Latest news with #JennyRathbone
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Not priority to devolve probation says UK minister
A UK government minister has been accused of pouring "cold water" on the prospect of the Welsh government taking control over probation and youth justice. The Labour-led Cardiff administration has been pushing for further devolution on criminal justice - calls that Westminster colleagues have promised to consider. But Prisons Minister Lord Timpson has told a committee in the Welsh Parliament it is not "a priority" while the criminal justice system is "in crisis". Labour MS Jenny Rathbone said the comments were very disappointing. Lord Timpson says the criminal justice system faced "huge pressures" and there needed to be "stability" before "further changes" were considered. Senedd should not get control of police: Labour MP Westminster to keep policing under Labour plans Under the system of devolution established in 1999, the Senedd and Welsh government have never had control over criminal law. Various reports, including one from the former Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown, have called for more devolution on criminal justice including youth justice and the probation service. Last summer's Welsh Labour manifesto said the party would "explore" the devolution of probation "to enable them to be more locally responsive". It was planned as part of a strategic review into probation and added it would "consider" the devolution of youth justice. Speaking to the Senedd's equality and social justice committee, the Prisons' Minister Lord Timpson told MSs that "we need to be in a much more stable position before we can think about further changes". Mick Antoniw, the former chief legal adviser to the Welsh Government, says there are "volumes of evidence" that devolution of probation "needs to happen and quickly". The Labour former counsel general told the committee that there was "no logical response to that other than we've had a decade of delay on actually looking at the enormous accumulation of evidence". Questioning Lord Timpson, he said: "What you seem to be suggesting is that we are going to go through that process of just continually looking at the evidence without ever really coming to a proper conclusion." Former Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price added: "Are you ruling out for the foreseeable future the full devolution of executive and legislative powers?". Lord Timpson said he wanted to "stabilise" a "bruised" service but added: "I'm not ruling anything out, I'm not ruling anything in. "What I'm focused on is trying to sort out the crisis in our justice system." After the meeting committee chair, Labour MS for Cardiff Central, Jenny Rathbone said the committee was "very disappointed". "The Welsh government has already started the groundwork to prepare because it believed there was a realistic prospect that these aspects could be devolved soon," she said. "This is in stark contrast to Lord Timpson's evidence before the Committee today which seemed to pour cold water on the prospect."
BBC News
a day ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Not priority to devolve youth justice in Wales says UK minister
A UK government minister has been accused of pouring "cold water" on the prospect of the Welsh government taking control over probation and youth Labour-led Cardiff administration has been pushing for further devolution on criminal justice - calls that Westminster colleagues have promised to Prisons Minister Lord Timpson has told a committee in the Welsh Parliament it is not "a priority" while the criminal justice system is "in crisis".Labour MS Jenny Rathbone said the comments were very disappointing. Lord Timpson says the criminal justice system faced "huge pressures" and there needed to be "stability" before "further changes" were considered. Under the system of devolution established in 1999, the Senedd and Welsh government have never had control over criminal reports, including one from the former Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown, have called for more devolution on criminal justice including youth justice and the probation summer's Welsh Labour manifesto said the party would "explore" the devolution of probation "to enable them to be more locally responsive".It was planned as part of a strategic review into probation and added it would "consider" the devolution of youth to the Senedd's equality and social justice committee, the Prisons' Minister Lord Timpson told MSs that "we need to be in a much more stable position before we can think about further changes".Mick Antoniw, the former chief legal adviser to the Welsh Government, says there are "volumes of evidence" that devolution of probation "needs to happen and quickly".The Labour former counsel general told the committee that there was "no logical response to that other than we've had a decade of delay on actually looking at the enormous accumulation of evidence".Questioning Lord Timpson, he said: "What you seem to be suggesting is that we are going to go through that process of just continually looking at the evidence without ever really coming to a proper conclusion."Former Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price added: "Are you ruling out for the foreseeable future the full devolution of executive and legislative powers?".Lord Timpson said he wanted to "stabilise" a "bruised" service but added: "I'm not ruling anything out, I'm not ruling anything in. "What I'm focused on is trying to sort out the crisis in our justice system." After the meeting committee chair, Labour MS for Cardiff Central, Jenny Rathbone said the committee was "very disappointed"."The Welsh government has already started the groundwork to prepare because it believed there was a realistic prospect that these aspects could be devolved soon," she said."This is in stark contrast to Lord Timpson's evidence before the Committee today which seemed to pour cold water on the prospect."
BBC News
01-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
First Minister's Questions from the Senedd: 1 July 2025
Update: Date: 14:34 BST Title: Hwyl fawr Content: Eluned Morgan's thirty-third session as first minister comes to a close. Eluned Morgan Update: Date: 14:19 BST Title: Personal Independence Payment Content: Labour MS Jenny Rathbone express concern that the review of PIP to be conducted by the Labour UK government's Work and Pensions Minister Sir Stephen Timms and involving disabled people, won't report until the autumn of next year, meaning it would be too late to have an influence on the eligibility criteria for PIP beginning that November. She says "the Equality and Social Justice Committee has just had a reply from Sir Stephen Timms about the disability benefits changes that are going to be voted on today in Westminster. I'm pleased to see that he is now committed to co-produce the review with disabled people as well as experts. I am concerned, however, that this review, which I am sure he will undertake diligently, is not going to be ready to be applied to the changes in legislation before the legislation is voted on. But at least he does point out that PIP is devolved in Scotland, and I think there is a very strong case for accelerating the devolution of welfare benefits in Wales too, so that we can ensure that whatever money is available is exercised in the most humane and supportive manner." Her question, however, is on age limits on employment support for "people with learning difficulties [who] are maybe taking longer to get to work-readiness and need additional support". The first minister replies, "we amended the Jobs Growth Wales programme to enable 19-year-olds to join the programme. It was previously only available to 18-year-olds. The thing is, Jobs Growth Wales is a procured programme, so it is not possible in the middle of a procured programme to change the programme halfway through. So that will continue until the end of the contract in 2027, but what we will do, of course, is to feed that concern into the successor employability programmes, which are being considered at the moment." Jenny Rathbone Update: Date: 14:11 BST Title: Stricter eligibility criteria for new claimants 'as myopic as it is mean' Content: Plaid Cymru MS Delyth Jewell says "MPs will shortly vote on welfare cuts that will wreak untold misery in Wales... The decision to treat future claimants as the collateral needed to pass a vote is as myopic as it is mean. Why should people be treated differently because of what year they happen to have become disabled? What kind of fairness is that?" Stricter eligibility criteria for getting personal independence payment (PIP), the main disability benefit in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, will now only apply to those claiming after November 2026, rather than existing claimants. Eluned Morgan replies "I do think that we have to recognise, first of all, that the welfare system that we have inherited from the Conservatives is in need of reform. It's a system that is not helping people to get back into work. I do think that we have to got to try and keep that in the forefront of our minds at all times. What are we trying to achieve here? What we are trying to achieve is an opportunity for people to get back into work. So, it shouldn't be something that is driven by punishment. It should be something that is driven by a situation where we are standing with them and giving them support, as we do when it comes to youth unemployment." Delyth Jewell Update: Date: 14:04 BST Title: Waiting times in north Wales hospitals Content: Gareth Davies Health secretary Jeremy Miles is "breathing down the necks" of management at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board to bring down patient waiting times in north Wales hospitals, says the first minister. She was responding to Conservative Gareth Davies, who said "Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board still has the most pathways waiting more than two years for treatment. The most recent figures show that Betsi has the worst percentage of people seen in accident and emergency within the four-hour target. In May, 15,662 patients were seen in A&E departments across north Wales, with 6,822 seen under the target of four hours, and that's just 43 per cent. This is down 46.8 per cent in February and 45 per cent in January." The first minister added "there has been a 32 per cent reduction in the number of pathways waiting for over two years in Betsi, so I do think we need to give credit where it's due. Is it enough? Absolutely not". Update: Date: 13:57 BST Title: Benefits cuts 'push thousands into poverty' Content: With Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer braced for the biggest rebellion of his premiership in a vote on planned benefits cuts, Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth says his party's four MPs will vote against the bill in its entirety. Sir Keir and his ministers have been scrambling to convince MPs to back watered-down welfare changes in a key vote on Tuesday evening. In a bid to win over rebel Labour MPs, the prime minister softened the package by limiting disability benefit cuts to only new claimants, among other tweaks. Rhun ap Iorwerth says "on today's vote specifically—and again, I emphasise that this has a direct impact on devolved issues and on devolved budgets—I'm interested in why the first minister said last-minute changes to the reforms to try to avoid a catastrophic vote—not because of a letter of hers, of course—were welcome concessions, even though they still push thousands into poverty and create a two-tier system. "So, as she has welcomed them, can we assume that the first minister has carried out a new impact assessment, in which case, can she share the results of that assessment with us, or if she hasn't, why is her support so unqualified when she has no idea of the harms the reforms will cause?" Eluned Morgan replies "I am really pleased that there are 200,000 people in Wales now who previously were really concerned about whether they would be able to continue receiving PIP [Personal Independence Payment]. There's been a change of heart, and they are no longer at threat of losing that PIP, and we've been consistent in terms of our approach in relation to that." Referring to grassroots members of the Labour party, Rhun ap Iorwerth says "I applaud them for voting at the weekend in favour of two motions—one on fair funding for Wales, the other on devolution of the Crown Estate—agreeing with longstanding positions taken by Plaid Cymru. And with the Crown Estate figures published today showing £1.1 billion in profit last year, including £132 million going to the King, we shouldn't be surprised that people are getting angry." The first minister replies that Plaid Cymru is not "unique when it comes to asking for fair funding". Rhun ap Iorwerth Update: Date: 13:50 BST Title: 'Hateful and vile chants' Content: Darren Millar, leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd, refers to the Palestine Action group which "recently targeted RAF Brize Norton, causing millions of pounds worth of damage to British defence equipment, and it's also been responsible for attacks on companies here in Wales". He says he supports Home Secretary Yvette Cooper's decision to proscribe Palestine Action under anti-terror law and he asks whether the first minister also agrees. Eluned Morgan replies "I'd like to say a few words about Palestine, because I do think the situation there is extremely grave. I had the honour of meeting the UN representative last week, and many of you did as well. We are hearing absolute harrowing stories about what is going on in that area, and I think it's incumbent on all of us to draw attention to the dire situation and the extreme approach that is being taken there, in particular when it comes to preventing food from getting to the people in those areas. Look, I condemn attacks by any organisation. I think that is wrong, and that would include the Palestine people's organisation." Darren Millar refers to Bob Vylan's "hateful and vile chants" at the Glastonbury festival that went out on the BBC, during which the band's singer led the crowd in chants of "death, death to the IDF [Israel Defense Forces]". He invites the first minister to join him in "condemning such hateful and vile chants" and "condemn the BBC for broadcasting them". Eluned Morgan replies "it is not right to stir up hatred against any community, and frankly it's illegal, which is why there is a police inquiry going on at the moment, and that is absolutely the right thing to do." Finally, Darren Millar says "next month, Wales is going to host the Green Man festival, a festival that has benefited from significant financial support from the Welsh government over a number of years, including the purchase of the land near Crickhowell for over £4 million to support the festival's projects. This year, the organisers have chosen to invite the rap group Kneecap, which has openly incited violence and expressed antisemitic rhetoric. My party has called on the festival to deplatform the band from Green Man, and so have Gill and Pete Brisley from Bridgend. Gill and Pete's daughter and granddaughters were brutally murdered by Hamas terrorists on 7 October 2023, and their son-in-law, Eli Sharabi, was held hostage by Hamas for 16 months until he was released, in an emaciated condition, in February of this year." He asks "do you support the Brisley family in calling for Kneecap to be deplatformed, and will you confirm today that no more taxpayers' money will ever be given to this festival unless they withdraw Kneecap's invitation to perform?" The first minister replies, "the Welsh government does support new artists in relation to the Green Man festival, but we are not responsible for paying for the other artists that attend the Green Man festival. It is obviously up to the festival organisers to determine who they invite. I do think that they need to think very carefully about who they invite and the potential problems that may arise if they are to use that as a platform to divide people and to talk hatred." Darren Millar Update: Date: 13:42 BST Title: 'Pause and listen' on NHS Dental services Content: Paul Davies Conservative Paul Davies raises concerns about the provision of dental services in Preseli Pembrokeshire and says the British Dental Association has described the proposed NHS dental reforms as "a leap in the dark that could destroy the service". He asks "will the Welsh government pause and listen to the warnings of those in the profession and meaningfully engage with the British Dental Association to find a way forward before it's too late?" Eluned Morgan replies "we have spent 13 months working with the British Dental Association to design the new contract. They were fully involved in developing those proposals, and they are out for consultation. It's been the biggest response to a consultation, I think, ever in the history of devolution. So, obviously, we will take time now to go through those responses and make sure that we respond accordingly. What is important, of course, is to recognise that, as in all negotiations, there are aspects on which the parties agree and aspects where there are more contentious issues." The biggest change would see all patients over 18 placed onto a central waiting list, called the Dental Access Portal (DAP). They would then be allocated a surgery, which could be anywhere within the health board area. If they need treatment, they would remain with that surgery until it is complete and beyond, if they needed close monitoring. If or when teeth are healthy, patients would be returned to the central portal and would be recalled for a check-up in 18 to 24 months wherever there is space. Children would be assessed under the plans but stay at the first surgery they are allocated. Some charges for patients would also change - with check-ups going up from £20 to £24.75 but a single crown going down from £260 to £239.15. Update: Date: 13:36 BST Title: Ysgol Gymraeg Llundain 'on very shaky ground' Content: Eluned Morgan Llywydd Elin Jones conducts a ballot to determine the names of members who may table questions to the first minister. Independent MS Rhys ab Owen seeks an update on the Welsh government's annual grant to Ysgol Gymraeg Llundain, external, the London Welsh school, following reports of financial uncertainty. First Minister Eluned Morgan replies that the "Welsh Labour government has stepped in to guarantee funding for the full academic year to Ysgol Gymraeg Llundain. For over a decade, more than £1.2 million has been invested to keep Cymraeg alive in London, and support will continue to help the community to learn, speak and celebrate our language." However she warns, "I do think it's also important to highlight the fact that the number of pupils has been very low since the pandemic. Next year, there will only be 10 pupils, and, of course, we do have a responsibility as a government to ensure that we provide the best possible value for money in terms of public money. So, whilst we do, of course, appreciate the great efforts that they have made—certainly with Miri Mawr, and the work that they do with the nursery school, and so on, and we've helped with Dydd Miwsig Cymru, and there are other things that we do to assist—I do think we have to be realistic, and the fact is, when you only have 10 pupils, you do have to ask questions on sustainability." She adds, "I do think we have to be honest, the school is on very shaky ground from September". At the moment the school receives a grant of £90,000 a year from the Welsh government. Ysgol Gymraeg Llundain Update: Date: 13:29 BST Title: Pro-Palestinian protest Content: Hundreds of pro-Palestinian demonstrators have gathered at the Senedd to call for the end of Israeli action in Gaza. A long red banner was held around much of the parliamentary estate, and chants of "free Palestine" were heard. Some politicians joined the demonstration, including Labour Member of the Senedd John Griffiths and Plaid Cymru's leader Rhun ap Iorwerth. During the event, some people chanted "from the river to the sea", referring to the land between the River Jordan and the Mediterranean. Critics of the chant argue it implicitly calls for the destruction of Israel. The Palestinian Solidarity Campaign and other activists have contested this, saying the slogan refers to "the right of all Palestinians to freedom, equality and justice". Update: Date: 12:59 BST Title: Croeso Content: Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Eluned Morgan's thirty-third session of First Minister's Questions. The Siambr (Senedd chamber) has closed for renovations until March 2026, as work is underway on altering it to accommodate the 96 Members who will be chosen in the next Senedd election in May 2026. So the 60 MSs are meeting in Siambr Hywel, the original debating chamber that housed the then National Assembly for Wales from 1999 to 2006. The meeting is held in a hybrid format, with some members in Siambr Hywel and others joining by video-conference. You can click on the play button above to watch the proceedings from 1.30pm. Tŷ Hywel, next to the Senedd building in Cardiff Bay, is rented by the Senedd Commission
South Wales Argus
13-06-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Urgent action needed to break down barriers for disabled
Jenny Rathbone led a debate on the Senedd equality committee's report on tackling the disability employment gap, which found too many people face unnecessary barriers. The gap, which is the difference of employment rates between disabled and non-disabled people, stands at 31 per cent in Wales and has consistently been higher than elsewhere in Britain. Ms Rathbone said: 'We are running out of time. We must get on with it now. This is not about pay slips and productivity – it is about independence, dignity, equality of opportunity and what matters so much to the wellbeing of the individual and of society as a whole.' The Labour politician, who chairs the equality and social justice committee, told the Senedd: 'We need action this day and we need a wrecking ball to the barriers.' Conservative Altaf Hussain warned that 26 per cent of employed disabled people have not received any reasonable adjustments despite the right being enshrined in the Equality Act 2010. He pointed to research showing the average cost of adjustments was £75, saying: 'We know conclusively it's not expensive to treat disabled people properly but barriers, sadly, still exist.' Plaid Cymru's Sioned Williams warned UK ministers' proposals to cut benefits, including personal independence payment, will have a 'cataclysmic' impact on disabled people. She said: 'The specific barriers that disabled people face in accessing employment, identified in our report, must be addressed before changes to eligibility and support for disabled people are implemented.' Responding to the debate on June 11, Jane Hutt said ensuring disabled people can participate fully in society is one of the key values of the Welsh Government. She said: 'We want an inclusive approach to employment that supports disabled people to have equitable access to fulfilling and fair work.' Wales' social justice secretary highlighted an ongoing consultation on a draft 10-year disability rights plan which has been criticised for lacking concrete targets. Pressed for a timeline on incorporating the UN convention, which was an unambiguous commitment in Labour's 2021 manifesto, Ms Hutt did not provide any such timeframe.
Pembrokeshire Herald
27-05-2025
- Business
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Stormtroopers bring a galactic twist to 1940s big band celebration in Pembroke Dock
SENEDD Members called on the UK Government to 'get its house in order' before ploughing ahead with plans to slash welfare spending by nearly £5bn. The Senedd's equality committee urged Liz Kendall, the UK work and pensions secretary, to address barriers disabled people face in accessing employment before reforming welfare. Ms Kendall announced the biggest shake-up to the welfare system in a generation in March, including plans to tighten up the eligibility criteria for personal independence payment (Pip). In a letter to UK ministers, Jenny Rathbone, the Labour chair of the equality committee, wrote: 'We have been contacted by individuals and stakeholders expressing deep concern about the proposed changes and the impact they will have on local economies. 'We share these concerns and feel strongly that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) – alongside employers and other tiers of government – must work much harder to get their houses in order before implementing reform.' Labour MS Jenny Rathbone Ms Rathbone added: 'We urge the [UK] Government to acknowledge these concerns and keep the people affected at the heart of its decision-making.' In March, her committee concluded an inquiry into the disability employment gap, warning that too many people face physical and institutional barriers to the world of work. The gap, which is the difference of employment rates between disabled and non-disabled people, stood at 30% in 2023/24 and has consistently been higher than elsewhere in Britain. Ms Rathbone wrote: 'We felt it was important to urge the UK Government to address the specific barriers disabled people face in accessing employment – identified in our report – before changes to eligibility and support for disabled people are implemented.' She called for urgent action to radically improve support for disabled people to gain and retain employment before removing entitlements. The committee criticised the DWP's 'poor performance', with delays of up to 20 weeks in accessing support through the Access to Work scheme. As many as 275,000 people in Wales receive Pip and 110,000 who receive universal credit have limited capability for work-related activity, according to the Bevan Foundation. Senedd Members on the equality committee wrote: 'The UK Government intends to introduce these changes at speed with changes to Pip and universal credit scheduled for August and November 2026 respectively. 'We do not support this timetable until progress is made to tackle barriers which contribute to the disability employment gap, with evidence that comprehensive support is in place. 'Such an approach risks raising the anchor before checking the sails and we urge the UK Government to look again at the timing and sequencing of these changes.' The committee's letter acknowledged the case for reform, with a 45% increase in the number of people claiming health-related benefits since 2018/19. 'We agree that action is needed in instances where there is evidence of perverse incentives in the current system,' wrote members of the committee. 'However, while the impact of other factors such as NHS waiting times is acknowledged, there is a risk current proposals fail to capture the complexity behind why the number of people claiming continues to grow. 'Some of the changes, as highlighted by the Resolution Foundation, appear to be primarily designed to save money and to help meet fiscal rules rather than for principled reasons.' Senedd Members added: 'Given the potential impact on Welsh individuals and communities, we call on the UK Government to ensure that spending on disability benefits is determined by the level of need and not by a desire to meet fiscal targets.' Impact assessments published by the UK Government – which were carried out on an England-and-Wales basis – were inadequate and lacked detail, according to the letter. Warning cuts will have a disproportionate impact on Wales, the letter stated: 'While the UK Government is yet to publish an impact assessment for Wales, analysis from stakeholders starkly illustrates the potential impacts of the proposed reforms…. 'Policy in Practice suggests that they will hit Wales and north-east England the hardest. It estimates that nearly 190,000 people in Wales will be affected by the reforms, with a potential financial impact of £470m. 'According to their analysis, four of the ten worst-affected local authorities in Great Britain are in Wales: Blaenau Gwent, Merthyr Tydfil, Neath Port Talbot and Caerphilly.' Senedd Members stressed: 'Given these findings, it is critical that the UK Government gives clarity on how it anticipates Wales will be impacted.' The equality committee's letter also expressed concerns about the potential impact on children, young people and poverty rates in Wales. Criticising proposals to end health-related universal credit payments for under-22s altogether, the letter said: 'Our concerns about these changes in relation to children and to levels of child poverty are particularly acute. 'Children have no control over their circumstances and lack any means of redress. More children and young people live in poverty in the UK than any other age group. 'We recognise the need to reduce youth unemployment and economic inactivity, and its potential scaring effects. We want to see all children and young people fulfil their potential. 'However, we are concerned that these aims are undermined if rates of child poverty continue to increase as has been suggested as a result of these policy changes.'
