Darren Millar: I have to say that I don't share the optimism of the previous speaker about the safeguards that are in place in the Bill. I believe that, fundamentally, people should be able to express a choice about the provision that they want to attend in their locality. I think that learners should have every opportunity to enjoy a breadth of provision, whether they want to undertake their extra post-16...
Darren Millar: 6. What action is the Welsh Government taking to ensure adequate infrastructure is in place where new housing developments are proposed? OQ58232
Darren Millar: Thank you for that answer, Minister. I do appreciate the position of the Welsh Government on this matter. I’ve been contacted by many residents in Colwyn Bay regarding a potential development in the Pwllycrochan area in the town, and, unfortunately, as you will appreciate, many of the schools in the town are bursting at the seams, there’s a lack of dentists, our healthcare facilities are...
Darren Millar: I absolutely concur with the points that have been made by Siân Gwenllian about the need to make sure that we've got doctors coming through the system who are proficient in the Welsh language. It's also really important, of course, that those who are in the education workforce, teaching, who do have Welsh language skills are able to continue to use them. I raised in the Senedd yesterday a...
Darren Millar: This week marks Armed Forces Week across the United Kingdom, a week that brings together our armed forces community, including servicepeople, their families and the organisations that support them. It provides an opportunity for people across the country to show our appreciation for the work that they do. As part of the week, we held Wales's Armed Forces Day in the city of Wrexham on...
Darren Millar: Llywydd, I'd like to request a statement from the health Minister on the delivery of the north Denbighshire community hospital. Back in 2013, the then health Minister, who, of course, is now the First Minister, made an announcement that a new hospital would be built in Rhyl to replace the two previously closed hospitals of the Royal Alexandra Hospital and the Prestatyn Community Hospital. He...
Darren Millar: I'll happily make an intervention. Most operators would absolutely love for their properties to be occupied for more than 50 per cent of the year, but that is simply not the reality in many parts of Wales. And I don't think that you imposing this arbitrary 50 per cent occupancy rule throughout the year is very fair, Minister. I'd love you to come to meet with some of the very small businesses...
Darren Millar: Thank you, Trefnydd, for your statement. Can I ask for a written statement please from the Minister for Health and Social Services on the impact of tourism on health services, particularly in north Wales? As you will know, north Wales is a beautiful place for people to visit, and we have many thousands of people who come to enjoy everything that we've got to offer on our doorstep, but one of...
Darren Millar: I wasn't going to take part in this debate—
Darren Millar: —but having listened to the arguments, I just wanted to make a short contribution. Look, I've been a Member of this Senedd for 15 years, and over those 15 years I've campaigned for 20 mph zones in some parts of my constituency. We've been successful in securing some of them, and the Minister's quite right: it takes too long to secure them. But it takes too long because of guidance from the...
Darren Millar: I'll happily take one.
Darren Millar: That's right, and, of course, you could reduce the speed limit to 15 mph or 10 mph and even have a shorter stopping limit. I don't think it's necessarily the fact that this is a 20 mph proposal that is the issue, because, as I say, I've supported 20 mph in certain places. It's about whether this is the right use of resources in order to improve safety on our roads and in order to get people...
Darren Millar: Will you take an intervention? So, as I said earlier, one of the problems with the current system where they can make the change to 20 mph is the length of time that that takes. If you're going to introduce this change—and I urge you not to—but if you are going to introduce this change and you manage to get the votes to do so today, will you assure us that you will have a compact, short...
Darren Millar: I just wanted to correct the record. There was reference there to the plastic bags. We were not against that. In fact, we proposed the charge for plastic bags.
Darren Millar: No, you said that we resisted.
Darren Millar: You said that we resisted.
Darren Millar: You said that we resisted. Check the Record.
Darren Millar: As those who have visited my office, or had the misfortune of watching my contributions virtually during the pandemic, will be able to attest, I have two photographs of Her Majesty the Queen in my office. They're on display in my office alongside other treasured photographs of my family. The reason for that is because the Queen felt like a member of my family, frankly. My mum is named after...
Darren Millar: There are many different words that have been used in this Chamber and in other Parliaments and in other tributes to Her Majesty the Queen in recent days: duty, service, longevity, dedication, honour—I made a list of a few of them just in the Chamber today—dignity, grace, patience, commitment. But the one thing that I think speaks most to me about the Queen, the one word I would use to...
Darren Millar: 4. How does the Welsh Government ensure that communities' voices are heard with regard to new energy production developments? OQ58393
