Huw Irranca-Davies: It's simply to make the point: would you recognise that there is a significant proportion of the prison population that are actually ex-servicepeople? They're veterans who actually served our country on the front line, and they have got into the situation where they are in prison for a time. For us to write them off when we want them to be back and reintegrated into society is an unusual message.
Huw Irranca-Davies: I'm delighted to speak in support of the recommendations that came out of this committee, and to welcome as well the way in which John stewarded this committee. We heard an immense amount of evidence—those people who came in front of us, the visits that we made as well, where we spoke with prison governors, prison staff, front-line staff and also with people who are incarcerated themselves....
Huw Irranca-Davies: That's really welcome news, Minister, and I'm glad that the work is progressing in a considered way, steadily, because we can't rush at this. But he'll understand that, with the social care Green Paper in the UK Westminster Government still disappearing over the horizon like some sort of mirage, it is vitally important that we do do the work here in Wales, because I suspect at some point we...
Huw Irranca-Davies: I nominate Dawn Bowden, Presiding Officer.
Huw Irranca-Davies: 8. Will the Minister provide an update on the cross-government work looking into a social care levy? OAQ54380
Huw Irranca-Davies: What discussions has the Minister had in relation to the contribution of Sony UK in Pencoed to the development of coding skills in schools across south Wales?
Huw Irranca-Davies: Diolch. I'm substituting for Jenny. No, no—I’m here in my own right. Diolch, Llywydd. Could I, first of all, just welcome the statement today, but also the tone and the substance of the responses that have come forward from fellow Assembly Members, and the response of the Minister as well? We hosted last week here—I was one of the co-sponsors of an event in response to the climate...
Huw Irranca-Davies: It's lovely to have this statement and see the progress of this going so well and also to see that the Welsh Government is indeed listening and is modifying the offer as it goes forward. That's signs of a good Government, I have to say. But I don't know if she'd agree with me that the description from Siân Gwenllian a moment ago of 'an utter Horlicks' would be disputed by the parents of the...
Huw Irranca-Davies: I also welcome the ambition in this. This is what devolution is about; it's taking those powers and the funding to go with those powers to further transform the rail network, and to move people from their car transport into other modes of transport. Could I ask just one question, Llywydd—only one question? Could we have an update, please, on the date for the introduction of the Sunday...
Huw Irranca-Davies: Could I ask for a statement or a debate on three important issues, firstly on the matter of flood resilience and response? Once again, parts of Ogmore and many parts of Wales have been deluged overnight, and this is a pattern we'll see more and more of in years to come, thanks to climate change and the prevalence of hard, non-porous surfaces within our communities? So, a statement would be...
Huw Irranca-Davies: That is welcome news, First Minister. Last week's announcement—confirmation of the investment of Ineos in my neighbour's seat in Bridgend—was welcomed throughout Bridgend and Ogmore and the whole region, showing once again that the Welsh Government has indeed stepped up to the mark to support our manufacturing base and jobs. Whilst this can't replace in its entirety the 1,700 jobs, it...
Huw Irranca-Davies: 1. Will the First Minister make a statement on how the Welsh Government is helping to support jobs and economic development in Ogmore? OAQ54381
Huw Irranca-Davies: Thanks for giving way and I'm sorry to interrupt your opening remarks. How far do you think we should go as legislators and policy makers in recognising the challenge that she has said about individual citizens as well, in actually prescribing things such as active travel around schools, beyond simply providing routes, but actually saying, 'Parents will work with those schools to actually...
Huw Irranca-Davies: You would agree with me, Minister, I'm sure, that it's important in areas where the Welsh language isn’t as deeply rooted that we do more to help to root it more firmly. So, how will the Welsh Government work with local authorities and local communities in Ogmore to promote the Welsh, and how ambitious will the education targets and the early years targets be in assisting with this?
Huw Irranca-Davies: I am very pleased to speak in support of the general principles of this Bill, concurring with the views of the majority of members of the CYPE committee, who brought forward a thorough and balanced report. The committee have examined the evidence, written and oral, the international, and other lessons as appropriate, and have concluded by a clear majority that it is time for the defence of...
Huw Irranca-Davies: Welcome back to all here today.
Huw Irranca-Davies: The First Minister, of course, is right in that we haven't seen a penny piece of this money yet. We wait to see it. We hope that it will be seen, but it goes no way towards making up the widening austerity gap that has emerged over a decade. But this adds too, of course, to the lack of certainty over the future of the shared prosperity fund, the lack of sign-off, because of prorogation, on...
Huw Irranca-Davies: Thanks for that intervention, Leanne. I mentioned in my earlier intervention on Adam Price, leader of Plaid Cymru, that there is also realpolitik, and it is a question of having this within a mandate of manifestos going into the election. So, that's your answer. [Interruption.] You may agree or not agree with it, but that is the realpolitik of taking this forward. And, again, I would appeal—
Huw Irranca-Davies: I'll continue; I'll ignore that remark and continue. The report refers to itself repeatedly as a call to action, and I agree. But our actions must flow from building a dialogue and a consensus here and across Wales that recognises the challenges we face and is willing to put forward democratic and electoral reforms for the good of Wales. But let's be clear as well what this is not about: it's...
Huw Irranca-Davies: So, let me highlight some key principles. I'll come back in a moment if I can. Voter choice, where the chosen system of election going forward should enable voters to select or indicate a preference for individual candidates; where the electoral system should deliver Members with broadly equivalent mandates that afford equal status; where we have at least the current level of proportionality...
