Mick Antoniw: Yes, certainly.
Mick Antoniw: Dirprwy Lywydd, all parts of the justice system across the United Kingdom have faced very significant challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic, and the Welsh tribunals have been no different. The swift move to remote ways of working allowed the Welsh tribunals to operate fully through the pandemic, and the continued use of those remote ways of working, resisting the temptation to rush...
Mick Antoniw: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I move the motion.
Mick Antoniw: I'm pleased to open this debate on the president of Welsh Tribunals' annual report 2021-22; it's the final annual report of Sir Wyn Williams as president. Before moving to the annual report itself, I'm sure that Members would wish to join with me in thanking Sir Wyn for his significant contribution as president of Welsh Tribunals. Sir Wyn was the first to hold the post, which was created by...
Mick Antoniw: Well, what I can say certainly is that the issue of income tax powers is an extremely complex area; it's complex in the context of the tax threshold base that we have within Wales. There is a distinction between the issue of increasing the rates of taxation and the issue of the banding of taxation, and that is certainly an area that would be far more beneficial, probably, to Wales than it...
Mick Antoniw: Thank you for your question. No discussions have been held with UK Government on devolving income tax bands to Wales.
Mick Antoniw: Well, thank you for the question. The creation of bank holidays is not a devolved matter. We have asked the UK Government, on more than one occasion, to designate the day as a bank holiday in Wales or to give us the power to do so ourselves. Unfortunately, these requests have been rejected.
Mick Antoniw: Well, thank you for that. I cannot predict what a future Secretary of State for Wales might do. I am pretty confident, though, there would be considerable sympathy and support for our ambition. Dydd Gŵyl Dewi, Wales's national day, should be a bank holiday, as is the case in Scotland and Northern Ireland, who have bank holidays for St Andrew and St Patrick respectively. The UK Government's...
Mick Antoniw: Well, thank you for your question. What I do, of course, and what my primary responsibility is is to uphold the constitution of this Senedd, the basis on which we were established and the powers and responsibilities that we have. And that's why my initial comments were concern about really what is an undermining of the constitutional principles on which decisions are taken on which...
Mick Antoniw: I will reiterate that this is a dangerous moment. The UK Government’s approach has set a worrying precedent. We will do everything we can to protect our devolution settlement, the laws passed by this Senedd, and we remain determined to support our transgender communities.
Mick Antoniw: Well, can I say that the issues that you have raised are a matter for the Minister with the portfolio responsibility to answer, but to confirm that, on 14 February, the Deputy Minister for Climate Change made an oral statement to the Senedd on the roads review report, the national transport delivery plan and our new roads policy statement. The report, plan and our response were published the...
Mick Antoniw: Thank you for your question. The Welsh Government’s response to the roads review panel’s report represents a major step forward in our commitment to tackling climate change. This is not the end of road building in Wales. We will still invest in roads, but only where they are the appropriate response to the transport problem.
Mick Antoniw: Thank you for that. I think it was disappointing that the tender didn't receive any bids. We're evaluating how it was carried out and, basically, how it can be broadened out. I think that the substance of what you're suggesting, really, is that we need to look at a far wider group in terms of the invitation-to-tender process. That is being looked at. The solicitor apprenticeship issue, I...
Mick Antoniw: Thank you for your question. In December, we issued a tender to assess the need for solicitor apprenticeships in Wales. No bids were received when the tender closed in January, and we are now considering next steps.
Mick Antoniw: Thank you. You raise a number of really important issues. Those issues go to the nub of the reason why we need justice devolved to us. I've worked very closely, as you know, with the Minister for Social Justice, and, of course, we were visitors to Eastwood Park prison recently. I suppose what matters—. It is, of course, of concern in terms of the awareness within the magistracy of the...
Mick Antoniw: Thank you for your question. We have not yet undertaken an assessment of the costs of devolving specific areas of the justice system, such as courts and sentencing. Ultimately, our aspiration is that devolution would reduce pressures on the justice system and save money in some areas, above all by reducing the prison population.
Mick Antoniw: Thank you for the further question. Just to say, by way of starting off, all the issues and concerns, many of which the Member has raised and so on, have been raised at the Interministerial Standing Committee. I have raised those. I chaired the recent meeting and, of course, those things are being looked at at UK Government level, as part of the intergovernmental arrangements that we have....
Mick Antoniw: Thank you for that question, and it's a very important question, and it's a very difficult question to answer. If I start, perhaps, with the resource part first, it's very difficult to say what the precise resources are. These are conversations and discussions that I will be having. I've been having discussions; they are ongoing. It's a bit difficult to evaluate the resources that are...
Mick Antoniw: Well, I'll give you the answer. I think the answer is that, once the commission has produced its report and its findings, that isn't necessarily the end of the matter. There is a process, then, of engagement. There is a process of involvement to actually turn the conclusions—well, to explain the conclusions, to engage with those who've participated, but also, then, to seek how you can...
Mick Antoniw: Well, can I firstly thank you for your comments about my recent visit to Ukraine, and thank you, and also the other Members, for the support that was given? You may have seen from social media that the considerable materials that were taken over were on the front line in Ukraine within 24 hours, and that perhaps highlights the urgency but the importance of support, and also the fact, of...
