Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 1:39 pm on 19 May 2021.
Thank you, First Minister, for your statement this afternoon. And I, too, join you in congratulating returning Members and new Members, for the privilege that it is to sit in this Chamber, debate, discuss, and hopefully inform policy decisions that make a dramatic impact on people's lives for the benefit of everyone in Wales. It is an exciting time to be in Wales, and what we potentially can do with the powers that are available to the Welsh Parliament, and indeed the way you've constructed your Government, after the mandate that was given to you by the Welsh people, is the tone of what you want to set, especially on climate change and the environment, which you emphasised so extensively in your statement.
One thing we do know, First Minister, is that you have signalled that you will not serve a full term as First Minister. So, can you indicate whether this is a Cabinet that will see your term out as First Minister? Or is it something that you will have to reconstruct as the Assembly term progresses? Because I do think that's a genuine conversation that people do want to understand—how much of the energy of Government will be focused on who might come after you, rather than maybe the mandate that you set your colleagues in Government.
Secondly, it is important to understand how these policies will be delivered within Government, focusing on the delivery unit that Carwyn Jones used to have and the Cabinet Office that succeeded that, and importantly the Permanent Secretary and the change in Permanent Secretary that has been identified. Can you indicate how that recruitment is going with the Permanent Secretary and how the changes might affect the delivery of the Cabinet's policy decisions and directives?
Can you also indicate the plans that you highlighted around waiting times, catch-up, furlough, climate change and housing targets, and the importance that Ministers will be held to account for delivering those targets, and what means you will use to hold them to account? Because they will be charged with delivering those points that you have set them, and what goals have you set them in particular on waiting times and catch-up, which are such an important part of rebuilding after the COVID crisis?
On the legislation front, we've all indicated agreement around the clean air Act and the agricultural Bill in particular that needs to be brought forward. Can you indicate when the Government will bring forward these important bits of legislation so they can be considered by this Welsh Parliament? In particular, can you indicate the policy that you announced on the weekend about universal basic income? Because, from what I understand, this is merely an allowance that will be given to carers. However applaudable that might be, this isn't a genuine test about a universal basic income that the Government talked about on the weekend. So, can you indicate what plans the Government will have for bringing forward such proposals in Wales to have a genuine test of such a proposal, which, I admit, our side of this Chamber does not find support with, but if that is to be the policy position of the Government, it's important we understand how you're going to deliver that.
And also the conversation that you started yesterday around more elected politicians. Is it now Welsh Government policy to support such a position, because I understand you were talking as First Minister when you were talking about proposals for new politicians to be brought before the electorate by 2026? So, can we now understand that that is official Welsh Government policy to support that position, albeit that it'll be for the Senedd to bring forward those proposals for consideration in their entirety? Thank you, First Minister.