|
|
20 Most Recent Speeches
The Broadcasting Committee's Report on the Future of Public Service Broadcasting in Wales
Speech by Peter Black delivered to Plenary on Wed 16th Jul 2008
Peter Black: First of all, I concur with the general conclusion that this is a substantive report, and one that has been drawn from very high-quality evidence and discussion, both among committee members and from witnesses. I must say that there has been some robust scrutiny of that evidence, producing a number of excellent recommendations, which I am hopeful that the Minister will largely be able to adopt when he comes to respond to this report in the autumn.
|
|
Read "The Broadcasting Committee's Report on the Future of Public Service Broadcasting in Wales" in full (804 words).
|
Communities and Culture Committee Report on the Voluntary Sector
Speech by Peter Black delivered to Plenary on Wed 16th Jul 2008
Peter Black: Like Dai Lloyd, I welcome this report, and I wish to thank my fellow committee members and all of those who came to give evidence. Their contributions were invaluable and helped us to put together the set of recommendations that we have before us.
|
|
Read "Communities and Culture Committee Report on the Voluntary Sector" in full (836 words).
|
Youth Services
Speech by Peter Black delivered to Council for Wales of Voluntary Youth Services on Thu 10th Jul 2008
I want to start by acknowledging the good work that is already going on around Wales by local Councils and young people's partnerships, in providing vital services for youngsters. This work helps to promote crime prevention, working across disciplines and within communities, it provides mentoring and positive role models, youth forums and play facilities, working in schools and promoting the involvement of children and young people in community regeneration.
|
|
Read "Youth Services" in full (2899 words).
|
One Wales Government anniversary
Speech by Peter Black delivered to Plenary on Wed 9th Jul 2008
Peter Black: A few Ministers, over the last few weeks, have said in response to several attacks that you have to be in government to change things. However, what is clear and what has been demonstrated in the 'One Wales' celebrations, and over the last year, is that it is no good being in government if you cannot deliver on your own targets and agenda. That failure has been laid out starkly for us in the Welsh Liberal Democrat contributions today.
|
|
Read "One Wales Government anniversary" in full (953 words).
|
Alcohol Abuse
Speech by Peter Black delivered to Plenary on Wed 9th Jul 2008
Peter Black: It is not alcohol use that concerns the Welsh Liberal Democrats but alcohol misuse. Most people who drink alcohol do so responsibly, and respect their own health and that of other people. It is not a case of cracking down on people's freedom to spend their time as they wish; it is about ensuring that everyone can do so without there being a problem.
|
|
Read "Alcohol Abuse" in full (736 words).
|
The Housing Crisis
Speech by Peter Black delivered to Plenary on Thu 3rd Jul 2008
Peter Black: I propose the following amendments in the name of Kirsty Williams. Amendment 3: add as a new point at the end of the motion:
|
|
Read "The Housing Crisis" in full (940 words).
|
The Enterprise and Learning Committee's Report on Arrangements for School Funding
Speech by Peter Black delivered to Plenary on Thu 3rd Jul 2008
Peter Black: I welcome this debate today and that the Enterprise and Learning Committee has undertaken this report. Had that not happened and we had not had this second report, there was a real possibly that the report of the Committee on School Funding would have been lost forever and that many of its recommendations would never have been implemented. The jury is still out as to whether they will be implemented, as it is out as to whether this latest set of recommendations will be implemented, but we need to remind ourselves that it is now over two years since that ad-hoc committee reported on this particular issue, and yet the vast majority of the recommendations have not been implemented. As is pointed out in the current report, some of the recommendations have had to be repeated, in the hope that the Minister will take notice of them this time. Some of these are key recommendations. For example, recommendations 19 and 21 of the report of the Committee on School Funding on grants stated that,
|
|
Read "The Enterprise and Learning Committee's Report on Arrangements for School Funding" in full (745 words).
|
An Integrated and Sustainable Transport Network
Speech by Peter Black delivered to Plenary on Wed 25th Jun 2008
Peter Black: I wish to thank Alun Davies, particularly, for his support on the cross-border issues. It is important that we start to tackle those; it seems to be something of an anachronism where you have free bus passes in England, and free bus passes in Wales, but cannot travel between the two countries using a common bus pass. That needs to be on the agenda for discussions between the two Governments, and should be resolved as soon as possible.
|
|
Read "An Integrated and Sustainable Transport Network" in full (902 words).
|
School Effectiveness
Speech by Peter Black delivered to Plenary on Tue 24th Jun 2008
Peter Black: I propose amendment 3 in the name of Kirsty Williams. Add as a new point at the end of the motion:
|
|
Read "School Effectiveness" in full (773 words).
|
Further Education Funding
Speech by Peter Black delivered to Plenary on Wed 18th Jun 2008
Peter Black: I will start by summing up the main thrust of the argument that the Welsh Liberal Democrats have put forward today. On the whole education agenda, from early years to adult learning, the Welsh Assembly Government has lost control of education funding. The fact that this has fallen off the priority list of the One Wales Government has been illustrated and underlined today by the fact that not a single Labour backbencher has felt able to contribute to this debate. That is shocking, given the emphasis that many in the Chamber have put on education and skills in the past.
|
|
Read "Further Education Funding" in full (1328 words).
|
Schools and Special Educational Needs
Speech by Peter Black delivered to Plenary on Wed 18th Jun 2008
Peter Black: The Welsh Liberal Democrats will support both amendments. As Andrew R.T. Davies said, amendment 1 relates to a matter of fact. Our view on amendment 2 is that, although freedom is important, if you do not have the means, that is, the resources to carry out what needs to be done, you do not have the freedom to do so. That is why we will support amendment 2. That is quite an important point in this regard, because we often hear schools talk about what they would like to do on a whole range of issues, but they do not have the resources to carry it out. Therefore, if the Government wants to amend this motion to state that it wants to provide the means for schools to do this, then that is to be welcomed.
|
|
Read "Schools and Special Educational Needs" in full (804 words).
|
Sustainable Tourism
Speech by Peter Black delivered to Plenary on Tue 17th Jun 2008
Peter Black: Alun Davies referred to our previous debates on tourism. I note that we had a debate in February on cultural tourism and that we are now having a debate on sustainable tourism, but I do not think that we will have a debate on dress tourism, Alun, although it is worth noting that the shopping experience is an important part of the facilities and attractions that we offer people in Wales. Anyone going to places such as Narberth, and the other small towns and villages around Wales that have high-quality shops, will know how attractive those shops are to the many people who go out of their way to travel to them to experience the pleasures that they offer.
|
|
Read "Sustainable Tourism" in full (799 words).
|
Speech on Legislative Competence Order on Electoral Arrangements
Speech by Peter Black delivered to Plenary on Wed 11th Jun 2008
Thank you Presiding Officer, I have had the privilege of being drawn simultaneously to present both a measure and a legislative competence order to this Assembly. The debate on my measure to create a duty on local councils to provide facilities for young people has already been debated and defeated here. I am hopeful that the outcome of this debate will be different.
|
|
Read "Speech on Legislative Competence Order on Electoral Arrangements " in full (1777 words).
|
Higher Education
Speech by Peter Black delivered to Plenary on Wed 21st May 2008
Peter Black: I note that Alun, in his last point, is asking the Government to acknowledge the fact that there is a £61 million funding gap. From reading the Government amendments, it is quite clear that it is prepared to leave paragraph 3 in the motion-in the hope that we would then vote for it-with one exception: it wants to take out the words 'with concern'. That is quite a fatuous amendment. The Government is prepared to acknowledge that there is a £61 million funding gap between higher education institutions in Wales and those in England, but it does not seem to have any concern that that is the case. One wonders why that concern has suddenly disappeared' it was there when we had all-party agreement to start addressing that funding gap. Presumably, Plaid Cymru will be supporting the Government amendment. As Kirsty pointed out earlier, Ieuan Wyn Jones told the Assembly in a previous debate that addressing that gap was crucial. Now, that crucial element has disappeared and he is not even concerned-it seems that Plaid Cymru is not concerned-about the fact that there is a £61 million funding gap between the various higher education institutions-
|
|
Read "Higher Education" in full (918 words).
|
Domicillary Care LCO
Speech by Peter Black delivered to Plenary on Tue 20th May 2008
Peter Black: I welcome Jonathan Morgan's final point. If we can use the powers that will be conferred on us by this legislative competence Order to extend the level of care that is available in Wales, we will have done everyone in the country a great service, and will have improved the lives of countless people around Wales. If that is possible and can be funded, that should be looked at in the Measures that could arise out of this LCO.
|
|
Read "Domicillary Care LCO" in full (738 words).
|
Youth Measure
Speech by Peter Black delivered to Plenary on Wed 14th May 2008
I wanted to start by acknowledging the good work that is already going on around Wales by local Councils and Young People's Partnerships in providing vital services for youngsters.
|
|
Read "Youth Measure" in full (1584 words).
|
Substance Misuse Strategy
Speech by Peter Black delivered to Plenary on Tue 13th May 2008
Peter Black: I wish to begin by taking up Dai Lloyd's closing clarion call that much more needs to be done. I have listened intently to the contributions today, and particularly to the Minister's list of commendable initiatives and details of additional money being made available for the strategy. I do not wish to give any impression other than that I welcome all the extra resources and the renewed focus of the strategy. However, as we sit here comfortably debating the issue and discussing what we can do to help, there are people in our communities who need our help and support now in dealing with their substance misuse addictions, and the situation is not getting much better.
|
|
Read "Substance Misuse Strategy" in full (941 words).
|
Archive of earlier Speeches.
 Speech Feed(v1.0).
Printed and hosted by Prater Raines Ltd, 82b Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BX.
Published and promoted by Peter Black AM and South Wales West Liberal Democrats, Peter Black AM, First Floor, 70 Mansel Street, Swansea, SA1 5TN.
The views expressed are those of the party, not of the service provider.
|
