Russell George: Minister, I was pleased to receive reports from Ysgol Pontrobert that they’re now able to access the Hwb digital learning platform after receiving a long-awaited broadband upgrade. However, the ‘Evaluation of the implementation of the Learning in Digital Wales Programme’, which was published six months ago, noted that nearly a third of schools did not register any log-ins on Hwb, and...
Russell George: 6. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the proposed changes to school admissions in Powys from September 2017? OAQ(5)0121(EDU)
Russell George: Minister, ‘cylch meithrin’ and pre-school playgroups are already oversubscribed, and there is a real concern that, when the new school admissions policy in Powys comes into force in September, the pressure on playgroups will be unsustainable. Can I ask what the Welsh Government is doing to support the additional pressures on these playgroups?
Russell George: The aim of this debate today is to highlight the need to lock in the excellent economic progress that the UK Conservative Government has made since taking office, and we don’t want to see any of that put at risk. Of course, it’s Theresa May and the UK Government who have got the plan to boost economic prosperity through the process of Brexit and beyond. But there are issues with the...
Russell George: Yes.
Russell George: Well, I’m not privy to the negotiations of the Conservative manifesto, but the Conservative manifesto, of course, made that commitment, and did make that commitment, of course, back in the 2015 general election. In the autumn, the Chancellor announced that he will deliver—. He announced that he will deliver £400 million of additional investment over the next five years, and I hope that...
Russell George: In a minute. In a moment. But we are—[Interruption.] In a moment. But we are still waiting for the Welsh Government to bring forward its economic strategy over a year—over a year—after it was promised, and, of course, steel is also mentioned extensively in that document as well. I hope that the Cabinet Secretary will have news for us today on its plans for its economic strategy. The...
Russell George: First Minister, Jeremy Corbyn has set out plans for sweeping Government intervention in our industry, including taking parts of Britain’s energy industry back into public ownership alongside the railways and Royal Mail. That’s the biggest state intervention in our economy for decades. Can I ask whether you endorse Jeremy Corbyn’s approach, which I certainly believe would take Wales back...
Russell George: 10. Will the First Minister make a statement on the roll-out of the Superfast Cymru programme in Montgomeryshire? OAQ(5)0594(FM)
Russell George: Thank you, First Minister. We are now eight months away from the drop-dead date, when the Superfast Cymru project—. It does seem to have a continuing miscommunication issue with residents. I’ve been contacted, for example, by one constituent from Adfa who has complained that even though he had confirmation of superfast broadband via fibre-to-the-premises technology in February of this...
Russell George: Diolch, Presiding Officer. Keeping on the theme of supporting the Welsh economy—[Interruption.]—I’m sure that you will welcome Theresa May’s pledge to—[Interruption.]
Russell George: Thank you, Presiding Officer. Cabinet Secretary, I’m sure you will welcome Theresa May’s pledge to abolish the Severn bridge tolls once ownership has transferred to Highways England next year, bringing, of course, at least £100 million to the Welsh economy per year—a far more immediate time frame than the one—perhaps Joyce Watson will listen to this—in Labour’s manifesto, which...
Russell George: Well, of course, you’ll be aware there’s no u-turn on these benches. We’ve been very supportive of scrapping the Severn bridge tolls for some time. I can hear Joyce Watson shouting in the back row, ‘Where’s the money going to come from?’ I’ll perhaps answer that as well, Cabinet Secretary. The UK Government has provided substantial funding to boost the Welsh economy, from...
Russell George: Along with the substantial investment for infrastructure, the UK Government’s industrial strategy has provided key opportunities for regional economies. I note the Welsh Government has responded to the industrial strategy consultation, and so have the Welsh Conservatives. Can you commit to publishing your consultation response to Assembly Members immediately, and if not, why not?
Russell George: Minister, I’ve got two letters from you here, one dated March and one dated April. The one in March says that officials have spoken with BT colleagues who have confirmed the roll-out of superfast broadband will take place in June, but then a month later, on the very same property, you write again to me saying, since the update, information has now changed and it’s no longer available and...
Russell George: 8. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the Welsh Government’s priorities to improve health outcomes in Montgomeryshire? OAQ(5)0168(HWS)
Russell George: I’m very pleased to hear that answer, Cabinet Secretary. You’ll be aware of the work that’s going on in Shropshire in regard to where emergency services should be located, either in Shrewsbury or Telford. The overwhelming view of my own constituents is that those services should be located in Shrewsbury. That’s where emergency services should be located—I’ve not met any...
Russell George: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I move the amendment in the name of Paul Davies. I have to say, in principle, I and the Welsh Conservative group can support the Plaid Cymru motion today, which seeks to boost the investment in jobs and infrastructure in the Valleys after historic underinvestment, I think, from the Government here. Nobody could argue, I don’t think, either, with the...
Russell George: Yes, I will.
Russell George: Well, I was just making the point that the area has had significant investment from the EU, but there’s no tangible difference. That’s in the power of Welsh Government—in their hands—as to how that money is spent, and the Welsh Government hasn’t made any tangible improvements with that. So, from my point of view, I do, of course, welcome the UK Government’s support for the region...
