Nick Ramsay: I appreciate the Cabinet Secretary for his answer to that. In asking the question, I'm aware that there are big differences, but nonetheless these areas, I think, do need to be scrutinised. Adam Price has already mentioned the Wales Audit Office criticism of recent procurement procedures. Their remit is here, clearly, but there have been faults with procurement procedures across the UK as...
Nick Ramsay: Will the Member take an intervention?
Nick Ramsay: I've got those statistics in front of me as well, Dai Lloyd, and, as you say, 1972 is going back—well, it's when we entered the European Union, isn't it, or around that time. Would you join me in calling on the Welsh Government to get the up-to-date statistics so we know what we're dealing with in this situation, and then we can move on and get these roads sorted?
Nick Ramsay: Thanks, Lee. [Laughter.] I'm delighted to speak to Lee Waters and to the rest of the Assembly as well. I'm pleased to subscribe to this motion. Roads are an issue close to my heart, whether I'm supporting them or opposing them, with some of my colleagues sometimes. And at the heart of this motion is the fact that, when you leave the beaten track of our motorways and our A roads and B...
Nick Ramsay: Would you like to take an intervention?
Nick Ramsay: I agree totally with what you've just said, and you're placing the problem of unadopted roads within a wider problem: that we've got an increasing number of estates now run by management companies with services provided. I think you're exactly right: the developers move on to the next site without properly finishing what they've got already, and we should address that with legislation.
Nick Ramsay: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Can I thank everyone who's contributed to today's thought-provoking debate? You were all great. You all raised many issues of importance. Can I also say, first, in response to the Cabinet Secretary's comments, that I'm pleased that you are going to be supporting today's motion? It has been tabled in a constructive way and one in which we really hope to move the debate...
Nick Ramsay: Cabinet Secretary, given that you've got those very useful figures to hand in front of you, it would be remiss of me not to ask about my own local authority, at the risk of being parochial. Monmouthshire County Council—what share are they going to receive of that £30 million? We've heard how much Caerphilly will receive, so if you could update us on that, that would be great. And, also,...
Nick Ramsay: 5. Will the Leader of the House provide an update on the availability of superfast broadband in Monmouth? OAQ51806
Nick Ramsay: All credit to you for managing to find different answers to all the questions on broadband today and different statistics. I think your file will be running out soon. As my colleague Russ George said earlier in questions to you, many families in rural areas dropped off the Superfast Cymru scheme originally, which was very disappointing. Can you update us on your assessment of the potential...
Nick Ramsay: I don't think you have to worry about me going on, Deputy Presiding Officer. I was going to make a joke, but I won't. It will not surprise the Cabinet Secretary to learn that we will not be supporting today's supplementary budget. I think we've been over this ground before, so I know he'll understand that. Although I will admit there are some aspects that we welcome. We certainly welcome the...
Nick Ramsay: Will the First Minister provide an update on Welsh Government plans to change the law which stops childminders receiving funding for looking after relatives?
Nick Ramsay: 1. A wnaiff Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ddatganiad am gategoreiddio ysgolion yn Sir Fynwy? OAQ51856
Nick Ramsay: Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. You've clearly got the same figures there in front of you that I've also seen. There has been, as you said, a steady improvement in categorisation in Monmouthshire, going from just three green schools five years ago to 13 today. This progress is a credit to the work of teachers and headteachers, and pupils, and also of course the local authority and the regional...
Nick Ramsay: Cabinet Secretary, one of the objectives of the future generations Act is to ensure that every child has the opportunity to achieve their full potential, irrespective of their background. I'm sure we'd all agree with that. The gap in outcomes between children eligible for free school meals persists, however. A number of families are operating just above the poverty line but are not falling...
Nick Ramsay: First Minister, the Cabinet Secretary for local government has said that local democracy is all about participation—the usual pearls of wisdom we've come to expect from my friend Alun Davies. Alun Davies has also said that he wants councils to pilot innovative ways of voting that reflect people's busy lives, something that I would certainly agree with in principle. Of course, in practice,...
Nick Ramsay: Leader of the house, could I ask for a statement on the Welsh Government's support for fair trade? It's currently Fairtrade Fortnight, as I'm sure—. I can see Jeremy Miles is nodding vigorously. I was pleased to offer my own support to the initiative by attending a fair-trade breakfast in Abergavenny Community Centre in my constituency last Friday. The breakfast was extremely well supported...
Nick Ramsay: Minister, for a considerable length of time now in this Chamber, national parks have been central to the idea of sustainability, the vision of the Welsh Government and the Welsh Assembly as part of the constitution of this place. I'm pleased that the Sandford rule is being followed through. Two things I wanted to ask you about. Firstly, in terms of the Brecon Beacons national park, in my time...
Nick Ramsay: Thanks for giving way. I agree with what you say about the importance of having figures on the face of the Bill in the first instance. Would you say that there is a wider issue with the Welsh Government? Certainly, in the development of the recent taxes, land transaction tax and landfill disposals tax, there was an unwillingness there of the Government to put the figures on the face of the...
Nick Ramsay: As you mentioned, the Public Accounts Committee—and clearly we were both involved with that evidence session on Supporting People—. Would you agree with me that I think everyone in this Chamber is united in wanting to deal with the problems that you've identified very clearly in your speech? The question is: will this particular measure really deliver that change? Because I think at the...
