Nick Ramsay: Thanks for giving way. It's been a really productive debate so far. I agree with Members who've said that we need to, as the Minister has said, really ramp up the charging point infrastructure—that's clearly important. As to the future, in Europe there have been some prototype towns where they're looking at Wi-Fi charging, which might be one way of continually charging vehicles along roads...
Nick Ramsay: Will the Member take an intervention?
Nick Ramsay: Thanks for giving way, Rhun. I quite agree with you and other Members that a clean air Act is certainly a positive way to go, but would you agree with me that we've had Acts such as the active travel Act before, and, of course, the future generations Act, all of which are well meaning and have a good basis for the future, but, if you don't actually have those practical measures on the ground...
Nick Ramsay: Trefnydd, you'll be aware that the Minister for health has issued a written statement on the coronavirus, a statement that is very helpful. It refers to the need to keep our legislation in Wales under review, I think in light of the fact that the UK Government is introducing legislation with the purpose of mitigating any effects of the coronavirus and looking at treatment options—enforcing...
Nick Ramsay: I'll keep my comments brief, as I really just wanted to speak primarily with my public accounts Chair hat on, and specifically, looking through the amendments, Plaid Cymru's amendment 2 calls for 'a clear and streamlined set of indicators by which the Welsh Government can be held to account', a good amendment, certainly pointing things in the right direction. This is pretty much the thrust of...
Nick Ramsay: Minister, aside from the statutory age ranges that are set out with regard to the five to 16 and the different ages that children will receive sex education, relationship education, I think you're on record previously as saying that there will be a certain amount of credence given to the developmental point of children within that cycle. So, perhaps there is a way, a compromise solution too...
Nick Ramsay: I'm pleased to contribute to today's important debate. I think an important point to be made at the start of this debate is that nobody—certainly nobody in this Chamber—denies that the NHS needs to change and to change in a transformative way that makes it fit for the twenty-first century, not just the twentieth-century, for which it was originally designed. It is, of course, the type of...
Nick Ramsay: I'd like to ask for a statement on water resilience. You may find that a strange thing for me to ask, given the flooding of recent times, so perhaps I should say: drinking water resilience across Wales. I know that we have a statement on the emergency flood summit immediately after this statement. I think that this is an issue that may or may not come up during that statement, Minister, but...
Nick Ramsay: The electrification of the Great Western main line has clearly been a major plus and will be a major plus for the Welsh, south Wales, economy.
Nick Ramsay: As Bethan Jenkins—sorry, Bethan Sayed—said before, it works as a part of the metro jigsaw, and I'm going to qualify my question to you by saying I appreciate that you're not superman, and that you can't wave a magic wand and—[Interruption.] And you can't wave a magic wand—[Interruption.] No. And you can't wave a magic wand and make all these happen tomorrow, but, in terms of getting...
Nick Ramsay: Will you take an intervention?
Nick Ramsay: Thanks for giving way, Helen Mary. I hear what you're saying about taking more cars off the road, and, hopefully, that will help ease the congestion, and I hear also that you don't support the M4 black route across the Gwent levels. But, do you accept that there needs to be some kind of infrastructure improvement in terms of the road itself? That current road is a standard that's way out of...
Nick Ramsay: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. It's a pleasure to round up this debate today, on, let's face it, what is a very important subject for this Chamber, for the people of Wales. It used to be said about the late Lord Wyn Roberts that he built more roads in Wales than the Romans, and he did build a fair few, it's true, including, of course, the A470, a major infrastructure project, which you can't imagine...
Nick Ramsay: Whenever someone from your own side intervenes, it's always good to agree with them. So, I feel, Russ, you've made an important point. Yes, it's too often today some Members have said, 'Why are you talking about roads?' Well, it's necessary to talk about roads; they are a vital part of the overall mix, and that's why we brought that motion here today. As Mohammad Asghar said, the M4 is a...
Nick Ramsay: Thanks for giving way, Mark. I remember when Dafydd Elis-Thomas once told me, or told this Chamber some years back—or I think it was on the radio, actually, Dafydd—that Snowdon was the highest peak in Wales and, because there was nothing higher in England, it was the highest in England as well. I remember that well. You are quite right to say that England and Wales are different. Is it...
Nick Ramsay: Thanks for giving way, Neil. You've made a very interesting contribution. I think it's a thought-provoking debate. Would you agree that, as Darren Millar said earlier, we have to distinguish between devolution and the Welsh Government? Too often, people don't do that. For instance, if you were First Minister yourself, maybe you'd look a little bit more sympathetically on devolution.
Nick Ramsay: Will the Minister make a statement on the resilience of transport infrastructure in Wales?
Nick Ramsay: Welsh Conservatives will be supporting this motion today. I appreciate it's a short motion, but it is a very important one, an historic one: the setting of income tax rates—the WRIT—for the first time in Wales. After many months, many years, of talking about this process, we are now in it. Admittedly, the rates being considered today are simply replacing the UK part of taxation that has...
Nick Ramsay: Will you take an intervention? You're right to say this is a short motion, and I can understand that, given that this year there's going to be very little change. I imagine, in future income tax motions, should there be changes in the tax rates, there'll probably be more vigorous debate and they probably will require a little bit longer. That's a message probably more for you with your...
Nick Ramsay: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Can I thank the Minister for her opening remarks regarding the issue of flooding, and also add my words of thanks to the emergency services for all their hard work and commitment during those difficult times, which may, of course, not be over yet? I am pleased, Minister, that you started your contribution with the issue of flooding and with climate change. I seem to...
