Nick Ramsay: Diolch. Thank you, Presiding Officer. I’m pleased to contribute to this debate today and to move the amendment in the name of Paul Davies. It’s not an identical amendment to last year’s draft budget, Cabinet Secretary—I did actually change the year. [Laughter.] Some of the problems that that amendment addressed are still there, but it is a recent amendment. Can I concur with many of...
Nick Ramsay: In a moment, I will. I had constituents at their tethers’ end considering moving across the border from my constituency to access life-lengthening medication.
Nick Ramsay: I’ve already said that I welcome a treatment fund; I just think it’s a shame that we are playing catch-up from a number of years ago, when our constituents—and not just mine; I’m sure constituents in your area, Rhun, in Ynys Môn were also calling for a cancer treatment fund. It is one of the biggest killers in Wales and I just think it’s a shame that we didn’t take that action at...
Nick Ramsay: Thank you. I’m not going to tell you what posters I had on my wall in my bedroom as a teenager, but they certainly weren’t of economists. I hear what you’re saying, Adam, but are you honestly saying that you do not believe that any cuts were necessary at all? Because if you are saying that, then that is completely preposterous. You have to believe in running an economy fiscally...
Nick Ramsay: 5. Will the Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government’s plans for infrastructure in light of the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement? OAQ(5)0083(EI)
Nick Ramsay: Will the Minister make a statement on mental health services in Monmouthshire?
Nick Ramsay: Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. The autumn statement will deliver over £400 million extra capital funding over the next five years for infrastructure projects in Wales. We know that there have been concerns surrounding funding for the metro, particularly in the wake of the European referendum. What plans have you to use some of this extra money to support the metro, particularly in rural areas...
Nick Ramsay: Cabinet Secretary, I am really pleased that Llyr Gruffydd has raised this very important question. There are strong links between sleep disorders and mental health, so in dealing with sleep order conditions, you are providing a valuable preventative measure in terms of mental health and other areas of the health service. I think you just mentioned the Aneurin Bevan sleep centre, which is...
Nick Ramsay: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I’m pleased to move this motion today noting the UK Government’s autumn statement—a statement that has seen a significant increase in capital funding for the Welsh Government over the next five years. Although admittedly times are still very tough financially, Wales is in a stronger funding position than it was before. Not just our view on these...
Nick Ramsay: The Member makes a very well-made and important point, and I don’t disagree with you that we mustn’t be complacent here, Huw. I think we would all agree with that. We know from a few years ago that forecasts can be wrong. That is the very nature of them. What I would say is that, overall, since 2010, we know that there’s been deficit reduction. We might disagree about the level of...
Nick Ramsay: I’m grateful to Adam Price for giving way. I neglected to mention air passenger duty in my speech, but you’ve just brought it up, and you make a very valid point, and we will be supporting the Plaid Cymru amendment on air passenger duty. I think that would be a very important tool in the Welsh Government’s toolbox.
Nick Ramsay: Steffan was right when he said that the whole Assembly in that debate has backed the Welsh Government's position on this. It is important that the former mineworkers' pensions are protected and that there are arrangements with the UK Government that are transparent and fair. What discussions have you had with the UK Government regarding the need for them to continue to guarantee the pension...
Nick Ramsay: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Cabinet Secretary, can I thank you for your statement this afternoon? A quick question from me: what are you doing to localise the new development bank? I understand your reasoning for locating it in north Wales. We welcome that, and other Members have done so. But part of the criticism of Finance Wales has always been its lack of a local presence in towns...
Nick Ramsay: I concur with the thoughts of Mark Reckless and also the Chair of the Finance Committee. The Welsh Conservatives will also be supporting the LCM that has been laid before us today. I've heard that there are some concerns, if I can put it that strongly, from the UK Government. However, having looked at this myself, I not only don't think that those concerns are justified in this instance, but...
Nick Ramsay: Can I concur with the comments that Adam Price has made? Cabinet Secretary, as you know, the business-rates revaluation continues to be a source of immense concern for those businesses facing sizeable increases in their rateable value. This concern extends to the scheme of relief that the Welsh Government has decided upon and the transitional relief that we are voting on this afternoon. I...
Nick Ramsay: Cabinet Secretary, given that, as Llyr Gruffydd said, resources are tight, and flood prevention protection schemes are, in terms of capital, very expensive, and revenue as well, do you think now would be a good time, with the agenda moving on to greater local authority collaboration, and pan-local authority developments, such as the south Wales metro, and city regions, to look at...
Nick Ramsay: I’m pleased that Adam Price has raised this question. Only you could make Corbyn and May sound like a 1960s folk group, Adam. I’d rather focus on the food and drink issue that the First Minister mentioned in answering you. I agree with you, First Minister, that Wales does have a great story to tell in terms of our home-grown food and drink, and you’re right to point out labelling as an...
Nick Ramsay: I’m pleased to contribute to this debate today on the final budget. Can I firstly concur with the comments made by the Chair of the Finance Committee and also welcome the Cabinet Secretary’s response to some of the Finance Committee’s recommendations, some of which I received earlier today? As the Cabinet Secretary said in opening this debate, the lateness of this year’s budget, due...
Nick Ramsay: A light afternoon for us, Cabinet Secretary, isn’t it? I’m pleased to contribute to this debate. I think we have on numerous occasions in debates and statements over the last year or two highlighted that stamp duty land tax will be the first tax devolved to Wales in several hundred years, a point made by the Chair of the Finance Committee. Indeed, as the Chair said, it is the first time...
Nick Ramsay: 7. Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on the 21st Century Schools programme? OAQ(5)0070(EDU)
