Peredur Owen Griffiths: Diolch, Prif Weinidog. Yesterday marked four years since you took office as First Minister. In that time, we've seen an upturn in fortunes for some of our poorest—. We haven't seen an upturn—. Not even able to read my question, sorry. I'll start again. [Laughter.] Yes. In that time, we haven't seen an upturn in fortunes for some of our poorest communities. In fact, it has got a lot worse...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: 4. How is the Government helping to combat poverty in South Wales East during the cost-of-living crisis? OQ58896
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Thank you, Counsel General, and I'll certainly write to you on that. Since the last round of Counsel General's questions, we have received the verdict of the Supreme Court that the Scottish Parliament does not have the power to legislate for a referendum. Does the Counsel General concur with the remarks made by the First Minister in the summer, that there is an unambiguous moral and political...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Diolch, Llywydd. My first question this afternoon is about a matter in my region causing consternation for constituents, but has a national implication. The application of Merthyr (South Wales) Ltd to continue coal extraction operations at the Ffos-y-Frân mine, beyond the original deadline, and mine for another three years, has caused considerable distress to residents due to concerns over...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: It's been five years since the decision to close Communities First was taken. It was the Government's anti-poverty strategy and it hasn't been replaced. Since then, levels of poverty have increased and they will get much worse due to the cost-of-living crisis, which is becoming a full-blown emergency. Why doesn't Wales have a specific anti-poverty strategy, Minister, and do you agree that we...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Trefnydd, I want to highlight the need for a Government statement by raising the matter of the nursery at Caerphilly Children's Centre, which is left on the brink due to a lack of financial commitment and engagement from the Labour-run Caerphilly County Borough Council. The centre has been providing an incredible service for children with disabilities, developmental delay and additional needs...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: To close, Dirprwy Lywydd, this report shines a light on these funding arrangements and, more importantly, on how the funds operate in Wales and their impact on the communities that need them most. I would like to thank Members and the Minister for their contributions today. I believe that this is the first committee inquiry to be conducted on this issue in the current Senedd, and I hope that...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd, and I thank everyone for taking part in this debate this afternoon.
Peredur Owen Griffiths: It highlights the complexity and the emotive matters that we have been discussing this afternoon. Just briefly, a few comments on the speakers. Peter, to start with, talked about that lack of engagement and that complexity of not talking to each other. Mike, then—one point to make is that Simon Hart didn't send us the workings, but Robert Buckland did, so we did have some of that...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Thank you, Mike. We recommend that an independent body should assess both the Welsh and UK Governments' claims around the levels of future funding and how this compares to previous EU funding. We are pleased that the Welsh Government has agreed to this recommendation, but, unfortunately, we did not receive the same commitment from the UK Government. We therefore urge the Minister to pursue...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: The new funding arrangements established since the UK left the EU represent a seismic shift in the way that money is allocated to Wales and the role of the Welsh and UK Governments in that process. Our overriding finding was that the successful implementation of these new funds in Wales is endangered by the lack of engagement between the Welsh and UK Governments. The delivery of funding under...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Thank you very much, Llywydd, and I am delighted to move the motion and to open this debate on the Finance Committee’s report on post-EU funding arrangements. The issue of EU replacement funding has a particular salience in Wales, given that it was the largest recipient of EU funding relative to its population of the UK nations. As a committee, we considered this as a priority, and our...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Thank you for that answer.
Peredur Owen Griffiths: I support efforts to establish a set of actions for all farmers in Wales in return for annual universal baseline payments that will promote biodiversity and boost the environment in our country. I do, however, share the concerns of farming unions that tenant farmers or those with common land rights, similar to one I visited within my region, will find it difficult to meet the scheme's...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: 1. How is the Government securing a viable future for farming? OQ58785
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Thank you, Llywydd, and thanks to Jenny Rathbone as Chair of the ESJ committee, my fellow Members and the clerking team and research service for their collaboration in the process of scrutinising this Bill; also thank you to the Deputy Minister for her willingness to engage on this important legislation, and for what she said this afternoon. It’s also encouraging to hear some of the things...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: I’d like to start with the membership of the social partnership council. It is a key consideration. We must ensure that this influential body will fully reflect all aspects of Welsh society. For this to happen there must be flexibility in the mechanism of the membership so that expertise and experience can be drawn from as wide a field as possible. If we are to deliver the more ambitious...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: For my contribution this afternoon, I'd like to focus on the impact that the crisis in nursing in Wales is having on hospices, and in particular on the two children's hospices in Wales—Tŷ Hafan and Tŷ Gobaith. Both hospices are sanctuaries to some of the most vulnerable children in Wales and their families. Neither hospice can work to full capacity, however, due to growing staffing costs...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: To conclude, Dirprwy Lywydd, the context in which this budget was produced and scrutinised has been very difficult. As a committee, we understand that all public bodies are facing significant challenges in delivering services within their budgets. As a result, it's more important than ever that the Commission’s proposals are proportionate, justified and transparent. Whilst we believe that...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: The committee considered the Commission’s draft budget, and published its report on 21 October. We found that the Commission developed its budget proposals in a prudent manner and, as a result, we recommend that the Senedd should endorse the budget before us today. However, as the commissioner has mentioned, public sector organisations across Wales will face even more difficult financial...
