Darren Millar: Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. Minister, what analysis has the Welsh Government made of the opportunities arising to Wales as a result of Brexit?
Darren Millar: I'm very grateful for that response. One of the key routes, of course, in Wales is the east-west route along the A55 corridor, which as you've already indicated does go through my constituency. Now, I know that there has been some effort by the Welsh Government to invest in some of the pinch points along that road. But would you agree with me that it's time that we had a major upgrade of the...
Darren Millar: 3. What action is the Welsh Government taking to improve transport links in Wales? OAQ54949
Darren Millar: A point has been made about the support or otherwise for this particular piece of legislation. Do you accept that there's very little parental support because poll after poll has demonstrated that parents do not want this legislation passed, and indeed members of the public, when polled, have consistently polled at least two thirds to three quarters in favour of maintaining the current...
Darren Millar: I appreciate that, but I'm just not sure why there is such a different approach.
Darren Millar: Please do.
Darren Millar: I'm very grateful. I'm just a little bit confused by what appears to be a very different approach on the Plaid Cymru benches—and indeed on the Labour backbenches—towards this piece of legislation versus the EU withdrawal Bill that we were discussing earlier on this afternoon, where there have been some very clear statements about policy intention of the UK Government, and yet you all want...
Darren Millar: Just on that particular point, of course we did take a decision to put this sort of item on the face of the Bill when it came to organ donation law, which again was a significant piece of legislation that was going to affect a lot of people's lives. I think it's absolutely right that we take a similar approach here, given that that's the Government's policy position, and, of course, they've...
Darren Millar: Trefnydd, can I call for a statement from the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs please, on the Welsh Government's efforts to protect endangered and threatened species in Wales? You may or may not be aware that today is Squirrel Appreciation Day around the world, and as the red squirrel champion in the National Assembly, I think it's very important that I take this opportunity...
Darren Millar: I can point to examples in Conwy where new schools were built that were absolutely and have been value for money. I can also point to the investment that has gone into Colwyn Bay in my own constituency from Conwy County Borough Council in the investment in its new headquarters, which has been a partnership with the private sector, which seems to be demonstrating value for money. But I can...
Darren Millar: I do, but I was referring to the rationale of the First Minister, in terms of the First Minister's rationale for rejecting the proposal. We all know, of course, that the independent inspector recommended that the route be progressed. But the point I'm making is that you have to match your infrastructure investment plans with the stated priorities and aims of the Government, and I don't think...
Darren Millar: Can I thank the members of the Finance Committee for allowing me to intrude on this debate on behalf of the Welsh Conservatives? I have read with great interest the report that you have produced, and I can see that it's a very thorough piece of work, so I want to commend you all and, indeed, the clerks who have supported you through the process. Having read the report, very clearly, there are...
Darren Millar: Can I thank you, Minister, for your statement today? I'm not going to be long, you'll be pleased to know, Llywydd, in response to this statement, because, of course, there's not a great deal that's new in it. In fact, you could have been fooled into thinking that we were still in the pre-election period that we saw prior to the landslide election result that saw your numbers reduced...
Darren Millar: Can I thank the Minister for an advanced copy of her statement and congratulate her on the production of the international strategy? It's been 21 years since the advent of devolution and I think it's very important that Wales reaches out beyond its borders into those countries overseas where we have strong relationships and where there are opportunities to develop new relationships. I just...
Darren Millar: Can I call for two statements today, if I may, from the Welsh Government? The first is a statement request from the Minister for Health and Social Services in relation to his proposals for a new citizens' voice body for Wales. As the business manager will know, as the Trefnydd will know indeed, the Government's intention is that community health councils will be replaced with a single...
Darren Millar: I'm very disappointed to hear the scaremongering from your back benches, and, indeed, from your Government today, on this very important and very sensitive matter. As you've already quite clearly stated, the policy position of the UK Government in respect of child refugees has not changed in the slightest, and the UK Government still wants to maintain the commitment that it has previously...
Darren Millar: Will the First Minister make a statement on actions the Welsh Government is taking to tackle climate change?
Darren Millar: I just wanted to congratulate Suzy on a tremendous opening speech and simply to say that, of course, school isn't the only opportunity to learn a second language. I'm using an app at the moment, Mango Languages, to try and brush up on a bit of Levantine Arabic in order that I can communicate with some of my friends out in the middle east, and I have to say I think that the technology that we...
Darren Millar: It's not that we don't recognise, of course, that there is poverty outside of seaside towns and market towns. It's just that there are very often peculiar challenges that are faced by seaside towns and market towns that we want to shine attention on, and bring some regeneration focus to. Very often, those have been overlooked in the past by previous Welsh Governments, and it's something that...
Darren Millar: Are you challenging them on their human rights record?
