Luke Fletcher: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Firstly, I'd like to thank the Business Committee for allocating time to this proposal and I thank Members who've already expressed support. I'd also like to thank the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Dogs Trust, Blue Cross and Cats Protection for their support in the run-up to this debate. It's estimated that roughly half of households in Wales...
Luke Fletcher: Thank you for that response, Llywydd.
Luke Fletcher: A disparity for employer pension contributions between Members' support staff and Senedd Commission staff was recently brought to my attention. At the moment, Members' support staff can expect a 10 per cent employer pension contribution, whereas the equivalent amount for Commission staff is 26.6 per cent. I was wondering if the Commission could take another look at this, or indeed encourage...
Luke Fletcher: 2. What discussions has the Commission had with the Remuneration Board regarding changes to the Members' support staff pension scheme? OQ58326
Luke Fletcher: Thank you to the Minister for the statement. I want to refer to paragraph 4 of your statement today, which talks about raising ambition. I assume that this includes Welsh language skills too, which is to be welcomed, of course, but I have to raise my concern about the situation in Bridgend county council. Once again I find myself getting up in this Chamber to raise concerns about the...
Luke Fletcher: Will the First Minister provide an update on the potential broadening of the winter fuel support scheme?
Luke Fletcher: To build on Jane's question, and it's a question that I'm sure the Minister expects every time she sees a question on greyhounds or if there's any opportunity that I can ever link greyhounds to a supplementary question, I was wondering if the Minister is now in a position to provide an update on including greyhound racing as part of the future licensing scheme as set out in the animal welfare...
Luke Fletcher: Thank you to the Minister for the statement.
Luke Fletcher: Co-operation is key on the matter of trade, and it’s welcome to hear Sam Kurtz’s view on this. We are both on the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee, and the evidence, in my view at least, has been clear that, throughout the post-Brexit process, the UK Government has failed to consult and engage with the Welsh Government consistently and meaningfully on issues of trade. We have to...
Luke Fletcher: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. This pilot is very welcome, especially for those of us in the Siambr who have campaigned or are campaigning for a universal basic income. Granted, this isn't a universal basic income, but it is a basic income, and it still will provide us with valuable data and direction in our journey to a universal one. We've talked about our reasons for supporting UBI in the past....
Luke Fletcher: Diolch, Llywydd. In a report published this year, the Bevan Foundation found that Wales has some of the weakest provisions for community rights of ownership and control in the UK. Another report found that communities face a now arduous and demoralising process, and that it was extremely likely that the situation in Wales has led to many assets being permanently lost to communities. Assets...
Luke Fletcher: With over three quarters of all Welsh land being comprised of farmland, it's important that we utilise the products from this land on our journey to net zero. There is no product more natural than sheep's wool. Unfortunately, the price of a fleece of wool sits at around 20p—a price that is dwarfed by the £1.40 it costs to shear. I know that the Welsh Government pledged to use more wool in...
Luke Fletcher: I'd like to start by thanking Rhun for his continued advocacy of hydrogen. He's pushed it for quite some time in Plaid Cymru and in this place. I remember that debate almost two to three years ago; a very worthwhile debate. For Members in the Chamber, Rhun is as excited about hydrogen as he is about Wales going to the world cup, so I hope that shows how much of a passionate advocate he is. As...
Luke Fletcher: I think it's important for us to remember that trade unions have always played an important part in changing workplace conditions, across the Chamber, and practices within the workplace. I have no doubt that they will play a vital part in moving to a four-day work week as well. UK firms have begun the world's biggest four-day week trial with no loss of pay. The trial will last six months and...
Luke Fletcher: Diolch, Llywydd. There's no doubt that life for workers and their families is getting more difficult. Inflation is at a 40-year high, energy prices are growing 23 times faster than wages, and Welsh weekly earnings remain the lowest of the UK nations. The importance of trade unions could not be clearer during this cost-of-living crisis. However, only one in six private sector workers in Wales...
Luke Fletcher: Will the First Minister provide an update on the learner transport review?
Luke Fletcher: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I move the motion tabled in the name of Siân Gwenllian. Why have we called for this debate today? I could launch straight into detail about different pots of funding and rehash well-worn Brexit arguments, but I'd like to start in more simple terms: we are facing a cost-of-living disaster. Most have already started to feel its effects after the 1 April energy price...
Luke Fletcher: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd, and firstly I'd like to thank Helen for submitting this petition. What it calls for is exactly right—Tourette's is overlooked by many and is viewed by most as a condition that means that you just swear uncontrollably, and I like many others am guilty of previously thinking that, but there's a lot more to it. It's a neurological condition that can be quite painful....
Luke Fletcher: There are a number of dog welfare issues that are concerning in Wales, such as illegal breeding and the issues shelters are having with capacity. In fairness, I know the Minister is across these issues and I know she takes a keen interest in the welfare of dogs here in Wales. I do thank her for that. On Monday, the Petitions Committee held its first evidence-gathering session on greyhound...
Luke Fletcher: I welcome the report from the committee and thank them for all their work, and important work it is, as we move forward, because due to Wales's predominantly coastal geography, the marine sector is a huge contributor to the Welsh economy. Marine policy has a direct impact on people's livelihoods as well as on wildlife and ecosystems—many, often conflicting, demands on Wales's seas and...
