Did you mean representations -taxation speaker:Carwyn Jones?
Carwyn Jones: ...2000, we used to look at other countries where people had no access to legal advice and be appalled that they would be representing themselves in quite serious matters in court with no legal representation whilst being prosecuted by a professional prosecutor. Does he agree with me that that's exactly now where we are in England and Wales and that we've gone back some 200 years?
Carwyn Jones: ...Grid on a number of issues, including the proposed north Wales connection project, which is currently going through the development consent Order process. The Welsh Government has submitted its representations to this process.
Carwyn Jones: ...an agreement, it is essential that we keep good faith with that agreement and honour our obligations under it. He mentions the JMC(P). I am meeting the Prime Minister tomorrow. We have made representations regarding JMC(P). The date that so far has come back is a date where I can guarantee I won't be there because it's after my time as First Minister. So, we are seeking to have a JMC...
Carwyn Jones: ...reconsider this damaging policy and to commit to targeting more support to help lift people out of poverty. We all see, of course, the flaws of universal credit, and the Member will be aware of the representations we have made.
Carwyn Jones: ...political parties, and we all recognise that steps have to be taken with regard to that. So, there's much work to be done. But that work, of course, is driven forward very strongly by the kind of representations that she has made and others in this Chamber have made, and the representation that she has made and those of my friend from the Vale of Glamorgan and others in this Chamber will...
Carwyn Jones: There is a taskforce, and we have representation on that taskforce, and a bid has been received for additional funding from the taskforce itself in order to consider another study as regards the way forward, and of course we are considering that at present to see whether it is possible to fund another study to see which model would be best for the area.
Carwyn Jones: ...Government. Now, of course, the pay arrangements of senior staff are not in the control of the Welsh Government, they're not devolved, but there is a commitment on our part to achieving 50:50 representation across the senior civil service by 2020. So, what measures are being taken? Well, measures are being taken to attract more women into senior posts; this includes support for women who...
Carwyn Jones: We have had questions of the Ministry of Justice that have not yet been satisfactorily answered. We have taken no decision on the sale of the land. I know of the representations that have been made. In some ways, the issue is bound up with the commission for justice, in the sense of what should a Welsh penal policy, or a Welsh sentencing policy as well, look like in the future. It's right...
Carwyn Jones: ...it has done. I have to say to the leader of the opposition: we have seen, for eight years, cuts in the Welsh budget. We could be £4 billion, by one estimate, better off if he had actually made representations to his Government in London, but he has sat there and done nothing. Ruth Davidson sits in the UK Cabinet. He isn't allowed through the door. The Northern Ireland Executive was given...
Carwyn Jones: Well, we've made representations very strongly. We get 1.5 per cent of railway infrastructure investment—1.5 per cent. On a balanced share, it would be over 6 per cent, but that's not what we get. And still the UK Government refused to devolve railway infrastructure plus a Barnett share of that spending to us. We still have no decision on the tidal lagoon. We made the point last week. We...
Carwyn Jones: We'll be fully involved in the UK-wide celebrations of the one hundredth anniversary of the Representation of the People Act 1918. More details about how we will mark that centenary throughout the course of this year will be made available this month.
Carwyn Jones: ...wrong with that. It's hugely important that those inquiries now are able to get on with their work. If people are serious about engaging with those inquiries then, of course, they should make their representations to the people running them.
Carwyn Jones: ...worse off in real terms [Interruption.]—I know it hurts, but you've got to listen—7 per cent worse off in real terms since 2010, where, when Northern Ireland got £1.67 billion, they made no representations at all for Wales, and where Wales is so insignificant in their thinking, that the leader—and I feel sorry for him now—of the opposition is banned from sitting in the UK...
Carwyn Jones: There were very many representations made—over 250. They are more detailed than would usually be expected in this situation, and a summary of all those will be published erelong. The review of the NVZ is statutory under the nitrates directive, and, of course, that has to be considered in the context of pollution as well. So, striking the balance is what's vital here. Of course, we want to...
Carwyn Jones: ...there and acquiesces a bung to Northern Ireland of £1.67 billion—some of it on health—and he did nothing to represent his country. [Interruption.] He did nothing to represent his country. What representations did he make to the UK Government and his colleagues to demand that Wales should get a Barnett equivalent of that money? Nothing; he’s too scared of them.
Carwyn Jones: Well, we’ll continue to make those representations, but we’ll have to get in a queue. I mean, their own MPs are saying that the roll-out should be stopped. If I could sum up the attitude of the Conservative Government, it would be this: lessen the financial burden on the rich—cut tax—and increase the financial burden on the poorest—getting rid of tax credits, the bedroom tax,...
Carwyn Jones: ...; what does it mean for the north of Wales?’—I say, ‘Well, there are three Cabinet Secretaries in the Government who come from north Wales constituencies’. That is an enormous level of representation. There’s nobody in the UK Government from a north Wales constituency. But the voice of the north is very, very strong. It has to be. There are 60 of us here. At least a quarter of...
Carwyn Jones: We’re content to work with the council, of course, to see what support we can provide in terms of the commissioning of any new report. And again, we await the council’s representations in that regard.
Carwyn Jones: It’s not yet clear what the nature of that support would be, which is why we look forward to receiving the representations from the council, in order for us to look at this further. But as far as the people there are concerned, I can well understand that they want to have certainty as quickly as possible. We’re keen to do that and we’ll continue to work with the council in order for...
Carwyn Jones: ...on 22 August where Government officials joined with the Neath Port Talbot council to consider the way forward. We as a Government will consider anything that the council suggests when they make representations to us, as was agreed in that meeting, as I understand it.
