Darren Millar: Cabinet Secretary, what consideration have you given to the potential growth in the wood manufacturing industry in north Wales? You’ll be aware that there are significant parts of north Wales that have forestry on them, but there have been significant concerns raised by people involved in the wood manufacturing industry about the lack of Welsh timber available in the marketplace at present,...
Darren Millar: 7. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on economic growth in north Wales? OAQ(5)0123(EI)
Darren Millar: 4. Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on waiting times for treatment in north Wales? OAQ(5)0117(HWS)
Darren Millar: I just wanted to speak very briefly, if I can, in this important debate. Can I welcome the fact that the Welsh Government brought back a Bill without any proposals for significant restrictions on e-cigarettes? We know that we’ve had some success in bringing down smoking rates here in Wales in recent years, and that’s gone hand in hand with people choosing to have an e-cigarette rather...
Darren Millar: I wish you’d have been here in the previous statement, Deputy Presiding Officer, so we could have had some—
Darren Millar: I appreciate that, and at least you’re consistent with these things, Deputy Presiding Officer.
Darren Millar: If I may then, with one further question, and I’ll try and make it as broad a question as I possibly can. Can you tell us in addition then, Cabinet Secretary, how you intend to address the concern that the OECD have highlighted about the lack of focus on more able and talented pupils? One thing that I note that the Welsh Government is taking some considerable action on is needing to support...
Darren Millar: I’ve just got a few more—
Darren Millar: I appreciate that, Deputy Presiding—
Darren Millar: Can I thank the Cabinet Secretary for her statement this afternoon and, indeed, the advance copy of the OECD’s report yesterday, which I believe was shared with all of the political parties? I think what’s very clear, having read the report, is that not everything was as rosy as the picture that was painted back in December, when the Cabinet Secretary wrote to the Chair of the Children,...
Darren Millar: Cabinet Secretary, whilst I welcome the continued commitment to the Library of Wales series, are you aware of the report that was published last week that talked about the reading trends and reading ability of pupils across the UK? In that particular report, it demonstrated that Wales had seen a slump in reading ages, so that, actually, in terms of the situation against chronological age,...
Darren Millar: I’m grateful to you for taking an intervention. Would you agree with me that what we actually need is some sort of universal service obligation where nobody lives above a certain distance from their local branch? We’ve got a similar sort of arrangement with post offices. You know, there are universal service obligations for some utility companies. Isn’t this one of those essential...
Darren Millar: I’m grateful for the opportunity to take part in this debate. I just want to make a brief contribution, because lots of points have already been made about the banking sector and the need to better serve its customers. There are three banks that are currently threatened with closure in my own constituency at the moment, two of them in a single town in Abergele, which also saw a bank close...
Darren Millar: I’m very grateful to the Member for giving way. One of the other benefits, of course, that these sorts of schemes can deliver is a flood protection benefit. Of course, on the coast in north Wales there’s an opportunity to develop a tidal lagoon to protect Colwyn Bay, Conwy and parts of the coastline of Denbighshire. Do you agree with me that that sort of opportunity, because it’s going...
Darren Millar: I'm very grateful for you giving way, Cabinet Secretary, and very grateful for the clarification in terms of the timetable for the publication of those. But do you accept that it is very unusual for an organisation like the EWC not to have responsibility for developing those standards, and that it is unusual that it sits with the Welsh Government? Why is it? What's the argument for retaining...
Darren Millar: Can I put on record that we will also be supporting these regulations, notwithstanding the reservations of the legislative affairs committee in terms of the further regulations that are yet to be published for scrutiny? One thing, however, that I am a little concerned about is that, obviously, within the remit of the EWC are also responsibilities for FE lecturers, for example. I just wonder...
Darren Millar: Can I also thank the Cabinet Secretary for her statement? I think it is disappointing, of course, that the announcement was made to the media yesterday rather than in this Chamber. But we are having a statement today, and at least that gives us an opportunity to ask you some questions about the plans that you have announced. I want to welcome the establishment of the endowment. It is a key...
Darren Millar: Leader of the house, can I call for a statement on the future of Colwyn Bay’s Victoria Pier? You will be aware that there was an announcement over the weekend by Conwy County Borough Council that an agreement had been reached with the Colwyn Victoria Pier Trust over the dismantling of the pier in order to protect it from further deterioration, after recent storms gave it a battering and...
Darren Millar: One of the other things, First Minister, that can be done in order to combat scams is the establishment of no-cold-calling zones. This has been something that has been extremely successful in my own constituency, where Conwy County Borough Council have imposed a town-wide one in Abergele. What work do you think that we can do here in the National Assembly, and the Welsh Government can do, to...
Darren Millar: I’m grateful for your taking the intervention. There are two points I’d wish to put to you. One is the fact that the Welsh economy is connected to the economy over the border in England and therefore it’s entirely appropriate that we should consider what is going on over the border. Secondly, you had a Deputy First Minister who was responsible for the economy for a number of years while...
