675 contributions on record. Newest first, by sitting day. Page 17 of 19. Counted by Siambr
Our manifesto is clear: we have set out a range of commitments to drive greater consistency and accountability to strengthen safeguarding arrangements in schools across Wales. Our inspectorate, Estyn, monitors safeguarding arrangements through its inspection framework. Alongside engagement with local authorities and safeguarding partners, this informs a national picture of safeguarding in schools across Wales.
Everyone was appalled, of course, by the actions of Neil Foden, for which he is now being punished. And we remember, don't we, the bravery of all those who came forward and spoke and assured that conviction. We have to now act on what came out of the child practice review. I was minded to pursue the avenue of a further inquiry, but we have to be guided by the views of the independent chair of that report, who advised that a further inquiry just would not add value in this space. What we need to do is to continue to fight for justice for these young people, and future young people, through the actions that we take in fostering a strong safeguarding culture, embedding accountability at every level, and now ensuring children's voices shape decision making in the future.
Mi gofiwn am byth, wrth gwrs, fel mae'r Aelod yn dweud, ffieidd-dra'r troseddau gan Foden, a do, mi gymerodd ddewrder rhyfeddol ar ran y bobl ifanc yna.
Rydym ni yn cymryd pob cam y gallwn ni o fewn ein grym ni i leihau y risg o unrhyw beth fel hyn yn digwydd eto. Mae magu diwylliant newydd yn gwbl allweddol, lle mae plant, ac athrawon hefyd, yn teimlo yn ddiogel i siarad. Rydym ni'n barod yn cymryd camau mewn ymateb i'r adolygiad, yn cynnwys cryfhau canllawiau'r statudol a chefnogol i ysgolion, ac mae adolygiad o adran 5 yr adroddiad yn mynd i gael ei lansio yn fuan iawn. Fyddwn ni ddim yn llaesu dwylo mewn unrhyw ffordd wrth sicrhau ein bod ni'n gweithredu ac yn cymryd camau bras er mwyn pobl ifanc y rhan yna o Gymru a drwy'r genedl.
We will never forget the horrific crimes carried out by Foden, and, of course, it took incredible courage for those young people to come forward.
We are taking every possible step within our powers to reduce the risk of anything like this ever happening again. Developing a new culture is crucial, where children and teachers feel safe to speak up. We are already taking steps in response to the review, including strengthening statutory guidance and support for schools, and a review of section 5 of the report will be launched very soon. We will not rest on our laurels in any way in ensuring that we are taking major steps for the benefit of young people in that part of Wales and across the nation.
Llywydd, I want to give the Member those assurances. We want to continue with and build on the work that had previously been done. We remind ourselves of the title of that report: 'Our Bravery Brought Justice'. Only part of the justice has been brought so far—the justice in ensuring that the perpetrator was found guilty and was imprisoned. The real justice is in making sure that we have the measures in place to stop this happening again.
Llywydd, very simply, this is a Government that does believe in taking action. The reason, sometimes, we steer clear of words like 'bans' is because there will always be exceptions. We are determined, and, working with the Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language, measures are already in tow to make sure that we protect children and their education from the impact of mobile phones in schools.
Devolved taxes make a significant contribution to the budget, providing £4.4 billion for vital public services and infrastructure in Wales. These revenues enable investment to boost economic growth, to improve our NHS, schools, childcare, housing and public transport. We plan to reform business rates to better support high-street businesses and explore ways of making council tax fairer.
I reiterate, Llywydd, that there will be no change to rates of income tax. We don't have the tools to set a taxation system that works for Wales. I'll say this: I want to bring in further taxation in Wales through a thriving economy and through businesses that flourish. But let me make it clear: taxation is a fundamental part of our democratic and governmental structures. What we should seek always, be that for individuals or for businesses, is fair taxation. Cutting tax for the sake of it, for political reasons, for example, is not what the people want. I believe that what people and businesses and the economy want is excellent-quality public services and support from Government within a fair tax system.
The Member echoes, in some ways, my call for a fair taxation system. Therefore, yes, we will be reviewing business rates, as we have said we would, because we want to make sure that it works well for businesses in Wales. In particular, we want to make sure that town centres and high-street businesses are supported well. On land transaction tax too, that is exactly the kind of tax that we want to seek to review, that we need to review, to make sure that it's working in the interests of the people of Wales. We are very aware of our ability to use a taxation system in a progressive way, and, again, that's why we continue to be determined to find a replacement in time for council tax.
Will the tax be scrapped? No. I believe in our tourism offer in Wales. I am very, very proud of our tourism offer. We live in a beautiful country. We have facilities that lend themselves to tourism. I want to use the tourism levy in a way that improves the tourism offer. It is up to individual local authorities, of course, whether they bring in a tourism levy in their areas, but let's remember what the other part of this is: where tourism happens, there are impacts on communities and, as well as improving the tourism offer, there's an opportunity here to put the mitigation measures in place so that tourism is something that we can control and mould, working with tourism operators, into something that works for the industry and for the communities where tourism takes place.
Well, I certainly agree with the Member about the damage of Reform policies, and Brexit is one of those, and remember that reducing income tax by 1p would have cost £299 million. Now, that would be to the detriment of public services in Wales and the people we are here to serve. I again reiterate that my belief is in a fair taxation system that's also a realistic taxation system, that recognises the need to have not just well-funded, but well-run public services. And this Government is all about making sure that our public services are well run and that that is done within our means too.
The contribution made by Reform, of course, last year, was to say that they wanted to bring back a defunct blast furnace to secure the future of Port Talbot, when my party put plans on the table that could have retained, we believe, virgin steel making in Port Talbot. My Government is determined to do all that we can to support investment at Tata. My Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy did speak yesterday with Tata Steel UK's chief executive officer in order to discuss the way ahead, in terms of the electricity connection. Many of the powers, of course, are in the hands of UK Government, but we will do everything in our powers as a Welsh Government to facilitate progress towards the delivery of that investment, and that is why my Minister acted so quickly.
Putting a robust plan in place to make sure that people who have decided to devote themselves to careers in nursing or medicine or the allied health professions is a core part of our delivery of a workforce strategy. That is why my Cabinet Minister for Health and Care has already begun the work of ensuring that we are able to support students to have careers within the NHS. That's why they decided to go into those professions.
And in terms of scales of spending on our overseas office, it's not that much more, is it, than the leader of your party took to secure his own security, or was it to buy a house?
Where is the visible leadership? He's sat over there. He's called my health and care Cabinet Minister. The seriousness of the approach by Mabon ap Gwynfor to dealing with the problems that we absolutely face after 27 years of Labour health Ministers in Betsi is something that is not lost on us. Am I willing to look at restructuring? I've made it very, very clear that Betsi Cadwaladr is on notice, but the solution that the patients and staff across north Wales want isn't new structures, it's a better delivery of health and care. That is what I am concentrating on, rather than restructuring for the sake of it.
I won't get engaged with what isn't a serious question. What I will do, Llywydd, is engage with the question that I think he is trying to ask, which is about what is our position on the eradication of tuberculosis, if I've understood correctly. The question around the eradication of TB is that we will follow the science.
A number of points there. I believe in fair work, first. It's a principle that we outlined when I spoke at the recent Wales Trades Union Congress in Llandudno.
On ALN, I have to praise the previous administration here. Payments made in England, of course, are to cover historic debts by local authorities because of ALN. The previous Government, whose previous education Minister is sat next to the leader of the Labour group, managed a situation where we didn't have that debt. So, what we need to do is make sure that we have structures in place to support children with additional needs and their parents, and to build up the case for new structures by the time there will be consequentials flowing through the system from England in two years' time.
It's a very fair question, and I can answer very simply that, yes, I do stand by the comments that I have long made, that I do believe we need to protect our best and most versatile land. It is not, however, necessarily a case of changing the planning frameworks. And the reason I say that is that my frustration with the previous Government was that it was going against current frameworks, which do say that BMV land should be protected, in allowing certain schemes to go ahead. So, that's a pretty honest answer saying I agree with the Member, but I'm not convinced, actually, that the weakness in this particular instance is on what the planning guidelines say.
I hear what the Member says and I've expressed as clearly as I can that I'm in agreement with the Member on that core principle, but I don't think, necessarily, that frameworks need to be changed. It's the application and the consistent application of those rules that the previous Government, I thought, was not doing.
The Member is also conflating a couple of different issues here when it comes to connectivity issues and so on. There are different issues on making sure that energy projects go ahead in a way that allows us to fulfil our environmental obligations and reap the jobs and look after the communities affected. It is not so much an issue of the loss of best and most versatile land in that matter, it's a different issue. But of course, as with everything, we will keep planning policy under review to make sure that it's fit for purpose, whether it's on energy or any other issue.
Mae sefydlu’r tasglu canol trefi yn dangos ymrwymiad clir gan Lywodraeth Cymru i adfywio canol trefi ar hyd a lled Cymru. Mi fydd y tasglu yn edrych ar opsiynau ar gyfer ardrethi annomestig a diwygio’r broses gynllunio i gefnogi canol trefi mwy bywiog, amrywiol a defnydd cymysg. Mi fydd hyn yn cynnwys darparu mwy o gartrefi a gwneud gwell defnydd o eiddo gwag. Mi ydym ni am i'n stryd fawr ffynnu a chwarae rôl bwysig mewn economïau lleol ar gyfer y dyfodol.
Establishing the town centre taskforce demonstrates the Welsh Government’s clear commitment to revitalising town centres across the whole of Wales. The taskforce will look at options for non-domestic rates and planning reform to support more vibrant, diverse and mixed-use town centres, including bringing in more homes and making better use of empty properties. We want our high streets to thrive and play a strong role in local economies for the future.
Dwi'n gwybod beth sydd wedi digwydd i Stryd Fawr Bangor, achos Stryd Fawr Bangor oedd fy stryd fawr i pan oeddwn i'n tyfu fyny ac, ydy, mae o'n siom i bobl o fy oed i, sy'n cofio'r prysurdeb mewn blynyddoedd a fu, i weld gymaint llai o egni sydd i'w deimlo yna. Ond dwi'n dal yn gweld potensial. Dwi'n gweld dinas falch sydd yn barod i weld ei stryd fawr yn cael ei hailegnïo. Y gair allweddol i fi yn y cwestiwn oedd 'partneriaeth'. Mae yna bartneriaeth allweddol: busnesau ym Mangor—mae yna bobl mewn busnes ym Mangor sydd yn wirioneddol eisiau gweld cynnydd; mae yna brifysgol ym Mangor dwi eisiau gweld yn rhan allweddol fel partner; ac mae'r cyngor, dwi'n gwybod, yn eiddgar i symud ymlaen. Tynnu'r partneriaid yna at ei gilydd sy'n bwysig, a dwi'n meddwl bod y tasglu canol trefi yn mynd i fod y ffordd ddelfrydol i ddechrau ar y gwaith o dynnu'r bobl ynghyd sydd eu hangen i sicrhau bod yr amgylchiadau'n cael eu creu i symud ymlaen, a hynny ar ben y camau rydw i wedi crybwyll yn barod, fel edrych eto ar ardrethi busnes.
I know what's happened to Bangor High Street because Bangor High Street was my high street when I was growing up and, yes, it is disappointing for people of my age, who remember the vibrancy in years gone by, to see how little vibrancy is felt there now. But I do still see potential. I see a proud city that is ready to see its high street regenerated. The key word for me in the question was 'partnership'. There is a key partnership: businesses in Bangor—there are people in business in Bangor who really do want to see progress made; there is a university in Bangor that I want to see playing a key role as a partner; and the council, I know, is very eager to make progress. We need to draw those partners together, that's what's important, and I think that the town centre taskforce will be the ideal way of starting that process of bringing necessary people together in order to ensure that the circumstances are created to make progress, on top of the steps that I've already mentioned, such as looking again at business rates.
We're very, very keen to move ahead with urgency on this. That's why we included within our first 100 days plan the establishment of the town centre taskforce. That is happening, and a big part of the work of that taskforce is then to look at how we can review business rates. Partly it was done under the last administration, in the late days of that administration. We want to see how much further we can go to help businesses on our high streets, and we'll move ahead with urgency.
The Member must be mistaken. I have never been in Welsh Government before, but I reiterate my determination to press ahead with that reform of business rates, as we have said many times.
Road infrastructure investment continues across Gŵyr Abertawe, including progress on the M4 junctions 45 to 46 improvements as part of our asset renewal programme. Our recent budget agreement secured an additional £8.6 million for Swansea, increasing its year-on-year uplift from 3.4 per cent to 5.2 per cent on a like-for-like basis. Across the south-west Wales region, £24.7 million is being invested in transport schemes in 2026-27, supporting delivery improvements to connectivity.
The words 'pot' and 'holes' have already been mentioned by my Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy, the Member will be pleased to hear, because the quality of our roads is very important. There is no single pot, of course, of road funding. The Welsh Government is responsible for the strategic road network. Specific regional transport schemes that I mentioned in my initial response are something separate again, fuelled through grant funding. Local authority spending of the kind the Member mentioned is unhypothecated. The Welsh Government isn't able to influence that. We were able to influence, through a recent budget deal, the overall package of funding given to local authorities, but decisions on spending within that envelope are ones for local authorities themselves. I would make the case, of course, that capital spend from the UK Government is worrying when we look ahead to the remainder of this Senedd term.
I'm grateful to the Member for his question. I think the key thing here is that I agree with him on the climate change impact on roads. We have to recognise that our assets and infrastructure as a nation are under increasing strain because of climate change. It's something that will guide us when we make decisions in future years on infrastructure spend.
We're committed to introducing and embedding a trauma-informed and person-centred approach to tackling youth homelessness across Wales and within the Member's constituency of Caerdydd Ffynnon Taf. We will ensure that new homelessness legislation is implemented effectively and kept under review. We'll also continue to invest in prevention and support services, including early identification and support for young people at risk of homelessness.
The Member has spoken openly about her own experiences, and, if I may say, she has spoken very powerfully about her own experience. As we're seeing in her few weeks here in the Senedd, no doubt she will be a strong advocate for young people who are either homeless or who face homelessness. We were clear in our manifesto that a warm, secure and affordable home is a basic prerequisite for a healthy, happy life, and that every child and young person should have the best possible start in life. We believe in the right to a home, and I look forward to working with the Member in developing policy around which we will make sure that those words are put into practice for the sake of all our young people.
Data gathering and data-based policy is something this Government is very eager to explore. I welcome the pledge to work on a cross-party basis on this and other measures on homelessness and veterans. When we have armed forces covenants, we need to make sure that they actually mean something. Making sure that veterans are able to find a home has to be at the very heart of our pledge to people who have served.
I should say I visited last week Valley Veterans in the Rhondda valley, and enjoyed an hour or so in the company of veterans there, and hopefully was able to show our appreciation to them and to pledge to work with them also, as well as with colleagues in this Chamber, to make sure that we are serious in realising the promises that we make to veterans.
I'm grateful for the question. We in this Government have tried to show our real determination to make a gear change in housing policy. That absolutely includes building on our commitment to expand housing first approaches to tackle homelessness. We will explore how these models could be applied more fully within youth services in particular. In the private rental sector, where many of our young people are housed, of course, I intend to bring forward legislation in this Senedd term to improve housing affordability, strengthen the enforcement framework to tackle poor landlord behaviour, and improve protections for tenants. That will be done in close consultation with the private rented sector, as well as the wider housing sector, and my Cabinet Minister is getting down to that work already.
The Member showed during the recent election campaign that this was a priority area of his, and I hope he sees that it's something we are very keen to move forward on quickly, and to work in partnership with him also. Fair rent is at the core of our housing policy. Alongside that are the protections that we need to put in place. It is the truth now that we are lagging behind England when it comes to protection for renters, and that's something that we will move at pace to put right.
Wales will need significant investment in our energy infrastructure to meet growing needs from industry, businesses and homes across Wales. Our national energy strategy will set out how Wales will meet our energy needs in a sustainable way that benefits people and communities, and minimises negative impacts. We will work to secure the full benefits for Welsh communities from energy projects.
Well, he's consistent. This is a Government that genuinely understands the need to have an approach to energy that recognises the role that communities play and the protections that communities want and deserve. The Member says, 'Don't have any developments'—perhaps not surprising, given the climate change-denying views within his party. I say let's recognise the need for all of us to fulfil our environmental obligations, and the need for all of us surely to try to reap the economic benefits from renewables projects. But let's also recognise the necessity to look at the community: community ownership, community profit sharing, a wealth fund for the nation, the design mitigation that can go into allowing projects to go ahead in sympathy with and with the support of communities. That is a difference of principle between the Member and myself.
Rydyn ni'n gweithio yn gyflym i ddatblygu rheoliadau o dan y Ddeddf Diogelwch Adeiladau (Cymru) 2026 i sicrhau bod leaseholders yn cael eu gwarchod. Hyd yma, mae'r warchodaeth wedi bod ar gael yn Lloegr ond nid yng Nghymru. Wrth i ni agosáu at nawfed pen-blwydd trasiedi Grenfell ddydd Sul yma, mi allaf gadarnhau bod y Llywodraeth yma yn mynd i gymryd pob cam addas i sicrhau bod y rhai sydd wedi arwyddo cytundeb datblygwyr Llywodraeth Cymru yn delifro ar eu hymrwymiadau nhw o dan y cytundeb hwnnw.
We are working quickly to develop regulations under the Building Safety (Wales) Act 2026 to introduce leaseholder protections. Until now, that protection has been available in England, but not in Wales. As we approach the ninth anniversary of the Grenfell Tower tragedy this Sunday, I can confirm that this Government will take all appropriate actions to ensure that signatories to the Welsh Government's developer contract deliver on their commitments under the agreement.
As we approach, as I say, the ninth anniversary of the terrible, terrible Grenfell Tower tragedy, we reflect on the fact that, for nine years, people have lived in fear of whether it might be them, and with the real anxiety of being a leaseholder and the impact that that has. Today my thoughts are very much with the thousands of leaseholders in Wales who continue to worry and suffer in the wake of that tragedy.
I think people deserve now to see action. We've had too much dragging of feet. As I say, I'm pleased that all signatories to the contract have said that they will have work started at every development in Wales by the end of this year. We are working quickly to introduce, though, regulations under the Building Safety (Wales) Act to ensure that leaseholders in Wales have the protection afforded by remediation orders and remediation contribution orders. Those are only available in England so far, and I can confirm that the Welsh Government will start the process of consultation on these regulations in the coming weeks.
The Member is right that warm words aren't enough anymore. I'm well aware that leaseholders need more than thoughts and warm words and the like. They're desperate for action, and this Government, as I say, will do everything in our power to ensure that those who have signed the developer contract deliver on their commitments. I want to be as clear as I can that this Government does expect developers to prioritise the needs of leaseholders and ensure they are remediating all their buildings as quickly as possible, and, in further assurance, we will be actively considering appropriate enforcement action where signatories to the contract are failing to deliver.
Mae'r Aelod, wrth gwrs, yn un o aelodau etholaeth yng Nghaerdydd ac yn gyn-arweinydd Cyngor Caerdydd, lle mae llawer iawn o'r adeiladau yma, wrth gwrs, felly dwi'n deall yr ymwneud y mae o wedi'i gael ar y mater yma.
The Member, of course, represents a constituency in Cardiff and is a former leader of Cardiff Council, where many of these buildings are, of course, so I understand his involvement in this issue.
As I say, what we have now is that legislation that is very, very fresh, but now does allow us to move forward. I've mentioned our willingness to consider enforcement action where steps aren't being taken. But building on that legislation in particular, as I say, the key thing is that now we start immediately, without further delay, on the consultation on these regulations in coming weeks, so that we are ready, actually, then, to act after years of talk.
Planning is the cornerstone to ensure that the right type of development happens in the most sustainable locations, delivering real benefits for our communities. Community engagement is an essential part of the planning process. I am considering how our policies and guidance can be strengthened to enhance effective and meaningful community engagement.
Co-operation with local authorities is key, and can I congratulate the Member for the stand that she took on behalf of constituents that she represents in Wrexham?
I have asked officials to identify options to increase community engagement in LDP preparation and planning decisions, and by definition, that has to include local authorities too. And when preparing a local development plan, local planning authorities have to stick to the national planning policy as set out in 'Future Wales' and 'Planning Policy Wales', but remember, both of those can be updated regularly to reflect Government priorities. We will revisit those, and I am currently considering the merits of whether those changes can be beneficial, but partnership is key in finding a way forward.
There are plenty of opportunities, of course, which is important for campaigners to meet their representatives, and it's only right. But I come back to the point that I made at the beginning of an earlier answer: this is a Government that recognises the importance of listening to communities; it has to be at the core of decisions when they are made, whether that's in relation to housing or whether it's in relation to energy projects and so on. And that community approach is, if you like, a core value of the way this Government wants to work.
I recognise the importance of workers being able to raise concerns without detriment. Within our devolved responsibilities, the code of practice on ethical employment in supply chains expects publicly funded organisations to have clear whistleblowing arrangements in place. While employment rights, including statutory whistleblowing protections, are reserved, we encourage workers to seek advice from the Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service and consider joining a trade union to ensure their rights are understood and supported.
I invite the Member to write if there's a specific issue that she would wish to discuss. I can only speak in general terms. We want workers, whether that's in health or any other part of public service, to feel confident to raise concerns without fear. We will continue to use our levers, influence and leadership to support that aim in any way we can.
We will support Aneurin Bevan University Local Health Board to improve outcomes for people needing emergency care by strengthening urgent, primary, community and social care. This whole-system approach will improve patient flow, support people with escalating needs closer to home and help avoid unnecessary admissions. NHS Performance and Improvement is already working with the health board to support delivery of its plan.
I don't think it's a structural change of that kind that will deliver the improvements that the people of the old county of Gwent wish to see in terms of delivery of emergency care. We recognise the performance at the Grange emergency department, for example, remains under sustained pressure, reflecting wider system challenges across urgent and emergency care. That hospital plays a critical role for the Gwent population, and we are committed to supporting Aneurin Bevan University Health Board to deliver timely, safe care at that crucial accident and emergency department serving that part of Wales.
The priorities for childcare are clear. This Government will introduce a transformational universal childcare offer, which, at full roll-out, will be the most generous childcare offer in the UK. While the lack of action by previous administrations has meant that families in Wales pay some of the highest childcare costs in the UK, our offer will help families with the cost of living and give children the best start by accessing high-quality early years provision.
The childcare offer that we put forward at the recent election was there for a number of different reasons. One is to give children a good start in life. It's to help parents get back to work and help the economy in that way. But I welcome the fact that the Member referred to the child poverty element of this too. With so many children living in poverty, we have to look at this as a measure that can give real support to families.
We will very soon be establishing our expert steering group. Work on that is being completed now, and a childcare taskforce in the Welsh civil service to firmly establish the phased delivery of the new offer, with workforce planning, improving access and streamlining application as clear priorities. I'm glad, again today, to hear the support for that principle from the Member.
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