Mr Simon Thomas: I think we can add payments of Glastir as well to the point that was already being made. I particularly wanted to ask the leader of the house whether she could timetable a debate in Government time on access to primary care services. I think we heard earlier a question from Leanne Wood, the leader of Plaid Cymru, about events in the Rhondda. If I can tell the house that, last week, I and my...
Mr Simon Thomas: I think some of us may feel it’s a scandal that you stand for election in one party’s name, change to another party and then go uncontested. And some of us may also feel that, at the local level, in the case of independents who don’t stand on any manifesto, then go into cabinet and enact policies for the whole of those counties, it’s far better to stand for the colours you want to...
Mr Simon Thomas: 2. Will the Commission make a statement on work undertaken to promote access and public understanding regarding the work of the Assembly? OAQ(5)0007(AC)[W]
Mr Simon Thomas: Thank you, Llywydd, for that answer. It may be too late for some of the people I met in the Nefyn show on Monday who still didn’t understand the difference between the Assembly and the Government, but with the younger generation and with young people, it’s extremely important that they see the work that we do here as an Assembly. Therefore, I welcome the fact that Commission staff were at...
Mr Simon Thomas: Clearly, we have to await the full investigation before we can make any decisions, or before any of the professional bodies can make any decisions about what consequences might flow on from that, so I agree with what the Cabinet Secretary has said and note his strong words in that regard. However, there have been administrative consequences from Tawel Fan: the chief executive was suspended...
Mr Simon Thomas: Will the Member give way on that point?
Mr Simon Thomas: She just pledged to restore bin collections fortnightly, which, as has been pointed out already, is a bit of a nonsense really when you should be taking a local approach to this. But this was a promise by the Conservatives in England, by Eric Pickles, and they had to abandon that promise. What guarantees can she give to the people who vote tomorrow that she won’t abandon her promise?
Mr Simon Thomas: I do so, Deputy Presiding Officer. And, though I’m always delighted to debate energy in the Assembly, as I believe that one of the most important things we can do as a nation is to chart our energy and low-carbon future, I have to say that I do not believe a word of what UKIP says on energy. I don’t believe they’re working towards a low-carbon or a zero-carbon future at all. The only...
Mr Simon Thomas: I’ll just finish this point, if I may, and I will give way. There’s a real conflict here. We’ve heard all day from UKIP today, because we’ve been debating local authorities, that there must be local referenda, local people must decide, and then they bring a motion to the Assembly that says you can’t build any solar panels whatsoever if it cuts down a mature tree. Well, that...
Mr Simon Thomas: We take that out because we’re putting something much better in. That’s what an amendment is. The thing that we’re putting that’s much better in is the reference to the well-being of future generations Act and the environment Act, because that’s the legal concept, that we now approach our community development and our whole-nation development. There’s no point making orders around...
Mr Simon Thomas: Will the Member give way?
Mr Simon Thomas: What further discussions has the Cabinet Secretary held regarding the framework for funding?
Mr Simon Thomas: Thank you, Llywydd. I hope that I will be more successful than Angela Burns. I’m not sure that I will be. But certainly, to date, the discussion on this Bill has seen greater discussion between the two main opposition parties on improving the Bill in a collaborative manner. I’m pleased that we are dealing with this second stab at the Bill in a more inclusive manner than we did the first...
Mr Simon Thomas: Thank you, Presiding Officer. Can I thank the Minister for responding to the debate and at least welcome in part what she said in terms of some of the action that’s been taken. I’ll attempt to restate my arguments in a more persuasive way for Angela Burns and possibly for Caroline Jones. Amendment 45—I think it’s important to remember that the Welsh Government has already stated that...
Mr Simon Thomas: Move.
Mr Simon Thomas: Move.
Mr Simon Thomas: Well, around five years ago, education in Pembrokeshire was in such a poor state that the Government had to send a specialist team in to save the situation there. Since then, education in Pembrokeshire has improved. Now, the county is around the middle of the list of counties in terms of educational attainment. I would still think that there is room for improvement, though. The disagreement...
Mr Simon Thomas: 5. What discussion has the Counsel General held with law officers regarding the devolution of the justice system? OAQ(5)0038(CG)[W]
Mr Simon Thomas: Thank you for that usual response. Does the Counsel General happen to agree with me, however, that the part of the justice system that’s most easily devolved in terms of the law, and the constitution as well, would be policing? And as the First Minister informed the Chamber yesterday that he is strongly in favour of the devolution of policing, and as we are to have a debate on the issue in...
Mr Simon Thomas: 6. What assessment has the Counsel General made of the impact that European legislation regarding air pollution will have on Wales? OAQ(5)0039(CG)[W]
