Russell George: I wanted to focus my contribution today on the personal distress that is caused to farming businesses and farming families. I think farming businesses are unique in the fact that the farmer does not go to work at eight and come back at six. The whole family is part of the business, including children, and, when there’s an issue on farm, that affects the whole family. Presiding Officer, I...
Russell George: I would like to join the Cabinet Secretary in welcoming home all the Welsh athletes who contributed to this record-breaking Team GB medal haul at the Rio Olympics and Paralympic Games. As the Cabinet Secretary has said, this homecoming event is a great opportunity to thank these inspirational athletes and, of course, all those people who have been involved in training them and supporting...
Russell George: First Minister, Visit Scotland spends over £50 million on promoting Scotland. In Wales, Visit Wales, £8.3 million was spent on Wales as a whole. But none of that spend is spent specifically on promoting mid Wales as a specific destination to visit. We have the coastal path, we have beautiful market towns overlooking fantastic scenery in mid Wales. Can I ask, First Minister: is it good...
Russell George: As Chair of the newly elected cross-party group on cross-border issues I would like to focus my contribution and remarks today on the challenges and opportunities of cross-border collaboration and the necessity for improved connectivity between north Wales and the emerging Northern Powerhouse in north England. Through cementing north Wales as an important part of this new economic region, we...
Russell George: Cabinet Secretary, the First Minister kindly agreed to look at the issue I raised with him yesterday at FMQs with regard to Bridgend County Borough Council’s decision to prohibit the largest waste management company in Wales, the Potter Group, from bidding for a waste management contract because it doesn’t have an annual turnover of more than £50 million. I understand that this is in...
Russell George: 8. Will the Minister outline whether or not the Welsh Government provides guidance to local authorities on the procurement of its waste management contracts? OAQ(5)0023(FLG)
Russell George: Thank you, Minister, for your statement today, which is very welcome. This legislation does seem to have suffered from a lack of interest and ambition on behalf of the Government, causing, I should say, frustration among even the Act’s biggest supporters. The fourth Assembly’s Enterprise and Business Committee made a number of recommendations during their early post-legislative scrutiny...
Russell George: The five-point action plan on local bus services that your colleague the Cabinet Secretary for the economy published last week is very much to be welcomed. Bus service support grants have been cut already. Can you guarantee that the current level of funding for local bus services, as outlined last week, and any additional—. I’m sorry. Can you guarantee the current level of funding for...
Russell George: First Minister, the largest privately owned waste management company in Wales, the Potter Group, which is based in my constituency, has been excluded from bidding for a waste management contract in Bridgend County Borough Council because it doesn’t meet the requirements of having an annual turnover of more than £50 million. Would you agree with me that it’s disproportionate to require...
Russell George: 3. Will the First Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government's guidance to local authorities on the procurement of public services? OAQ(5)0140(FM)
Russell George: I’m pleased to take part in this co-sponsored debate today regarding the BBC’s role in Wales as a broadcaster, which has a unique role in reflecting the lives of the people of Wales both in English and Welsh on television, radio and online. I sound a bit like a radio jingle saying that. I do very much agree with the words of Bethan Jenkins and Lee Waters today. I’m very pleased that we...
Russell George: I thank the Cabinet Secretary for his statement. The construction of the Circuit of Wales is a fantastic opportunity not only for the south Wales Valleys, but for Wales more generally. So, it is disappointing news today; I think there’s no getting away from that. But I hope that the Circuit of Wales project still remains an exciting project that can offer great opportunities to provide...
Russell George: My question was in regard to the fact that there are a number of taxes that small businesses would pay and, clearly, as it was a Welsh Labour manifesto commitment to cut tax for small businesses, if they’re not paying business rates, then obviously that manifesto commitment will cut taxes in other areas. The Development Bank for Wales is also designed to address the growing bank funding...
Russell George: Thank you, Cabinet Secretary, for that. You have rightly outlined your manifesto commitment to cut taxes for small businesses. Could I ask you how you would do that for small businesses that currently don’t pay business rates? How are you going to cut taxes for those small businesses?
Russell George: Thank you, Presiding Officer. Cabinet Secretary, I’d like to question you on the Welsh Government’s support for small businesses and, in doing so, I also declare that I’m an owner of a small business myself. Small businesses in England will benefit from a number of key priority changes that the UK Government has brought forward in its 2016 budget in order to assists small and...
Russell George: Thank you for your answer, Cabinet Secretary. The heritage hub for mid Wales project is an exciting new project in Newtown, which aims to forge a brand identity for mid Wales, through the exploitation of digital technology and the promotion of our culture, including paying tribute to the iconic social reformer, Robert Owen, famous to Newtown. Now, they’ve also promoted the project with...
Russell George: 2. Will the Minister outline the financial support available for tourism projects in mid Wales? OAQ(5)0027(EI)
Russell George: Can I thank the Cabinet Secretary for his statement? Cardiff and its surrounding area is of course the fastest-growing region in the UK, and the growth brings with it increased usage and growing pressure on pre-existing transport infrastructure. With this in mind, it’s important that future modernisation of the Welsh transport industry not only copes with this growing demand but caters for...
Russell George: Business Minister, I would like to request a statement from the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs on the Welsh Government support for farmers under the Glastir agri-environment scheme. Now, over the past month, I’ve been alerted to a large number of businesses having received letters from Welsh Government demanding the repayment of thousands of pounds based upon...
Russell George: Cabinet Secretary, one of the ways in which the Welsh Government could support and assist the company, as it pauses for thought over the sale of the business, is through business rate relief. In April, I believe the Welsh Government said then that it could not apply for a temporary rate relief because it was, effectively, hamstrung by European Union rules at the time. Now, following Brexit,...
