David Rowlands: Does the Minister not agree that there is an undeniably strong case for investigating the whole adoption service, especially given the spiralling cost to the public purse?
David Rowlands: First, Dirprwy Lywydd, can I also extend my and my party's deepest sympathy to the families and friends of the two workmen killed on the Cardiff to Swansea line this morning? In its 'Prosperity for All' economic plan, the Welsh Government stressed the importance of connectivity in Wales as essential to economic success. Transport for Wales will have a key role to play in the delivery of the...
David Rowlands: 4. What assessment has the First Minister made of Wales's economic performance over the past twenty years? OAQ54217
David Rowlands: I thank the First Minister for his answer, but when judged by all normal parameters—GVA, GDP or productivity—we see that Wales appears to be performing less well than any other region of the UK apart from the north-west of England. Does the First Minister agree that this runs contrary to the ambitions laid out in the Government's 'Prosperity for All' economic action plan?
David Rowlands: Diolch Llywydd. Minister, when I was a member of the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee, we visited Trawsfynydd, where we learned about the decommissioning of the nuclear power station. At that time, there were discussions about the possibility of the site being used for the emerging small modular nuclear reactors. Has the Minister explored this option in any way?
David Rowlands: Okay. I thank the Minister for his answer. I'm given to understand that Rolls-Royce are at the forefront of this type of technology. As such, a development at Trawsfynydd could benefit British industry as a whole. I'm also given to believe that much of the grid infrastructure linking to the national grid system is still in place at Trawsfynydd. So, given the local expertise and general...
David Rowlands: In keeping with all the parties in this Chamber, the Brexit Party is hugely disappointed with Ford's decision with regard to the plant at Bridgend. Our sympathy lies with the workforce, which has made tremendous efforts to comply with Ford working regimes over the years. But, let us be explicit here: Ford's decision has nothing whatsoever to do with Brexit. This has been categorically stated...
David Rowlands: What one has to remember is that any tariffs put on any of the exports, particularly of the car industry, after Brexit, will have a hugely detrimental effect on European car manufacturers. And we're not just talking about the German car industry; we're talking about the French car industry, which is increasingly dependent upon their exports to the UK. So, to say that Brexit is going to have...
David Rowlands: 6. Will the First Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government's employment figures? OAQ54270
David Rowlands: Well, I thank the First Minister for his answer, but in answer to a similar question I asked last week, you said that Wales had record employment levels, record low unemployment and a record number of people in work. Whilst I welcome these comments at face value, when we analysed the figures behind your statement, it would appear that the picture is not as rosy as at first you may assert. It...
David Rowlands: Well, thank you, Brexit Minister, for yet another Nostradamus statement with regard to Brexit. Whilst we in the Brexit Party understand that it is prudent to make preparations for every scenario with regard to our exit from the EU, including a 'no deal' Brexit, can it be said that those preparations are in fact prudent if they're based on wild predictions about a 'no deal' being a disastrous...
David Rowlands: As someone whose lack of the Welsh language comes as a direct result of suppression of the language at the beginning of the last century—my mother was actually caned in school for speaking Welsh in school—I wholeheartedly support any moves to increase the use of the language. And where better to promote its use than in this establishment? I therefore welcome all the measures taken by the...
David Rowlands: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. As with Hefin David, I have to declare an interest in that my near-five-year-old granddaughter is autistic. Whilst her autism was diagnosed very early on, I believe this was by chance rather than by local agency intervention. A teacher at the nursery that she attended had an autistic child herself and so alerted us to the fact that she was showing autistic traits. Her...
David Rowlands: Will the Minister outline the Welsh Government's plans for the reform of local government?
David Rowlands: Will the Minister outline how Natural Resources Wales assesses its performance to avoid past mistakes?
David Rowlands: As with my colleague, Mark Reckless, I cannot take part in this debate without asking the fundamental question as to why we have been recalled in this way, given that whatever is decided in this Assembly today will have absolutely no effect on what happens in Westminster. And, given the sparsity of people in the gallery here today, it would seem that the people of Wales see this debate as...
David Rowlands: Yes.
David Rowlands: It is my belief, David, that this is just another opportunity for the remainers to reiterate their opposition to the referendum mandate by the people of the UK—and that includes Wales—to leave the European Union, and nothing I've heard in this Chamber today has changed my opinion on that. It is said that politics in this country has never before been so divisive. Well, one has to ask who...
David Rowlands: One wonders what he means by a 'no deal' Brexit, but we'll carry on—[Interruption.] Their manifestos, about nationalisation—. The Labour Party are backing the 'remain' campaign, yet their latest manifesto is to deliver on economic promises about nationalisation and state subsidies that simply cannot be implemented under EU legislation, whether they're affordable or not. Fifty per cent of...
David Rowlands: Will you take a representation?
