Responding to the Statement ‘Towards a Distinct Approach to the Penal System in Wales’ by the outgoing Local Government and Public Services Secretary, which was yet another pitch for devolution of the criminal justice system, I pointed out that the UK Government was already leading the developing policy agenda on rehabilatitive services for offenders, including young people and women, and that UK Government proposals already recognise the devolved responsibilities of the Welsh Government. Calls for the devolution of criminal justice to Wales fail to recognise that criminal activity does not respect national boundaries, that 90% of people in Wales live within 50 miles of the border and that criminal justice in North Wales has a closer affiliation with north-west England than the rest of Wales.
December 12th was the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and, speaking in the Assembly Debate on ‘International Human Rights Day’, I stated that this proclaimed the inalienable rights which everyone is inherently entitled to and concluded “there has been great progress since 1948, but we live in a dangerous World and there is still much more to do”.
Speaking in the Living Wage Debate, I stated “We support the National Living Wage, which stands to benefit 150,000 working people in Wales by 2020. However, we also recognise that the voluntary Living Wage can provide clear benefits in terms of productivity and absenteeism”. I also noted that the Assembly introduced a ‘living wage’ for cleaning and contract staff in 2006 following a campaign by Wrexham-based TCC - Together Creating Communities.
Questioning the Environment Minister, I referred to a pollution incident in the Afon Clywedog Dee tributary near Wrexham, and to concern that the self-reporting procedure with water companies, now applied by Natural Resources Wales, takes away the proactive inspections that used to be in place.
I also questioned the outgoing First Minister over the future of the Wylfa Newydd nuclear plant on Anglesey.
I Chaired the Cross Party Group on Fuel Poverty and Energy Efficiency, where I was re-elected as Chair, gave evidence with Hospice UK as Chair of the Cross Party Group on Hospices and Palliative Care to the Assembly Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, met ‘Crisis’ to discuss their proposals to end homelessness in Wales, and attended the National Assembly for Wales’ Christmas Concert .
North wales engagements included AVOW's Christmas Celebration and 30th Birthday, marking 30 years of supporting community organisations and volunteers in Wrexham.
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