Rhun ap Iorwerth: I’m sure it would be easier if we had our own regulatory rules in order to establish such a bank, but we as a party have supported having a community bank for many years, and I look forward to having an account in our community bank here in Wales. And, of course, this is a response now to the fact that high-street banks have left our communities in the numbers that we have seen over the...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Can countries of 3 million people survive economically as independent nations, and if others can, why can't Wales?
Rhun ap Iorwerth: How much money did John Redwood send back from the Welsh Office to Westminster?
Rhun ap Iorwerth: I was going to say, on that particular point there's a very, very different situation between Wales-England and Ireland-Northern Ireland. The issue with Northern Ireland and Ireland is the Troubles that they've had there. We haven't got those issues between Wales and England. There is no way that there would be a hard border between Wales and England if we were an independent country.
Rhun ap Iorwerth: The work on defining those elements of how an independent Wales works, the detail of it—which is the subject of the commission that Plaid Cymru is working through at the moment—is one thing, but neither can you give us a cogent argument as to why this is not a means to address the failings of being within a UK system that is locking us in poverty currently.
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Yes, of course.
Rhun ap Iorwerth: I'll address the choices that we have to make as a nation, and immediately, Wales's liabilities change. I'm quite certain, for example, that an independent Wales wouldn't wish to fund nuclear weapons, for example, and we are paying our share of that notionally, currently. Now, situations change in a different context with Wales as an independent nation, but, crucially, look carefully at our...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: That's nothing at all to do with what we're discussing today. In fact, Ieuan Wyn Jones's record as economy Minister through those dark days of Westminster-led troubles with the economy stand up to scrutiny even now in 2019. But in reality, despite the mudslinging between the Conservatives and Labour, it's just one Westminster establishment tag-team that time and time again, Government after...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. There is a wonderful predictability about debates like this on funding for Wales. The Conservatives slam Labour, Labour slam the Conservatives, Tories say it's all about how Welsh Government spends money, Labour say it's all the UK Government's fault, and it's a cycle of blame that suits them both. Both can sling political mud at each other, Wales gets spattered in...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: I'll come in. You said it's good news that more money is coming to Wales. The reason more money is coming to Wales is because of our poverty. That can never be good news.
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Will you take an early intervention? Do you genuinely mean to say—and thank you for taking the intervention—that Wales needing additional funding because of our poverty is something to celebrate and is good news?
Rhun ap Iorwerth: I'll share the question that was asked, and it was a very straightforward question that was asked and it came back with a very straightforward answer too. And I happen to find on many issues that people's choices and people's opinions on very important things do change over time and that the more current we can measure people's opinions the better it is.
Rhun ap Iorwerth: In closing, it is disappointing that the Government has decided that the name 'Senedd' is fine to use on a day-to-day basis, but not good enough to use in the piece of legislation that gives our Parliament its new name. Wales is seeking leadership, and on this issue the Government failed to provide it. But here in our Senedd this afternoon, we will vote for this Bill. We will vote to...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Yes.
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Today's vote is an important milestone. Twenty years after it was established as an Assembly, with very few powers, we are passing a law today, hopefully, that formally notes the Assembly's flowering into a national Parliament for our country, but that also invites more of our citizens—our young citizens—to be involved in the political and democratic processes that underpin our existence...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you for that response. There is excellent work happening in Bangor University, which is my local university, in order to ensure that carers can take university courses and that they are given the support to do that. The list of things done includes a bursary of £1,000; there is a residential course offered to carers between 16 and 25 to give them a flavour of university life and to see...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: 3. Will the Minister make a statement on the support available to carers who are higher education students? OAQ54742
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you for taking an intervention. And just to emphasise the reasonable request, if you like, of the community health board in north Wales, they're not even arguing against not scrapping it as an entity in itself. What they're keen on doing is protecting the functions that it provides so well, so independently, and its ability to react, without notice, to concerns on the ground in the north.
Rhun ap Iorwerth: May I also thank you for the statement? The Deputy Minister will know that he and I broadly agree in this area. I'm pleased to see the role played by Plaid Cymru in that regard and I'm pleased that we, in our agreement with the Government on the budget, could put the foundation in place, with £1.5 million if I remember correctly, to build upon that foundation. I'm pleased to see that there...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Recent changes to the way Citizens Advice is being funded is going to be leaving some of the most vulnerable people in my constituency even more vulnerable and unable to access help when they most need it. So, can I ask for a statement from Government on how it intends to deal with this lack of capacity now to deal with issues that are of importance to my constituents? Just to give you an...
