Jane Hutt: Thank you, Simon Thomas, for those two questions. Indeed, I recall that you raised the issue of the proposed closures of the DWP offices, and of course those concerns are not only shared by the Welsh Government, but by other Assembly Members and their constituents. And, again, it is important and timely that you raise this, for us to re-examine where we are on this in terms of our...
Elin Jones: Well, my door is certainly not closed on this issue, and I have looked with interest since you first corresponded with me on the Speaker’s scheme in the House of Commons in partnership with the Creative Society. I agree with your analysis that interns that we have had in this place and in other places have come from usual suspects or usual places, especially those who are politics students...
Mark Isherwood: ...referendum last year, which applied in part to the repatriation of law-making powers. So, given that the next round of the negotiations between the UK and EU is set to take place on 17 July, what representations has the Welsh Government made to the UK Government on this specific matter?
Julie Morgan: ...statement, as soon as possible, from the Government, about how they see the setting up of this public inquiry, and how Wales will take part in it? It is absolutely essential that Welsh victims have representations in the process. So, I ask for a statement, as soon as we possibly can, to look at what is a victory for all those people who’ve campaigned for so long. But we want to make sure...
Darren Millar: Can I say thank you to the Cabinet Secretary for giving advance notice of her statement, and for publishing the summary of the responses, as well, to the consultation on the Welsh Government’s position? It’s very timely that this should be made, particularly before the summer recess, because, of course, young people will be wanting to prepare for future academic years, and thinking very...
Julie James: ...that by establishing and strengthening the regional skills partnerships. And, as I mentioned in the statement, we've also reconfigured the Wales employment and skills board in order to have better representation from those regional skills partnerships to take an all-Wales overview, and that's very much driven by the employers and trade unions working together in that board with a delivery...
Julie James: ..., but I’ll just reiterate. The Valleys taskforce is just mentioned as being the pilot test bed for some of the pieces of work that we’re doing. As I already indicated to other Members, it’s not the only place that we’ll be doing it and we have to start somewhere. Obviously, the communities of north Wales also have similar problems, and we will of course be addressing employability...
Julie James: I’ve made repeated representations to the Minister for employment. I made clear my concerns when we spoke on 5 July. I’ll continue to seek assurances about the position of staff who are adversely affected by these changes. And, indeed, I’m meeting with the UK Minister tomorrow to discuss the matter further.
Ken Skates: ...is shared by many other Members in this Chamber? Indeed, the local Member Jayne Bryant has discussed her concerns over the future of the company with me on numerous occasions and made very strong representations. Essentially, I think it would be inappropriate for me to comment or speculate over the viability of the company were the flood not to have occurred, but in terms of what happened...
Carwyn Jones: Well, we know that a number of people have argued that we need a new model in order to ensure effective representation of citizens in health and social care. This isn’t anything that will weaken the voice of the citizen. Of course, we wish to hear people’s views on the schemes and plans that we have for a new, independent body and, of course, we would be very happy to hear what Members...
Vaughan Gething: ...people to express their views and, if they don’t support the proposals, to think about alternatives to improve the quality and governance and direction of the national health service. So, this is not the Government saying, ‘We’re asking you, but we’ve already made our minds up’. It is a genuine consultation. On the point about whether there is now a case for an independent...
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.
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: 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.
Suzy Davies: ...and for me, this has got Swansea bay city deal written all over it. What recent discussions have you had with the local government leaders about pinning down the governance structure, with balanced representation from the private sector—you mentioned the ports earlier—so that we can see some accelerated activity on the deal?
Carwyn Jones: ...is right to say that we wish, as a Government, to have decisions taken as close to people’s communities as possible, but we have found in the past—this drove the previous legislation that was not successful—that that leads to massive inconsistency, where some councils are unable to deliver services in the way they should. One council, Anglesey, was taken over because it failed so...
...Iorwerth To propose that the National Assembly for Wales: 1. Calls on the Welsh Government to oppose the construction of a super-prison in Port Talbot. 2. Further calls on the Welsh Government: a) not to sell or release any Welsh Government land for the purpose of construction of the proposed super-prison; b) to develop the local economy through supporting businesses in the industrial...
Mr Neil Hamilton: ...period for the document ‘Taking Forward Wales’ Sustainable Management of Natural Resources’ is supposed to end on the thirtieth of this month. I know that the Cabinet Secretary has had representations from many people to say that this is a vast exercise given the breadth of the consultation that is going on and the number of issues that are often very disparate. She has been very...
Lesley Griffiths: I thank the Member for the question. I did extend it, as you say, to 30 September, following representations from the farming unions and other environmental organisations. And, certainly, over the summer recess, when I’ve been attending the agricultural shows and doing visits in both agriculture and environmental settings, it was very clear, particularly over the summer as well, that the...
Lesley Griffiths: ...to see a multi-use for these paths: they want to see footpaths, cyclists and horse-riding all on the same path; others don’t want to. So, I think you’re right: it is about a balance. I’ve had representations around camping. You’re quite right: some farmers—I went to a farm up in the Snowdonia national park over the summer, where one farmer said, ‘There are 500,000 people...
