Russell George: Can I thank the Minister for his answer and welcome him back to the post in the new Government? Of course, you talked there about the implementation of the plan, but what I want to understand is the detail of that. Certainly, at the meeting of the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee in January, Members asked you about the delivery of the new economic action plan, and at that meeting,...
Russell George: [Inaudible.] delivery, of course—that is important, rather than just a plan. What businesses need, I'm sure you will agree, is clarity to operate effectively, and they're looking to the Welsh Government to provide this. So, Minister, I want to see something specific and something practical happening on the ground, and what is going to be delivered over this next 12 months? Businesses want...
Russell George: Can I welcome you to your post, Trefnydd? Can I first of all ask you to use your influence to obtain an answer to an e-mail I sent to the Minister for Economy and Transport five weeks ago with regard to the Newtown bypass, where I asked all the questions that Joyce Watson raised today? I would be grateful for that answer, because there is huge amount of interest in this project, and certainly...
Russell George: I'd like to thank the Minister for his statement, which was largely helpful, containing useful information and updates to Members, and, no doubt, preparing work for a 'no deal' Brexit is putting that extra level of burden, I think, on Welsh Government civil servants, which I think should also be recognised as well. Your statement improved as you delivered it, but you did start poorly. You...
Russell George: Will the Minister make a statement on the availability of suitable social housing for disabled people?
Russell George: Will the Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government's support for community cycling projects in Powys?
Russell George: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I formally move the amendments in the name of Darren Millar. To say that there has been underinvestment by the current UK Government in Wales's rail infrastructure is entirely inaccurate. Let's have a look at the facts—[Interruption.] Let's have a look at the facts, Deputy Presiding Officer, rather than the rhetoric outlined in the motion. The UK...
Russell George: Well, it's interesting you mentioned part of that report. Of course, another part of the select committee's report that was issued in January 2017 concludes that investment in Welsh rail has been consistently mismanaged by the Welsh Government over the past decade. So, we can all be selective, can't we, on which parts of the report we want to read. With regard to the work—as I move on...
Russell George: Yes.
Russell George: I did outline at the beginning of my contribution that the next control period is a 24 per cent increase, and when it comes to investment as well, we've seen £50 million on the project to upgrade the north Wales railway lines, including a new signalling system for north Wales on the main coastline from Shotton to Colwyn Bay, £300 million investment in the Cardiff area for resignalling, £2...
Russell George: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I move the motion in the name of my colleague Darren Millar. There is quite a bit we can agree with in the Government's motion today, but we can't support it because it deletes the entirety of our motion. We will not be supporting amendments 2 or 5, but we will be supporting amendment 3, and are interested in hearing more detail on the Plaid Cymru proposal...
Russell George: I understand and appreciate what you're saying, but you're also suggesting that both us on these benches and Labour benches are UK parties and you're a Welsh party, yet our motion is about the inequalities in Wales. We're just talking about the inequalities across the country.
Russell George: How is the Welsh Government encouraging investment in research and development?
Russell George: Will the Minister make a statement on the funding of breakfast clubs in mid-Wales?
Russell George: What is the Welsh Government doing to improve chronic pain services for patients in mid-Wales?
Russell George: Diolch, Llywydd. How many premises will be enabled for fast, reliable broadband under phase 2 of the Superfast Cymru scheme, and at what cost to the public purse?
Russell George: Thank you for your answer, Deputy Minister. You've announced the £22 million that has been allocated. Your predecessor last year announced £85 million would be allocated to phase 2. So, can I ask you—my calculation is that that's £62 million remaining—how you plan to spend that £62 million in regard to phase 2?
Russell George: I thank you for the answer, Deputy Minister. Of course, Superfast Cymru is a Welsh Government scheme, and there are some elements of other schemes that you announced last year and in previous years, which I do welcome, but they're not going to cover and be relevant to all premises across Wales. Now, if we look at phase 1, there were areas across Wales that, after the end of phase 1, were the...
Russell George: Minister, I think that the economic contract is a positive step in terms of broadening the intended impact of Welsh Government support for smaller Welsh businesses. Can you clarify, Minister, what form of financial assistance will be given to Welsh firms, in terms of financial support? Will this assistance be delivered through a loans arrangement, and if so, what is the Welsh Government's...
Russell George: Can I ask the Minister what discussions he's had with the National Infrastructure Commission for Wales with regard to the movement of goods and Brexit?
