Jane Hutt: Thank you very much, Joyce Watson. I think it's so important that you are going to be marking the day, as you say, on Thursday, by joining Leonard Cheshire. In fact, I spent time not just with the disability equality forum but also with other organisations like Leonard Cheshire, who have engaged with me and with other Ministers, with young people raising questions with us about the issues...
Jane Hutt: ...of the importance of the social model of disability. It's about the actions we have to take to remove the barriers, where we are disabling through policy and practice because we have not taken into account the impact of these barriers. I'll go first to your—just more clarification on the access to elected office fund. And I'm glad, as I'm sure all of us here in the Senedd—all parties...
Rebecca Evans: Thank you to Hefin David for raising this important issue on behalf of his constituents. And I know that he's had the opportunity to make some very strong and direct representations to the Minister for Housing and Local Government personally as well, so that they could hear directly from him about the concerns of his constituents. As Hefin says, there'll be a six-week period, and the Minister...
Hefin David: ...these difficult times, it's difficult to say when exactly that will be—so, some form of timescale about how that decision will be made. People, particularly in Forge Mill, have made very strong representations about this.
Mr Neil Hamilton: ...of the economic activity within the region. Tourism is fundamental to the Welsh economy in these areas. I think it's monstrous that the Welsh Government, which is overwhelmingly urban in its representation and its interests, will be now riding roughshod over the interests and opinions of the people of mid and west Wales. What we're seeing here is a strategic centralisation of planning and...
Russell George: ...and I'm also going to reference the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee, which also scrutinised relevant aspects of the NDF that were relevant to that committee. But, I should add that I'm not speaking in my capacity as Chair of that committee today. There have been a number of rounds of consultations, and I broadly welcome a number of very significant changes and improvements...
Helen Mary Jones: ...at a regional level, and there is some reason for that, though I have personal concerns about the regions as set out in the framework. But, for example, the Welsh Language Commissioner's office noted that its oversight of statutory duties relates to legal entities and individual bodies, and it's very far from clear to the Welsh Language Commissioner how his legal responsibilities for...
Elin Jones: ...now after Christmas that we all face, it's important that the sessions that the Commission holds, and that schools and others hold in schools, are politically balanced and include all political representation for that purpose. That's why the Senedd, in designing our and the Welsh Government resources available to young people, working with the Electoral Commission as well, ensure that...
Paul Davies: Minister, I'm grateful to you for that answer. Now, I continue to receive representations from residents in Lower Town, Fishguard in my constituency regarding road safety in their local community. And despite positive commitments from previous Ministers on this matter, improvements to the A487 in this specific area are still yet to be taken forward. Minister, what assurances can you give the...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: If I could turn, finally, to another form of borrowing, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced plans on 9 November for the UK to issue its first green bonds next year, as part of an effort to shore up the city of London's status as a global financial hub and to fund decarbonisation efforts. I accept that if Welsh Government were to issue its own bonds, that would count towards its...
Rhianon Passmore: ...COVID winter, and although the cultural recovery fund has been welcomed and oversubscribed, it still leaves out broad categories, which Welsh Government has attempted to breach. So, Minister, what representations, then, will the Welsh Government make to the Treasury for much needed extra income for Wales? And how does the Welsh Government intend to further financially support live Welsh...
Rebecca Evans: Again, thank you to Rhianon Passmore for raising this issue this afternoon. I know that she's had the opportunity to make those strong representations on behalf of smaller venues in particular directly to the Minister for Welsh Language, Well-being and Mental Health earlier on today. It is the case, certainly in terms of the test events—and I appreciate that these are probably larger events...
7. The Representation of the People (Election Expenses Exclusion) (Wales) (Amendment) Order 2020
Elin Jones: That brings us to item 7, the Representation of the People (Election Expenses Exclusion) (Wales) (Amendment) Order 2020, and I call on the Minister for Housing and Local Government to move the motion—Julie James.
Julie James: .... Alongside our recently announced pilot access to elected office fund, which will support disabled candidates in Wales to stand for election, this Order will facilitate a more diverse democratic representation. More disabled candidates may be inclined to stand for election if spending on reasonable adjustments does not have to be included within their expenses limits. This Order...
Jane Hutt: ...Alexandra gardens in Cathays for ethnic minority servicemen and women. We laid wreaths on that Saturday. It was the second year, and we were particularly pleased that we had very socially distanced representation there across all the faiths who attended. So, wreaths were laid by the Muslim Council of Wales, the Hindu Council of Wales, the Jewish community, the Christian community—they...
Llyr Gruffydd: ...here in Wales. I've raised this previously both in committee and here in the Chamber. The Minister said she wasn't aware of the issue but that she'd check whether the Government have made any representations. She subsequently wrote to me saying that the Government haven't, it's not devolved and, therefore, the Welsh Government wouldn't be pursuing this. Now, that stands in marked contrast...
Motion NDM7468 Rebecca Evans To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 27.5: 1. Approves that the draft The Representation of the People (Election Expenses Exclusion) (Wales) (Amendment) Order 2020 is made in accordance with the draft laid in the Table Office on 7 October 2020.
Joyce Watson: ...rejected the amendments to the Agriculture Bill that the House of Lords had laid requiring trade deals to at least meet UK food safety standards and animal welfare standards. I've had significant representation by farmers and their groups, and also from industries like the hospitality sector, who are really, really, genuinely concerned about what that might mean for UK food standards, and...
Mick Antoniw: ...probably 250,000 to 300,000 or more within Wales, which means that, literally, 50,000, 60,000, 70,000 of them will be getting no support whatsoever. Many of them are my constituents, and I've had representations from them to this effect. What more can be done to actually support the self-employed and freelancers? What representations are being made to the UK Government in respect of the...
