Leanne Wood: I agree, and that's exactly why I described these section 106 agreements as a complete joke. That's exactly why they are a joke. Our point is, as well, that austerity has meant that we've seen even more of the examples that I gave in the latter example there over the past decade than we have seen of the former example, with predictable results and an ever-increasing distrust between...
Leanne Wood: Diolch. I'm pleased to open this debate on a motion that should be non-controversial. I'm going to start by repeating something I said in the Conservative debate on housing a couple of months ago. Between 1997 and 2007, just 825 new units of social housing were built each year, and that only increases to 850 each year in the last 10 years. But the Public Policy Institute for Wales estimates...
Leanne Wood: The state of our environment is the most pressing issue of our time. A United Nations report has found that climate change, pollution and changes in water and land management have combined to ensure that we are fast approaching irreversible collapse for biodiversity. And this would mean the irreversible collapse of food production too. The global grassroots organisation Slow Food said that...
Leanne Wood: I'd like to return to the question of HMP Cardiff inmates committing offences upon release just so they can have a roof over their heads. Labour in Government have a track record of promising to solve this problem. In December 2015, communities Minister Lesley Griffiths pledged that prisoners facing homelessness would receive support 56 days before their release. In launching the national...
Leanne Wood: I recently received a letter from headteachers in the Rhondda outlining the impact of this year's budget cuts on schools. Now, I've heard Ministers deny that schools are facing cuts. Well, they are facing cuts, and the situation is justifiably described as a crisis that is already having a detrimental effect on pupils. The letter lays out that schools have no choice in some cases other than...
Leanne Wood: Since December 2015, coercive control has been an offence, and it is recognised now as a form of domestic abuse. Perpetrators, though, are particularly adept at covering their tracks, at gaslighting and evading justice—and I know this only too well from my experience of working with Welsh Women's Aid. As it is an offence, it requires police officers to be well trained, in order to ensure...
Leanne Wood: Universal credit, along with other benefits introduced at Westminster, have been an unmitigated disaster for Wales. I'm sure everyone would agree with that, perhaps with the exception of those over there. My office has heard so many examples of really degrading experiences. Now, because of Welsh Government's inertia over devolving the administration of benefits, people are unprotected against...
Leanne Wood: I thank Members for their contributions, and I'll be brief in my closing remarks. When Plaid Cymru tabled this debate, we'd had years of intransigence from this Government on this question. So, I am glad that that intransigence has finally ended. Now, we've heard this afternoon how many people have already had their support cut, and it's good that those people will have the opportunity to...
Leanne Wood: Diolch, Llywydd. When historians come to write the history of the last decade from the perspective of disabled people and how they've been treated by successive governments, I believe that we will be judged harshly. The consequences of the series of changes to social security that were first started by Lord Freud under the Tony Blair Government—yes, let's not forget that it was a Labour...
Leanne Wood: There were a number of disturbing details contained within the report of the independent monitoring board at HMP Cardiff released last week. For example, I was concerned, as others have mentioned, to hear that going back to prison was more attractive for some inmates than staying at the Huggard centre. Now, it must be disappointing for you to read that the lack of accommodation available to...
Leanne Wood: Catalans?
Leanne Wood: Catalans?
Leanne Wood: My much-missed friend and colleague Steffan Lewis was a big proponent of closer links between the Celtic nations. Now, Steffan had a vision that greater co-operation with Ireland and Scotland would be beneficial for Wales in a number of different ways, not least economically. In the post-Brexit political landscape that is changing almost every single day, do you see merit in developing such a...
Leanne Wood: When the details of the new train franchise were announced, it was revealed that the new headquarters would be located in the Treforest area. Now, I'm of the view that this was a missed opportunity to locate a major employer in an area where jobs, particularly well-paid jobs, are even more scarce than they are in Treforest. The Heads of the Valleys area in my constituency, places such as...
Leanne Wood: 6. How will the Welsh Government expenditure on public transport benefit the Rhondda? OAQ53417
Leanne Wood: 4. What discussions has the Counsel General had with the Minister for International Relations and the Welsh Language in relation to co-operating with other countries following Brexit? OAQ53418
Leanne Wood: Will you take an intervention?
Leanne Wood: Do you accept that you need to move a bit faster on this to prevent further deaths?
Leanne Wood: Diolch. I move the Plaid Cymru amendments, but I want to use my contribution today to focus on amendment 4 in particular. Now, this debate is timely because just last week, the UK Government announced its intention to conduct a review into drugs policy, including treatment options. Unfortunately, they pre-decided not to consider the questions of decriminalisation or legalisation as part of...
Leanne Wood: The motion before the Senedd this afternoon seeking approval of the Government's financial police settlement to 2019-20 reminds us yet again, in a very practical sense, of the inadequacies of the current constitutional framework in terms of policing and justice. Overall policy and funding responsibilities lie with Westminster, but essential elements of police funding in relation to matters...
