Russell George: First Minister, the new wave of technological advances in robotics and artificial intelligence will potentially have a huge impact on jobs, and this is a piece of work that we're currently doing in the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee. Now, I certainly want to see the Welsh economy take full advantage of the opportunities presented by automation. Now, I appreciate that the Welsh...
Russell George: Can I thank the Cabinet Secretary for his statement, and I should also thank him for the briefing events that you put on yesterday afternoon and this morning, which were extremely helpful, so I thank you for that? The awarding of the new rail franchise represents a multibillion pound opportunity and I, like you, Cabinet Secretary, want to make sure that every Welsh person benefits from that...
Russell George: Will the First Minister make a statement on the regulation of intensive poultry farming in Wales?
Russell George: Diolch, Presiding Officer. Cabinet Secretary, the coming new wave of technological advances in electric vehicles will potentially present Wales with a raft of new economic opportunities. You have previously said that the Welsh Government's new economic action plan is not going to be prescriptive, but do you agree with me that it would be wrong if it wasn't prescriptive in some sectors in...
Russell George: Thank you for your answer, Cabinet Secretary, but on my previous criticism, I do think the economic action plan does need to have tangible targets that can be met. But, I understand what you say with regard to not being too prescriptive in terms of what business would want, but that doesn't mean to say that it's not a piece of work that Government can do here. So, what I would like to ask...
Russell George: Thank you for your answer, Cabinet Secretary. We as Welsh Conservatives recently launched our 'Livable Cities' programme, where we outlined a number of policy commitments in relation to electric vehicles. In particular, we outlined proposals to create a road to prosperity fund that would enable the formation of 10,000 electric car charging points across Wales by 2030 and ensure the creation...
Russell George: Can I ask, First Minister, how you are engaging with the UK Government with regard to these routes? Clearly, as you just pointed out, this is a matter that stretches across the border, and it's clearly important that both Governments work together.
Russell George: What consideration has the Welsh Government given to updating planning regulations in relation to intensive poultry units?
Russell George: When the Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister met last, we met in Newtown, and we spoke with a number of food producer businesses—Hilltop Honey, Monty's Brewery—and in our pre-discussion, before we met with the First Minister, those businesses suggested that designating food and drink as a tourism theme for a future year, to promote Wales through Welsh produce, would be an...
Russell George: First Minister, like many sports across Wales, cricket at grass-roots and amateur level is coming under significant pressure, both financially and from a participation perspective. Now, on the weekend, you may have seen that the Welsh Rugby Union announced a pilot that would see junior rugby moved to the summer season. Now, whilst I certainly acknowledge that some of the reasons put forward...
Russell George: 1. What discussions has the Leader of the House had with the energy sector in designing the mobile action plan? OAQ52344
Russell George: Thank you, leader of the house. National and local press and television will frequently hear about how both the UK and the Welsh Governments are encouraging energy providers to install domestic smart meters in order to combat fuel poverty. Now, I've been contacted by people in rural areas of my own constituency who have reported that installation of smart meters is impossible because of the...
Russell George: Diolch, Llywydd. Leader of the house, during an exchange a few weeks ago, you said, and I quote here from the Record of Proceedings from 16 May: 'The mobile phone operators...will tell you that all they need is to be able to build bigger masts and everything will be fine.' And they want to be allowed 'to build any size mast they like, anywhere they like'. You also said, and I quote here...
Russell George: Thank you, leader of the house. I think you are confirming perhaps you don't now agree with what you said to me in May.
Russell George: Well, perhaps I would ask you to take the opportunity to look at the record of what you said to me last time, and then perhaps correct the record if you feel that's appropriate. But the mobile phone operators do feel that you misrepresented—they were misrepresented in your comments a few weeks ago. Now, the issue of taller masts is, of course, just one consideration if operators are to...
Russell George: Well, leader of the house, you have previously accused the mobile network operators of land banking and said that, and I quote again, 'One operator owns Wales'. So, I would say that instead of criticising the mobile network operators, what plans does your Government have to respond favourably to Mobile UK, as the body that represents the mobile industry, who are calling for—and these are...
Russell George: Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on small business rate relief for small and medium-sized enterprises in the tourism sector?
Russell George: What other schemes are available to help farmers bring forward environmental schemes on their farmland, other than the Glastir scheme?
Russell George: I think it is clearly concerning when any major employer issues a warning that they may withdraw from Wales. It's also important that we all aim to ensure that this, of course, doesn't occur. The Cabinet Secretary has made various comments in his statement, and I would say that I think the UK Government on countless occasions has restated its commitment to getting the best possible deal...
Russell George: 6. How is the Welsh Government supporting education in Powys? OAQ52399
