Adam Price: At the time of the Assembly election, the Labour manifesto promised, 'We will offer a tax cut to all small businesses in Wales'. I presume that this is the policy announcement that is designed to give effect to that pledge. Now, that could have been achieved through a variety of means—by raising the lower and upper thresholds for relief and increasing the rate, introducing a split...
Adam Price: Transport has tended to be, in Wales, something that's done to us, not for us and certainly not for ourselves. Our transport infrastructure has often reflected the prevailing power dynamics, the prevailing economics, rather than being used in the way that I think Lee Waters was suggesting and, indeed, Jenny Rathbone—as a creative tool, if you like, for reinventing our country and our...
Adam Price: It can be that, but there is a tension. For example, in the versions and the discussion that I've heard, the emphasis almost always seems to be on basically—to simplify it, but essentially—to use it as a commuter service to get people from the hinterland to work in jobs in Cardiff. That makes no economic sense for us. It will not be delivered. I agree with the Member that, actually, a...
Adam Price: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. May I say at the beginning, in responding to the Cabinet Secretary, that I do wish him well in implementing the laudable aims of this strategy? I don’t doubt his sincerity and his personal commitment to that task. However, where there is disagreement between us is the degree to which we can expect this strategy to be realised, because one thing that is...
Adam Price: Will the Member give way?
Adam Price: I didn't want to break across his flow, and I'm totally in agreement with him, but can I also urge him to reprise the excellent idea that he wrote about five years ago with Mark Barry, which was creating a circle line for the Valleys, which really should be the first priority for the metro, rather than this emphasis, unfortunately, on connection with Cardiff?
Adam Price: Will the Cabinet Secretary take an intervention?
Adam Price: The Valleys strategy published 12 years ago by another A. Davies had a price tag of £1 billion a year. When will we have figures from the Cabinet Secretary as to the additional investment that will be attached to this strategy to deliver on the objectives?
Adam Price: Thank you very much, Llywydd. I’d like to return, if I may, to the matter of the Government’s support to the film and television industry, which is a very important and significant sector of our economy and our culture. Last month, the Government confirmed in the freedom of information request that the Pinewood company no longer pays rent or is a tenant at the Wentloog studio that they...
Adam Price: Well, I’m confused by that response, because I understand that the change of ownership that happened with the Pinewood group two years ago means that they have withdrawn from the business of providing advisory services with regard to investment, and the Minister referred to that. But that doesn’t explain why they no longer pay rent, nor why they are no longer a tenant for the studio....
Adam Price: Well, I’m sorry, but I have to say to the Minister that it isn’t good enough just to reread a script that has been given to you. This follows numerous questions that have been asked, mainly by Suzy Davies, and we haven’t received answers to the majority of those questions. Suzy and others have had to use freedom of information requests in order to find out that Pinewood is no longer a...
Adam Price: The citizens of Wales need to hear those answers.
Adam Price: It’s a pleasure to contribute to this important debate and to move the amendment in the name of Rhun ap Iorwerth. It’s certainly true that there’s been a grave lack of investment in the Welsh roads network. The figures demonstrate that clearly. Since 2011, for example, the expenditure on roads in Wales has reduced by £32 million and, if truth be told, if we look at local roads, the...
Adam Price: Yes.
Adam Price: Well, no, that’s not demonstrated by the figures, because rural roads have 40 per cent of the traffic, but they have 62 per cent of the fatalities, and the lack of investment in our roads, I would argue, does have a direct impact on the level of fatalities. We do have to grasp the opportunities that exist now in order to transform our road network, because we are looking to the future, at...
Adam Price: Would you accept that—? Looking to the not-so-distant future, actually, given the decision—sadly—not to electrify the main line in south Wales beyond Cardiff, in 15 years' time we could be in a position where, actually, most cars will be electric, whereas it will be the trains that will be most polluting. So, don't we need to have a slightly more nuanced approach to this question?
Adam Price: Will the Cabinet Secretary give way?
Adam Price: He's championed the opportunity that driverless cars represent to Wales, and I fully support him in that. Does he recognise that, actually, to seize that opportunity, we have to invest in our road network, in road markings, the road surfaces, et cetera, and the availability of 5G? So, we need to create a smart road network that will allow us to maximise that opportunity.
Adam Price: What plans has the Welsh Government made to respond to the consequences of Carillion entering liquidation? (EAQ0002)
Adam Price: I'm grateful to the Cabinet Secretary for that response. I hope we can get a little more detail on some of the specific projects.
