Siân Gwenllian: Thank you, and of course I welcome the inclusion of well-being and mental health as a core part of the draft curriculum, but I am still slightly concerned as to why it’s not contained within that general statement, which is also at the heart of the curriculum, whilst relationships and sexuality education is there. I’m struggling to understand the rationale for that, whilst welcoming of...
Siân Gwenllian: It would be interesting to return to this at some future point, perhaps discussing what the definition of 'cynefin' is, because there is no definition in the draft curriculum as it stands, and that is perhaps a weakness. Another aspect of the new curriculum that’s been given some coverage is sex and relationships education, and I quote from the draft curriculum that teaching, 'Welsh,...
Siân Gwenllian: Whilst the consultation on the draft curriculum is ongoing it’s appropriate that we should discuss certain aspects of it with you today, and, first of all, the history of Wales. I’ve just come from a seminar that I staged at the request of Ymgyrch Hanes Cymru—the campaign for Welsh history—and there concerns were expressed that an excellent opportunity will be missed to teach the...
Siân Gwenllian: Constituents from Carmel, Deiniolen, y Fron and Dinorwig have expressed concern about the quality of the work done under the Arbed scheme that you mentioned, and that happened four years ago: external cladding not put on correctly and therefore causing dampness, drainage pipes being deficient, cracked walls, cracked render, plaster having cracked inside the house following the work, damage to...
Siân Gwenllian: 6. Will the First Minister provide an update on the Arbed scheme in Arfon? OAQ53965
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you to Dai Lloyd for that supplementary question and for drawing attention to this problem. In the first place, may I say that I share your disappointment that the Government has failed to provide a Welsh language version of the explanatory memorandum to those specific regulations relating to the Welsh language in primary care when that memorandum was laid? It does not comply with the...
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you very much for the question. The Table Office checks every document that is laid. If a bilingual version has not been provided, a member of staff will get in touch to ask whether there’s one available. According to Standing Order 15.4, documents can be laid in one language if it is not appropriate in the circumstances, or not practically reasonable to provide a bilingual version....
Siân Gwenllian: You will be aware that nine Welsh councils have suggested a simple solution to the increasing problem of second homes being exempted from paying any sort of tax whatsoever into the public purse. They argue that the Welsh Government has the powers to adapt section 66 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 through secondary legislation. Now, fundamentally, we need to remove the current...
Siân Gwenllian: 2. What discussions has the Minister had regarding the options available to solve the problem of second home owners avoiding paying tax? OAQ53910
Siân Gwenllian: Arfor.
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you for your statement. Now, as per usual, I have to ask how much substance there is to the words contained within this statement. May I remind you of some recent events that this Government has been involved with in terms of the Welsh language? An intervention by a Deputy Minister in an employment process by the National Library, where he tried to ensure that the job wouldn't go to a...
Siân Gwenllian: The roll-out of the new curriculum will be an excellent opportunity for publishing all relevant materials in both languages from the very outset, unlike the situation as it currently stands. But the clock is ticking with that. There are some who are concerned that there won't be sufficient time for defining needs, administering tenders, commissioning, writing, trialling, designing,...
Siân Gwenllian: 4. Will the First Minister make a statement on the availability of revision textbooks in our schools? OAQ53909
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you, Llywydd. Last week, the funeral of Llywelyn Williams from Llanrug in my constituency was held. He was a bright, intelligent, young man. His loss is a loss to Wales, to Arfon and his community, but mainly, of course, to his family. He attended Ysgol Gynradd Llanrug and then Ysgol Uwchradd Brynrefail, before studying a degree course in Aberystwyth in politics and history. He was...
Siân Gwenllian: In the past, Plaid Cymru and Labour have worked hand-in-hand. That is how we have won referenda in the past. Given recent developments, are you and the Welsh Government willing to put party politics to one side so that we can work together once again—work together in order to push the UK Government to hold a referendum in order to give the final word to the people? We are willing to work...
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you. Yesterday, it was very appropriate that we were celebrating establishing this Assembly 20 years ago. A number of people in my constituency place the blame on the Assembly for one of the big scandals of the time, namely that Parc Bryn Cegin, near Bangor, continues to be completely empty, with no jobs created. However, it's not the Assembly’s fault, but the fault of the Labour...
Siân Gwenllian: 3. Will the Minister provide an update on plans to develop businesses in Parc Bryn Cegin, Bangor? OAQ53796
Siân Gwenllian: 3. What steps is the Welsh Government taking to prepare for a people's vote on the UK's exit from the EU? OAQ53799
Siân Gwenllian: I would like to ask for two statements. Many pupils are placed at a disadvantage because revision textbooks for some GCSE subjects aren’t available through the medium of Welsh, and that’s just weeks before the exams. I’m specifically talking about higher maths and business. Now, there’s no point whatsoever for them to arrive in time for the exam, as WJEC have stated today. In the...
Siân Gwenllian: Will the First Minister provide an update on the Welsh Government's future support for the Arfor project?
