Nick Ramsay: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. It was good listening to those ideas. I’m not sure I’ve got much time left to give any of my own ideas as well; it was quite a long opening. But I’m pleased to move the amendment in the name of Paul Davies on the order paper. Can I say in opening that it’s always good to hear the spatial plan, the Wales spatial plan, reinvented and referred to? I...
Nick Ramsay: 7. Will the First Minister provide an update on tax devolution? OAQ(5)0150(FM)
Nick Ramsay: Thank you, First Minister. As you know, I’ve supported the fiscal framework. I was pleased to attend the finance Secretary’s meeting with the new chief executive of the Welsh Revenue Authority last Thursday to discuss the process of appointing the chair to the new organisation. This is clearly going to be one of the most important new roles in Wales in recent times. Tax devolution will...
Nick Ramsay: First Minister, how are you planning to improve your Government’s procurement policies, particularly in support of small businesses across Wales? Secondly, you pledged to invest in the transformation of the hospital estate in today's statement. Can you give us an update on a completion date for the new critical care centre in Cwmbran? There seems to be some confusion over this.
Nick Ramsay: Can I thank the Chair of the Finance Committee for his statement this afternoon—a first in the history of this institution and an exciting development? Also, can I thank him for allowing all Assembly Members early sight of the statement before Plenary today, which did avoid the shuffling around that sometimes happens of limited copies of oral statements? That’s something that the Welsh...
Nick Ramsay: Would the Member give way?
Nick Ramsay: Thank you for giving way, Dai. I fully agree with you on the benefits of developing a smartcard-integrated system. Would you agree with me it would be a start to get reliable, fully-integrated timetabling, so that, at the touch of a button, you’d be able to see exactly where those services are going to and from?
Nick Ramsay: I’m pleased to contribute to this Welsh Conservatives debate on transport connections within north Wales today. Many of the points I was going to make have been made, so I won’t go over old ground. I would say, unlike Hannah Blythyn, I have the disadvantage of not being a proud north Wales Member—I’m a proud south Wales Member—and nor do I have some of the more detailed local...
Nick Ramsay: Leader of the house, this morning I attended the funeral of Ann Wilkinson from Usk. Many Members of the fourth Assembly before will remember Ann and her tireless work and dedication to the case of cancer patients, cancer sufferers, across Wales. She very sadly died two weeks ago, but she leaves behind a legacy of which she and her family can be proud. Members of the last Assembly will...
Nick Ramsay: 4. Will the Minister make a statement on the quality of school meals in Wales? OAQ(5)0028(EDU)
Nick Ramsay: Thank you. Last week, I was one of many AMs who attended the National School Meals Week event at the Pierhead. I believe you were there yourself, along with the Chair of the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee, to my right. We enjoyed some of the very best of Welsh school food, including jam roly-poly, tikka masala and, of course, spotted dick. AMs were treated to the best food, but,...
Nick Ramsay: Will the Member give way on that point?
Nick Ramsay: Thank you for giving way, Bethan. I agree with you in terms of sending a message out there of what we want to achieve. You mentioned the mental health legislation the Assembly has passed. There is, of course, all the world of difference between making legislation and actually ensuring that the results of that legislation happen on the ground. How are you going to make sure—how so you think...
Nick Ramsay: First Minister, I completely agree with you that the last thing we need is for the current CAP payments to be squeezed through what you can only term ‘the Barnett mangle’. This risks the future underfunding of Wales more than that which we’ve seen. What discussions have you had with the UK Government regarding creating a system of farm support that isn’t subject to the Barnett formula...
Nick Ramsay: Leader of the house, it must be getting on for around 10 years now since I first attended Gwent Clinical Futures meetings regarding the construction of a specialist and critical care centre at Llanfrechfa Grange in Cwmbran. Here we are 10 years down the line and, aside from some preparatory work, we still don’t have that building with us in any real sense. There’s been renewed confusion...
Nick Ramsay: For me, the most important part of this document is actually on the last page, and the paragraph ‘Driving Forward Delivery’. Now, I know that other Members have, over the last few weeks, criticised the length of this document, but, to be honest, I’d rather see a few targets being met than a lot of targets being missed. So, delivery is key here—[Interruption.] Bless you. [Laughter.] We...
Nick Ramsay: Will the Member give way?
Nick Ramsay: I’m glad you mentioned business improvement districts. In the case of Abergavenny, which was mentioned earlier, the local businesses there actually voted against having a business improvement district, so do you accept that they’re not the be-all and end-all across Wales for improving trade in towns?
Nick Ramsay: 1. Will the First Minister provide an update on the timescale for developing the Specialist Critical Care Centre at Llanfrechfa? OAQ(5)0190(FM)
Nick Ramsay: Thank you, First Minister. You did indicate that that might be the case last week. There is growing concern in south-east Wales at the rate of progress with the specialist critical care centre, first planned over 10 years ago. You’ve said that the health Secretary is going to have that information at his disposal in the near future. Will you do what you can to take charge of this issue now,...
