Senedd Watch - February 2014

Proposals to change the school banding system for primary and secondary schools were revealed, replaced by a colour-coded system reflecting schools causing concern and those exceeding expectations. Llyr Gruffydd AM (Plaid, North Wales) called for an apology from the First Minister for the Welsh Government's “shabby treatment of farmers”, after the transfer of CAP funds from farm support to rural development was poorly communicated, describing it...

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Health and social care sitting in a tree....

I-N-T-E-G-R-A-T-I-N-G (Pic : carevisionsathome.co.uk) Plaid's Shadow Minister for Health & Well-being, Elin Jones AM (Plaid, Ceredigion), launched a second policy consultation on Tuesday (first - Dr Plaid's NHS Treatment Plan – another several hours of voluntary work), outlining proposals to integrate the two services.The...

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The Stench of the Cleddau

An otherwise productive meeting of Pembrokeshire Council on the damaging Wales Audit Office reports descended into an unedifying farce. (Pic : BBC Wales) As much of the focus regarding the recent Wales Audit Office reports into unlawful payments has been on Carmarthenshire – due to culminate next week - it's only fair I turn...

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Marching out of lockstep

On Tuesday, the National Assembly debated the draft Wales Bill - I outline what the Bill itself proposes here.Although many parts of the draft Wales Bill should proceed without a hitch, senior figures in Welsh politics have been critical of aspects surrounding the potential partial devolution of income tax, which has - subsequently...

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Social Services & Well-being Bill clears major hurdle

I haven't exactly been looking forward to this.The most complicated law laid before the Assembly since the 2011 referendum passed Stage 3 of the legislative process on Tuesday, following around 10 hours of debate spread over two weeks. It's taken just over a year to get this far – longer if you include the pre-legislative...

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Carmarthenshire Goes Rogue

I don't make a habit of returning to things that haven't concluded, but I'll make an exception in Carmarthenshire Council's (CCC) case, as the local authority continues its downward spiral into chaos.The fallout from two critically damaging Wales Audit Office (WAO) reports continues – I don't need to tell you to follow the...

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A oes heddwch?

The Temple of Peace is more likely to be used for exams or to film Doctor Who nowadays, but will its original vision find new life one day in a Wales Peace Institute? (Pic : BBC Wales) On Wednesday, the National Assembly debated a Petitions Committee report into a proposed Welsh Peace Institute. The report itself (pdf)...

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