David Rowlands: Whilst the Commission has not considered this particular aspect before, I'm sure that, now you've brought it to our attention, we are more than willing to have a look at it and to consider how we may react to your suggestions.
David Rowlands: Good afternoon, Dirprwy Lywydd, I'm afraid I didn't have the indication to unmute there. Can I thank the Minister for your update today and for your statement? It is, of course, excellent news that you were able to put in place the interventions outlined, not only for those using the rail network, but also for those whose jobs are being secured by your actions. And can I assure the Minister...
David Rowlands: Minister, we know that the lockdown measures are having a devastating effect on the Welsh tourism industry—many thousands of businesses will not survive this series of lockdowns. And to echo Gareth Bennett's comments, the situation is exacerbated by the fact that we are actively discouraging the English, in particular, from coming to Wales. Does the Minister not accept that this will have a...
David Rowlands: Okay. Are you hearing me now?
David Rowlands: Okay, thank you very much. Diolch, Llywydd. Can I preface this debate by saying it is not designed to encourage people to break lockdown restrictions? On the contrary, I urge people to obey the restrictions, both for the firebreak period and those in place after next Monday. The overarching objective of this debate is to question whether the strategies employed by the Welsh Government, and...
David Rowlands: Shall we now turn to the other statistic that is guiding the Welsh Government's interventions, that is deaths from COVID-19 infection? Here, I feel it's imperative to make the distinction between those said to have died as a direct consequence of COVID-19 and those who are said to have died with COVID-19. Let me now quote from the medical advice given to doctors with regard to recording...
David Rowlands: Counsel General, you seem to have indicated in your answer to Joyce Watson that it is the UK Government that should be leading on trade negotiations with whatever party is engaged. In the past, you've bemoaned the fact that Wales may not be able to impose its own divergence in rules and regulations from those of the UK in general. Do you not agree that it's imperative that the UK shows a...
David Rowlands: Can I thank the economy and skills committee for producing this excellent report and its attempt to analyse what constitutes the foundational economy? I would also like to note the Government's overall positive response to the recommendations made. I believe that what comes out of this report is the clear need to define what constitutes the foundational economy. Perhaps a fair description...
David Rowlands: Could the Government give a statement on why huge swathes of mature, healthy trees are being felled from the side of our trunk roads? And, in that statement, could we find out who has authorised these devastating interventions, an extreme instance of which is being carried out as we speak on the A4042 Cwmbran bypass? It's well known that trees are a particularly important element in combating...
David Rowlands: I think we all have to acknowledge that reforming the transport infrastructure in Wales is a very considerable task, but I think we all agree that we do have to have a fundamental shift in our transport usage, especially the need to encourage the public away from the use of the private car. It is a little bit unfortunate that your statement included a hint that you would be considering a...
David Rowlands: Will the First Minister provide a breakdown of the number of deaths involving coronavirus by age group?
David Rowlands: Can I thank the Minister for his statement this afternoon? And I'm absolutely certain that we are all in agreement that reform of taxi and private hire vehicles is long overdue. The main point I wish to make is that there should be a uniform system across the 22 local authorities of Wales. This would ensure that passengers would have a better understanding of the charges and the rules...
David Rowlands: 5. Will the Minister provide an update on the implementation of the new curriculum? OQ55941
David Rowlands: I thank the Minister for that answer, but I'm sure that she will agree with me that the role of teachers is critical in the implementation of this curriculum. So, is it true, Minister, that only 30 per cent of the teachers who implemented the new curriculum trial supported it? Most of the teachers that I have spoken to say that if the curriculum is entirely driven by the four purposes, much...
David Rowlands: The Senedd is a naturally ventilated building, using automated opening windows for the open spaces and a ducted fresh air system for the Siambr, committee rooms and other enclosed spaces. Tŷ Hywel has a ventilation system that brings in fresh air to internal areas and a separate system that extracts internal air to the outside. Tŷ Hywel also has opening windows for ventilation.
David Rowlands: Well, actually, we have commissioned some things with regard to replacing the windows in the Senedd throughout Tŷ Hywel, and I'm sure that that matter will be taken into account when that actually happens. But I think it's important to note, at this particular time, that, since we've come back in September, estate occupancy has remained low during the pandemic, with just approximately 15...
David Rowlands: I will be supporting Janet Finch-Saunders and Llyr's proposals this afternoon. There is no doubt that we are all aware of the scourge of discarded plastic bottles and cans that litter our streets and are all too often found in some of our most beautiful, rural and seaside settings. I believe that the amount of such litter would be drastically reduced by the introduction of a deposit-return...
David Rowlands: Well, I have looked at the mutual investment model and I have to say that it has a number of advantages. First of all, it will help the Government to bring forward this project much faster than it might have been able to otherwise, and we have to say there is no doubt that this stretch of the A465 is a vital infrastructure project. Together with the work being done in the Clydach gorge...
David Rowlands: In opening my contribution to this debate, I would echo the words of Professor Brown, in his presage to his report, where he says he hopes 'this report acts as a catalyst to ignite a national conversation on what digital innovation means for the people and communities of Wales, not just the high-tech innovative businesses of the future.' The report also identifies in depth the effect AI may...
David Rowlands: Yes. [Inaudible.]—to support the transformation of a new digital industry.
