David Rowlands: Counsel General, is it not true that the whole of your statement confirms to this establishment and to the people of Wales that the Welsh Government is committed to an open-door policy on immigration? It matters not how you dress it up with references such as lowering the salary base of the UK Government White Paper proposals or simply not curtailing the rights of EU workers. The full thrust...
David Rowlands: Cabinet Minister, is it not true that one cannot speak about transport links to Blaenau Gwent without discussing the rail link of the Ebbw Vale line into Newport? I know that the Member for Blaenau Gwent has dismissed this as unimportant for his constituents, but I see it as a vital part of the overall connectivity of the region. Could the Cabinet Minister, therefore, update us on any...
David Rowlands: Diolch, Llywydd. Can I return to the theme of rail transport, Minister? Since the announcement of the new rail franchise, there has been a great deal of discussion about the announcements to the schedules and stock of the core Valleys lines, and, indeed, you've just given us some very welcome news about the proposed announcements to the Ebbw Vale line. But could the Minister give us some...
David Rowlands: I thank you, Minister, for that, but, obviously, it is of concern to us in south-east Wales. This is a prime railway line that leads into Cardiff, as you know, and into Newport. So, can you give us some idea about the proposed announcements to the rolling stock on that line? After all, the metro gives South Wales East very little in the way of structural commitment. So, let's lump that into...
David Rowlands: It is always extremely regrettable when we see a large employer go into administration and we are all aware of the distress and uncertainty this brings to the employees and their families. I'm sure that the sympathy of this whole Chamber goes out to those families at this very distressing time. But, as has been said, what was so distressing about this closure is the way it was carried out....
David Rowlands: I do not wish, here, to comment on the pros and cons of the decision of the Welsh Government not to proceed with the M4 relief road. I simply want to concentrate on the implications of that decision and give a brief outline of what I humbly believe will be a cost-effective—one could almost say 'cheap'—alternative, designed to alleviate the problems at the Brynglas tunnels, and thereby,...
David Rowlands: I want to concentrate on one aspect of plastic pollution, and it's been mentioned here earlier, of course, which is deposit-return. We have had a number of discussions and debates in this Chamber with regard to introducing a deposit-return scheme for plastic bottles, but there seems to have been little or no progress with regard to legislation on this subject. There's almost certainly...
David Rowlands: 7. Will the First Minister provide an update on Welsh Government plans to introduce a 20 mile per hour speed limit on all urban roads in Wales? OAQ54133
David Rowlands: Diolch, First Minister, for that answer. The proposal begs the question of what constitutes an urban area. If we look at most of the Rhondda, one could say that Blaenrhondda to Tonyrefail, or Maerdy to Porth, or even Pontypridd, could be said to constitute an urban area, given the fact that these are linear conurbations. Is it suggested that one should travel from Blaenrhondda to Pontypridd...
David Rowlands: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I formally move amendments 1 and 5 tabled in the name of Caroline Jones, and wish to confirm at this point that we will be supporting amendments 2, 3 and 4, tabled in the name of Darren Millar. I move amendment 1 and simply record that the delivery of a relief road for the M4 motorway at Newport was a Labour Party manifesto pledge. Moving amendment 5, I fear it is...
David Rowlands: Cabinet Minister, the saga of land at Lisvane in Cardiff being sold for £1.8 million by the regeneration investment fund for Wales, and subsequently sold for £39 million, has been well documented. But we understand that legal proceedings were issued in December 2017 against the two companies who were advisers to RIFW at the time, namely Amber Fund Management and the Lambert Smith Hampton...
David Rowlands: Following on from the theme explored by Helen Mary Jones, but almost certainly not as eloquently as she has put it, I wanted to discuss the governance of the institutions that are charged with delivering our higher education. Whilst we acknowledge the financial crisis now faced by the higher education sector and regret the substantial job losses over the last few years, we also have to...
David Rowlands: Yes, of course, David.
David Rowlands: Well, I will very quickly reply to that, David. I quite agree that the whole process has been very badly mishandled. And I would not stand here and defend the Tory Government and their handling of the matter. Thank you.
David Rowlands: It is indeed gratifying to note the recommendations in the Welsh Affairs Select Committee report, because there is no doubt that if air passenger duty were to be devolved, and the Welsh Government were to use this opportunity to reduce or better still abolish APD, it would unlock the true potential of Cardiff Airport by considerably enhancing the Welsh Government's ability to attract new...
David Rowlands: Diolch, Llywydd. I'm sorry, Llywydd. I do apologise, Llywydd. That came upon us a little quickly, I'm afraid.
David Rowlands: Deputy Minister, a large part of my casework is taken up with matters related to social services—[Interruption.]
David Rowlands: I do apologise. Thank you.
David Rowlands: 1. What assessment has the Minister made of the procedures for forced adoptions, in light of a recent increase in the number of cases? OAQ54158
David Rowlands: Thank you for that answer, Deputy Minister. A large part of my casework is taken up with matters related to social services, in particular with regard to the adoption services. This is not surprising given that, in the South Wales East region alone, some 280 children were referred for adoption in 2016-17—a massive 66 per cent increase on the previous year. I understand that this trend has...
