Mark Reckless: Looking through this framework, I quite enjoy the quality of the document and some of the maps; it's quite interesting to read. But a few things struck me. One thing I'd quote. It says: 'Clear decisions should be made on the scale and location of growth through the preparation of a Strategic Development Plan'. It's a very statist statement. It assumes that what we do, through this plan, is...
Mark Reckless: What assessment has the Minister made of the extent to which students may have fallen behind during coronavirus-related lockdowns?
Mark Reckless: Firstly, can I say thank you very much to Sir Wyn Williams as the president of the Welsh Tribunals, both for his annual report but also for everything that he and his judges have been doing? The challenges have been greater because of coronavirus, but even in the normal scheme of things, the day-to-day work is rarely glamorous and I think it is important that we put on record our appreciation...
Mark Reckless: First Minister, you attended the Chamber for First Minister's questions earlier. I'm sorry it's not convenient for you to attend now. [Interruption.]
Mark Reckless: And the first sentence of my contribution is, I would have preferred to see the First Minister here physically. That's my own view—[Interruption.] I totally accept—[Interruption.] I have my own view.
Mark Reckless: Good. Now, First Minister, you said, 'If only we do this, we can get through to Christmas', but that's what you said about the firebreak, and it didn't work, did it? And there's been a little too much self-congratulation about that firebreak: bring it in, a stitch in time, comparing Wales to England over the operation of that, but it doesn't quite look like that now, does it? You keep on...
Mark Reckless: 4. What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the effectiveness of intergovernmental discussions regarding the COVID-19 response? OQ55979
Mark Reckless: It's good to hear of the Minister's early start today. Could I feed back to him that a number of my constituents have been in touch to say how pleased they are that there's a UK-wide four-Government approach to the Christmas period for COVID restrictions, and they just wonder why can't that UK-wide response happen more generally?
Mark Reckless: 2. What discussions has the Minister had with the tourism industry in Wales regarding COVID-19 regulations? OQ55978
Mark Reckless: Is there a danger that some of our measures—pubs that can't serve alcohol—and particularly enforcing a border to stop people from England coming to Wales, even when we may have had higher levels of incidence, may have an impact in future years of people who may be less willing or interested in visiting Wales in light of that? And what can we do to try and mitigate any such effect?
Mark Reckless: I'd still like to see the M4 relief road built as promised, but I'll focus my remarks on the report. The UK Government and the Welsh Government have got different responsibilities here through law, but I wonder is a better approach to have a joint project team, where both parties are funding that and working together to deliver an agreed solution, as with Crossrail, where we saw the...
Mark Reckless: What discussions has the First Minister held regarding a future relationship agreement between the EU and the UK?
Mark Reckless: I thank Joyce Watson for her speech; it referred back to the 2011 referendum and making laws in these 20 areas. Of course, that was subject to the overriding law of the European Union—she didn't object to that, but she objects to more limited constraints at a UK level. She also didn't remind us that on the ballot paper in that referendum it said, 'This Assembly cannot make laws on tax,...
Mark Reckless: 6. Will the Minister make a statement on the funding of Transport for Wales now that it has taken control of the Wales and borders rail franchise? OQ56015
Mark Reckless: Does the Minister think it's right that the Welsh Government, through Transport for Wales, should own and operate Hereford, Shrewsbury and Chester stations, and if so, how much money will the Welsh taxpayer invest in them over coming years?
Mark Reckless: 6. What assessment has the Counsel General made of the impact of the UK shared prosperity fund on the devolution settlement? OQ55988
Mark Reckless: 7. What discussions has the Counsel General had regarding the impact of the Brexit process on the pace of regulatory approvals for COVID-19 vaccines? OQ56016
Mark Reckless: Last week, the Financial Times carried on its front page an article emphasising the extent to which the European Medicines Agency, when it was based at Canary Wharf, leaned on our MHRA for assistance with much of its work. It has also faced very real challenges, at least from the FT evidence, since the relocation to Amsterdam because so many senior staff have not wanted to relocate from...
Mark Reckless: 1. What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the level of support for its coronavirus restrictions? OQ56070
Mark Reckless: Well, First Minister, the YouGov poll published this morning showed support falling from 66 per cent to 45 per cent, with 47 per cent now opposed. And I just wonder whether you might find more support for your policy if you worked with the opposition rather than calling them disgraceful, and welcomed a royal visit to thank key workers rather than calling them divisive. Instead you, and I...
