Mark Reckless: 6. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on whether the progressive principles proposed for the land transaction tax will inform his tax policy more generally as further tax powers are devolved? OAQ51423
Mark Reckless: The Cabinet Secretary's response to Nick Ramsay's third question earlier, about making the rich pay more, seemed to go rather more to what he may be doing with income tax, when he has powers over that, than land transaction tax. Does he not recognise that large commercial properties are more often than not let to multiple smaller tenants, whether they are retail, industrial or commercial, and...
Mark Reckless: My exposure to type 1 diabetes mainly came through attending summer camps with the BDA, the forerunner of Diabetes UK, with my father, a doctor, and my mother, a nurse, who helped run those camps for young diabetes. Janet mentioned only, I think, 0.2 per cent of children have type 1 diabetes and some would feel very isolated and wouldn't feel normal or understood because of having to inject...
Mark Reckless: Will the Member give way?
Mark Reckless: Thank you. Does she recall that the Labour Government, under Tony Blair, also opposed the charter, and only accepted it finally on the basis that it wouldn't be legally binding and would have all the legal potency of The Beano, according to the then Minister for Europe?
Mark Reckless: We, on these benches, would like to welcome the increase in the tax-exempt amount up to £180,000. Would the Cabinet Secretary similarly welcome the tax cut by the UK Government that made this money available to him? Will he also reflect on whether a written statement is really sufficient to announce changes in tax rates, as he considers the evolving financial procedures in this Assembly?...
Mark Reckless: Is the First Minister confident that the huge volumes of plastic that we have been exporting to China have been properly recycled, rather than, for instance, sent to landfill?
Mark Reckless: I was pleased to hear the Counsel General's reference to the importance of socioeconomic background, as well as gender and ethnicity, in diversity. He mentioned the Judicial Appointments Commission and being subject to their procedures. Does he anticipate any improvement in the diversity of that body to the degree that Welsh voices are heard within it to the extent that is ensured for...
Mark Reckless: A pleasure to follow David Rowlands. I was encouraged to hear about his morning routine from 5:15 to 6:30, I assume that's his extensive personal grooming programme, and then the two-and-a-half-hour period before he is able to start work, and the 11-and-a-half-hour day before he's able to go home. So, following on from Lee Waters, who was referring, I think, to being weepy and despairing. I...
Mark Reckless: We should also, I think, consider, when we talk about long-term economic development, the impact and, at least, potential positive feedback into taxes for Wales. When we have the 10p of income tax from April, we look at the public inquiry about the cost-benefit ratio of the black route and assess that, but another issue is: what are the particular impacts for the Welsh exchequer of this? Ken...
Mark Reckless: Will the Member give way?
Mark Reckless: Why does she single out roads, uniquely, in this way? In any other way of public provision, if we were looking to give something, the fact that people might then choose to use it wouldn't be a reason not to provide it.
Mark Reckless: Will the First Minister confirm what proportion of capital funding available to the Welsh Government will be committed to the M4 relief road?
Mark Reckless: 2. What discussions has the Minister had regarding accelerating housing plans in South Wales East to take account of the abolition of the Severn bridge tolls? OAQ51561
Mark Reckless: Minister, it could lead to higher house prices. We've already seen in the past year house prices go up by more than 9 per cent in Monmouthshire, and more than 6 per cent in Newport. I just wonder if there's a need for a greater urgency about this. I'm delighted to hear about the meeting she's having, but where there is demand and the opportunity to boost the economy, and bring high-earning...
Mark Reckless: First Minister, last week, I was privileged to attend the Severn growth summit, organised by the Secretary of State for Wales, really looking to maximise the benefit we can receive from when the Severn tolls are abolished at the end of this year. First Minister, what are you and what are Welsh Government doing to ensure that we in Wales reap the maximum possible benefits from the end of those...
Mark Reckless: I agree with Michelle Brown that one of the perplexing elements—at least as I found it—about the inquiry was trying to understand why the mother and baby unit that had been operational at the Heath hospital in Cardiff until 2013 closed. I don't feel we quite got to the bottom, at least to my satisfaction, of what the thinking was and what the justification was for why that happened at the...
Mark Reckless: I would agree with you on that, and I think the circumstances of birth and the way the health system supports it do allow that. Our baby's now eight months old, but when my wife gave birth in May last year, we were very struck by the quality of the provision and just how much we had in the way of midwife visits and how many interactions we had prior to being discharged from that service....
Mark Reckless: If I could also pass on the best wishes from the Conservative group to Newport County as they play at Wembley this evening. Perhaps they can take some inspiration from Swansea's performance last night. With the Welsh Rugby Union having taken over ownership of Rodney Parade late last year, will Welsh Government support the continuation of ground sharing between Newport County and Dragons once...
Mark Reckless: Does the Counsel General welcome the proposed changes, not least the scope they may give for expanding the socioeconomic intake into the profession? One of the drawbacks of the current system is people start their conversion course and find out that many of the largest and top firms have already closed their recruitment in July for two years ahead. Would this new proposal not allow broader...
