David Rowlands: I thank you for that answer, Minister. I'd like to examine one aspect of your budget, and that is the local government settlement. With regard to that, I'd like to quote some figures to you: 2 per cent, 4.2 per cent, and 6.5 per cent. The first figure, of 2 per cent, is the UK inflation rate; the second figure, of 4.2 per cent, is the generous average increase in the budget allocated by your...
David Rowlands: Whilst my party is willing to engage in discussion and debate on the expansion in the number of Assembly Members and the other matters under the committee's remit, we believe that there must be a robust and exhaustive examination into the current role and workload of the existing AMs, which also takes into account the expansion in the workload of the Assembly as a whole. This would then...
David Rowlands: Minister, can we have a statement from the Minister for Education on the parlous state of a number of schools in the South Wales East region? We understand that there are five schools in special measures, three in need of significant improvement, and five where progress is under review following Estyn inspections. Could we also have a statement from the First Minister on the announcement by...
David Rowlands: I thank the Minister for his statement this afternoon. Whilst we welcome all those initiatives outlined in the Minister's statement, including the setting up of the regional investment for Wales steering group, and your extensive engagement with the OECD, it does however beg the question what the Welsh Government has achieved with the billions of pounds received in EU regional funding over...
David Rowlands: The Brexit Party welcomes the intervention by the UK Government to enable the airline Flybe to continue its operations, as we recognise its importance to Cardiff Airport. There are some who seek to criticise the Government for their support for Flybe, pointing out that no such support package was forthcoming to Thomas Cook. However, do you agree there is no huge cash injection from the...
David Rowlands: Could the Minister make a statement regarding the siting of small modular reactors in north Wales? We understand that the consortium led by Rolls Royce is considering building small modular reactors, with Trawsfynydd in Gwynedd tipped as a prime target. We also thought that there were plans to site one on the Wylfa facility on Anglesey and reports seemed to confirm that. But a statement from...
David Rowlands: Whilst my group would rather this Bill was rejected in its entirety, we will be supporting this amendment by Janet Finch-Saunders. The fact of the matter is: this is a bad piece of legislation. It removes the defence of reasonable punishment. Reasonable. What any of us in this Chamber would have thought was reasonable punishment is now not a defence. So, what it does is take it down to the...
David Rowlands: Yes, I will, of course.
David Rowlands: Let me just explore a scenario where a couple are in a restaurant or a cafe with a young child. They have hot cups of coffee or a container of hot coffee on the table and the child goes to grab the coffee, and the mother instinctively taps the child's hand to warn it against that. [Interruption.] And then, you have zealots in that cafe, which could be Plaid Cymru AMs or Labour AMs, who choose...
David Rowlands: —by the police. That's the sort of law you're seeking to bring in to this Chamber. I support Janet's amendment, which has overwhelming support from all those who've contacted me about this Bill. I've had probably more contact over this particular Bill than on anything else that's been brought through this Chamber. And from academics, and from people who actually work in this area. And all...
David Rowlands: I will. Yes, of course, I will.
David Rowlands: All I can say is what's coming through my e-mails and through my letterbox, which is absolutely contrary to what you've just said.
David Rowlands: Of course I will.
David Rowlands: Absolutely. We've heard in this Chamber the transposition of what's happened in Ireland. One prosecution. That's all it's resulted in. And how many investigations? How much time and effort by the social services have been involved in the many cases that must have been coming forward to them—the cost of all that when they should be investigating much more serious areas of abuse of children?...
David Rowlands: Diolch, Llywydd. Well, can I start by saying that Brexit still congratulates you on you bringing such an iconic mark to Wales and you will have our continued support in your operations with that company? Would the Minister consider supporting the use of co-operatives to rejuvenate our town centres and high streets?
David Rowlands: I thank you for that response, Minister. The reason I posed this question is to acknowledge co-operatives as a dynamic, thriving sector of the Welsh economy. Not only are there many individual co-operatives doing well, the sector as a whole is outperforming other types of businesses. Eight of Wales's co-operatives are in the top 100, by turnover, of UK co-operatives. These eight alone have a...
David Rowlands: Can I say at the outset that we shall be supporting this motion? However, I have to point out that I believe every party in this Chamber has expressed its belief and support for those EU citizens now working in the UK, and how they should be allowed—no, even encouraged—to stay, and that that especially applies to those living and working in Wales. So, this debate on the external affairs...
David Rowlands: Yes.
David Rowlands: Absolutely. I think that's a very unfortunate epithet, David. There's no doubt about that at all. [Interruption.] Well, I've not used it in this Chamber. What we must not forget, however, is that freedom of movement was the biggest single issue raised by the people of the UK, and especially those in Wales. The Labour party, and to a certain extent Plaid Cymru, have paid a heavy price for...
David Rowlands: [Inaudible.]—and black people.
