Sam Rowlands: Thanks for the contribution, Mike Hedges. I think what you point to there is obviously a desire to tax some areas much more significantly than others. Of course, what we need to see is a fair settlement to benefit residents across all of Wales. That disparity for me is an opportunity that hasn't been dealt with. I'm also disappointed to see there's still no or very little talk from Welsh...
Sam Rowlands: Minister, as you'll be well aware, councils have, of course, welcomed the local government settlement in general at a 9.4 per cent increase on average across those councils. But we have to recognise that that is after years and years of underfunding to councils across Wales. It's also important to note that there are some challenges with the way in which this funding is allocated, and I think...
Sam Rowlands: Thanks to the Welsh Government and the Minister for bringing forward today's debate on the 2022-23 draft budget, a draft budget that I, and I'm sure many people across Wales, have eagerly been waiting for. I'm sure all Members across the Chamber can agree that this budget has come at a difficult time, as we continue to move out of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it's clear from our side of...
Sam Rowlands: Thank you, Minister, for bringing forward today's statement, which of course is very timely. I would like, first of all, to join Members across the Chamber in acknowledging the difficulties coming from the increase in these energy costs, which will hit many hard-working families up and down the country. As you've highlighted in your statement, Minister, there are long-term issues, though,...
Sam Rowlands: Absolutely. Mr Sargeant makes a really important point, especially in relation to her love for education as well and seeing others aspire and do well in life. The fantastic work that she has carried out in working, and it was mentioned earlier, with around 14 different Prime Ministers—I'm sure that it's difficult enough working with one at times, but having 14—through her 70 years,...
Sam Rowlands: May I say 'thank you' to my colleague Darren Millar for submitting this royally important debate this afternoon? As all Members know, Her Majesty the Queen reaches the seventieth anniversary of her accession to the throne on 6 February, and as our Welsh Conservative motion states, I'd like to certainly be associated in extending our warmest congratulations to Her Majesty the Queen on what is...
Sam Rowlands: Thanks to the Member for submitting this important question today, and, as we know, this issue was also raised with the First Minister yesterday as part of the First Minister's questions, and has some cross-party concern in the Chamber. In his response yesterday, the First Minister outlined that he wouldn't be supporting a public inquiry, because of the length of time that might take, and he...
Sam Rowlands: Thank you, Minister. I suppose the risk that I'm pointing toward is that we talk about reform, and talk, to my mind, to a more wholesale change, and some of the things you mentioned there perhaps aren't reform but are merely tweaks or tinkering around the edges. And simply a revaluation, with a couple of extra bands added, potentially, to council tax, isn't real reform. And, of course, it's...
Sam Rowlands: Diolch, Llywydd, and good afternoon, Minister. Minister, how would you define the word 'reform'?
Sam Rowlands: Lovely, and thank you, Minister—you have well guessed my series of questions in terms of council tax reform; I'd hoped that was fairly obvious. As I'm sure all Members across the Chamber regularly do, I do take great interest in the co-operation agreement document that you are signed up to with Plaid Cymru, and in there, as you noted, when it comes to council tax reform, you have an...
Sam Rowlands: Good afternoon, Trefnydd. I'd like to ask for an urgent Welsh Government statement regarding the upgrade of railway stock and the modernisation of trains in Wales. As we've already heard today, many people across Wales are trying to look at moving to using more public transport, supporting our environment and cutting carbon emissions. Of course, this is a significant part of the Welsh...
Sam Rowlands: Thanks to the Member for submitting this important question today. I also note that a fellow Member has a question on this topic tomorrow, so it's clearly a pressing issue for residents in north Wales. First Minister, as already outlined here, the vascular services have seen that significant change in north Wales. Mr ap Gwynfor has highlighted many of the issues that he's aware of, and I'm...
Sam Rowlands: I'm certainly not embarrassed by comments that my colleagues have made, and you're absolutely right, we should be seeing restrictions moved away as soon as possible, and, of course, science and information have a key role to play in that decision making. In terms of the constructive items that I think Members have picked up today that we can, hopefully, continue to agree on, I think Gareth...
Sam Rowlands: Yes, come on.
Sam Rowlands: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. First of all, I'd like to thank all Members from across the virtual Chamber this afternoon who contributed to this really important debate, and of course the Minister, as well, for your response. I'd like to join you, Minister, in thanking our teachers, school staff and local education authority staff, all those involved through this difficult time, in...
Sam Rowlands: I'm sure the Deputy Minister will be aware of the issue of the B5605 in Wrexham, which was raised in First Minister's questions yesterday. However, the First Minister said he wasn't familiar with the issues there. It's also been raised in Prime Minister's questions this afternoon by my colleague Simon Baynes MP. And it's the closure of this road for more than a year now that has had a huge...
Sam Rowlands: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, and thank you, Minister, for bringing forward today's statement. Since becoming a Member of the Senedd, one of the first things I did was meet with and visit Tŷ Gobaith in my region, North Wales, who, alongside Tŷ Hafan, do carry out exceptional work, and it's all been acknowledged here today, in supporting young patients and their loved ones. I've been...
Sam Rowlands: Thanks, Minister, for bringing forward today's statement. As you outlined right at the start, procurement is one of those significant levers that can be pulled in tackling climate change, and I was really glad to hear you reference that decarbonisation can be supported through a clear, smart and effective procurement policy—that's what you said. Last week, though, I had the pleasure of...
Sam Rowlands: Thank you to the Member for submitting this important question as well. Minister, because of the further restrictions over Christmas and into the new year, the announcement of further financial support from the economic resilience fund is of course welcome for those businesses. However, because of the level and length of these most recent restrictions, for many it is simply not enough. An...
Sam Rowlands: Thank you, Minister, for your statement today. You did mention 11 years of marriage. I am at 13, and I'm sure that the significance of that number is not as unlucky as some might suggest. But, just going back to your statement, I was really pleased to hear you reference the Mersey Dee Alliance. There has never been a better time in my opinion for Welsh Government to work collaboratively with...
