Andrew RT Davies: Thank you, Presiding Officer. Minister, you now have, obviously, overall responsibility for the rural affairs and environment portfolio, and, in particular, Natural Resources Wales. When I've gone around, since taking over the shadow brief, talking to the forestry sector in particular, they are deeply concerned about the management of the forestry estate in Wales, and in particular about...
Andrew RT Davies: I think I take that as a vote of confidence in NRW's ability to address the concerns in the letter that has been put forward by 10—and I think it's an unprecedented number—processors here in Wales. Another point that has come forward is that, obviously, in the response today, there's much emphasis on Grant Thornton's independent inquiry looking at some of the issues that have been flagged...
Andrew RT Davies: I'd be grateful if you could add any more advice in a written response, if possible, Minister, because I appreciate you might not have known the terms of reference word by word. I wouldn't have expected you to know that, but I think it's a genuine concern, if that engagement hasn't happened, as to what confidence you can have in the final report. But another point I'd like to press on NRW, if...
Andrew RT Davies: Thank you.
Andrew RT Davies: 3. Will the Minister outline the Welsh Government's policy on local government reorganisation? OAQ53242
Andrew RT Davies: Thank you for that, Minister. It's well documented that your predecessor had a sometimes challenging relationship with the Welsh Local Government Association and local government in general. In fact, your special adviser is quoted in the news now saying that the previous Minister relied on alternative facts very often on which to base his policy-making decisions. Can you confirm that you will...
Andrew RT Davies: I welcome the opportunity to speak in this debate and, in particular, the initiative that the Presiding Officer did at the start of this Assembly to bring these formats of debates forward so that Members can bring issues like this, which aren't in the devolved competence, but do affect many of our constituents and we do have a view on it. And I do pay a special tribute to John and Phil who...
Andrew RT Davies: I'm grateful to the Minister for taking an intervention. I might be reading this wrong, but I think this motion will pass with unanimous support this afternoon. I appreciate these votes don't tend to get whipped—these Members' debates don't—so if the vote does pass with unanimous approval—and the Government have indicated their support—will you commit as a Minister to raise this with...
Andrew RT Davies: 3. Will the First Minister make a statement on the role of task and finish groups in the development of ministerial responsibilities? OAQ53289
Andrew RT Davies: Thank you for that answer, First Minister. In the recent scrutiny of the international relations Minister, she indicated she'd set up a task and finish group to advise her on her ministerial responsibilities. The Member for Blaenau Gwent, in questioning the Minister at that time, said that the paper she'd submitted was some kind of narrative, lacking any ambition or vision. In particular,...
Andrew RT Davies: Finance Secretary, what use have you made of the £31 million that the Treasury have made available to the Welsh Government for Brexit preparedness? This money has arrived with your good self, but when I've questioned various Ministers at question time, there's a look of bemusement that this money is slushing around the Welsh Government. So, can you be specific what that £31 million has...
Andrew RT Davies: Will the Minister outline the Welsh Government's priorities when promoting Wales abroad?
Andrew RT Davies: Organiser, could we have two statements, please? One in relation to the Welsh Government-proposed and Vale of Glamorgan Council-proposed new road from Sycamore Cross to the M4 in Miskin. We've had a change of Government, I would suggest—not a change of party, but a change of Government—with a new Minister and a new First Minister, and it would be interesting, certainly for residents in...
Andrew RT Davies: 4. Will the Minister provide an update on GP services in South Wales Central? OAQ53339
Andrew RT Davies: Thank you, Minister, for that answer. One of the biggest frustrations many patients have when trying to access GP services is actually making that first phone call to get an appointment with the GP. A constituent of mine—a Mr Owen Smith from Pontypridd, who I think you know—recently took to his Twitter account to highlight how he'd rung his GP surgery 300 times over the last five weeks....
Andrew RT Davies: It's public information. It's on Twitter.
Andrew RT Davies: You're quite right to point out corporation tax as being one big-ticket item that the Welsh Government don't have responsibly out of, but business rates is something that they do have responsibility out of and could make a massive difference to many small businesses the length and breadth of Wales, and yet they've chosen not to do it.
Andrew RT Davies: Will the Minister outline the Welsh Government's targets for the 2021 PISA education tests?
Andrew RT Davies: First Minister, we know from the rural affairs Secretary that the delay in her Government's response to 'Brexit and our land' will push that response into the summer. One thing that the Minister's committed to is obviously bringing a Welsh agricultural Bill forward. We have two years roughly left of sitting in this institution. Can you confirm that there is no delay in the Government's...
Andrew RT Davies: Organiser, could we have a statement or response to the Minister's commitment to do an environmental impact assessment on the Barry incinerator? This commitment was given by the Government back last February. We are in February of 2019 now—that's 12 months, believe it or not—and we still haven't had a response from the Minister as to whether she is going to carry out this assessment or...
