a number of times on the floor of the Senedd, and the link is clear. We've seen the cost of rental going up very much here in Wales, an increase of 12 or 13 per cent over the past 12 months alone, and this at a time when the legislation for renting homes isn't operational in order to safeguard...
Mabon ap Gwynfor: Diolch yn fawr iawn, Dirprwy Lywydd. I welcome the statement made by the First Minister about an hour ago, saying that we should expect a statement on building safety before the end of the month—we need some clarity exactly when on that. It is disappointing that today's announcement was pulled. It's five years since the Grenfell tragedy. Seventy-two people tragically lost their lives and,...
Mabon ap Gwynfor: I thank Jenny Rathbone for the question. We've heard Governments many times talking about encouraging owners to retrofit or to use renewable means of producing energy, such as solar panels on their homes. But, for many of my constituents in Dwyfor Meirionnydd, neither of those options is realistic, because they live in buildings that are listed. Think of the wonderful architecture of...
Mabon ap Gwynfor: Will the First Minister provide an update on the Government's land procurement policy?
Mabon ap Gwynfor: But I'm sad to say that, along with all of these individual problems that we all no doubt are aware of, I also have little faith in the stats and the data and information provided by the health board. For instance, the health board have informed the ombudsman that blinds with ligatures were taken down in 2010, but we know of patients who tried to strangle themselves there later than that...
Mabon ap Gwynfor: Thank you to the Conservatives for bringing this debate forward; it's a very important debate. Back in 2013, I, Mark Jones and campaigners from Blaenau Ffestiniog, Prestatyn, Llangollen and Flint established the north Wales health alliance to oppose the changes that were being forced on the people of north Wales against our will. It was all put forward under the heading, 'Healthcare in North...
Mabon ap Gwynfor: It's all too apparent that a scenario has been created where there's a gap in protection from no-fault evictions between the emergency COVID regulations and the protection offered by the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016, which has now been delayed, as we've learned, until the end of 2022, offering even more time for unscrupulous private landlords to evict tenants before they're tied into new...
Mabon ap Gwynfor: I thank the Llywydd for that response. As you know, the nation is facing a very difficult time, as the cost-of-living crisis has an impact on people, pushing people into poverty, and terrible poverty in some cases. There will be increasing pressure on staff to respond to some of these cases, bringing emotional pressures in their wake. Is the Commission prepared for this scenario, and could it...
Mabon ap Gwynfor: Thank you for that response. The Queen's Speech mentions legislation on issues that are within the competence of our Senedd, such as the genetic modification Bill, for example. This will certainly mean that we will see more LCMs here, but as we know from experience, the LCM system is entirely inadequate. We don't have time to scrutinise, never mind consult, and bit by bit, as the LCMs go by,...
Mabon ap Gwynfor: Thank you for that response. I have a feeling that elements of this discussion will be aired again soon in this Chamber, but as we see a large decline in the number of our Members in Westminster, and hopefully more responsibilities coming over to this legislature, does the Minister agree with me that we need more elected Members here in order to scrutinise and to ensure that we get the best...
Mabon ap Gwynfor: I thank the Minister for that response. Of course, it's good to hear of the support currently available for some people. The increase in the cap on fuel prices, of course, will be challenging for all. According to the National Energy Action charity, we could see up to 45 per cent of all households in Wales suffering fuel poverty because of the rise in the cap. This is frightening. We're...
Mabon ap Gwynfor: 8. What steps is the Government taking to tackle fuel poverty in Dwyfor Meirionnydd? OQ58128
Mabon ap Gwynfor: 6. What assessment has the Counsel General made of the impact that cutting the number of Welsh Members of the UK Parliament will have on the process of scrutinising legislation that relates to Wales? OQ58131
Mabon ap Gwynfor: 8. What assessment has the Counsel General made of the impact of the Queen's Speech on issues that are within the Senedd's legislative competence? OQ58129
Mabon ap Gwynfor: 4. Will the Commission provide an update on the pastoral care that it provides to its workforce? OQ58130
Mabon ap Gwynfor: Therefore, as Plaid Cymru has explained in this debate, the funding agenda post Brexit in Westminster has meant to date more powers for Westminster, more money for Tory constituencies, and less democracy for Wales, and less funding and representation for Wales too. We deserve better than this clear effort to buy loyalty for a split and failing union.
Mabon ap Gwynfor: Now, if we look at another aspect, looking at funding for COVID-19 and dealing with the pandemic, far from proving the strength of the union, the UK's pandemic response was in fact one huge subsidy to the south of England. The Centre for Progressive Policy has calculated that the UK Government spent £1,000 more per London resident than in Wales, and £6.9 billion more on London than if each...
Mabon ap Gwynfor: Just as decisions about Wales should be made in Wales, the funding allocated to Wales should be spent by the Welsh Government. That's a fundamental principle. Let's bear in mind that two years ago the Government in London announced the levelling-up fund, which was worth around £5 billion, for England only. It was only a year later that they acknowledged that some of it would be distributed...
Mabon ap Gwynfor: Thank you very much. Sorry—I did put in a last-minute request to participate and I'm very thankful for you allowing me to contribute. Thank you for the question, of course. Of course, one welcomes any steps that the Government can take in order to tackle the housing crisis, and I welcome what you've just said, namely that you are looking at exemptions for buildings with particular...
