Huw Irranca-Davies: ...in. But would he join me in urging all Members of this Senedd Chamber who are demanding more money to sustain this beyond the welcome few months’ breathing space that we have got, to then support representations to the UK Government, who are seeing bus companies threatening to walk away today, not in three months’ time? But also, genuinely, to Plaid Cymru, to say: if there is a way in...
Huw Irranca-Davies: ...General, together with the Minister for Social Justice, to make a clear assessment of the cumulative impact of this raft of UK legislation, strident UK legislation, and then make the strongest representations to the UK Government, both in your meetings and in your public pronouncements, too.
Huw Irranca-Davies: ...for the Welsh Government to deliver the legislation needed and to set out a clear pathway for reforming our Senedd. We can choose to give the people of Wales a stronger voice and include diversity, representation and inclusion at the heart of this Senedd, where the votes are more equal. We can make a Senedd that is fit for today and, also, fit for the future. The case for change is urgent;...
Huw Irranca-Davies: ...have served its purpose initially, but it's not fit for purpose now or for the future; it's complicated for the public, it results in two types of Member and so on. Our proposals for a proportional representation system using closed lists will be at least, or more, proportional than the current system; it's a type of voting familiar to and easily understood by voters, as it's currently...
Huw Irranca-Davies: ...meant taking back control to stop refugees fleeing here to the UK, when they were in desperate need of timely intervention. That is now what's happening. So, Minister, can I thank you for taking up representations that I've made to you on behalf of my constituents who want to open their homes right now to those families? But I urge you, Minister, to keep that argument going, because I...
Huw Irranca-Davies: ...free access to banking for community groups and charities. We are seeing HSBC as the latest one to take the money and run, and it is not good enough. So, I ask the Minister to make the strongest representations. Because I have had the response from HSBC to my letter to them; they have explained to me the commercial reasons why it's imperative that they don't provide free banking for these...
Huw Irranca-Davies: 7. What representations has the Counsel General made to the UK Government regarding restoring legal aid for early advice and reassessing the means test? OQ56853
Huw Irranca-Davies: ...problems with navigating narrow streets with parked cars for buses, or damage to buses or anti-social behaviour, or because of the pandemic. But, so often, these cuts become permanent, despite representations from local people and local representatives. Sometimes the cuts, we are told, come because the route just isn't profitable. Yet buses and public transport have a true social and...
Huw Irranca-Davies: ...was some centralised, Westminster-driven approach to this that reiterated the problems that they had in the 1980s Thatcher-style work programmes. So, could I please ask, Minister, that you make representations that if these programmes are being redesigned, that when they look for partners to deliver these, they use the local authorities and the regional consortiums that have been...
Huw Irranca-Davies: 1. What representations has the First Minister made to the UK Government regarding the provision of additional financial support to assist jobs affected by COVID-19 in Wales? OQ56126
Huw Irranca-Davies: I refer Members to my interest in the non-remunerated role in chairing the regional investment Wales steering group, but my question lies outwith the work of that group. I've received representations, Minister, from higher education sector representatives in Wales, with their concerns over the UK shared prosperity fund and the UK Government's proposals. And they note that the UK shared...
Huw Irranca-Davies: ...can process the applications quickly and explain to people how they work as well. But could I ask, in your discussions with the economy Minister and with the First Minister, can you also make the representations to the UK Government, as well, for additional funding, both for jobs in particular—for job support—as well as business support, because our coffers are limited in Wales? And,...
Huw Irranca-Davies: ...communities that we represent. And I commend the leadership that is being shown by the First Minister and by Welsh Government, represented by my own party of Welsh Labour, of course, but also with representation from the Welsh Liberal Democrats and an independent member of the Government, who have come to a difficult but collective decision on the best way forward for Wales and the people...
Huw Irranca-Davies: ...on the size of the Senedd was compelling and clear and remarkably consistent—that the Senedd is currently too small and should increase to between 80 and 90 Members to improve our governance and representation, enhance our scrutiny and our oversight of the Welsh Government, and deliver more effective policy, more efficient spending and better legislation. On electoral reform, and again...
Huw Irranca-Davies: ...at the earliest opportunity, and that new or revised proposals would be subject to public consultation. So, could I ask, Minister, would that consultation also take into account any further representations by the Children's Commissioner for Wales or by child and safeguarding organisations on how these proposals—recognising they're primarily focused on educational support—can also...
Huw Irranca-Davies: ...by 14 per cent, and this is raising the worry that it's actually that victims are being pushed further out of sight and away from seeking help. So, can I ask our Welsh Government to make formal representations to UK Ministers, to first of all give the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority the resources to do their job, as they are at full stretch already, and also to urge UK Ministers to...
Huw Irranca-Davies: 3. What legal representations has the Counsel General made on behalf of the Welsh Government regarding inter-governmental structures within the UK? OQ55360
Huw Irranca-Davies: .... It is a working-class tradition in Wales, and that's why we are desperate to see this decision not take place and that it disappears behind a pay wall. So, could I ask him: could he make those representations, picking up the lead that he made to the UK Government, that they should now change the way that these decisions are made and that they are not made by UK Ministers alone? When they...
Huw Irranca-Davies: ...social care workers from working in the UK could mean that some of the most vulnerable people, including those living with cancer, suffer the consequences'. How would he respond to that, and what representations will he be making to the UK Government?
Huw Irranca-Davies: ..., could we have a statement from the Welsh Government on their position on safeguarding the right of the people of Wales to see, free of charge, our rugby heroes in the six nations, and what representations you can make to influence the upcoming contract negotiations? And by the way, our best wishes to Wales taking on Ireland in Dublin next week after a great start against Italy.
