Russell George: 7. Will the First Minister make a statement on access to GP medical services in Montgomeryshire? OAQ(5)0621(FM)
Russell George: Thank you, First Minister. I’ve been contacted by a parent who has been trying to arrange for a simple medical examination for her daughter at her local surgery in Newtown. This is a requirement in advance of her going abroad to study. Now, the surgery has made the decision not to undertake any further medicals of this nature due to the GP shortage. No other practices in the area are able...
Russell George: I’d like to thank the Cabinet Secretary for his detailed statement today. In 2014, the Law Commission outlined that there was a case to allow local authorities to have flexibility in deciding whether there should be a one-tier system, but I do understand it’s overall recommendation was that the two-tier system, which currently exists in England and Wales, should be retained within a...
Russell George: Cabinet Secretary, will you outline what considerations the Welsh Government has made to ensuring that planning conditions for new homes include a requirement that fibre broadband should be installed?
Russell George: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I would like to move the motion in the name of Paul Davies. The aim of our motion is to welcome the economic boost to the Welsh economy, which will be delivered by the Prime Minister’s commitment to scrapping the tolls on the Severn crossing and calls for the Welsh Government to recognise the need to address the regional disparity in economic prosperity,...
Russell George: Would you accept that in the Conservative—in Theresa May’s—manifesto, she made an absolute, clear commitment on the Severn crossing, but that Labour—. In Jeremy Corbyn’s manifesto, all that was said in there was—there was a light, ‘We’ll try and work with the Welsh Government’. Don’t you accept there’s a much firmer, cast-iron guarantee commitment in Theresa May’s...
Russell George: You may recall there was a vote on this, and this group here supported in favour of the motion that you put forward on this.
Russell George: Read it, then.
Russell George: Leader of the house, a couple of weeks ago here in Plenary, the Cabinet Secretary for the Economy and Infrastructure agreed to publish the Welsh Government’s response to the UK Government’s industrial strategy. Please can you confirm when it will be published?
Russell George: 6. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement about assets owned by local authorities? OAQ(5)0134(FLG)
Russell George: Thank you, Cabinet Secretary, for your answer, which I very, very much welcome. The Newtown bypass is a huge opportunity for Newtown in mid Wales and I’m keen that Newtown town centre is supported when the bypass is completed. Now, there is an area of land owned by Powys County Council and used as a car park in the town centre, but due to an historical clawback provision the area has not...
Russell George: 2. Will the First Minister make a statement on the development of an active travel network in Montgomeryshire? OAQ(5)0653(FM)
Russell George: Thank you, First Minister. I’m sure you will agree that the Newtown bypass will provide an opportunity to develop a meaningful active travel network for Newtown. Regrettably, Powys County Council were recently unsuccessful in securing funding from the local transport fund, which would have gone some way to securing the town’s aspirations to be an active travel town. Now, I understand the...
Russell George: I would like to thank the Minister for her statement today, and to say that the Superfast Cymru project has undoubtedly improved the availability of fibre broadband across Wales, and this is very much to be welcomed. However, it is undeniable that the Welsh Government have failed to deliver on their 2011 commitment to—and I quote—ensure that ‘all residential premises and businesses in...
Russell George: First Minister, the Welsh Government’s record to date in working to ensure that Welsh firms benefit as much as possible from public procurement issued in Wales is a poor one, I think. As of early 2016, of the 130 Welsh Government corporate procurement contracts awarded since 2011 and worth more than £500,000, just 53 per cent were awarded to Welsh businesses. And nothing highlights this...
Russell George: Thank you, Presiding Officer. I have two very short and focused questions. Cabinet Secretary, you have confirmed that you will reduce the cap for compensation from £15,000 to £5,000. Now, there will be, of course, some farmers that have invested in high genetic valuables to improve the genetic value and productivity of their herd. How is the Government going to ensure that farmers in this...
Russell George: Will the First Minister make a statement on student finance in Wales?
Russell George: Wales has a largely good record in investing in NHS IT infrastructure. Now, the Welsh Government has outlined aims for a £180 million all-Wales digital services framework. Can I ask the Cabinet Secretary to outline his vision as to how the NHS IT infrastructure will be improved by the scheme, what safeguards he has in place to protect patient confidentiality, especially with regard to...
Russell George: Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the Welsh Government's support for adult mental health in Montgomeryshire?
Russell George: Thank you, Cabinet Secretary, for your statement today. Today’s decision to reject the Circuit of Wales will clearly be disappointing to the people of Blaenau Gwent. It is, I think, incredibly disappointing that it has taken six years and in excess of £9 million of public money for the Cabinet Secretary to reject this project, which of course could have been as significant an investment in...
