Peredur Owen Griffiths: Diolch, Llywydd. I wish to make it clear from the outset that this is a probing amendment, designed to ensure the maximum possible plurality for the social partnership council. It's not designed to slight anyone, nor any organisation. It is submitted in good faith to ensure that the voices heard as part of the new and influential council are drawn from as wide a pool as possible. This...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Given that this is the opening amendment, I want to take the opportunity to say it is a privilege to be part of this legislative process. This is the first Bill that I've seen through for Plaid Cymru, and it has been an informative and enjoyable process. I wish to place on record my thanks to the Deputy Minister, her officials, the clerking team and my committee colleagues for their diligent...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Finally, I would like to thank the Minister for her ongoing commitment to reviewing the budget process protocol, which sets out an understanding between the Senedd and the Welsh Government on budget scrutiny arrangements. The trend in recent years for the delay in publication of the Welsh Government’s draft budget in light of the timing of UK fiscal events has resulted in a truncated...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd. I am pleased to contribute to this debate on the Welsh Government’s final budget in my role as Chair of the Finance Committee. The committee’s report on the draft budget included 28 recommendations, and I'm pleased that the Minister has been able to accept the majority of them.
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Nevertheless, I would like to express some disappointment at the start of my contribution today that very limited changes have been made between the draft and final budgets. Our committee, as well as a number of other committees, made concrete recommendations in a number of key strategic areas and so, it’s a shame that the Government has missed an opportunity to respond positively to these...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: How is the Government supporting teachers with the cost-of-living emergency in South Wales East?
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Thank you very much to John for bringing this debate forward.
Peredur Owen Griffiths: This debate has made me think of a recent conversation I had at an event, and a subsequent e-mail I received from a constituent. I was at an event and we got into a discussion about what it is to be Welsh. I said that, in my opinion—and it is only my humble opinion—if you call Wales your home and you feel Welsh, then as far as I'm concerned, you're Welsh. This is the e-mail I received and...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Diolch, Llywydd. As we've heard from my colleague, Luke Fletcher, the UK Government's anti-strike legislation is a draconian swipe against workers seeking a fair wage for their services. What is also apparent is that this measure has worrying implications for the legislative agenda of this Senedd. Over the past few years, we've become well accustomed to the centralising tendencies of the...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: That's very good. Thank you, Commissioner, for that answer. It's good to hear that progress is being made. Through Equal Power Equal Voice, I've been fortunate to have a keen political activist come to my office for an internship. Kevin, who is an aspiring councillor, is disabled and requires the use of a mobility scooter to get around. During his time in the office, I've seen first-hand how...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Diolch. Yes, as you say, time is running out with it, because it's a hard deadline, and, as you say, I'd be very interested in understanding what extension is possible and what we could do here to help with that cliff edge. The rushed nature of this Bill raises the very real prospect of critical regulations in a range of policy areas being either replaced by substandard alternatives or...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: The Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill, which was only introduced in September of last year, has been an unmitigated disaster—designed to remove all remaining retained EU law from the UK statute book by the tenth anniversary of the Brexit referendum at the very latest. The Bill introduces a sunset clause, whereby the majority of retained EU law—thousands of pieces of...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Thank you very much for that answer.
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Back last month, your Government unveiled a new LGBTQ+ action plan. You also signalled intent to start negotiating with the UK Government to devolve powers related to gender recognition. This is a positive step and it is something that, in principle, Plaid Cymru supports wholeheartedly. The current Tory Government is the most regressive and hate-filled Government in generations. The further...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Diolch, Llywydd. I welcome the mention of the real living wage in social care in your statement on fair work yesterday. Plaid Cymru has been a strong campaigner for many years for a pay increase for those dedicated and absolutely essential staff working in social care. One-off payments, like the one we saw during the pandemic, are welcome, but they are no substitute for being paid what you...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Thank you, Llywydd, and a happy St David's Day to everyone.
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Thank you for that response, Minister.
Peredur Owen Griffiths: In the recently published Bevan Foundation document, 'A snapshot of poverty in winter 2023', debt was found to be a significant problem. More than a quarter of people surveyed borrowed money between October 2022 and January 2023, with 13 per cent being in arrears on at least one bill. Furthermore, more than one in 10 were also worried about losing their home over the next three months, with...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: 1. What is the Government doing to help families in South Wales East who have fallen into debt? OQ59162
Peredur Owen Griffiths: 1. What is the Commission doing to ensure that the Senedd estate is fully accessible for disabled people? OQ59165
