Nick Ramsay: That was the Monmouth constituency, as you rightly judged again, leader of the house. I've spoken to a number of residents recently who were at the public meeting that you attended a couple of weeks ago in Llanddewi Rhydderch, in a very rural part of my constituency. As you will be aware—it was along with the local county councillor, Sara Jones, I should say. As you are aware, there is a...
Nick Ramsay: You know, Cabinet Secretary, what I'm going to mention, as I mentioned it earlier with the finance Secretary, and I have done so with you previously, and that's the Chepstow bypass. That's an example of where cross-border co-operation isn't just important but absolutely vital. So, I hope that you will progress that, because if we can solve the congestion problems within Chepstow and there's...
Nick Ramsay: First Minister, I'd like to focus on disabled access to public transport, and specifically the ongoing lack of access at Abergavenny station. You mentioned the rail network and the importance of that and the new franchise. We didn't get very far under the old Arriva south Wales border franchise in dealing with problems of the lack of disabled access, much to the frustration of local people in...
Nick Ramsay: Leader of the house, winter is approaching and as sure as night follows day, the A4042—I'll watch my turn of phrase in future—a key north-south strategic route through my constituency, has once again been closed at Llanellen, due to flooding—a common problem. Could I ask for an update from the Welsh Government as to where we are with improving this stretch of road? I know there have...
Nick Ramsay: Can I concur with Dai Lloyd's comments and also welcome the news that the trials appear to have been successful? It seems a long time since those diagnosed with HIV, back when the condition first became known about back in the 1980s, didn't really have any hope. So, the fact that we are now not just having treatment drugs but preventative drugs like this must be welcomed. From my...
Nick Ramsay: Will the Cabinet Secretary give way?
Nick Ramsay: Thanks for giving way. You've mentioned key components of this new economy—broadband, electric trains. I think this is a good time to plug the electric car infrastructure as well. I know it's not totally related to this, but, at the same time, that is all part of networks. We know that, at the moment, Wales is needing to play catch-up in terms of getting that electrical car charging...
Nick Ramsay: Diolch, Llywydd. Leader of the house, I wonder if we can have an update from the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services on the uptake and availability of this year's flu vaccine? I know that many AMs have been involved with the programme since they came to the Assembly. I've been contacted by a constituent from Chepstow, who made an appointment with his local GP to go and receive...
Nick Ramsay: Will the Minister take an intervention?
Nick Ramsay: Sorry—Cabinet Secretary. Just on your last point there regarding encouraging offenders to take up skills that will help them after prison, I recently attended a Careers Wales event in co-ordination with Prescoed prison, which was to have a careers fair actually within the prison within the last months of the offenders' sentences, so that once they came out of prison they would have jobs to...
Nick Ramsay: Will you take an intervention?
Nick Ramsay: I raised that example earlier because I did go back and find out afterwards that there was success. I believe 85 per cent or 90 per cent of the ex-offenders who did attend that fair have now got placements after prison—and not just placements, but they've got well-paid placements.
Nick Ramsay: What progress is the Welsh Government making in improving transport infrastructure in Monmouthshire?
Nick Ramsay: Just wondering if I can get away with being a mystery shopper under the new franchise, Cabinet Secretary—I'd probably be spotted. One area that you know I've been interested in seeing a big improvement in—I raised it with the First Minister in questions last week—was that area of disabled access to our stations. It wasn't particularly improved under the previous franchise. I know the...
Nick Ramsay: Will the Member take an intervention?
Nick Ramsay: I agree totally with the things you’ve said, and you’ve mentioned the Urdd and national organisations, and I’d also say there’s local musical organisations such as Gwent Music in my area, partially funded by local authorities, and other organisations like that across Wales that are doing a fantastic amount to really promote music outside of schools.
Nick Ramsay: Well, First Minister, looking on the bright side, the UK Government's budget will see an extra £551 million coming to Wales over three years, an average uplift between 2015 and 2020 of over 4 per cent in real terms. Can I concur with the question and issue raised by Helen Mary Jones about the local authorities? We also know that around £26 million of that money from the UK budget is a...
Nick Ramsay: I think that David Rees has raised a very important issue, very forcefully, and it's not just your constituents who've been affected by this, David—it's constituents for AMs across Wales. Cabinet Secretary, this really does highlight the problem when you retrofit existing housing stock in a way that deviates from the original standard, and isn't done in the way that it should be. And it's...
Nick Ramsay: First Minister, the Member for Cardiff North makes a very good point when she says that future regional policy should be controlled by the Welsh Government, by this Assembly—a point that you've echoed yourself. Whilst I appreciate that there are still details, a large number of details, about the shared prosperity fund to be effectively ironed out, it's important that when the current...
Nick Ramsay: 8. Will the First Minister set out the Welsh Government's budgetary priorities for local government? OAQ52913
