Mick Antoniw: ...; looting, the destruction of civic infrastructure, the like and scale of which we've not seen since the second world war; the 6,000 stolen children who've been dispersed to filtration camps for re-education, the youngest of which is four months old. The war is also a war of genocide of the Ukrainian nation. I have with me today my father's alien card from when he was a refugee in this...
Mick Antoniw: ...as a tax on employers, it was not one supported by us, and we get very little financial benefit as a consequence of it. Coming back to, I think, the substance of your question, which is about legal education and training, as you say, last September, we introduced paralegal apprenticeships, which allow apprentices to gain Chartered Institute of Legal Executives qualifications, and the first...
Mick Antoniw: ...oral evidence, written evidence as well. Again, in terms of the issue of bilingualism and so on, I think you know that the position of Welsh Government is fully supportive of that. And within the educational process in terms of Welsh law, there was one point—I can't read my own handwriting that I made, so I hope if I've missed something I will cover it in the letter that I do send to...
Mick Antoniw: ...focus on youth justice, because that is the most glaring area where there is such a jagged edge. Youth justice, whilst it remains non-devolved, devolved services, nevertheless, such as housing, education and healthcare, do play such a fundamental role in diverting young people away from the criminal justice system in Wales, and, as you say, they are key to enabling prevention and early...
Mick Antoniw: ...and fundamental role in those to date. I'd like to thank the committee and the Chair for their work on the first two Bills of this term that have been passed by the Senedd, namely the Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Act and the Welsh Tax Acts etc. (Power to Modify) Act. The report refers to 40 recommendations that were made in relation to both of those Bills, and it draws out some...
Mick Antoniw: ...to inspire, and that is an obligation. I think, in order to inspire, we have to also have the opportunity to actually engage as well, and I think it is something that needs to be looked at with the education system and so on. Of course, there is variability, and obviously there are opportunities through the new curriculum in terms of increasing, I think, civic education, which I think is...
Mick Antoniw: ...maximised voter registration by investing in increased capacity in local authority election teams, and tailored communications to target newly enfranchised groups. We supported the third sector and schools in engaging better with young people by providing opportunities to increase awareness and understanding of politics and citizenship. Finally, we introduced changes aimed at improving...
Mick Antoniw: ...also been exploring technological options and so on. You do not change the culture of elections and people's perceptions—not without a massive publicity campaign and not without a whole series of educational processes in something that would be an across-the-board change to the electoral system. These were pilots, and they were very technical pilots and they were pilots that had a very...
Mick Antoniw: ...actual fact, this legislation also enables us not only to add to the list, but also to support adding to that list by looking at alternative schemes and encouraging those schemes, and also through educational processes and the work that governments naturally do to shift culture, to change culture in terms of our orientation, our reliance on and our addiction to the use of single-use...
Mick Antoniw: Giving our young people the tools to realise what it means to become ethical, informed citizens of Wales and the world is a fundamental part of civic education. It involves teaching about democracy, our society and how we can all take part, and it's also about empowerment and emancipation. I'm a firm supporter of enabling our young people to become active participants within the democratic...
Mick Antoniw: ...5, and we're looking at further work on that. We're also investing in legal technology and cybersecurity—some £3.9 million of European funding towards Legal Innovation Lab Wales at Swansea law school, which will make up a total of just under, I think, £6 million that's being invested in that really exciting and important project. So, these are the steps we're taking. We're obviously...
Mick Antoniw: ...past in areas of law, but what has tended to happen is that that then has been subsequently undermined by a series of legislation that then doesn't amend the consolidated legislation and so on—education, probably, is an example, particularly in England. And, of course, 'codification' means by putting law into categories it will be within that code that the law is amended rather than the...
Mick Antoniw: .... So, there is already a move and a change scenario within the justice system. So, change has been taking place. You raise the issue in terms of the need for ongoing co-ordination of health, education, social services, housing and so on, and, of course, that is happening to a degree. The point we keep making is, of course, it is not an integrated part of a comprehensive justice system. It...
Mick Antoniw: ...and whether it fits in within a plan there, because it is likely that it fits in exactly within the sorts of measures that we are taking, in devolved responsibilities in terms of housing, education, social services and so on. The other issue, of course, is that—. Why do I say 'hearts and minds'? It's because getting justice devolved, per se, is not an easy process. I think, to some...
Mick Antoniw: ...of operating the justice system is reserved, devolved agencies have crucial parts to play in its delivery. It is a public service like any other, but it's one that has to work hand in hand with education, health, social services, housing and others. Fair and effective delivery is dependent on the quality and consistency of the collaboration and long-term planning of all of these services....
Mick Antoniw: Thank you for the supplementary question, and of course this is a question that was also raised in my monthly discussion with the Law Council of Wales, who, you may know, have set up a legal education and training working group, which I think will be very important to this. I think we've taken the first steps, and I think we do need to go further, so we are working with key stakeholders in...
Mick Antoniw: ...who contribute so much to our communities and our nation and who deserve to have their voices heard in Wales, if not in England. We're also building on this by working with local authorities, education and third sector partners on a comprehensive engagement and awareness-raising campaign ahead of the May elections. Last week's voter registration day encouraged newly enfranchised young...
Mick Antoniw: Diolch, Llywydd. I move the motion. I welcome the opportunity to explain the background to this legislative consent motion on behalf of the Minister for Education and Welsh Language and set out why I'm recommending that the Senedd withholds consent to the Professional Qualifications Bill. I am grateful to both the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee and the Legislation, Justice and...
Mick Antoniw: ...to our communities and our nation and who deserve to have their voices heard in our democracy. To support the extension of the franchise, the Welsh Government is working with local authorities, education and third sector partners to deliver a comprehensive campaign of engagement and awareness raising ahead of the local government elections in May. Members will be aware that Wales's first...
Mick Antoniw: ...it is the case that people are just not still aware of their rights or being informed of their rights when they're in that particular situation. With regard to the issue of universities and law schools, yes, that is very important. That's why I was so pleased that my predecessor, Jeremy Miles, started this process. Again, it was a recommendation of the Thomas commission, and I was glad to...
