Nick Ramsay: Diolch, Llywydd. Cabinet Secretary, the Wales Centre for Public Policy has recently published its report on the Welsh tax base, which has raised a number of salient points about the impact even small changes to the tax system can have on taxpayer behaviour, migration and inward investment. With regard to land transaction tax, the report highlights that, although there were only 45 LTT and...
Nick Ramsay: Cabinet Secretary, the report also showed the inextricable link between the Welsh economy and the ability of the Welsh Government to raise tax revenue in general. In particular, differences between the UK's economy and the Welsh economy have been starkly laid out: lower income, lack of high-skilled, high-paid jobs, lower productivity, and higher exposure to automation. All these things, I...
Nick Ramsay: That's a very interesting answer, Cabinet Secretary, because you're right: we did, on this side of the Chamber, as did the majority of AMs, support the devolution of tax powers to this place, and we fully believe in accountability. I'm pleased that the Conservative Government—the previous UK coalition Government—did actually go in that direction. It sounds to me that what you're saying...
Nick Ramsay: There's not much I can add, really, to Lee Waters's excellent question. Speaking as Chair of the Public Accounts Committee, we are quite literally astonished, baffled—whatever description you want to give it—that the Auditor General for Wales has once again had to qualify the accounts of NRW for the third year running, and again on the basis of their transactions relating to timber sales,...
Nick Ramsay: The chair and chief exec. So, clearly, you're—that was the right thing to do. At any point during this process, during the last year since we knew the previous problems existed, had they run by you what they were doing? Had they alerted you to the fact that they were dealing with the same timber company that failed to build a sawmill before? And 59 contracts were awarded—well, why 59?...
Nick Ramsay: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Later this week, on 20 July, Huw Vaughan Thomas CBE will complete his last day in office as the Auditor General for Wales. I'd like to take this opportunity to reflect on his tenure as auditor general and to express thanks to him for his contributions to public life. Huw was appointed auditor general in 2010, bringing with him a wealth of experience and expertise from...
Nick Ramsay: Thank you, Adam Price. I know very little about auditors in Brazil; it does sound a bit like a film, doesn't it? So, I'll leave that for other people to comment on. There's going to be very little disagreement, I sense, in this statement. Adam, you've cited the auditor general's role in innovating and driving the agenda forward, and you're totally right. I think before Members go on the...
Nick Ramsay: One certainty of life on the Public Accounts Committee is that Mike Hedges cannot leave it. He always ends up leaving and then coming back at some point, and I think you're probably one of the most experienced Members on that committee now, Mike. You made some very valid points. In true Mike Hedges style, I rattled off a long list of successful reports the auditor general gave, and you've...
Nick Ramsay: Running out of accolades now—[Laughter.] I knew I shouldn't have mentioned Mike Hedges as being the longest serving, because obviously my colleague Mohammad Asghar has been on the committee a long time as well. Yes, your points are well made. Over the last two years, since I've been Chair of the committee, we've looked at a number of different areas. The Circuit of Wales is an obvious one....
Nick Ramsay: 'The great auditors'—how do I follow that? I stand to be corrected, but I think it was Tony Blair who once said we cannot change our country without first changing ourselves. I might be wrong, but I think it was back when he was starting out and he first became Labour leader. I think the point you made about what the auditor general inherited with the Wales Audit Office as it was and the...
Nick Ramsay: When people ask me to give them a solid reason why we should have more Assembly Members, I often cite the fact that not only do I chair the Public Accounts Committee and have that role of looking back, but of course I sit with Simon Thomas on the Finance Committee with the job of looking financially forward. I'm trying to look both ways at once sometimes, which wouldn't happen in larger...
Nick Ramsay: I wondered why it seemed so long ago. Yes, it was a totally different weather situation then. But, yes, you're quite right: it's as we discussed during that process. This is an important role. That cannot be overstated. I think I said 'understated' in my initial speech; I meant 'overstated', of course. It cannot be overstated, and it's really important that the process, not just the people...
Nick Ramsay: I've very little to add to that, Llywydd, you'll be pleased to know, other than as a former PAC chair, I know how closely Darren Millar worked with Huw and did a lot of important work. I should probably have pointed out at the start that Huw is in the gallery. I'm just thinking of people watching this from outside and we're all looking heavenward as if he's sitting on a cloud somewhere, but...
Nick Ramsay: 7. What is the Welsh Government’s vision for the future of financial support for the agricultural industry? OAQ52576
Nick Ramsay: First Minister, I fully appreciate that the Welsh Government is still awaiting details, the finalised details, of the shared prosperity fund, and its vitally important that, within Wales, we do have an effective replacement to the structural funds that we have benefited from, depended upon for a very long time. Albeit we are in the situation we are, can you give us that assurance that your...
Nick Ramsay: First Minister, unfortunately you can't lay all of the world's ills at the door of the UK Government, much as you might like to, and, of course, when the Welsh Government does get money there are numbers of devolved areas such as farming where it is your responsibility to make sure that adequate funding is there. You'll be well aware of the deep concerns of farmers, certainly farmers I met...
Nick Ramsay: Two things from me, leader of the house. Firstly, when can we expect an update on the Welsh Government's decision on the M4 corridor around Newport, and will that be brought to this Chamber? We've had the public inquiry, which ended earlier this year. And we've also, I believe, had the due diligence over the summer period—that was the original plan anyway. So, if you could update us on a...
Nick Ramsay: 4. Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on the roll-out of Medicines Transcribing and E-discharge across all hospitals in Wales? OAQ52577
Nick Ramsay: You're shattering our illusions.
Nick Ramsay: Thank you, Cabinet Secretary, and I support what you've been saying about electronic discharge and I welcome the progress that's been made in trying to achieve that. I hear what you say about MTeD, but I've also heard recently that a new, more integrated service is also being developed that will or could ultimately replace MTeD. Is this the case? It does seem a little odd, if a new system...
