, Plenary
Statement by the Deputy Minister for Social Partnership: South Wales Fire and Rescue Service review of culture and values—Next steps
So, normally, obviously, we would expect fire service management to manage their staff fairly and well, as it should be, and we would expect fire authority members to show leadership and hold management to account, and where that doesn't happen there is a…
, Plenary
Statement by the Deputy Minister for Social Partnership: South Wales Fire and Rescue Service review of culture and values—Next steps
Thank you, Joyce Watson. You touch on—. I think you reflected, as others have reflected in the Siambr not just today, but in January and prior to that, that what we've seen as—. There have been a number of instances over the past couple of years alone where…
, Plenary
Statement by the Deputy Minister for Social Partnership: South Wales Fire and Rescue Service review of culture and values—Next steps
I thank Vikki Howells for those important questions. I'll touch on one firstly, in terms of the time frame. We've said that the commissioners will be in place until we can see and measure that sustainable change, and the review and the report itself sets out…
, Plenary
Statement by the Deputy Minister for Social Partnership: South Wales Fire and Rescue Service review of culture and values—Next steps
Thank you, Jenny Rathbone, for the points that you highlighted there, and I think it links to the previous point by Sioned Williams in terms of where we are in terms of what the lessons may be for the future governance more broadly of fire and rescue…
, Plenary
Statement by the Deputy Minister for Social Partnership: South Wales Fire and Rescue Service review of culture and values—Next steps
Diolch, Sioned, for your contribution and the work that you are doing in this area as well. I think, to touch on the challenges and issues of governance and accountability, which I think this review and the consequence of the actions that have been taken have…
, Plenary
Statement by the Deputy Minister for Social Partnership: South Wales Fire and Rescue Service review of culture and values—Next steps
Joel James, towards the end of your contribution there, you said that, in my previous statement in January, I said that nothing was off the table in terms of the action that Welsh Government may take, and, to be clear, today I'm taking decisive action to the…
, Plenary
Statement by the Deputy Minister for Social Partnership: South Wales Fire and Rescue Service review of culture and values—Next steps
In my oral statement the following week, I explained the seriousness of these findings. It's not just that some members of South Wales Fire and Rescue Service staff behaved appallingly, it is that the organisation failed to deter, detect or deal with that…
, Plenary
Statement by the Deputy Minister for Social Partnership: South Wales Fire and Rescue Service review of culture and values—Next steps
On 3 January, Fenella Morris KC published a damning report on the culture and values of the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service. It exposed discriminatory and abusive behaviour at all levels, and a serious failure of leadership and management.
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip
You referenced the Betsi Cadwaladr pilots—that's the targeted smoking cessation support offered to pregnant people in Wales. They've implemented the 'Help me quit for baby' service model, which I understand offers specialist, bespoke and flexible support for…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip
Thank you very much for your supplementary question. I agree that it's important to help people to cease smoking.
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip
We know that people living in our least well-off communities are more likely to smoke than those living in the most affluent areas. The impact of tobacco use, particularly during pregnancy, is a key component of the deep-rooted health inequalities that the…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip
I thank Peter Fox for his question. I know that you're a passionate and committed advocate in this area, not least because of your own personal connections to the armed forces community here in Wales. Whilst I can't comment on individual cases, but more…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip
The Welsh Government is fully committed to the armed forces covenant and supporting servicepeople, veterans and their families in accessing public services. This includes the work of our armed forces liaison officers at the local level and through our support…
, Plenary
Statement by the Deputy Minister for Social Partnership: Implementation of the Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Act 2023
Diolch, Peredur. As you said, there was lively discussion throughout the process of this legislation, and amendments were made to the Bill during scrutiny to strengthen the annual reporting process and the requirements in the legislation to publish the…
, Plenary
Statement by the Deputy Minister for Social Partnership: Implementation of the Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Act 2023
I thank Jenny Rathbone, both for the role you play as committee Chair, scrutinising this legislation just a year ago, in Stage 2 committee, but also in terms of I know this is something you're a passionate advocate on, and particularly around food…
, Plenary
Statement by the Deputy Minister for Social Partnership: Implementation of the Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Act 2023
Diolch, Sioned, for your contribution. Again, thank you to Plaid Cymru for their support in taking through this legislation, and also the constructive challenge in terms of, actually, where we went to on the procurement side of it as well. I hope, as I said…
, Plenary
Statement by the Deputy Minister for Social Partnership: Implementation of the Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Act 2023
Can I thank Joel James for his contribution? I know, whilst we had the passage of legislation, we didn't agree on many things, but I do remember you memorably saying, Joel, that you had enjoyed the experience of taking through the legislation. But I welcome…
, Plenary
Statement by the Deputy Minister for Social Partnership: Implementation of the Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Act 2023
I would also like to again acknowledge the constructive and productive way in which our Plaid Cymru partners have engaged with us in taking forward the procurement aspects of the Act in particular. I look forward to continuing to work in the same spirit as we…
, Plenary
Statement by the Deputy Minister for Social Partnership: Implementation of the Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Act 2023
Fast-forward to January 2024 and the first meeting of the social partnership council is just a week away. Preparations for the commencement of the social partnership duties on 1 April are well advanced, and work on the regulations and guidance that will…
, Plenary
Statement by the Deputy Minister for Social Partnership: Implementation of the Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Act 2023
Thank you, Llywydd. Exactly 12 months ago to the day, I was sat before the Equality and Social Justice Committee painstakingly working through all 115 Stage 2 amendments to what was then the Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Bill.
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Draft budget 2024-25: Ministerial evidence session
So, firstly, Chair, I'm more than happy to follow up in writing to the committee around the capital funding for the two prime movers, which we would know more as mid-size trucks in common language. But in terms of the really important issue you raise, Ken…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Draft budget 2024-25: Ministerial evidence session
Thanks. Perhaps it would be helpful if I just touched on what we've had to reduce and what we've protected and the rationale behind that, around the arson reduction programme. That is a historic grant that we've provided for the fire and rescue service. As…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Draft budget 2024-25: Ministerial evidence session
Thanks, Chair. Thank you. The Member refers to the recent, very damning report on culture and values in South Wales Fire and Rescue Service. Like you said, I did a statement in the Chamber and I will be updating the Senedd very shortly in terms of the…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Draft budget 2024-25: Ministerial evidence session
Diolch, thank you, Jane. I think it’s very similar in terms of many of the actions of the LGBTQ+ action plan—joint actions, jointly committed to, and will be jointly, then, put into practice with not just other policy areas or divisions of Welsh Government…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Draft budget 2024-25: Ministerial evidence session
It's actually very timely, because I think it was just about a year ago today we were in this same committee doing Stage 2 amendments on the Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Bill, and I actually have—. Talking about oral statements, there is…
