The Labour Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru have joined forces to call for preparations to 'immediately' begin for a another referendum on EU membership. The proposed motion will be debated at the Senedd later this afternoon. It asks the Welsh Assembly to agree that if the UK Parliament cannot unite around an alternative deal which includes participation in the single market and a customs union then 'the only option which remains is to give the decision back to the people.' The motion condemns the UK Tory government for failing to engage with the devolved institutions and other parties. It says a no deal scenario would be 'catastrophic' for Wales and everything possible should be done to avoid this including extending the Article 50 deadline. The motion also calls for Westminster to step up discussions with devolved nations. Plaid Cymru leader, Adam Price, said allowing the people to decide the way forward is the "only way to solve the Brexit deadlock." But UKIP Assembly leader, … [Read more...] about Welsh Government says second Brexit vote preparations should ‘begin immediately’
Welsh government
Welsh Government to change law on school RE to include non-religious worldviews such as humanism
Monday, 28 January 2019 6:04 PM The Welsh government has today announced its plans to amend the law on religious education (RE) to include non-religious worldviews such as humanism for the first time, on an equal footing to major religions. Humanists UK, which has led the campaign for this change, has hailed the decision as a great advance for children and families in Wales that will make education about religious and non-religious worldviews in their schools the most inclusive in the UK. In its White Paper published today, the Government says it plans to amend the law in two areas: firstly on the RE curriculum and secondly on membership of agreed syllabus conferences (ASCs) and standing advisory councils on RE (SACREs), the bodies that set and oversee the RE syllabus in most schools. It recommended that instead of referring only to religion in these areas, the law should say that non-religious beliefs such as humanism must also be included. The White Paper explains that … [Read more...] about Welsh Government to change law on school RE to include non-religious worldviews such as humanism
New twist in Welsh Government grant to £200m Wellness Village firm
The Welsh Government offered a £2.5m grant direct to a company planning to be at the heart of the £200m Wellness Village in Llanelli, just days after pulling funding for the same amount to the firm which would have first passed through Swansea University. In November the Welsh Government rescinded a grant offer to start-up and not-for-profit company, Respiratory Innovation Wales (RIW), after a series of due diligence related questions were raised by Swansea University. Passing the grant through the higher education institution to RIW would have seen the university indemnifying the grant. In return it would have taken a small percentage of the grant and been able to count it towards its research excellence framework. RIW, whose chief executive is Kevin Smith, was set up last September. Its founding directors also included the suspended dean of Swansea University’s School of Management Prof Marc Clement. He was suspended for alleged gross misconduct by the university last … [Read more...] about New twist in Welsh Government grant to £200m Wellness Village firm
Tory anger as Welsh Government blocks backbench bills on Autism and Older People
The Conservatives have accused the Welsh government of "tribalism" and having the approach to politics "of an authoritarian regime" after Labour AMs were whipped to vote down backbench proposals two weeks running. Both were proposed by Conservative AMs -Paul Davies had put forward a bill to improve support for people with Autism and Darren Millar's bill would have strengthened the rights of older people. Although both men are senior figures -Mr Davies is Leader of the Tory AMs- they had introduced their legislation as individual AMs, after winning the opportunity in a ballot. Following his bill's defeat, Mr Davies used his weekly chance to question the First Minister to urge a change in the Welsh Government's approach. In the debate on his bill to protect the rights of older people, Darren Millar urged the Welsh government to take "a historic opportunity", But the Welsh Government argued that it was not the right time to legislate. After his bill was voted down, Mr Millar … [Read more...] about Tory anger as Welsh Government blocks backbench bills on Autism and Older People
What Welsh Government says you should do if there’s a no-deal Brexit
There are just 67 days until the UK is due to leave the European Union. And the Welsh Government has published a website called Preparing Wales detailing what it believes will happen if there is no deal. The website says: "The Welsh Government has been clear since the EU referendum result that a disorderly no deal Brexit would be disastrous for Wales. "But as it has become clearer a no deal outcome is a real possibility, so we have been actively increasing our preparations to safeguard the interests of Wales and its people." The website, which will be updated as information changes, covers a number of different topics: Medicines and operations People should not stockpile medication as this could cause supply disruption. At this stage, the Welsh Government says it does not anticipate the cancellation of operations, and A&E and GP services will continue to function as normal. "We do not anticipate any immediate impact on day-to-day NHS or social care services – … [Read more...] about What Welsh Government says you should do if there’s a no-deal Brexit