David Rowlands: There is, of course, a temptation when addressing this motion to contemplate its—forgive this word—luddite-esque credentials. However, I should declare at the first instance that I believe this debate to have huge merit in seeking to address this important issue in a constructive and thoughtful manner. It is true to say that the increasing use of robotics, be it in the guise of automated...
David Rowlands: I thank the Cabinet Secretary for his statement, and we in UKIP would like to congratulate all those involved in bringing this hugely prestigious event to Wales. The boost to the economy from the hundreds of thousands set to visit Cardiff will be substantial, and I would like to echo the Cabinet Secretary’s statement regarding the staging of one of the biggest events in the sporting...
David Rowlands: Diolch, Llywydd. The Welsh Government has an outwardly laudable aim of reducing Wales’s carbon footprint by 80 per cent by the year 2050. UKIP broadly agrees with this objective; however, the strategies it employs to achieve these aims must be called into question. At the heart of this carbon-free initiative is the use of so-called clean electricity generation. To a very large extent, it...
David Rowlands: Of course.
David Rowlands: Absolutely. It’s not, but we don’t come under the whip as do all other parties, as you know, and we can have our own policies within the Welsh Government if that’s what we feel we have to do—
David Rowlands: [Continues.]—as indeed do you on many other aspects when you disagree with your Government in—. No, I’m sorry, Huw; I have to carry on with this. I’m here to debate how we go about reducing carbon. It is envisaged that this form of power generation will replace all forms of fossil fuel generation over the coming years. However, herein lies the fundamental flaw in the Welsh...
David Rowlands: It is true that in order to mitigate against the potential negative impact of these installations on the countryside, the Welsh Government has instigated a set of guidelines for local government planning departments. But one phrase in these guidelines seems paramount if these guidelines are to be effective. It says that the planning authority should take note as to whether any development...
David Rowlands: I believe the video you’ve just seen begs the question: what exactly does constitute significant cumulative impact if this array of installations does not? I fear it shows that planning laws offer no protection to residents or communities such as Manmoel, and that any and every community in Wales is in danger of being enveloped by such projects. Further to this, there are many other aspects...
David Rowlands: Of course.
David Rowlands: I fully agree with Steffan on that matter, absolutely. It would seem that it’s not only environmental regulations that offer no protection to such developments; those surrounding wildlife and archaeological impacts, as well as outdoor leisure facilities, do not either. We understand that only a cursory one-day-long study on the impact on the wildlife habitat of the area was carried out...
David Rowlands: Yes, fine. First of all, obviously, the whole thrust of this debate is that there’s overdevelopment of a particular area. I noticed something you say that you’re so given to in Plaid that you want to look after the environment, et cetera, but I note you want to take point 3, subsection a), which is that we should not be denuding our forests in order to build these—you want to take that out.
David Rowlands: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. When I opened this debate, I said the Welsh Government’s aim for an 80 per cent carbon footprint reduction was a laudable objective. But I believe there are far better ways of achieving this objective. In a previous debate, Huw Irranca-Davies talked of cutting energy use as part of the strategy to reduce our carbon footprint. I believe this is a much more sustainable...
David Rowlands: Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on locating sixth forms in one central college?
David Rowlands: Diolch, Llywydd. Could the Cabinet Secretary update us on the Heads of the Valleys road improvement scheme and the expected finishing date for the Clydach gorge section?
David Rowlands: Thank you, Cabinet Secretary, for that answer. I asked the question, Cabinet Secretary, because I was wondering if it will be finished in time for the Circuit of Wales project.
David Rowlands: Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. Can I move on to another matter? As the Cabinet Secretary is aware, Blaenavon is a world heritage site with many thousands of visitors each year enjoying not only the restored ironworks, but also Big Pit and Blaenavon railway. However, this does not seem to be having the desired effect on the town itself, with many shops on the high street closed. Does the Welsh...
David Rowlands: Well, if there’s any bile in this Chamber, it’s just come from the gentleman who just sat down in his appalling personal attacks on other AMs in this Chamber. Absolutely disgraceful. [Interruption.] Absolutely disgraceful. Of the £250 million in aid we sent to Ethiopia last year, only a tiny proportion went to wealth creation. In other words, we’re not helping these countries to...
David Rowlands: Yes, of course I will.
David Rowlands: Thank you. Yes, yes, you’re talking about a tiny, tiny percentage of the population. That’s all you’re talking about—a tiny percentage of those people—[Interruption.] They will almost certainly live in abject poverty, with no prospect of meaningful work. It is not enough for us to save them from starvation; we have to give them hope and a possibility of them improving their lives in...
David Rowlands: [Continues.]—not continually expand its budget. No, thank you. I find it quite appalling that many Members in this Chamber are quite happy to see the working classes of this country have their pockets picked in order to keep despots in power—[Interruption.]—such people as Mugabe et cetera, that you’re happy that huge amounts of money are wasted simply so that you can salve your own...
