Lee Waters: They're all wrong.
Lee Waters: Thank you for giving way. I certainly support the liveable cities agenda, but there is a thorny public policy dilemma we need to engage with. There's good evidence to show that cities grow often at the expense of outlying areas. It often is a zero-sum game. So, what is the thinking on what can be done to help the left-behind areas?
Lee Waters: Would the Member give way?
Lee Waters: Thank you very much. It's often said of economists that, if you ask four economists their opinion, they'll give you five answers. Is the same true of UKIP's position on energy policy?
Lee Waters: 3. What assistance can the Welsh Government give to Carmarthenshire County Council to combat the problem of flies in Llanelli? OAQ52292
Lee Waters: Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on the work conducted by the valleys taskforce on the impact of automation?
Lee Waters: Thank you for the reply, Minister. Since I tabled the question, I'm pleased that the likely site of the infestation has been identified and now handed over to Natural Resources Wales. There's still a good deal of stress and distress, particularly in the Morfa and the seaside parts of town where the problem was most intense, and it was deeply unpleasant for many families. There's a great deal...
Lee Waters: Will the Member gave way?
Lee Waters: On spending, I realise the Member is new to the Conservative group in the Assembly, but not that long ago, the Conservatives had a pledge to ring-fence health spending in Wales. The consequence would have been a massive cut in education spending. So, it's a little rich for the Member now to give us lectures on health spending levels when we've protected it and grown it.
Lee Waters: 8. What action is the Welsh Government taking to make sleep medication for children and young people with neurodevelopmental conditions more easily available? OAQ52380
Lee Waters: Thank you, First Minister. Families with children with neurodevelopmental conditions often report that getting a child to sleep is one of the most stressful and difficult times of the day. One constituent came to see me recently. They couldn't settle their son until four in the morning, causing chaos in the house and stress for the whole family. When children do get to see a specialist,...
Lee Waters: Just in terms of your point about enemies causing problems and disruption, can I just remind you it's the Foreign Secretary who has said that these negotiations would be better handled if Donald Trump was in charge? So, he should be directing his ire at his own side, rather than these benches.
Lee Waters: Thank you very much. It's ironic to have you quoting back at us that we're going to end up with the worst of all worlds, because that's exactly what the 'remain' campaign warned would happen, but we were assured by you and Nigel Farage that this would be a cinch—it would sort out all these trade deals within 24 hours. We said this was nonsense. You were the one who sold people that pup, and...
Lee Waters: Would the Member give way?
Lee Waters: Will the Member give way?
Lee Waters: I'm moved to contribute briefly to this debate by the comments made by the leader of Plaid Cymru that she had her own cunning plan, two years ago, to create a campaign and approached the First Minister to do so. I have no knowledge of that conversation, but I'm surprised that it's taken her two years to reveal this cunning plan. I would say this: she and I both sat on the steering committee...
Lee Waters: I will give her the courtesy that she denied me, yes.
Lee Waters: The trade unions were bound by the same legislation. Of course it's about leadership and of course there are questions for us all to answer about the way that that referendum was conducted, and the timing of it was clearly unfortunate, but I think this is fantasy politics. And also, it misunderstands the depth of feeling amongst her own constituents about what that referendum was about. 'If...
Lee Waters: 6. Will the Leader of the House establish a digital support and challenge board to act as a catalyst for innovation across the public sector? OAQ52378
Lee Waters: Thank you for that response, Cabinet Secretary. There's been much discussion, as ever, here today on the digital infrastructure, but there's far too little attention in my view on how we use that infrastructure to transform the way we design and deliver public services. It's clear that this is a challenging agenda for all Governments, and the evidence that the Public Accounts Committee and...
