Suzy Davies: Well, of course, Cabinet Secretary, one of the reasons for the delays is the UK Government’s concerns over the public/private sector balance with that city deal. And on that subject, if you like, I wonder if you could give us an indication—I appreciate you can’t give me a specific figure—of what proportion of Wales’s European funding in my region has gone on public service projects...
Suzy Davies: Thank you, Dai Lloyd, for bringing these proposals forward today. You may have to run all those languages past me again, because I really didn’t catch them all, but thank you very much. On behalf of the Welsh Conservatives, I can confirm that we’re happy to support the proposals for the Bill at this stage, recognising the aims that you set out. During the passage of the Historic...
Suzy Davies: I am tempted to just cough and say the words ‘Cwrt Sart’, but I won’t. Andrew R.T. Davies was talking earlier about energy, and 18 years is a long time for any party, and I do mean any party, to be in Government. It doesn’t really matter who props them up, it’s still a long time. But the one thing that is good about it is that it gives those parties a long term to plan, and I do...
Suzy Davies: I’m a bit short on time, but if you can keep it quick.
Suzy Davies: Absolutely; that was my point. I’m thinking some of these partnerships don’t work because, actually, the private sector isn’t as involved as it could be, and I think that’s a real shame for Wales. This is what I have seen over these last six years. I know there’s only so much money, but how well has it been spent? There’s no vision, no bravery, and Wales needs its Government to...
Suzy Davies: 3. Will the First Minister make a statement on Welsh Government budget decisions for social care? OAQ(5)0532(FM)
Suzy Davies: Well, thank you very much for that answer. I’m sure everyone will welcome the Chancellor’s £2 billion announcement for social care in England and, of course, that gives the Welsh Government the opportunity to use part of the not inconsiderable Barnett consequential for that to add to its own money that you’ve mentioned today. There is money now available for social care, which we would...
Suzy Davies: Sorry, I didn’t realise you were calling me first. Thank you very much anyway, Dirprwy Lywydd. As Members may remember, it was actually Mark Isherwood who was making his contribution last week. I’m not Mark Isherwood, and even though he’s kindly given me his speech from last week, I have made one or two alterations so that it’s a bit more me than him today. So, any errors are entirely...
Suzy Davies: Have I got time? Yes. Okay, then. Thank you.
Suzy Davies: I take your point completely, but this is actually the Parliament rather than the Government and I’d like this Parliament at the forefront, if you like, in helping inform Government to reach a negotiating—[Interruption.]—inform the Government reaching a negotiating position. I think my point is quite fair, actually, because, of course, although the White Paper calls for full and...
Suzy Davies: 4. Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on the Welsh Government’s funding for social care? OAQ(5)0141(HWS)
Suzy Davies: I agree that the city deal may well provide this big digital leap forward, but it’s worth remembering as well that Swansea is where Trudy Norris-Grey made her leap forward from—you obviously know, Minister, that she’s the managing director of central and eastern Europe public sector at Microsoft and chair of Women in Science, Engineering and Technology. She claims that there are...
Suzy Davies: Thank you, Minister. I am happy to acknowledge the additional moneys that you’ve committed to social care. Even so, by my calculation, I don’t think the full Barnett consequential of the Chancellor’s £2 billion for social care has found its way into your budget, but I’ll leave that for another day. Because, despite those considerable additional funds made available for social care in...
Suzy Davies: Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Last week, the Dementia Engagement and Empowerment Project, or DEEP as some of you may already know it, did something with a supermarket in Swansea that I thought you would like to know about, to see if anything similar is happening in your constituencies and regions. On Wednesday, Tesco laid down the gauntlet to other businesses and opened its doors for the first...
Suzy Davies: First Minister, when children leave hospital, particularly if they have a life-limiting condition of any kind, they’re still going to need medical and, of course, social care at home, and that will affect their carers and other children in the household. In July last year, the Minister said that the Government was refreshing the carers strategy at the end of last year and it is, as far as I...
Suzy Davies: Thank you for your statement, Minister. This legislation, of course, was supported by us and we want to see it succeed. I was pleased to hear the good news on adoption as well, because that was actually a model with which we were pretty sceptical, if I’m honest, so I’m pleased to say that we may have been persuaded otherwise on that now that we have the evidence. I think we do agree that...
Suzy Davies: Thank you very much for your statement, Cabinet Secretary, and for, as you say, sharing your thoughts. I thank you for confirming your acceptance of the steering group’s recommendations. I detected from your earlier statement that you’ve not written off completely the idea of an arm’s-length Cadw, not least in recognition of the freedom to improve the commercial potential—something...
Suzy Davies: Well, as you indicated, leader of the house, it isn’t just exotic animals, but wildlife that comes into this, including our domestic wildlife that find themselves sometimes being cared for by people whose interventions come with the best interests, but perhaps not the best welfare information. I know that Welsh Government has started to look at this, but I’m wondering whether there is any...
Suzy Davies: Cabinet Secretary, I’m familiar with ‘buddleia towers’ as well and I can’t say that I’m over-impressed by Swansea council’s intervention there. But the city deal is better news for Swansea. Perhaps regrettably, it doesn’t address traditional infrastructure or metros, focusing instead on digital highways as drivers for innovation and regeneration. As a result, I’m wondering...
Suzy Davies: Twice for Suzy Davies as well, Cabinet Secretary. Swansea council’s local development plan has already been delayed, and the new date of March has passed and we’re still no nearer being absolutely sure about what this vision that you mentioned looks like, and the innovation that the council can bring to its plan to bring new rental properties into the housing stock. Now, I’ve raised the...
