Siân Gwenllian: Thank you. Here, last week, your Cabinet Secretary for local government confirmed that he will not proceed with the earlier proposals made to regionalise on a mandatory basis, and therefore, to all intents and purposes, his predecessor’s proposals are going to be binned, as far as I can see. Is there an agreement within your Cabinet on this fundamental change of direction?
Siân Gwenllian: 6. Will the First Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government's plans for local government reform? OAQ51870
Siân Gwenllian: Exactly. That’s what I’m saying. The position of the Government is not wanting to have the discussion, not wanting to see what’s possible—[Interruption.] Yes, because those are the amendments that have been tabled. The amendments that you’ve tabled delete what we and the opposition party want, namely to have the debate, and that’s very disappointing. And I have to ask: where did...
Siân Gwenllian: I thank Suzy Davies for explaining the purpose of your amendment. I do see the sense of what you’re saying, and, even though it’s weaker than our motion, we are willing to support that if necessary, because you’re calling for the debate as well through your amendment. The Minister has said that the Government does intend to hold a debate on broadcasting in the future. Well, well done....
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you very much. I have to say that the lack of ambition of the Minister is very disappointing. He doesn’t want to even have the discussion, not even wanting to see what’s possible, not even wanting to look at the options—
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you very much, Llywydd. Our motion today is one that would begin the journey towards devolving broadcasting, and all we are asking for, if truth be told, is a commitment to looking to the practicalities of devolving broadcasting to Wales and reporting back to the Assembly within a year. So, as the Labour amendments delete that simple request, we will be voting against them. Plaid Cymru...
Siân Gwenllian: But I wonder whether we need to go further than the continuity Bill. I wonder whether we need specific legislation on rights. Professor Simon Hoffman has presented evidence stating that legislation on rights is within the competence of this Assembly. He has stated:
Siân Gwenllian: 'When the revised Schedule 7A—' of the Wales Act 2017— 'is in force the Welsh Minsters will have power to introduce legislation, and the NAW will be competent to enact legislation in the field of human rights generally'.
Siân Gwenllian: Therefore, to me, that suggests that there is a window of opportunity here between the time that Schedule 7A comes into force and when the UK leaves the European Union. There is a window of opportunity to legislate to safeguard as much as possible of these human rights and the workers' rights currently in place. Do you believe that it would be valuable to pass specific legislation in terms of...
Siân Gwenllian: Exactly, but it is clear that one of the major risks of exiting the European Union is that some of those who were on the leave side of the campaign, including some of those who funded that campaign, have an ideological vision that is very different to the one that you and I hold: the UK as a low-taxation nation, where public services are privatised, and where employers can treat their...
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you very much. This week, your Government has published the continuity Bill to ensure that EU law in terms of devolved issues is transferred into Welsh law. But of course there is another important aspect of leaving the European Union, and that is the risk to human rights. So, what is your Government intending to do to ensure that human rights are maintained in Wales in the post-Brexit era?
Siân Gwenllian: I entirely accept that it's local government who have told you, and I quote from the blog:
Siân Gwenllian: 'the inherited policy of mandated regional working wasn't a runner'.
Siân Gwenllian: That suggests to me that it wasn't a runner for them, and you agree with them, and you're going to turn your back on that policy. That was the policy in the White Paper, so I don't quite understand what you're trying to say. Having clarity would be most useful. So can you confirm today whether your vision, on the basis of what you've heard from local government, will include regional...
Siân Gwenllian: Well, from that it appears that the only thing that has been achieved is the waste of thousands of pounds of taxpayers' money and the time of Welsh Government officials in holding consultation upon consultation, with proposals on legislation that will now be ignored. At least with the most recent White Paper, there was a way forward that didn't require local authority mergers. So, can I ask...
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you very much. I have had an opportunity to read your blog, where you discuss local government reform, and I was very pleased initially that you mentioned that the blog was some sort of response to a question that I posed to you in this place a few weeks ago in terms of the kind of style you are going to adopt in dealing with local authorities. I'm very pleased that I have inspired you...
Siân Gwenllian: Will the First Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government's local government reorganisation plans?
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you to Dai Lloyd for bringing this debate forward this afternoon. I think it's the third debate that we've had on similar areas. We've talked about cavity wall insulation and leaseholds, and now this issue today. These are issues that do concern our constituents, and it's very appropriate that we discuss them here at the National Assembly and, more importantly, that we seek solutions to...
Siân Gwenllian: The Welsh Government offices in Caernarfon are for sale, with the staff moving from the site to a leased site. Caernarfon has seen the loss of far more Welsh Government staff than the national average over the years. What I don't understand is how reducing the number of staff in an area such as Caernarfon is contributing to the economic development plans of the Government, a model of...
Siân Gwenllian: 'Planning Policy Wales' in its draft form noted the concept of sustainable development has been broadened, of course, under the well-being of future generations Act, and there is now a requirement to improve the four aspects of well-being—economic, environmental, social and cultural. There are also seven well-being goals that the Act has brought forward to help to ensure that public bodies...
