Neil McEvoy: Minister, in the last 10 years, pupil spending per pupil has fallen £500, which is almost 10 per cent. Schools are really struggling financially. They're in a position where they're going to have to be laying staff off. So, as the Minister for Education in Wales, with that backdrop and with that crisis in funding, how can you justify your Government's position and what are you going to do...
Neil McEvoy: Yes. Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Housing really is one of the challenges of our time, and it's a challenge that the Welsh Government is failing to meet—failing badly to meet. I remain strongly of the opinion that home ownership is essential for wealth. It's really hard to escape poverty if you don't own a property. So, it's regrettable that Assembly Members here—some of whom own up to three...
Neil McEvoy: Point of order.
Neil McEvoy: In terms of two jobs and second jobs, many, many Assembly Members here have a second job in being landlords, yet you all take part in housing debates. Now, what's—[Interruption.] Well, I'm sorry, if you are a landlord and you rent out properties in the private sector, that is an occupation, and yet everybody here is happy to debate housing policy, Rent Smart Wales, but, when it comes to...
Neil McEvoy: What plans does the First Minister have to review how complaints are investigated under the Ministerial Code?
Neil McEvoy: 1. Will the Commission provide an update on the security sweep of the Assembly estate? OAQ54721
Neil McEvoy: You should be aware that the South Wales Police are investigating the former standards commissioner and staff for misconduct in public office. I will be providing the South Wales Police with everything I have, including new evidence.
Neil McEvoy: It's alleged that you as Presiding Officer have banged heads together and supposedly—[Inaudible.]
Neil McEvoy: With respect, Deputy Presiding Officer—[Inaudible.]
Neil McEvoy: I want it noted, therefore, that I'm unable to make progress to ask the question that I wish to ask. So, therefore, on my feet here, I will ask a different question. [Interruption.] I'm not being allowed to make progress, with respect, Deputy Presiding Officer.
Neil McEvoy: You were quick enough to initiate a sweep of this estate when you were well aware that it was simply my mobile phone that recorded. What other action did you take to preserve at least a modicum of integrity with the complaints process? Because—
Neil McEvoy: Presiding Officer, or Deputy Presiding Officer, I believe my question is in order and it should be answered. What we have here, yet again, is a Deputy Presiding Officer protecting—[Inaudible.]
Neil McEvoy: There's a surprise—[Inaudible.]
Neil McEvoy: Diolch, Llywydd. On Saturday, we had Labour AMs, Labour MPs—or potential MPs, former MPs, candidates now—a Deputy Minister all protesting against the Government policy on incineration. So, I just want to be clear—I listened carefully earlier—could you confirm, maybe—well, get a statement from the environment Minister confirming that there will be no production of electricity at the...
Neil McEvoy: I generally support the Government's position on this, and what the First Minister said, and the thrust of the report as well, but we need actions, rather than words. If you look at page 20 of the report, it talks about a lack of crisis provision. Well, how can there be a lack of crisis provision after 20 years of a Labour Government here? On page 6, it says that young people are not being...
Neil McEvoy: This is a very simple question: will you bring forward legislation to prevent incinerators like the one in Barry, like the one proposed in Trowbridge, like the one proposed in Usk—will you bring forward legislation to prevent such incinerators being able to be opened in Wales? It's a simple 'yes' or 'no' answer, really.
Neil McEvoy: I'd like to thank everybody moving this today—Lynne Neagle, Dai Lloyd, David Melding, and the supporters Delyth Jewell, Joyce Watson, Mark Isherwood, Neil Hamilton, me and Vikki Howells as well. I really didn't realise what an aggressive cancer pancreatic cancer was until earlier this year, unfortunately, when an old colleague of mine, my first ever head of department in my first full-time...
Neil McEvoy: I'm glad I took on the issue of lobbying, because if I hadn't done, I'd still probably be a Plaid Cymru AM. I really admire Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in the United States, because she is people-funded and not lobbyist-funded. I remember Carwyn Jones saying that lobbyists had no access to Ministers. Now, Carwyn does have a strange relationship with the truth, but in this case, there was no...
Neil McEvoy: [Inaudible.]—treated in a very discriminatory manner in this Chamber. I must state that on the record. We need strong regulation and we need a register. Now, the lobbying firm Deryn were so concerned about the questions that I was asking about them that they got in contact with Plaid Cymru, even, and told the leadership to pull me into line. And that was confirmed in writing with the...
Neil McEvoy: Deputy Presiding Officer, I've just been accused of lying. What are you going to do about that?
