3. Statement by the First Minister: The Legislative Programme

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:09 pm on 16 July 2019.

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Photo of Suzy Davies Suzy Davies Conservative 4:09, 16 July 2019

Perhaps I can invite the First Minister, first of all, to perhaps hold a debate on our legislative programme at some point, just to prove that there actually was one, and of course there have been several policy announcements since then. 

Thank you for your statement, though. You began by saying:

'We will press on with important measures in respect of education…and transport'.

So, I suppose my first question has to be why you're not bringing forward a new Act to replace the outdated Learner Travel (Wales) Measure 2008, not least to protect the aims of your 2050 strategy for 1 million Welsh speakers, which hasn't been reflected elsewhere in the announcement you've made today. But at least that would be one way of securing access to Welsh-medium education at all ages.

Thank you for acknowledging the work of the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee in your statement, and its work on statutory instruments, but I hope that you recognise also the frustration that was voiced by that committee in terms of the lack of scrutiny that that process afforded us during the Brexit SI saga. That, I hope, will not creep into any further processes that we might encounter when it comes to our ability to scrutinise.

I know that Members will be disappointed with the delay in the made-in-Wales agriculture Bill. I don't want to go into that particularly, but please bear in mind, Members, that that was put in front of us as a reason for accepting the LCM Bill at the time, when primary legislation is always preferable. Now, primary legislation is preferable, but it needs to be functional, so can you give us an idea, First Minister, on just how 'framework' your primary legislation is likely to be in character? We've already had to put up with a fair few Swiss cheese Bills in this Assembly, so I'm looking for reassurance that all Bills will be fully researched upfront with complete clarity on key concepts, expected outcomes and implementation, with only genuinely technical matters referred to secondary legislation. It was nonsensical that the minimum alcohol price was missing from the minimum alcohol price Bill, and Members should not be ready to accept such underdeveloped legislation in the future.

I hope that we don't see anything similar in the curriculum and assessment Bill. Welsh Government is aware that there are still some residual concerns on how to translate the areas of learning experience into the real teaching experience, so I'd be interested if you have any detail on how that's going to be addressed in that Bill. This legislation is to enable huge change aimed at wiping out or at least reversing the recent history of underachievement, and we acknowledge that something needs to change, but on this legislation we are going to be very alert to the fact that it absolutely must not allow for disguise or places to hide. So, will the Bill set out how accountability of schools is to be provided for?

And then, finally, First Minister—and thank you, Llywydd—on both education Bills, but all Bills, actually: draft Bills. We like those in this Assembly, so can you confirm that it will now be the norm for us to receive draft Bills for scrutiny prior to the formal laying of Green Papers? Thank you.