David Rowlands: But why would you accept that one and not the previous one?
David Rowlands: Can I thank the committee for this report and can I say that we will be supporting the motion? Funding our schools, as with our NHS, has always been a controversial issue, but, as with the NHS, we cannot fail to ensure that our education system receives adequate funding. Whatever financial pressures our local authorities are under, school budgets are not the place to make cuts. Only by...
David Rowlands: They can, of course, be done by the authority directly itself, if that is the case at this moment in time. It is the schools and the teaching professionals who run them who know best where to spend the funds available. They are in the best place to decide priorities. Let's put our trust in these professionals. I was told by a headmaster some years ago about the inflated costs he faced when...
David Rowlands: Minister, in a previous Plenary session, I brought to the Government's attention the parlous situation of the citizens of Pontypool, who find themselves marooned after 7 p.m., when all local bus services cease. The lack of transport has grave consequences for the licenced trade in the town centre, and these difficulties are being further exacerbated by the closure of the last community club...
David Rowlands: Can I thank the Minister for her statement? By way of background, the private rented sector currently constitutes 11 per cent of the Welsh housing stock, with 71 per cent being owner-owned and 18 per cent rented from housing associations and local authorities. We all acknowledge there's a growing demand for rented accommodation, not only from those historical groups, such as students, but...
David Rowlands: Diolch, Llywydd. Deputy Minister, the proposal to make Newport the focus for economic growth has been welcomed by all in South Wales East, and we congratulate the Welsh Government on its announcement. However, I understand there has been criticism of this move by Cardiff city council, who argue that this would take jobs and investment out of Wales and undermine Cardiff's role as the economic...
David Rowlands: Well, I thank the Deputy Minister for that brief answer, but, Deputy Minister, the draft national framework encompasses local development plans, strategic development plans, developments of national significance, which all sit alongside 'Planning Policy Wales', and all supposedly based on a regional structure. Given this desire to move to regional centres of governance, could the Welsh...
David Rowlands: 3. Will the First Minister make a statement on the number of quangos in Wales? OAQ54654
David Rowlands: I thank the Minister for his answer. I'm not dismissive of the good work carried out by the third sector, but it is obvious, even to a casual observer, that there is a great deal of duplication in the organisations involved in alleviating some of the most pressing problems faced by the Welsh public. For instance, I believe there are some 50-plus organisations looking after homelessness....
David Rowlands: Can I thank the Minister for his statement this afternoon? There are few in this Chamber who would not acknowledge the excellent work done by the Business Wales service teams, and, as with Rhun ap Iorwerth and Russell George, can I endorse the fact that indeed the Minister himself is right to point out the importance of the SME and the microbusiness sector in Wales? Coming back to Business...
David Rowlands: Would the Minister make a statement on the Government's current position with regard to the wilding project in mid Wales known as O'r Mynydd i'r Môr, given that the other so-called wilding projects have often resulted in devastation to the upland areas? The removal of livestock from our hills, supposedly essential in this rewilding process, can have such detrimental effects as tick...
David Rowlands: Whilst we can understand the aim of this motion, which is designed to encourage people out of cars and onto public transport, any such legislation is likely to hit the less well off amongst the local authority employees. Those on executive salaries could well afford the levy and would carry on as before, whilst the worst off may be forced to use public transport, which may well be...
David Rowlands: Yes, of course, Llyr.
David Rowlands: Yes, I agree—that may well be, but the administration of that may be quite difficult as well. But I agree, that is a possibility, of course. We have to recognise that outside the larger conurbations, such as Cardiff, public transport can be erratic and sparse, particularly at such times as the manual element of local authority employees would need to access it, as opposed to the office...
David Rowlands: Whilst there are a number of elements in the Plaid Cymru debate we are able to support, we also acknowledge and support a number of the Labour amendments. Under item 1 and 2(a), Plaid are right to point out that, as long ago as 2013, the then Enterprise and Business Committee proposed that the Welsh Government develop a strategy with regard to rolling stock, but we have to acknowledge that...
David Rowlands: Would you take just a very short—? Can I fully endorse what John is saying with regard to the Magor station? I think you have to now acknowledge exactly the work that's been put in in order to get that station. I really do feel you ought to make the funds available, Minister, for that scheme to go ahead.
David Rowlands: Given that a press conference was held in Europe this week, at which Professor Guus Berkhout of the Climate Intelligence Foundation gave information on the 700 signatures he has collected from prominent scientists and professionals, including a Nobel Prize winner, where they declare there is no climate emergency, and also that four new scientific indices have recorded that the earth's...
David Rowlands: Thank you, Deputy Minister, for your statement. I'm afraid much of what I have written here reiterates a lot of what you've said, but I'll make no excuses for that, because it just shows that perhaps we're all thinking along the same lines. So, the importance of the foundational economy cannot be overstated, with a UK figure of 40 per cent of the workforce, and accounting for £1 for every...
David Rowlands: 3. Will the Minister make a statement on efforts to improve communication between the NHS and patients in Wales? OAQ54738
David Rowlands: I thank the Minister for that answer, but not only is communication between NHS staff and patients critical, but, I'm sure we'd all agree, good communication throughout all NHS institutions can be crucial in patient care. We've had several instances brought to us by constituents that this communication is often not satisfactory, in particular communication between Nevill Hall Hospital in my...
