Siân Gwenllian: Thank you. I’m pleased that you recognise that it is quite a substantial amount of extra work in some cases. And there is funding in the system, because I’ve been made aware of a case where one secondary school is paying a great deal—around £100,000—to the external examining bodies, although they, of course, are not delivering the same functions in this year’s examination round....
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you very much. It’s good to see you across the Chamber in the flesh, as it were, for the first time in quite a while. We are following a different regime again this year in terms of GCSE, A-level and AS examinations. It is an assessment standardisation exercise led by individual schools and teachers, to all intents and purposes. Earlier this year, the Scottish Government announced...
Siân Gwenllian: I would like to focus on one very important area, namely childcare and early years education—a sector that's crucially important for recovery post COVID. Children the length and breadth of Wales have missed an important formative part of their lives, and there is increasing evidence that this is where the educational focus should lie. But it’s disappointing to see an appalling lack of...
Siân Gwenllian: The recruitment of doctors continues to be a problem in the north Wales area, as you're aware, with far too much being spent on locums and far too many vacancies in surgeries. I am very pleased that you have supported the consistent calls made by Plaid Cymru for a new medical school in Bangor, and you've just confirmed that once again, and that this is now being implemented. So, will you...
Siân Gwenllian: Many congratulations to you on your appointment. I look forward to working with you, Jeremy. You will know that I will be scrutinising your work in detail and I'll be challenging you where necessary in order to improve the experiences of children and young people in Wales and those who support them. I very much hope that you will be willing to meet regularly. Doing so with your predecessor...
Siân Gwenllian: It's my pleasure to second that nomination.
Siân Gwenllian: May I also take this opportunity to wish the Deputy Minister, Dafydd Elis-Thomas, well on his retirement? I'd like to thank him sincerely for his important contribution as our democracy has taken root and prospered. Thank you.
Siân Gwenllian: I've just finished. I was just going to say, Ann, I wish you all the very best in the future, and thank you very much for your contribution to the Senedd over so many years. It's been invaluable.
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer. It's more important than ever to secure the devolution of broadcasting to Wales, not only for the benefit of our democracy, but, as the pandemic has demonstrated, for the benefit of our public health too. Plaid Cymru therefore welcomes this report enthusiastically. For the first time in the history of Welsh politics, we have a cross-party...
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you very much, Llywydd. It was interesting to hear a catalogue of Mark Reckless's various analyses of different constitutional matters within the Senedd. I thank him for taking such an interest in the Standing Orders of our national Parliament, an institution that he and others here this afternoon, unfortunately, want to abolish, of course, contrary to the mandate of our people. It's...
Siân Gwenllian: So, hopefully it will see the light of day and we will see the recommendations in terms of the future direction of this work. If I could turn, finally, to the need, in my opinion, for an entirely new strategy for the arts and culture sector in Wales, I think that supporting a vibrant and innovative creative industry with strong support will help Wales to adapt to the post-COVID landscape in...
Siân Gwenllian: Turning now to another area that forms part of your portfolio, namely major events, I'm given to understand that the Government has commissioned an independent report on the major events strategy. I understand that work did start way before the pandemic hit and that it has also been completed, but that the report has not been published. Can you explain why that report wasn't published and can...
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you very much, Dirprwy Lywydd. I welcome the news that the Welsh Government will launch the second phase of the cultural recovery fund, providing more assurance to the arts and culture sectors. There is one aspect that the sector has raised with me already, namely the accessibility of the programme. Do you have plans in place to ensure that the application process is fair, particularly...
Siân Gwenllian: Stakeholders in this area have raised and continue to raise a number of concerns about this code, including the quality of information and advice, transition and the post-16 situation, qualifications of co-ordinators and the fact that the code isn't a code of practice, the appeals process, and the review timescale. That's a long list of concerns, and the Government need to respond to each...
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you for the statement. I'd like to focus on two specific issues. I know that you would agree that it's crucial that we use a preventative approach in dealing with mental health issues, and whilst, of course, we do need to respond to problems as they arise, it's also important to take action to prevent those problems from arising in the first instance. So, we do need to tackle one of the...
Siân Gwenllian: It's the will that's missing and, in the meantime, the housing crisis is intensifying and our communities are creaking.
Siân Gwenllian: Yes, I am drawing my comments to a close, Deputy Llywydd. There are measures that could be put in place tomorrow, with the will—
Siân Gwenllian: I'd like to thank Osian Jones and Cymdeithas yr Iaith for arranging this petition and everyone who signed the petition. Ensuring appropriate housing in the right places for local people is crucially important. In Gwynedd at the moment there are around 160 individuals, couples and families too, who have been placed in temporary accommodation, which is inappropriate, because they don’t have a...
Siân Gwenllian: I of course accept that point, but there is far too much data being collected, and it's data that the teachers, very often, don't understand why you, as a Government, would need that data. If I could turn to my final question to you—not just for today, of course—may I also thank you very much for your willing collaboration through this Senedd, and particularly for our regular meetings...
Siân Gwenllian: One issue that certainly adds significantly to that workload is budgeting, particularly at this time of the year. What creates complexity is when funding is provided via grant very late in the day, as has happened this week. I want to quote one headteacher who contacted me yesterday, and this is what she said: 'We are spending more time writing about how we're going to spend these grants than...
