Paul Davies: I've made it absolutely clear that my party should remain a broad church. I believe the Conservative Party is a broad church and its success relies on that basis, and I would hope that those loyal Conservative Members would actually find a path back to where they belong in the Conservative Party. Now, of course, there's no doubt that the Prime Minister's decision to prorogue Parliament has...
Paul Davies: No, I'm making the point that we do not have direct responsibilities for what we're actually talking about today. That's the point I'm making to the Member for Mid and West Wales. And I now give way to the former First Minister.
Paul Davies: I will in a minute. I am concerned that the Assembly is debating this motion today, contradicting the devolutionary process, and using a Westminster competence to grandstand. Every constituency in Wales is represented by a Member of Parliament, and it's their job to directly represent the views of constituents on Brexit, and the way in which the UK Government is leading the country out of...
Paul Davies: Diolch, Llywydd. When the people of Wales voted in 2016, they made it abundantly clear that they wanted to leave the European Union. Fifty-two and a half percent of voters in Wales chose to leave the EU, and all but five areas of the country delivered a 'leave' result from their counts. Welsh voters may have cast their votes for a number of different reasons, but the result remains that Wales...
Paul Davies: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, and I was honoured to have had the opportunity to bring forward proposals for autism legislation. And whilst the outcome wasn't what many of us had hoped for, the autism community and I can take some consolation from the fact that autism was at the top of the Assembly’s agenda for so long. Now, I'm not saying for one moment since my proposed Bill that...
Paul Davies: Minister, you'll be fully aware that, off the coast of Pembrokeshire, there is huge potential to produce wave and tidal energy, especially given the tidal streams in and around Ramsey Sound. Now, the Welsh Government strategy, 'A Low Carbon Wales', states that Wales is well placed to take advantage of the opportunities associated with the blue economy, including wave and tidal energy. And, of...
Paul Davies: And with the proposed changes to the community health councils, it is typical of this Government that, when something isn't going right, when people start taking it to task on its failings, it either scraps the target or abolishes the organisation that dares to speak up for individuals. And I put it to the First Minister: we need to boost accountability in our health service, not sweep...
Paul Davies: Can I thank the First Minister for his statement outlining his priorities for the forthcoming year? Today, he has announced more of the same from this tired Welsh Labour Government. Last year, the former First Minister announced a range of new Bills, and where have we got with these? The ban on the use of wild animals in circuses is welcomed by the majority in this Chamber, but why has it...
Paul Davies: The second report, if it can be called that, into kukd.com is, shockingly, longer than the leak inquiry, reaching just over 500 words, but is more of a timeline of what action the Government has taken. It has no detail, no specifics on the allegations that have been received and no information on the various investigations that have been undertaken internally. First Minister, I am concerned...
Paul Davies: First Minister, in a previous exchange in this Chamber, you said that information is only available because your Government releases it, however, in the last week, two reports have had to be forced out of your Government—the report into kukd.com and the leak inquiry into the sacking of Carl Sargeant. Both of these reports are of an incredibly serious nature, and yet, many people are...
Paul Davies: Before I ask my first question today, with your indulgence, Llywydd, I'd also like to send my condolences to Rod Richards's family. His friends and family have spoken of his quick wit, kindness and love, and his colleagues have continued to admire his skills as a politician, and his passion for politics and what he believed in was clear for all to see. My thoughts and prayers are with his...
Paul Davies: I very much accept the point that the Member makes, but obviously we need to make the case as well to the people of Wales that we require more Members in this place. Now, it's the view of my colleagues and I that any increase in the number of Assembly Members must be funded via savings arising from a reduction in the overall number of elected representatives in Wales. I note that the 'A...
Paul Davies: In a moment. The people of Wales must be involved, and we as elected representatives must make the case that strengthening the capacity and scrutiny functions of the National Assembly for Wales is in their interests. I give way to the Member for Mid and West Wales.
Paul Davies: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Whilst we on this side of the Chamber see merit in the original motion, we can't accept it in its entirety, and so we've tabled an amendment to set out the current position of the Welsh Conservative group. Therefore, I move the amendment tabled in the name of my colleague Darren Millar. The leader of Plaid Cymru is right: since 1999, the National Assembly for Wales has...
Paul Davies: I'm grateful to the Minister for that response. As you'll be aware, the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee did a piece of work last year, and the committee published a report called 'UK governance post-Brexit', and in that report it was recommended that the Llywydd, along with spokespeople and speakers from the other Parliaments and legislatures of the UK, should establish a...
Paul Davies: Minister, I'm sure you will agree with me that one way of improving rail services for people living in Mid and West Wales is to reduce journey times. Now, the proposed west Wales parkway north of Swansea would deliver journey time savings for commuters travelling from my constituency to Cardiff of up to 15 minutes each way by cutting the need to travel through the centre of Swansea. It could...
Paul Davies: 6. What discussions is the Welsh Government having regarding UK governance arrangements post-Brexit? OAQ54196
Paul Davies: Can I thank you, First Minister, for your statement? And I look forward to further scrutinising the details of your proposals in the coming months. However, I must say, from the outset, that I am very disappointed that you have chosen to politicise this statement and to suggest that Conservatives, whenever they are in Government, take a confrontational approach. That is not right, because, as...
Paul Davies: The First Minister needs to calm down, I think. And just in case you don't understand, First Minister, I'm not here to defend the UK Government; I'm here to hold your Government to account and make sure you are delivering—[Interruption.]
Paul Davies: I'm here to hold your Government to account, to make sure you are delivering for the people of Wales. However, too often in this Chamber, we keep highlighting your Government's failures. Now, with the disruption of last autumn and the ongoing failures, public confidence in the ability of the new franchise to deliver is low. Only 72 per cent of commuters were satisfied when asked about the...
