Siân Gwenllian: Thank you very much, and I look forward to seeing your statement on these extremely disappointing plans. You’ve also announced your desire to reform the Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 and to present a White Paper before the summer in order to promote public discussion on the provision of a new Bill. It wasn’t clear to me what exactly the remit of the new Bill will be. For example,...
Siân Gwenllian: 9. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on Welsh in Education Strategic Plans? OAQ(5)0083(EDU)[W]
Siân Gwenllian: Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on Welsh in Education Strategic Plans?
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you very much for the statement, and it does include a number of matters. You’ll be very pleased to hear that I’m going to talk about four of those. I note that you are working with the police and crime commissioners on tackling extremism. I’d like to know whether this includes extremism by right-wing white groups, one of the main threats facing us in modern Wales, and whether you...
Siân Gwenllian: As we’ve heard, there was an announcement that the headquarters of the Welsh Revenue Authority will go to Treforest. Having seen the paper that you mentioned and how the location was selected, the criteria made it entirely impossible for anything to come to north Wales or to anywhere beyond easy reach of Cardiff. The criteria related to skills—or one criterion did—but two related to...
Siân Gwenllian: 3. Will the First Minister make a statement on how the Welsh Government intends to distribute economic prosperity across Wales? OAQ(5)0428(FM)[W]
Siân Gwenllian: We are calling on the Government to cease closing the patchwork of community hospitals and to move towards creating health and care hubs in our communities anew, such as the one that I hope to see in Waunfawr in my own constituency before too long. These are an important part of the care chain that we want to see in Wales for the future.
Siân Gwenllian: I’d like to begin my contribution to today’s debate by emphasising the importance of supporting people in their homes, concentrating on one aspect specifically. One specific area that can have a practical impact on improving the lives of many people is making adaptations to their homes: making it easier for people to use wheelchairs; a purpose-built shower; a stairlift; or railings to...
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you. Can you confirm whether the current programme is to come to an end at the end of March, and what will happen following that? Will the programme continue as it is, or will it become part of something larger? What will the guidance be, and what is the timetable for that? Local authorities are eager to have the details as soon as possible so that they can plan for the future. Indeed,...
Siân Gwenllian: 1. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on funding plans under the Vibrant and Viable Places programme for 2017/18? OAQ(5)0104(CC)[W]
Siân Gwenllian: The debate on the annual report on equality is timely, given what’s happening not only in the UK in this post-European Union era but also in the United States, with the racist and discriminatory attitudes taken by the new President against Muslim refugees. Future generations will look at this period in history, and we, as politicians, will be at risk of being harshly judged for not taking a...
Siân Gwenllian: We as Plaid Cymru do support these amended regulations. You mention that they were rejected by the fourth Assembly. I wasn’t here personally at that time, but they were weak, and a number of concerns were raised by student representatives and by Plaid Cymru at that point. There was some further delay prior to Christmas—just a week, I hasten to say—at the request of Plaid Cymru once...
Siân Gwenllian: The White Paper and your inclusive approach as Cabinet Secretary are to be welcomed. The county councils have certainly welcomed the opportunity to present their views, and that is reflected to a certain extent in the White Paper. For example, the way they’re to have flexibility in certain areas with collaboration, and the map that they can turn to, do respond to some of the concerns that...
Siân Gwenllian: At a meeting in Bangor last night I had the privilege of saying that Wales is a country that welcomes people that are fleeing from war, famine and persecution. Do you agree that one response to Trump’s terrible actions is to emphasise that Wales is a welcoming country, and that welcoming actions are the best way of actually showing that? There is good work being done by the Government under...
Siân Gwenllian: Will the First Minister make a statement on the importance of regional collaboration between county councils in order to strengthen the Welsh language?
Siân Gwenllian: The general opinion is that the rolling stock that is used by the current rail franchise in Wales is of a very poor quality and significant investment will need to be put into it to improve the stock, which impacts on the passenger experience. But, in addition to that, by 1 January 2020, the carriages will have to conform to the new rules for accessibility for disabled people. According to...
Siân Gwenllian: Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the Welsh Government's vision for fair economic development across Wales?
Siân Gwenllian: Together with the Member of Parliament, Hywel Williams, I gave evidence on the first statutory consultation of the National Grid on the north Wales link, namely the scheme that would create a line of pylons across Arfon and Ynys Môn. In Arfon, specifically, we were calling for a tunnel under the Menai strait, instead of new pylons, because of the completely negative visual impact that would...
Siân Gwenllian: I’d like to begin my contribution this afternoon by reminding everyone that Plaid Cymru strongly opposed the British state’s Trade Union Act 2016 when it was brought forward to the last Assembly, because Plaid Cymru strongly believes in the importance of the work of the trade unions in our society and supports those unions. It’s only through partnership between workers, industry,...
Siân Gwenllian: It’s almost seven years since the Conservatives formed a Government in Westminster—seven years since they introduced their destructive austerity programme; seven years since the budgets of public services in Wales have been cut to the bone as a result of that. It was disappointing to see Labour Members of Parliament supporting the austerity charter before the general election of 2015. The...
