Siân Gwenllian: Are you willing to take an intervention?
Siân Gwenllian: In the summer of 2017 a report was published, ‘Communities First—Lessons Learnt’, and that was by the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee, of which I am a member. Recommendation 4 of the report stated: 'We strongly recommend that a clear tackling poverty strategy is published, which brings together the many strands of poverty reduction work to help provide clear...
Siân Gwenllian: Sorry, I was just finishing.
Siân Gwenllian: Of course. I agree with you entirely, but the statistics tell a very clear story: that women are far more likely to be affected by harassment and violence. For example, one in four women in England and Wales suffer domestic abuse. With men, it's 13 per cent. So, there is a disparity there, and that's not to say that it doesn't happen to men too. I will finish on that note. Thank you.
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you very much. The definition of inappropriate behaviour is included in the dignity and respect policy, and it includes harassment, sexual harassment, bullying, threatening behaviour, and illegal discrimination. In looking at inappropriate sexual behaviour, the definition is: 'unwanted behaviour of a sexual nature towards another person…Behaviour "of a sexual nature" can cover…for...
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you very much, and we look forward to having that debate on the devolution of welfare later on this afternoon. But it is clear that not everyone in your party is content with some aspects, certainly, of these funds—for example, abolishing the independent living fund. I understand that a proposal was passed to restore this fund by the Labour Party conference, which was in favour of...
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you very much. You will be aware that Plaid Cymru has a motion later on this afternoon where we will be discussing child poverty, and that that motion calls for the devolution of the administration of parts of the welfare system. But, of course, there are some benefits that have already been fully devolved, or the administrative responsibility for them already lies in Wales—the...
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you, Llywydd. Equality means ensuring that people can live their lives to their full potential, and that they can live independently. I'm sure that you would agree with those words. That is why the social model in relation to disability has been a way of empowering the lives of disabled people, and making public services think about disability in a different manner. One of the greatest...
Siân Gwenllian: It is a cause of concern that there are no comprehensive proposals that have been published by the UK Government as of yet, in terms of how exactly the shared prosperity fund will work. At the moment, the Welsh Government and councils in Wales, through the Welsh European Funding Office, decide on how the regional funds are spent in Wales. In the first place, it’s important that Wales...
Siân Gwenllian: 6. What discussions has the Cabinet Secretary had regarding the UK's shared prosperity fund? OAQ52200
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you very much. At the outset, Plaid Cymru would like to bring a slightly different vision to the table—different to what is outlined in the Government’s motion, or perhaps additional to what’s included in the Government’s motion, because we believe that we need to recognise that the planning system has a role to play in maintaining and creating viable communities as a means of...
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you for the statement and for marking this important day. Having this statement is a means of raising awareness of the terrible discrimination that still happens and the terrible violence facing people from the LGBT community across the world, but also here in Wales, unfortunately. There is a great deal of room for improvement, as the statistics in your statement note. I would like to...
Siân Gwenllian: I stand here today to state that I’m against this LCM that is before us, and against it because it could open the door to undermine the National Assembly. Over two years ago, I had the thrill of coming here as an Assembly Member for the first time to join with this Parliament, and in coming here I was very aware of the work of patriots who had been campaigning so hard to establish this...
Siân Gwenllian: I have two issues I’d like to raise with you. The first: in the budget agreement between Plaid Cymru and Labour, £2 million was allocated to promote co-operation between western counties on strategic linguistic and economic issues. Unfortunately, there is still confusion as to which Cabinet Secretary is responsible for this important programme, or at least we can’t access that...
Siân Gwenllian: You will be aware, of course, that I have been prioritising a campaign for a medical school at Bangor, because I believe that it is a means of improving patient care across north Wales. I commissioned this report, 'Tackling the Crisis', which outlined the case very clearly and there was an agreement between Plaid Cymru and the Labour Party and £7 million was allocated towards developing a...
Siân Gwenllian: 9. Will the First Minister provide an update on increasing the provision of medical education in Bangor University? OAQ52201
Siân Gwenllian: I want to look at three particular areas—and I'm looking forward to hear the Minister’s comments on these three areas—starting with recommendation 1, relating to prejudice on the grounds of gender. Of course, unfortunately, some of the conclusions in the report aren't new to us, and certainly, in autumn of 2012, the Enterprise and Business Committee raised the importance of tackling...
Siân Gwenllian: The post office in Upper Bangor was closed without warning a few weeks ago, meaning that businesses, students and local residents had to rely on a mobile service in a car park, which is only available for an hour a week. That is entirely unacceptable. It is crucial that the post office in Upper Bangor has a permanent home in the future. I accept that it’s not a devolved matter, but there...
Siân Gwenllian: 7. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the Welsh Government's work to safeguard post office services in Arfon? OAQ52136
Siân Gwenllian: Will the First Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government's plans for the M4?
