Janet Finch-Saunders: Okay. Okay. With your proposals for larger local authorities, does the Cabinet Secretary envisage that councillors will be elected by proportional representation or first-past-the-post? We would like the answer to that today. And, finally, will you confirm how many council leaders have asked you to leave their councils alone and actually continue in the model now of 22 local authorities?...
Mr Simon Thomas: ...opening speech the reason why we brought forward this debate. Of course, when we did table this debate, we didn’t know that the Assembly itself would be voting today using a kind of proportional representation, because you’ve had a second-preference vote to choose your committee Chairs today, and you’ve accepted that you don’t get first-past-the-post all the time for everything...
Jeremy Miles: ...that pressing for fulfilment of promises made in relation to the electrification of the main line to Swansea was jumping the gun, will the Government bring forward a statement indicating what representations will be made to the UK Government so that the residents of the Swansea bay area and west of Cardiff aren’t let down by the UK Conservative Government again?
Carwyn Jones: It’s not yet clear what the nature of that support would be, which is why we look forward to receiving the representations from the council, in order for us to look at this further. But as far as the people there are concerned, I can well understand that they want to have certainty as quickly as possible. We’re keen to do that and we’ll continue to work with the council in order for...
Carl Sargeant: ...with a wide range of stakeholders, we continue to discuss and assess the significant impact of the UK Government’s welfare reforms in Wales. The Welsh Government has, on many occasions, made representations with UK Ministers, raising issues of concern when it is evident that vulnerable people will be further disadvantaged.
Gareth Bennett: I take on board Nick Ramsay’s reservations that he expressed. However, UKIP does support the Plaid Cymru amendment allowing local authorities to make representations to the Welsh Government regarding tax bands and tax rates. We believe that, in general, powers should be devolved to the lowest possible level of Government. This is backing the principle of localism, and we stated this...
Sam Rowlands: ...points you just raised there in terms of that consultation, Mike Hedges made some really important points around how sparse some of these areas could be, and therefore the risk, with proportional representation, of losing that local touch, because, actually, it's such a big area to cover, and the fundamentals of councils and councillors are actually about being connected to their...
Carl Sargeant: I think many Members have made representations to me and previous Ministers on this issue. Indeed, Kirsty Williams last week had a conversation with me about a group in her constituency. I am aware of the issue around the 10 per cent levy, commission rate, on this, and I am giving this further consideration in the round of the whole report, based on the outcomes of my discussions with my...
Mick Antoniw: ...bereaved through public tragedy, legally binding on all public bodies; a duty of candour on public servants; proper participation of bereaved families at inquests, through publicly funded legal representation, and a public advocate to act for the families of the deceased after major incidents. That, it seems to me, is something that goes to the core of basic justice. I've made the point...
Mark Reckless: ...short report that went to Business Committee. It says, 'Had the committee'—and this is the External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee— 'Had the committee consider that it did not, it could make written representations—'. That relates to subsidiarity. I assume that sentence should read, 'Had the committee considered that it did not, it could have made representations—'....
Adam Price: ...lay an order to transfer rail franchising functions to Welsh Ministers shortly. Could you say a little bit about—how shortly is shortly? And the fallback that you refer to if those functions are not transferred—under which circumstances can you envisage that having to be utilised? Is it the circumstance in which you're not able to reach a final agreement on some of the issues that you...
Jeremy Miles: ...piece of work in relation to the qualifications make-up of the public sector workforce across Wales generally, including in the education sector, and that has been the basis of a lot of the representations we've made in the Brexit context particularly to the UK Government and beyond. But this is an area where work is absolutely under way at the moment. I know the Minister for Education is...
Kirsty Williams: I've not received any representation from the teaching unions about the specifics that the Member mentions around part-time and flexible working, although workload issues in general are a standing item on the agenda every time I meet with the teaching unions. The flexibility that the Member just highlighted is indeed one of the things that the re-imagining the school day commission is...
Mabon ap Gwynfor: You say that you want us to follow the French and Italian models, and the legislative framework around employment laws are different there. Not only do they have different laws around strikes, but they've got better representation of workers on their boards. So, if you want us to have the same rules around employment as they do in France, why don't we have the same rules with getting workers...
Helen Mary Jones: ...said is that it is a matter of debate, and I have her response here in front of me. It is a matter of debate as to whether legislation is required. I fully acknowledge that you're accurate in your representation of the other bodies you mentioned, but I think you should revise what you've said about the children's commissioner, because that is not correct.
...Iorwerth To propose that the National Assembly for Wales: 1. Calls on the Welsh Government to oppose the construction of a super-prison in Port Talbot. 2. Further calls on the Welsh Government: a) not to sell or release any Welsh Government land for the purpose of construction of the proposed super-prison; b) to develop the local economy through supporting businesses in the industrial...
Andrew RT Davies: ...said that it was completely unreasonable to request that for businesses, and ultimately the Welsh Government, time and time again, turned a deaf ear to those pleas—pleas that were underpinned by representations made by the Federation of Small Businesses, the Institute of Directors, the Confederation of British Industry and many businesses and chambers of commerce around Wales. And yet...
Julie James: On the first very important matter, the Cabinet Secretary certainly heard your representations, and if you have specific instances that are leading you to the conclusion that that consultation is too short, then I suggest you write to the Cabinet Secretary and set those out. He's indicating his willingness to consider them. And on the second, I think you can hear the Cabinet Secretary...
Paul Davies: Minister, I've received representations from constituents who have concerns over the over-zealous cutting of roadside verges, especially on the A40 from Fishguard to Haverfordwest road, which is destroying local flora and has knock-on effects on local wildlife. I understand that the Welsh Government is introducing a new green corridor initiative for roadside verges. But can you tell us what...
Jeremy Miles: ...acknowledge that Dai Lloyd was also at the event on Saturday a few weeks ago. And I can give the Member the reassurance that we will take every step we can within our powers, and continue to make representations on behalf of Welsh women.
