Bethan Jenkins AC/AM Blog

Gosh, it’s been a pretty mad week in Welsh politics I have to say. You’d have thought that the Tories in Wales would have made some capital in watching us argue over top-up fees in Wales, but no, I think they wanted a piece of the action, and pushed the self destruct button…again. I’m really not sure what to say to be honest. I personally think, (for what its worth, and party politics aside) that Jonathan Morgan is a really good AM, is an effective performer, and an enthusiastic politician and its therefore a shame to see that he is no longer in the shadow cabinet.

 I don’t know if or what he has been doing behind the scenes to undermine Nick Bourne, but it must be quite serious for this to happen to him now, and for him to have been demoted in such an outright manner. I am sure that there are others in the group that are not happy with what has happened, but  they will probably keep quiet for the sake of maintaining key shadow cabinet positions- such is the attraction of position and power in the World of politics.

Its not good to see parties play out difficulties like this in full view of the public, but this may become the norm if members feel that they cannot find the avenues internally to do so, or if they feel that they have exhausted those routes. I think I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again – leaders of political parties must  realise that they have a key role in bringing their members with them, or including them in discussions on all levels. The problems arise when people become wary of  opening up to others, keep themselves to themselves or confide in only a few people they are close to, thus alienating other members in the process. This may be the case for the Tory group, I do not know. Things could all work out from here on in, but one thing is certain, Bourne almost definitely had David Cameron/ the Westminster team’s approval for his reshuffle this week. But was the timing right?

I didn’t catch all of Dragon’s Eye this week, but I am very happy about the poll showing that 52% of the 1000 people that were polled were supportive of a full lawmaking parliament for Wales. If I’m honest, I think Carwyn Jones AM sat on the fench a bit about the whole ‘Will there or won’t there be a referendum’ business. This poll is great news for the prospect for a yes vote in the referendum. Let’s get out there, talk to the people of Wales, and lead on this issue once and for all.

Elfyn Llwyd was good on Question Time last night I thought. It was curious to see that Peter Hain was very civil towards our Elfyn too!!  I didn’t realise that it was Kirsty Williams’  first time on the show. Well done to her. I don’t envy her having to do one of the most difficult political programmes out there. I am still annoyed that there was no question on Welsh politics, considering that they were in Merthyr. Surely people from other parts of the UK would be interested in what the Assembly is doing? This is a bug bear of mine, and I think I will write to Tinopolis to ask precisely why they do not consider it important enough to discuss Wales on the show.

Righteo, I’m off for now. I am handing out daffodils in the centre of Neath tomorrow morning as part of the party’s local St David’s Day efforts, and there is a St David’s Day Dinner in Swansea in the evening. I’m going to try and get to the annual St David’s Day Parade in Cardiff on Sunday, but I have to travel to Scotland at 5pm as we are having THE first ever formal Assembly committee session in the Scottish Parliament on Monday. We are investigating access to waterways in Wales and we will be taking evidence from Scottish organisations who have differing legislation to us in this area. Should be really interesting, although it means more travelling for me….

Dydd Gwyl Dewi Hapus/ Happy St David’s Day if I do not blog again, and I wish Wales all the best in the rugby tonight…….

Dyma lun o fi gyda Nigel Owens yn y digwyddiad anhwylderau bwyta yn y Senedd neithiwr. Aeth y noson yn wych, a diolch i bawb a wnaeth ddod i’r noson. Sdim amser da fi dweud mwy nawr, ond fe wna i rhoi y lluniau i gyd ar flickr.

I’r rhai sydd a ddiddordeb, dwi ar y rhaglen pobl ifanc Mosgito heno yn trafod anhwylderau bwyta a’r LCO Iaith, ac mae Hacio arno am 10.30pm heno yn gwneud rhaglen gyfan ar anhwylderau bwyta.

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Here is a picture of me with Nigel Owens at the eating disorders awareness event last night in the Senedd. The night went brilliantly, and thanks to all that attended and took part. I haven’t any more time to blog right now, but I’ll post all the photos on to my flickr site.

To those of you who are interested, I am on the welsh language youth show Mosgito tonight talking about eating disorders and the Welsh Language LCO, and the programme Hacio is dedicating their 10.30pm programme to the issue of eating disorder provision in Wales.

Tonight is the event at the National Assembly to mark Eating Disorders Awareness Week. The photo display has been up in the Senedd all day, and so the public have had a chance to see some of the best pictures that our judges chose for display. The winners will be announced tonight by Madeleine Brindley from the Western Mail, with speeches from Nigel Owens, and Susan Ringwood from the charity Beat. I’m really looking forward to the evening, after a tiring day yesterday. I think there should be a good turn out…

Today I met with a delegation from Sinn Fein at the National Assembly alongside Dai Lloyd AM, Nick Bourne AM, Kirsty Williams AM, Jeff Cuthbert and Rosemary Butler who had lunch with a few MLA’s and Councillors from Sinn Fein who are on an official visit to establish closer links with the Assembly, and to learn from how we work. They are interested in establishing a European and External Affairs committee, as they told us that at the moment, it is only their Ministers who are involved in issues surrounding European Convergence and Conflict funding, or policy areas pertaining to Europe. They also discussed with us educational matters, especially with regards the struggle that they are having with the Unionists to abolish the 11 plus. So too did they probe us on the development of Welsh Education, and their hopes of increasing the uptake of learning the Irish language in schools in the North.

This is a short visit of course, and I hope that we can create sustainable links with the Assembly in the North of Ireland, and with other political parties.

Tuesday Debates

Is there a new housing crisis in Wales?
Tuesday, 24th February 2009
6 – 7.30 pm (Tea / coffee from 5.30 pm)
Conference Room 24, Ty Hywel, National Assembly for Wales, Cardiff

Speakers:
Owain Llewellyn, RICS
Peter Hughes, Chairman, Council of Mortgage Lenders in Wales
Nick Bennett, Community Housing Cymru
Tamsin Stirling, Editor Welsh Housing Quarterly

Kindly hosted by Bethan Jenkins AM
All welcome. Attendance is free but please register at events@bevanfoundation.org

I indicated yesterday that I would do a blog post on student fees and the meeting of Plaid’s National Council where there were two motions on the issue- one by Plaid’s Westminster group advocating to maintain the current policy, and one by Plaid’s Government Ministers stating that the Government would be likely to remove the Tuition Fee Grant, and to call on Plaid’s Director of Policy to bring forward a new package of proposals to provide sustainable support for students. Members voted in favour of the Westminster group motion which was to sustain current party policy in opposition to top-up fees, with an amendment to pospone any changes to the policy until after the 2011 Assembly election.

We had a passionate debate about the issue, with members outlining their stance on the policy in question. I understand that our Ministers are in a difficult position, and that the education portfolio lies outside Plaid’s Ministerial responsibilities. I acknowledge the difficult position they are in. However for many members, this debate was about whether or not we as a party were willing to endorse the further marketisation of Higher Education, and our willingness to brake a clear manifesto election pledge.

Following the proceedings on Saturday I will be voting in line with party policy should it come to a vote on this matter in the Assembly. National Council voted to sustain our stance, therefore I can be confident that I am listening to the will of the members and acting in accordance with the expressed will of Plaid membership.

I was not present in the meeting when Ieuan made a statement on the way forward for the Ministers in relation to the proceedings of National Council, so I cannot tell you my reaction in that regard.Nevertheless, it is clear to all what our party policy is. Make of that what you wish.

Hello, I’m back safe and sound from a week’s work in Moldova with the National Assembly. We were working with the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia (an autonomous area of Moldova) in developing their legislative practises, and are hoping that we can develop a programme on this for the future, as well as establish links between schools and Universities in Moldova with Wales.

It was a fascinating experience- meeting with the Speaker and the Governor of Gagauzia amongst others, and learning about the culture of the Gagauzian people. It was unfortunate to learn that the  People’s Assembly is not working as effectively as it would wish as the Communist party refuses to turn up to give the Assembly the majority it needs to work, but those we spoke to are keen to develop their Assembly, and establish clear definition between the power of the Moldovan government and that of Gagauzia..Sound familiair?!

We are now going to write a Memoranda of Understanding between the Assembly and the Gagauzian Assembly, but this all depends on whether Dafydd Elis Thomas can be convinced of the merits of the Assembly working with Gagauzia. I can certainly see the benefits. We talked to groups of young people, media, business who are all very keen in making their National institutions work. At the moment, the media is state run, young people have very little say within party strucutures, and given that it is the poorest country in Europe there is scope for us to develop economic links also.

There wasn’t very many women, especially not young women, involved in politics in Moldova or Gagauzia, and I think they were fascinated with the role that I play as an AM  for that very reason..We gave presentations on the National Assembly for Wales to the people of Gagauzia, who were very interested in how we worked- specifically as they use three languages in everyday life- Gagauz, Moldovan and Russian. They were also interested in developing independent media outlets, and how to hold politicians accountable for their actions.

I will post some photos of the visit here very soon, and on my flickr page. We were treated very well by those we visted and spoke to, and thank you very much for introducing me to the glories of placinte, Mamaliga, and fine Moldovan folk music!

It is back to work in the Assembly this week, and it is Eating Disorders Awareness Week in case you hadn’t already noticed. I am holding an event at the Assembly at 6pm on Wednesday should you wish to attend. The winners of the True Beauty photo competition will be revealed from Madeleine Brindley of the Western Mail, with a speech from Edwina Hart AM. The photos will also be on display all day on Wednesday in the Senedd.

You may also have seen John Dixon, Plaid’s Chair, on the Politics Show earlier today talking about top-up fees. I will blog on this later in the week no doubt. What I will say now is that I am extremely pleased that the National Council voted to maintain party policy against the introduction of top-up fees in Wales.

I’ve just read Adam Price’s blog on student finance in Wales. The consultation comes to an end on Monday, and I have to say that I am disapointed that we, in Plaid, are not responding to the consultation as I was led to believe from our National Council meeting before Christmas. I was not on the group, and therefore did not have an input in to the discussion. I will now draft a letter and send it in as part of my own individual response as an AM.

Personally, I thought that it would have been an obvious opportunity for us to reaffirm our stance on top-up fees by responding, and our plegdge in 7 4 07 against the introduction of top-up fees in Wales. Adam indicates that there may be a discussion in our National Council on the topic, but there was a discussion in the last National Council which consisted of us agreeing to set up a consultation group to respond. What can we discuss in the National Council that will be guaranteed to be taken on board by the Minister and her officials if we do not provide formal evidence?

I am intrigued by Adam’s ideas surrounding introducing a ‘progressive and hypothecated graduate tax payable over twenty or twenty five years’. I would welcome a discussion on this in National Council, but I think that we should look at what Scotland are doing, and look at how it would be different to their system, as the SNP are currently looking in to scrapping the graudate endowment tax.  Fiona Hyslop MSP has previously stated ‘the tax was a “very complicated and inefficient way” of raising money for poorer students, and operated as a“back-end” tuition fee, which stopped poor students entering university.

Adam notes on his blog that ’since the remit was written by the Minister you can’t help thinking that the ink on this particular policy was pretty dry some time ago – whatever the results of the consultation’. I’d like to think that this wasn’t the case, and that the Minister will look at all the consutlation responses in a neutral capacity, yet as I have said before, the consultation  was announced at a time of year when it was very inconvenient for student bodies to respond, and the timeline was not extended to reflect the desire to encourage more input from the wider population, or promoted as such.

Yes, people will read this as an internal problem within the Government.  That is all fair and well, but if I remain quiet and do not raise my concerns over an issue that is so important to me, then my silence will make me complicit in a policy initiative which I am uneasy with. I’m willing to see what the Minister has to offer, to see if Plaid’s debt right off  agenda has been thought out and developed, but I am am fundamentally opposed to the concept of facilitating the development of a market in the HE sector, and I agree with Adam when he says  ‘the bigger underlying problems with the policy are that it represents a craven acceptance of the whole idea of tuition fees and the logic of a marketplace in education and it cements in people’s minds the connection between education and debt’.

In a time of economic insecurity, when young peope are suffering more than other generations in finding jobs after graduating, when they are saddled with huge amounts of debt, is pursuing such a policy a wise move for the One Wales government? If the UK does not lift the cap on fees, will the government still go ahead with this policy?

I’m sure that this matter will raise its head again, and I hope there are ways in which we can negotiate a policy that will be progressive and forward thinking- one that will not pander to the Westminster market led agenda.

I’ve just had this press statement from the Welsh Affairs Select Committee. Seems that Hywel Francis has been riled by reports of the committee being ‘anti devolutionist’ in their dealing of LCOs. I think the man doth protest too much. I welcome his eagerness in the statement to make the LCO system work, but I reserve the right to remain quietly pessimistic about the success of the current system.

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Dwi newydd derbyn y datganiad i’r wasg gan Pwyllgor Materion Cymreig. Mae’n debyg nad yw Hywel Francis yn hapus gydag adroddiadau bod y pwyllgor yn ‘wrth datganoli’ yn eu triniaeth o LCOs. Dwi’n teimlo efallai ei fod yn protestio gormod am hynny.Dwi’n croesawu’r brwdfrydedd yn y datganiad i wneud i’r system LCO gweithio, ond rhaid i mi gyfaddef fy mod i dal yn sinigaidd ynghylch pa mor llwyddiannus fydd hi.

 
11 February 2009/For immediate release
Statement from the Chairman of the Welsh Affairs Committee

Yesterday (Tuesday 10 February), the Welsh Affairs Committee received a request from Rt Hon Paul Murphy MP, Secretary of State for Wales, inviting the Committee to conduct pre-legislative scrutiny of the proposed Welsh Language Order. We were happy to accept this request and we look forward to working constructively with our Welsh Assembly counterparts during this process.

I have already arranged a meeting with Mark Isherwood AM, the Chairman of the Assembly Committee with responsibility for scrutinising the proposed Order, to discuss joint working arrangements, and we hope to conduct a joint session between members of both committees in the course of our inquiries, to share information. I will also hold discussions with the Welsh Assembly Government Minister for Heritage, Alun Ffred Jones AM, and the Chair of the Welsh Language Board, Meri Huws, about the proposed Order

The Committee is clear in our desire to conduct scrutiny of proposed orders as expeditiously as possible and to the degree of detail required, as is the case for all the Legislative Competence Orders (LCOs) we receive. It is therefore disappointing to have to correct inaccuracies regarding the work of the Committee which have appeared in recent media reports, accusing the Committee of purposely delaying the passage of legislation.

It appears necessary for me to clarify the scrutiny process. The Committee cannot examine an LCO until it is invited to do so by the Secretary of State. The Committee has always accepted the Secretary of State’s invitation to scrutinise a proposed order at the first opportunity possible. Written evidence is invited in order for the Committee to fulfil its duty to consult on the LCO. Arrangements are then made to take evidence from the appropriate Ministers and other interested parties, the timing of which is dependent on the availability and commitments of Welsh Assembly Government Ministers. At the same time, the ongoing work of the Committee, which currently includes inquiries into the Olympics and Paralympics, digital inclusion, and cross-border transport services, will also be undertaken thoroughly. It seems that in reporting the Committee’s LCO scrutiny, these facts are often put to one side.

I am also concerned by a recent suggestion that the Welsh Affairs Committee is anti-devolutionist. I have spoken of my own personal support for democratic devolution over three decades on many occasions and my desire to see it work for the benefit of the Welsh people. I can also place on record the commitment of all committee members to our work on LCOs and to undertake that work thoroughly and expeditiously.

Dr Hywel Francis MP
Chairman, Welsh Affairs Select Committee

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, and while I never usually celebrate it, I thought perhaps I should use it as an opportunity to recindle my love of blogging, as we seem to have become very distant of late. I think perhaps I am afraid of commitment- either that or the honeymoon period is over! …Sorry about the analogy- corny I know, but I’m trying to explain why I have failed to blog for so long. Betsan Powys suggested that I should consider not apologising for failing to blog, but I guess that people stop visiting blogs if they don’t update them, and if I continue, I want to ensure that I get at least a core readership!
So, for now I’ll try and relight the blogging passion within me.  For starters, I’d like to note that I enjoyed my session with Don Touhig on Dragon’s Eye last week- now that’s a politician who reads his blogs. He knew more about me than my mother! He was very personable and friendly off screen to be honest, but I think we will end up agreeing to disagree on legislating over the language. For me, it is about the principle of the National Assembly for Wales making decisions over the language in Wales, nothing more and nothing less. Let us get embroiled in the debate about the content of the measures when that time comes. It doesn’t help that some politicians are scaremongering on this issue- those of whom will remain nameless. Surely we should be concentrating on the progressive elements of this order- equal status for the Welsh Language, creating a Language Commissioner and enshrining linguistic rights as opposed to allowing some narrow minded individuals to shout it down from the outset? I look forward to the debate that we will have on the matter, which will undoubtedly be ongoing.
On another note, today the petitions committee has launched an e-forum discussion on the possibility of introducing a Welsh Honours system. If you wish to take part in it, then go to the website of the petitions committee. There’s no timeline for this as yet, but I hope that once we have gathered enough interest,  we can put the proposals forward to the Assembly Commission and the Welsh Assembly Government.
And don’t forget to take part in the Eating Disorders Awareness competition- true beauty, by sending in a photo and a line to describe the photo as to why it represents true beauty to truebeauty09@googlemail.com by the 16th of February…

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Mae Dydd San Ffolant ar y ffordd, ac er nad ydw i fel arfer yn dathlu’r achlysur, o’n i’n ystyried falle  dylen i ei ddefnyddio fel siawns i adfywio fy nghariad at flogio, am ein bod ni wedi ymbellhau yn ddiweddar.  Dwi’n credu falle fod gen i ofn bod yn dryw i flogio- hynny, neu mae’r mis mel wedi dod i ben!..Sori am gymharu blogio a pherthynas- dwi’n gwbod bod e’n corny, ond dwi’n ceisio esbonio pam dwi ddim wedi blogio am gyhyd! Dywedodd Bestan Powys y dylen i ystyried peidio ymddiheuro bob tro am beidio blogio, ond os ydw i ambarhau, dwi am wneud yn siwr fy mod i’n ennyn pobl i’w ddarllen, ac nad ydw i’n colli darlenwyr am nad yw pobl yn dewis dod i’r wefan oherwydd diffyg cynnwys.

Felly am nawr, nai drio adfer y pasiwn rhwng fi a fy mlog. I ddechrau, hoffwn i nodi i mi fwynhau’r cyfweliad gyda Don Touhig wythnos diwethaf ar Dragon’s Eye- nawr dyna i ti wleidydd sy’n darllen y blogs. Odd e’n gwbod mwy amdana i na fy mam, siwr! Mi oedd o’n gyfeillgar iawn oddi ar y sgrin i fod yn deg iddo, ond dwi’n credu y bydd rhaid i ni gytuno i anghytuno ar y broses o ddeddfu ar yr iaith. I fi, y ddadl ar hyn o bryd yw’r egwyddor o drosglwyddo’r pwerau i’r Cynulliad- dim byd mwy, dim byd llai. Gad i ni beidio a gwastraffu amser ar hyn o bryd yn trafod beth fydd yn y mesurau- gad i ni drafod hynny pan fydd yr amser yn dod. Dyw e ddim yn helpu fod nifer o wleidyddion yn dewis codi gwrychyn ar y mater yma- da chi’n gwbod pwy y’ch chi. Dylen ni ganolbwyntio ar yr elfennau cadaranhaol o’r drafodaeth nawr- a’r pethau hynny o fewn y gorchymyn sydd yn flaengar ac yn gadarnhaol, megis sicrhau statws swyddogol i’r iaith, creu Comisiynydd Iaith, a hawliau ieithyddol. Dwi’n edrych ymlaen at gael trafodaeth ar y mater yma. Mi fydd yn un hir iawn, mae’n sicr.

Ar nodyn arall, mae’r pwyllgor deisebau wedi lansio trafodaeth e -fforwm ar anrhydeddau i Gymru ar y wefan heddiw. Os ydych am gymryd rhan, ewch i wefan  y pwyllgor deisebau i ddarganfod mwy. Does dim amserlen clir hyd yn hyn ar gyfer y cysyniad newydd yma, ond rwy’n gobeithio, unwaith i ni gael digon o ddiddordeb,  byddem yn cynnig y syniadau i’r Llywodraeth ac i’r Comisiwn.

..A pheidiwch anghofio cymryd rhan yn y gystadleaueth i farcio wythnos anhwylderau bwyta sy’n dod i ben ar y 16 o Chwefror. Danfonwch llun a disgrifiad o baham mae’r llun yn cynrychioli gwir harddwch i gwirharddwch09@googlemail.com.