Siân Gwenllian: The Betsi Cadwaladr health board is about to discuss far-reaching changes to the way in which some services are provided across north Wales. The changes include the provision of urology services on two sites rather than three, and the movement of stroke services from two sites and orthopaedics from two sites. So, I’m sure you’d agree that the health board needs to be entirely transparent...
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you very much. I agree entirely with you, but that’s not an argument for not including the history of Wales as a specific subject under that long list that you have under the heading of 'humanities'. In turning to another aspect of the new curriculum—and I quote—the curriculum will provide 'freedom for practitioners to use their professionalism and creativity to meet the needs of...
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you for providing that clarity, but you haven’t answered the question as to how on earth such a sentence appeared in the first place. I’ll turn now to other aspects of your White Paper, if I may. It does note that primary legislation will be required for certain issues, including the six areas of learning and experience. One of those is the humanities, and you list the humanities as...
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you, Llywydd. I want to start where I left off the last time I had a conversation with you across this Chamber, namely with this very unfortunate sentence in your White Paper, published last week, about teaching English in nursery settings and nursery schools. I’m not going to rehearse the same issues again, and I’m very pleased that you have carried out a u-turn on this issue and...
Siân Gwenllian: 6. What guidance is provided by the Welsh Government to health boards regarding engaging with the public about changes to services? OAQ53344
Siân Gwenllian: I’d like to raise issues regarding the transparency of the machinery of Welsh Government and proper ministerial accountability to this Senedd. For some time now, there has been some ambiguity as to which Minister is accountable to the National Assembly for the civil service, which supports ministerial work. In Westminster, that responsibility is given very clearly to the Prime Minister,...
Siân Gwenllian: I assume from that, therefore, that you will delete the clause in the White Paper and will do so as a matter of urgency. You’ve confirmed that immersion should be developed and continued for the future, so the natural step is to withdraw that clause to scrap the whole discussion around it, because it’s unnecessary; so, it doesn’t need to be in the White Paper. But in addition to the...
Siân Gwenllian: Well, the major question arising from what you've just said is: what's going to happen for the future? What about the next generations of children? Will they too continue to be immersed in the language? Your strategy—and it is your strategy as Minister for the Welsh language, the 1 million Welsh speakers strategy—does state unambiguously that Welsh-medium immersion education is the main...
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you, Llywydd. As Minister with responsibility for the Welsh language, can you confirm that English isn't introduced in Mudiad Meithrin's cylchoedd meithrin or in Welsh-medium schools until a child reaches seven years of age at the moment? And, if so, will you confirm, so that we can be entirely clear on this, that the proposal in the Welsh Government's White Paper for the new...
Siân Gwenllian: Will the Minister provide an update on tax breaks for the community hydro energy sector?
Siân Gwenllian: There are a number of questions that need to be asked, certainly.
Siân Gwenllian: Schools are calling out for concrete information about when this will happen—that is to say, when this major retraining will occur. Will it happen during school hours, outwith school hours, on additional inset days? How will it be done? We do need an idea about the financial investment that will be allocated to this—more detail, if you like. You've allocated £100,000, I think, for...
Siân Gwenllian: I would like to pursue three important aspects today: workforce training, assessment arrangements, and the impact of these changes on qualifications. These don't directly relate to the White Paper, of course, but they are part of the bigger picture in terms of the huge change that’s occurring. And the new curriculum will mean a transformational change to teaching methods, so what are the...
Siân Gwenllian: Will the First Minister provide an update on how the north Wales growth deal will develop the economy in Arfon?
Siân Gwenllian: The process of registering for social housing can be complex, and once an individual is on the list, then, very often, the system that is used to decide who is allocated which house can lead to outcomes that are unfair. Gwynedd Council has just started a consultation and is considering a change from a points system to a banding system, which will give consideration to need, but also to local...
Siân Gwenllian: 7. What assessment has the Minister made to ensure that the social housing letting policies of local government and housing partnerships across Wales are fit for purpose? OAQ53259
Siân Gwenllian: What plans does the Welsh Government have to support community hydropower projects?
Siân Gwenllian: I'd like to ask for a statement from Government on the guidance that you expect health boards to follow in terms of their duty to communicate changes, which can be far-reaching, in terms of services with the public, and, indeed, with all the relevant stakeholders too. The lack of transparency within the Betsi Cadwaladr health board in terms of changes to the vascular services at Ysbyty...
Siân Gwenllian: Will the First Minister provide an update on the north Wales growth deal?
Siân Gwenllian: Will the Counsel General provide an update on plans to protect the rights of the people of Wales in leaving the European Union?
