on the clip
Lywydd, dwi'n enwebu Sam Rowlands.
Official English translation
Llywydd, I nominate Sam Rowlands.
Contributions
62 contributions on record. Newest first, by sitting day. Page 2 of 2. Counted by Siambr
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Last week I was very pleased to join Mencap Cymru at Stackpole Walled Gardens in my constituency to celebrate a truly significant milestone: the organisation's eightieth anniversary. The event reflected on Mencap's proud history, and recognised the work it carries out to support people with a learning disability so they can live fulfilling independent lives and that families and carers can receive the support that they need. Now, this week is also Learning Disability Week, and this year's theme, 'Do You See Me?', focuses on employment. Sadly, while many employers in Wales recognise that people with a learning disability can be valuable and productive members of the workforce, too many are still not taking that step to employ them. Mencap's research suggests that this is not about cost, but it's about confidence. Employers are often concerned about getting it wrong, about health and safety or about how best to provide support, and yet, in reality, most adjustments can be simple, low cost and entirely achievable with the right guidance. At a time when there are labour shortages and economic inactivity, we must not overlook the talents and contributions of people with learning disabilities. They want the opportunity to work, to contribute and to be seen. And so, on that note, I'd like to say a big thank you to Mencap Cymru for the work that they do to support people with learning disabilities in Wales. They are truly transforming lives, and I urge all Members to show their support for Learning Disability Week.
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I'm pleased to take part in this very important debate. The Welsh Conservatives are supportive of a statutory register for lobbyists, and we've been consistently clear that we support any moves to provide greater transparency in our democracy, and we will be supporting this motion today. As has been said, the absence of a lobbying register in Wales is in contrast to many other countries where mandatory registers are already in place. Now, that's not to say that we should do something because other Parliaments do it, but where the details of a lobbying register are set out clearly, and where they demonstrate a greater degree of transparency and accountability, then it's the right thing to do. This is something that I also have some experience of, having been a member of the cross-party Standards of Conduct Committee, when it considered how a lobbying register should be introduced in the fifth Senedd, and it's important to understand the context of that committee's inquiry. Members will be aware that that committee concluded that it was minded that a register may need to be done via a statutory route. At the time, the committee argued that the lessons from other Parliaments showed that there was a risk of reputational damage and of Members not engaging with non-compliant organisations if a voluntary register was introduced. That report also rightly stated that, 'to be effective, a register requires sufficient incentives for compliance and sanctions for non-compliance.' And so, a register on a statutory footing would certainly provide greater credibility and help strengthen public trust in our democracy. However, at the same time, the committee concluded that there would also be a need to demonstrate a proportional use of resources and value for money for the taxpayer. As the report stated, at the time there was, 'little evidence to show that statutory registers in their current form provide the correct information to enhance and improve transparency.' The experience of other legislatures, and in particular Westminster and Scotland, was still evolving when that inquiry was undertaken, and the committee rightly argued that Wales should learn from those models before making any decisions on a statutory register. Instead of rushing into a system that might not deliver meaningful transparency, the committee recommended a series of practical interim steps to help improve transparency around Members' work. For example, the piloting of the publication of Members' diaries was recommended to better understand the scale and nature of lobbying. The committee also recommended an increase in the amount of information published about events held on the Senedd's estate, and it also recommended further research into how influence is sought and gained over politicians in order to better our understanding of lobbyists' influence in Welsh politics. The committee believed that lobbying as an issue needed to be part of an ongoing dialogue, and I believe it was right to learn from experience elsewhere and gather further evidence. As has already been mentioned, the standards committee revisited this in the last Senedd and revised its lobbying guidance after taking further evidence from stakeholders, and looking at the lobbying registers in the other Parliaments across the UK. So, if the motion is passed today, I very much hope that this Senedd will further look at lobbying in Wales, build an evidence base to develop a register, and provide an update on the lessons that have been learned from other parts of the United Kingdom, because if we are serious about transparency, we must be serious about getting this right. There is little value in a system that creates bureaucracy without delivering genuine insight, accountability and absolute democratic transparency. And so, whilst I support the calls being made for a lobbying register, it must be developed properly, it must be proportionate and it must enhance transparency rather than simply replicate systems that are considered to be limited elsewhere. And this will require cross-party collaboration, detailed work, evidence building and careful attention. Therefore, in closing, Dirprwy Lywydd, the Welsh Conservatives support the creation of a lobbying register. We support efforts to improve the level of transparency in Welsh politics in order to build trust, and that will ultimately strengthen our democracy. Therefore, we will be supporting this motion.
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First Minister, as you know, I introduced the Autism (Wales) Bill back in 2018, which I believed would deliver real and sustainable improvements for autistic people in Wales and their families—a Bill that I'm pleased to say that Plaid Cymru supported at the time. Now, as we know, the Bill was ultimately voted down by Welsh Labour and the Welsh Liberal Democrats, but with a new Government comes new opportunities to address this important issue. So, in light of this, can you confirm whether the Welsh Government will consider bringing forward legislation during this Senedd to support the autism community here in Wales, and ensure access to a timely diagnosis and appropriate services?
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A gaf i ddiolch i'r Gweinidog Cabinet am ei datganiad y prynhawn yma? Mae'r datganiad heddiw yn amlinellu nifer o fesurau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn bwriadu eu cymryd i gefnogi sectorau diwylliannol, celfyddydau a chwaraeon Cymru. Dwi'n croesawu ymrwymiad newydd Gweinidog y Cabinet i ddatblygu strategaeth diwylliant Cymru, ac edrychaf ymlaen at weld sut y bydd y strategaeth honno yn ymateb i'r heriau strwythurol hirdymor sy'n wynebu'r sector, megis costau gweithredol cynyddol, anghydraddoldebau o ran mynediad a'r angen i sicrhau twf cynaliadwy ar gyfer y dyfodol. Mae Gweinidog y Cabinet wedi cadarnhau y bydd ymgynghoriad ar y strategaeth hon yn digwydd. Nawr, mae Llywodraethau blaenorol wedi cael eu cyhuddo o siarad â'r un sefydliadau a'r un bobl. Sut fyddwch chi'n sicrhau bod yr ymgynghoriad hwn yn ystyrlon ac yn dal ystod ehangach o safbwyntiau? Nawr, dim ond os oes ganddi ddigon o adnoddau y gall strategaeth fod yn effeithiol, felly dwi'n gobeithio y bydd y Gweinidog Cabinet yn cadarnhau mai bwriad Llywodraeth Cymru o hyd yw darparu cyllid blynyddol i'r sector. Ac er fy mod yn sylweddoli eu bod yn ddyddiau cynnar o hyd, byddwn yn ddiolchgar am arwydd o faint o gyllid ychwanegol y mae hi'n bwriadu ei ddarparu i'r sector ar ddechrau'r Senedd hon, o ystyried mai Cymru oedd â'r ail wariant isaf fesul person ar wasanaethau diwylliannol yn Ewrop, a'r trydydd isaf ar hamdden a chwaraeon. Mae'r datganiad heddiw yn cydnabod bod sefydliadau diwylliannol yn dibynnu ar leoedd arloesol sy'n addasu'n gyson, a'r gwir amdani yw bod angen cefnogaeth wirioneddol ar lawer o'r lleoliadau a'r cyfleusterau hyn. Mae Gweinidog y Cabinet wedi comisiynu adolygiad o gyfleoedd i fuddsoddi yn y sectorau hyn, a byddwn yn ddiolchgar pe gallem gael rhagor o wybodaeth am yr adolygiad hwn. Er enghraifft, gyda phwy mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ymgysylltu a phwy sy'n rhan o'r broses adolygu hon, ynghyd â phryd y bydd yn dod i ben? Ac efallai y gallai hefyd ddweud wrthym ni pa bartneriaethau a ffynonellau allanol ychwanegol y mae'n ystyried eu harchwilio o ran cynhyrchu buddsoddiad ar gyfer y sector hwn. Nawr, yn fy marn i, mae diwylliant yn cael ei fyw trwy gyfranogiad, ac mae Llywodraeth Cymru'n iawn i dynnu sylw at bwysigrwydd chwaraeon i'n hiechyd a lles. Dwi’n falch bod Llywodraeth Cymru'n comisiynu archwiliad o gyfleusterau chwaraeon cymunedol a rhanbarthol. Yn anffodus, mae gormod o blant a phobl ifanc yn dal i wynebu rhwystrau i gyfranogiad, boed hynny oherwydd cost, argaeledd cyfleusterau neu ddaearyddiaeth. Felly, a fydd Gweinidog y Cabinet yn nodi sut y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru'n chwalu rhwystrau i gyfranogiad ac yn sicrhau y gall mwy o blant a phobl ifanc gael mynediad at gyfleoedd chwaraeon ledled Cymru?
Official English translation
May I thank the Cabinet Minister for her statement this afternoon? Today's statement does outline a number of steps that the Welsh Government intends to take to support Wales's cultural, arts and sport sectors. I welcome the renewed commitment from the Cabinet Minister to develop a Welsh culture strategy, and I look forward to seeing how that strategy responds to the long-term structural challenges facing the sector, such as operating costs, inequalities in terms of access and the need to secure sustainable growth for the future. The Cabinet Minister has confirmed that a consultation on the strategy will happen. Now, previous Governments have been accused of talking to the same institutions and the same people time and again. How will you ensure that this consultation is meaningful and captures a broader range of views? Now, only if it has sufficient resources can a strategy be effective, so I do hope that the Cabinet Minister will confirm that the Welsh Government's intention is still to provide annual funding for the sector. And although I realise that it's early days still, I would be grateful for a signal as to how much additional funding she intends to provide to the sector at the beginning of this Senedd, given that Wales had the second lowest per capita expenditure on cultural services in Europe, and the third lowest on leisure and sports. Today's statement does recognise that cultural institutions rely on innovative places that are continuously adapting, and the truth is that we need real support for many of these venues and facilities. The Cabinet Minister has commissioned a review of opportunities for investment in these sectors, and I'd be grateful if we could have more information about that review. For example, with whom is the Welsh Government engaging and who is part of this review process, as well as when will it come to an end? And perhaps she could also tell us what partnerships and external sources she is considering in terms of producing investment in this sector. Now, in my view, culture is lived through participation, and the Welsh Government is right to highlight the importance of sport for our health and well-being. I'm pleased the Welsh Government is commissioning an investigation into community and regional sports facilities. Unfortunately, too many children and young people still face barriers to participation because of cost, the availability of facilities or geography. So, will the Cabinet Minister set out how the Welsh Government will remove barriers to participation, ensuring that more children and young people can access sporting opportunities throughout Wales?
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The Welsh Conservatives believe that culture in Wales exists within both a national and a shared British context, and we are proud of our shared Welsh and British identity. Our creative output reflects distinct Welsh traditions but also contributes to a broader UK cultural landscape, and at a time when collaboration and funding streams often cross borders, the relationship with the UK Government remains crucial. Therefore, can the Cabinet Minister outline how the Welsh Government is working constructively with the UK Government to support the arts in celebrating both our Welsh and British heritage, and also tell us how the Welsh Government is securing its fair share of UK-wide cultural funding and opportunities for our creative industries? Now, today's statement refers to the Welsh broadcasting and media and the work that has already begun on the establishment of a shadow broadcasting and communications authority for Wales. The Cabinet Minister will be aware that my party does not support the devolution of broadcasting powers, and given the challenges that the Cabinet Minister has already highlighted in her statement today, surely this is not the best possible use of resources, especially given that these powers are not devolved. Therefore, the Cabinet Minister needs to tell us how much this new authority will cost the taxpayer, where that funding will come from, and how it will operate. Llywydd, in my view the culture sector thrives when organisations have the freedom to innovate, and there is a balance to be struck between leadership and overreach. I hope that the upcoming Welsh culture strategy and any new bodies established by this Government do not come at the expense of their independence. So, can the Cabinet Minister explain how the Welsh Government will ensure it empowers rather than overpowers the culture sector, by explaining how it will protect the sector's autonomy while still delivering on national priorities? Llywydd, if Wales is to be a truly vibrant cultural nation, then the Welsh Government must not only invest in it, but give it the space to flourish. I believe that empowering cultural organisations, not overpowering them, should be the platform from which this Government works, and I look forward to constructively engaging with the Cabinet Minister in this area going forward. Diolch.
- Not timed: the Record publishes no broadcast time for this contribution, so Siambr cannot place it on the stage.
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As you've said, Deputy First Minister, local post offices are small businesses with a big community impact, and I was pleased recently to visit Tenby post office in my constituency, where Vince and Fiona Malone spoke candidly about the challenges facing local post offices and, indeed, independent retailers. Now, as I'm sure you'll agree, post offices are often far more than just places to access mail services. They are vital community hubs that support residents and provide a range of essential services. Given this significant community impact, it's crucial that the Welsh Government does all it can to support post offices across Wales and safeguard their long term sustainability. So, can you tell us what measures the Welsh Government is taking to support post offices across Wales, so that they can continue to make a big impact in our local communities?
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Like you, Minister, I've had friends and family who have gone to hell and back because of this awful disease. I should also declare an interest as my parents-in-law's farm has had to contend with TB for over 25 years. I listened very carefully to what you said earlier and I welcome very much what you have said today. Can you reassure farmers that the Welsh Government will introduce new measures to tackle this disease before the end of this year? Given the strain and stress that this has caused farmers, what additional support will the Welsh Government provide to organisations like the DPJ Foundation that play a vital role in supporting the mental health and well-being of farmers in our rural communities?
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Trefnydd, I'd be grateful if we could have a statement from the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care regarding the delivery of services in mid and west Wales. Now, last week, my co-Ceredigion Penfro Member Anna Nicholl raised the centralisation of services from Withybush and Bronglais hospitals and asked for a statement on equal access to health services in rural Wales. Now, in response, you said that the local health board is responsible for planning and providing local services, and, whilst that's true, it's also true that the Welsh Government is responsible for the oversight of the NHS and sets the direction of travel, and, if it wanted to, it could intervene to safeguard services. Now, during the election campaign, Plaid Cymru highlighted an online petition calling for the Welsh Government to intervene and save services, and it also supported the calls for a stroke unit at Bronglais Hospital. And yet, in a response to a written question to me on this matter, the Cabinet Minister has passed the buck back to the local health board. Therefore, given the lack of clarity on this specific issue, I'd be grateful if we could have a clear statement from the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care so that the people of Ceredigion Penfro can understand whether the Welsh Government will intervene to safeguard essential services at Withybush and Bronglais hospitals.
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First Minister, reports of sewage discharges in Ceredigion Penfro are also far too frequent, and my constituents are increasingly frustrated that these incidents continue to occur with little visible progress in addressing this pollution. Now, as well as tackling these discharges and storm overflows, urgent action is also needed to improve our water infrastructure to prevent these incidents from recurring. Now, as you're aware, west Wales is home to many Blue Flag and Green Coast beaches, and it's vital that these water quality standards can continue to be met so that our coast can be enjoyed by local residents and, indeed, visitors to the area as well. Therefore, can you outline what steps are currently being taken to address repeated sewage discharges in west Wales? And further to your earlier answers, what further measures will this Government introduce to tackle this issue in Ceredigion Penfro and ensure that the local beaches continue to maintain high quality standards?
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Trefnydd, I'd be grateful if we could have a statement from the Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy on the 182-day vacancy threshold policy for furnished holiday lets. Now, this policy is having a significant impact on the tourism industry across Wales. The latest annual owner survey conducted by the Professional Association of Self-Caterers UK indicated that the vacancy threshold remains the primary concern amongst operators. Now, while the Welsh Government has indicated that this policy is under review, tourism businesses in Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire, and across Wales more broadly, require greater clarity on the timescales involved in reviewing this policy and when any decisions will be made regarding potential changes to the threshold to better support the industry. Therefore, I'd be grateful if we could have a statement from the Cabinet Minister at the start of this Senedd outlining the Welsh Government's plans for this policy area, so that the tourism industry can be clear about this policy and be clear that the Welsh Government will be taking action to address their concerns.
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First Minister, the priorities of the people of Ceredigion Penfro were made very clear during the Senedd election campaign: they want to see their local hospital services—that is, general emergency surgery and the stroke unit—staying put at Withybush and Bronglais hospitals respectively. They want the Welsh Government to intervene and stop Hywel Dda University Health Board from downgrading and centralising services further away from communities in west Wales. Your party made it clear that removing these services means longer journey times for people in urgent need, and that it would put lives at risk. Given some of the comments we heard during the election campaign about standing up for small rural hospitals, it's vital that the Welsh Government now urgently intervenes to stop the health board from taking services away from these hospitals. Therefore, First Minister, given the commitments made during the election campaign, can you confirm that it's still your party's and therefore your Government's intention to protect services at Withybush and Bronglais hospitals? If so, when will your Government be intervening to stop the removal of these services from these hospitals?
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Darren Millar.
How this page is made
Counted by Siambr from the Record's rows. Chaired contributions, spoken under the Record's title for the chair, are counted apart and never added in.
Each page holds 50 contributions at most and keeps a sitting day whole, unless the day alone is over 50.
Sources
The Record of Proceedings for each sitting day, quoted verbatim.