Darren Millar: Pardon me. It asked me to unmute. I couldn't hear properly.
Darren Millar: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, and can I thank you, Minister, for your statement? I'm absolutely delighted that you're making a statement to mark Interfaith Week, and I very much hope that this will become an annual fixture on the Welsh Government's business in Plenary. As you've said, there has been significant disruption to faith communities during the pandemic, and the inability to...
Darren Millar: Will the First Minister provide an update on the Welsh Government’s strategy to address the NHS waiting list backlog in Clwyd West?
Darren Millar: Trefnydd, can I call for a statement from an appropriate Government Minister regarding restrictions on singing in Welsh churches and other places of worship? Obviously, we've got the Christmas season that is about to be upon us. Many people enjoy going to carol services and participating in worship services at this particular time of the year, and the UK Government has recently made an...
Darren Millar: Can I take the opportunity to put on record the thanks of everybody on the Welsh Conservative benches to those front-line members of NHS staff in north Wales who've been working so hard, particularly during this pandemic? It's a great shame, Minister, that you didn't have the courtesy to brief any Members on opposition benches today about your decision, and in fact, you even gave the great...
Darren Millar: Minister, we've welcomed the land transaction tax cut, albeit temporary and less generous than is the case in England. It's been our long-standing policy, of course, to raise the land transaction tax threshold to £250,000 for first-time buyers on a permanent basis, not just on a temporary basis. What consideration have you given to making this a permanent change in land transaction tax duty?
Darren Millar: 6. Will the First Minister make a statement on NHS improvements in north Wales? OQ55964
Darren Millar: First Minister, since the announcement of the de-escalation of special measures to targeted intervention, I've been contacted by many constituents who are frankly absolutely bewildered by the decision to reduce the level of intervention at that health board. You will be aware, because you put this health board into special measures, that at the time that it was put into special measures,...
Darren Millar: Trefnydd, can I say how disappointed I am that we don't have a debate taking place this week prior to the very restrictive regulations that are going to come into play across the whole of Wales on Friday? You've had the opportunity. You could have tabled a 'take note' debate this afternoon for this Chamber to discuss the Welsh Government's proposals and to give an indication of its view on...
Darren Millar: Diolch, Llywydd. I've agreed to give one minute of my time to Rhun ap Iorwerth. As the red squirrel species champion here in the Senedd, I'm proud to speak up for these incredibly amazing animals, and I thank God that the Wales Environment Link paired me with such a cute and iconic symbol of Welsh wildlife. I can well remember the faces of colleagues as their species were unveiled in the...
Darren Millar: But being a species champion is something that I've taken very seriously and, for me at least, it really has awakened a genuine interest in the plight of Welsh wildlife. Globally, the conservation status of the Eurasian red squirrel is 'least concern' but, of course, this is not the case here in Wales, because the red squirrel is thriving elsewhere across Europe—in fact, as far west as...
Darren Millar: I’m pleased to say that conservation efforts that were led by Natural Resources Wales and supported by Red Squirrels Trust Wales have seen great success in recent years. Through careful forest management and by the releasing of captive-bred red squirrels into the area to bolster the indigenous population, we’ve seen a slow and steady recovery in the numbers of reds in the area. This work...
Darren Millar: First Minister, the issue of dentistry is a very hot topic in the Clwyd West constituency at the moment as a result of an announcement by Bupa Dental Care UK that they're going to be closing their clinic in Colwyn Bay. That's going to affect around 12,000 people in my constituency, and they've been advised by the local health board that they should seek to register with other NHS dentists in...
Darren Millar: What assessment has the Minister made of the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Clwyd West?
Darren Millar: It will come as no surprise to everybody in this Chamber that I rise to speak in support of the legislative consent motion. Labour, Plaid Cymru and others in this Chamber have done everything that they can to try to prevent the UK from delivering on the democratic mandate of the people of Wales. First, they tried to stop us from leaving the EU, then they tried to extend the transition period,...
Darren Millar: Other speakers in this debate so far, both yesterday and just now, have warned that this legislation is a snatch-and-grab at devolved powers and an attempt to centralise decision making in London. But, of course, that is not the case. It's a piece of legislation that has two principal aims: firstly, to provide an orderly transfer of powers from Brussels to the UK as the result of our...
Darren Millar: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Will the Minister provide an update on discussions he's had with the UK Government as regards trade deals outside of the EU?
Darren Millar: I'm very pleased that you are participating in that forum, Minister. As you will know, the UK Government has already struck many trade deals beyond the EU around the world, ranging from countries like Peru and Japan to Israel and South Korea. In addition to that, there's engagement ongoing with a dozen other countries, including Mexico, Singapore and Turkey, and it's very clear that...
Darren Millar: I'm pleased you've acknowledged the positive work, as I say, and I'm very pleased also that you recognise the work that's been done not only to engage with those countries whereby we have trade arrangements through the continuity trade arrangements, but also those new nations that we will also be doing trade with on a free-trade basis post 1 January. I was wondering whether you could tell me...
Darren Millar: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I move the Welsh Conservative motion on the order paper today and all the amendments tabled to the Government motion that have been tabled in my name. Can I put on record at the start of this debate that we fully recognise on the Welsh Conservative benches the gravity of the public health emergency, not just here in Wales, but across the UK and...
