Rhys ab Owen: Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. We've heard some clear and factual reasons this afternoon, from Cefin Campbell, from Luke Fletcher, from Jane Dodds, of why we should join the single market. In fact, I think we heard some clear and factual reasons from Vaughan Gething, the Minister, on why we should join. Now, we know that Boris Johnson dismissed the impact of Brexit on the economy in very...
Rhys ab Owen: Diolch yn fawr, Gwnsler Cyffredinol. The UK Government have been becoming increasingly hostile towards the legal profession, especially those holding them to account by stopping illegal removals from the United Kingdom and holding them to account against human rights abuses; all of this, also, whilst criminal barristers are striking. The current median annual income for a criminal barrister...
Rhys ab Owen: I agree with you there, Cwnsler Cyffredinol: the answer is here in Wales. And I was rather concerned when the First Minister, last week, seemed to suggest that the answer was a Labour Government in Westminster. Now, Brexit is totally incompatible with the Good Friday agreement and it's leading toward the reunification of Ireland. The leader of the Labour Party won't admit that Brexit is a...
Rhys ab Owen: Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. Cwnsler Cyffredinol, in a recent article for The National newspaper, a leading Welsh academic, Richard Wyn Jones, said that the debate about the future of Wales's constitution lacked realism. He said that, despite there being a strong consensus in Wales for further powers, there's obviously no appetite for it in the Westminster Government and he said that there's no...
Rhys ab Owen: Diolch yn fawr, Weinidog. You'll be aware that I'm concerned about the lack of enforceability powers behind the well-being goals. What would be the consequences of not achieving the national milestones?
Rhys ab Owen: 8. Will the Minister provide an update on national milestones for achieving the Welsh Government's well-being goals? OQ58297
Rhys ab Owen: 9. What support has the Counsel General provided the Welsh legal sector following proposed changes to working practices by the UK Government? OQ58299
Rhys ab Owen: What discussions has the Counsel General had with the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Justice about the continuation of the Support Through Court scheme at Cardiff Justice Centre?
Rhys ab Owen: Thank you very much, Dirprwy Lywydd. Counsel General, could I begin by echoing the comments of Lord Justice Green, the chair of the Law Commission, and congratulate the Welsh Government on this important step in making Welsh law more accessible? Now, maybe this is not of interest to everyone, but I'm very excited about this important step. This is a step that's going to transform the law in...
Rhys ab Owen: I'm very concerned, Prif Weinidog, that we are sleepwalking into a very different Senedd—a Welsh Parliament by name but with much weaker powers. Your answer last week to Adam Price that if we elect a Labour Government, that's the way to protect devolution in Westminster—what happens if we don't have a Labour Government? The answer cannot be in Westminster, it has to be here in Wales. What...
Rhys ab Owen: Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer. Adam Price is correct. Within the past five years, there were 44 UK Bills within the devolved settlement, as compared to 21 Welsh Bills. And many of those UK Bills have been passed without the consent of this Senedd, and many of them give power to UK Ministers to change the devolved settlement. So, how can we reform the LCM process, in order to...
Rhys ab Owen: That's exactly right, isn't it, Trefnydd? Because, since the beginning of democratic devolution, by election or referenda, the people of Wales have voted time and time again to enhance the law-making powers of the Senedd. The very principle established through democratic means is being undermined by the Westminster Conservative Government. This very Chamber is being undermined. The Prime...
Rhys ab Owen: 1. What steps is the Welsh Government taking to protect the Welsh devolution settlement following the announcement by the UK Government to remove the Trade Union (Wales) Act 2017? TQ645
Rhys ab Owen: Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Lywydd. Diolch yn fawr, Weinidog. I am grateful for the update. And I'm sure any support for leaseholders is greatly welcomed. I also appreciate the need to get this right. It was cutting corners, it was greed with malpractice that led to this tragic situation in the first place, and it was successive Westminster Governments of all political colours that ignored...
Rhys ab Owen: Prif Weinidog, I also commend the work of Joyce Watson—the tireless work she's done in this field since her election in 2007. And I'm sure she'll be pleased that I've also read the report, so that's two of us, Prif Weinidog, who have read it, and I'm sure many others have also. We have made some very important steps with regard to victim care, with the establishment of the victims...
Rhys ab Owen: Thank you very much, First Minister. I was very pleased to read the report on the creation of a metro between Llantrisant and Cardiff, and I agree entirely with you, and with the Counsel General, about the importance of that scheme. The difficulty of course is that it's going to take 10 years to build, and, as you know, thousands of people have moved to new homes in the north of the city,...
Rhys ab Owen: 2. What steps is the Welsh Government taking to ensure that the necessary infrastructure is in place to meet housing development needs in Cardiff? OQ58213
Rhys ab Owen: Thank you very much, Minister; I'm very pleased to hear that the work is starting so soon. Can you confirm to me, Minister, that there will be sufficient capacity within the board to ensure that the action plan happens quickly?
Rhys ab Owen: 8. When will the new national programme board for palliative and end-of-life care begin work on an implementation plan? OQ58171
Rhys ab Owen: Two statements, please, Trefnydd. As the leader of the opposition reminded us earlier, our minds are turning towards Grenfell Tower today, five years or half a decade after that tragic incident. I heard the reasoning of the First Minister on why the statement was pulled, but the residents that I've spoken to were actually offended by the fact that it was pulled on this day, and they saw it as...
