Russell George: I'm not giving an intervention, Joyce.
Russell George: Am I permitted to give an intervention?
Russell George: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, for allowing that. Joyce Watson is completely missing the point here. The UK Government is giving extra funding to the Welsh Government; the Welsh Government is reducing its funding for Powys County Council, and Joyce Watson wants to defend that. Well, that is absolutely shocking for someone who should be defending her own constituency area.
Russell George: Thank you, Mike. I always listen very carefully to your contributions on local government. With regard to social services, it is that biggest fund, as part of the budget, but I made the point in my contribution: if you've got an increasingly elderly population, such as Powys—it'll have 25 per cent of its population over 75 by 2040—surely you know the significant extra costs of delivering...
Russell George: Will the First Minister make a statement on the sustainability of GP practices in mid-Wales?
Russell George: 6. Will the First Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government's plans to improve the strategic road network in mid Wales? OAQ53763
Russell George: Thank you, First Minister, for your answer. The Cefn bridge on the A458 near Trewern is one of the main routes from mid Wales into the midlands. There's growing frustration on the ongoing delays to repair works on this bridge following an accident that occurred last December. The delay has caused extensive queuing, especially during the holiday period, and there is currently no planned date...
Russell George: 7. Will the Minister make a statement on the provision of pain management services for those who suffer from chronic pain conditions in mid Wales? OAQ53762
Russell George: Thank you, Minister. For patients in Montgomeryshire, I have been and am still receiving reports from constituents who have not been informed of their options for pain management following the closure that you talked about of the Oswestry orthopaedic hospital. There does seem to be very poor communication from Powys Teaching Health Board about their options for future pain management. Can I...
Russell George: They haven't.
Russell George: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, and I'd like to thank Plaid for bringing forward this debate today, and also say that I will move the amendments in the name of my colleague Darren Millar. Can I say I support the vast majority of Plaid's motion? I particularly support their points 1, 2 and 3, and I look at point 2 of their motion, noting—it's a noting motion—that Wales is lagging...
Russell George: Yes, absolutely.
Russell George: I do think that there's a balance here that has to be struck, and clearly we're on a different side of that balance, but what zero-hours contracts do offer is they do offer that flexibility for workers, offering workers patterns that suit their personal circumstances and give them the ability to work in a way that suits them. Zero-hours contracts also provide the flexibility for businesses,...
Russell George: Well, I've already stated that the UK Government has exceeded the protections that are under EU law. I've made that point, and I would finish by saying that I do agree with Leanne Wood in regard to the disappointment of a Government that has deleted all of Plaid's motion, most of which we can agree with. For that reason—[Interruption.] For that reason, we won't be supporting the...
Russell George: 2. Will the Minister make a statement on the cost of rail travel in mid-Wales? OAQ53806
Russell George: Thanks for the answer, Minister. I wonder if I could ask you to liaise with Transport for Wales to ensure that my constituents are not put off travelling by rail fares that are inappropriately priced for routes across mid Wales stations, particularly from Wales into England? One of my constituents has done a piece of work that shows that a constituent can buy a ticket in Caersws, Newtown or...
Russell George: Diolch, Llywydd. Does the Minister share my concerns that the National Infrastructure Commission for Wales is behind schedule in the delivery of its remit?
Russell George: Thank you for the answer, Minister. I'm not aware that there is any recommendation that has come forward yet in terms of infrastructure projects over the next five to 30 years, which is exactly why the commission, of course, has been set up. But a key structural problem, I suggest, Minister, is that, in Wales, planning, funding and delivery cycles of infrastructure and construction projects...
Russell George: I'd like to thank you for your constructive answer in that regard, Minister. I am concerned that the Government has got here currently a very poor approach to long-term infrastructure planning and delivery. Of course, one example I've referred to is the M4 relief road. We've had money spent—public money; vast amounts of public money spent—and we're still waiting, of course, on a final...
Russell George: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, and can I move amendment 2 in the name of my colleague Darren Millar? You will note that we have not deleted any part of UKIP's motion. We agree with UKIP's motion as it has been laid. And I believe that there is, I suspect, broad consensus about the right to request flexible working, which is largely supported, I think, also by the business community as...
