Siân Gwenllian: 4. Will the Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government’s efforts to ensure that local authorities reach their targets? OAQ(5)0022(FLG)[W]
Siân Gwenllian: It’s entirely apparent from all the contributions in the Chamber today that we need a strategy as a matter of urgency to train more doctors in Wales. I will make a case that this strategy will have to be one that is pan Wales. We do have two medical schools—one in Swansea and one in Cardiff—but we have nothing whatsoever in north Wales or in mid Wales. If we are going to start to fill...
Siân Gwenllian: There is a need to increase the housing supply in Wales, of course, but those houses have to be the right type of houses and they have to be in the right location in order to meet the true needs of the people of Wales. In your statement on the planning Act in July of this year, you stated that ‘The preparation of Strategic Development Plans should be given high priority by Local Planning...
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you very much. Almost half of all the doctors on the Llŷn peninsula are over 55 years old, and a large number of them are expected to retire over the next five years, which will lead to a real crisis in the area. There is some evidence that doctors tend to remain where they were trained. So, in order to tackle this shortage of doctors there is a strong argument, as you have mentioned,...
Siân Gwenllian: 6. What is the Welsh Government’s long term strategy for training doctors in north Wales? OAQ(5)0026(HWS)W
Siân Gwenllian: The ambition of the Welsh Government of 1 million Welsh speakers is to be welcomed, and I’m pleased to see you confirming this once again today. However, the Government still hasn’t explained how it wishes to increase the number of Welsh speakers from something over 0.5 million in 2011 to 1 million by 2050. Now, I see that you will announce yet another consultation on a new strategy, and...
Siân Gwenllian: There is serious concern amongst adults learning Welsh throughout the country because of the new system, which has led to a loss of jobs amongst local tutors. Already, a significant number of experienced staff have been made redundant in Swansea, and a further number are facing job losses in north-east Wales and in Ceredigion. There is great uncertainty in the field after the Government...
Siân Gwenllian: Access to early education of a high standard is an effective way of closing the attainment gap for children from disadvantaged backgrounds and ensuring the linguistic development of young children. At the moment, children living in permanent poverty in Wales are twice as likely to score lower than the average for their linguistic development at five years old as compared to their better-off...
Siân Gwenllian: There is a critical situation in my constituency, in the Waunfawr surgery, and I’d like to draw your attention to the terrible problems that exist there and ask you to intervene, as this matter has been going on for about 10 years now. The surgery provides excellent care for more than 5,000 patients, but the building is completely inappropriate—there isn’t enough space, patient...
Siân Gwenllian: 3. Will the First Minister make a statement on the condition of GP facilities in north Wales? OAQ(5)0089(FM)[W]
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you. We’ve tabled this debate today because it’s become clear that there is a need to change the present democratic process. Forget about the referendum for a moment, if you can, because, generally, people believe or feel that their vote doesn’t count. There is a need for them to see that there is a purpose for them voting and reforming the system is one way of tackling this...
Siân Gwenllian: Before coming to that, I will touch on two other issues. The first is the need for young people between 16 and 17 to be allowed to vote. That is vital by now, because young people were angry and frustrated that their voices were not heard in the referendum, and there is also a need for us to create a youth parliament in Wales, because Wales is the only country without such a parliament. We...
Siân Gwenllian: You both have alluded to the increase in racist incidents during and post the referendum, and I share your view in condemning those occurrences. But could you go further than just making a statement in the Chamber today? Are you able to consider running a campaign to raise awareness and educate people about the contribution that people from the different countries of Europe and the world make...
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you. I wish, on behalf of Plaid Cymru, to move our amendments on the reform of local government in Wales. There’s a great deal to be said about the subject, but today I will focus on two specific aspects that were included as part of Plaid Cymru policy during the Assembly election in May. That is, first of all, the need for Welsh Government to act to implement single transferrable...
Siân Gwenllian: It’s a pleasure to participate in this important debate this afternoon and I’m pleased to hear the Conservatives alluding to Plaid Cymru very frequently in their speech this afternoon. As we’ve already heard from Rhun, there are a number of challenges facing the health service, and very often they are at their most intense in the rural and most deprived areas. It’s quite obvious, and...
Siân Gwenllian: The history of the Welsh Government’s strategy on tackling poverty appears to me anyway to be one of setting long-term aspirations in order to end poverty but without setting short-term specific targets with the appropriate resources to achieve them. Very often, the aspirations are either postponed or completely dropped once the Government realises that they’re not attainable. Because...
Siân Gwenllian: During the last Assembly term, my predecessor, Alun Ffred Jones, worked tirelessly in order to secure the success of two community hydro schemes as they started the process of providing an opportunity for the public to buy shares in these projects. I’m pleased to be able to say that these projects have been exceptionally successful, attracting a number of people in those communities to...
Siân Gwenllian: 1. Will the Minister make a statement on the role of community energy projects as part of the Welsh Government’s climate change strategy? OAQ(5)0014(ERA)[W]
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you very much, and thank you for that update. Of course, you acknowledge here that the central grant has been increased, but much of the funding for this area in terms of assistance to women in refuges does come through local authorities, and local authorities have faced financial cuts year on year. Some of these services are suffering as a result of cuts that vary from 3 per cent to 20...
Siân Gwenllian: I’m very pleased to participate in this debate on a crucially important issue, and to share some of my concerns, if truth be told. Now, I don’t need to emphasise just how important the law is in our daily lives. It is central to the effective operation of any state in ensuring the safety and security of our citizens. Access to the justice system is an integral and fundamental part of...
