Russell George: First Minister, an Expo in Wales would have to build, of course, upon our business community’s success. We know that there’s a clear gap in young people’s business skills. The UK Government has announced that the apprenticeship levy is to be apportioned to devolved institutions. Will you commit to ring-fencing funding, so that Welsh businesses will be able to benefit from the...
Russell George: I’d like to thank the Cabinet Secretary for his statement this afternoon. I do think it is fantastic that Lonely Planet recently announced that north Wales is one of the top four places in the world to visit. I have no doubt that most the best places in north Wales were of course in the Vale of Clwyd, Deputy Presiding Officer.
Russell George: I’ll give it a try in any case. I do suspect that Montgomeryshire is of course No. 1 as well. I’d like to think that that is the case. But I would like to join the Cabinet Secretary in welcoming the reported 25 per cent increase in the number of visitors to Wales, and the increase in the associated visitor spend as well, which now stands £3.5 billion. I’m sure that the success can...
Russell George: 4. Will the Minister make a statement on the ability of Rent Smart Wales staff to respond to queries from members of the public? OAQ(5)0060(CC)
Russell George: Cabinet Secretary, I heard your response to Bethan Jenkins earlier. When I raised this with the leader of the house recently, I was assured that you as Cabinet Secretary would look at this issue. With just one week to go, Rent Smart Wales appears to be, I would say, in chaos. It seems there are not sufficient staff to take calls. Some people are unable to make payments online and staff are...
Russell George: 12. Will the Minister make a statement on the regeneration of the Severn Valley? OAQ(5)0061(CC)
Russell George: I thank the Cabinet Secretary for his answer. The Cabinet Secretary will be aware that the Newtown bypass is developing well, and I’d be very grateful, Cabinet Secretary, if you could let me know how the Welsh Government can support the towns—particularly Newtown, Llanidloes and Welshpool—that sit in the Severn valley to take best advantage of that Newtown bypass once it’s complete.
Russell George: This weekend, celebrations will take place to mark the two-hundredth anniversary of the birth of one of Wales’s most famous musicians, John Roberts, Harpist of Wales or ‘Telynor Cymru’. His life and works will be marked with two days of performances, talks and events exploring his life and how he and his family, who lived in Newtown, became one of Wales’s best known musical acts of...
Russell George: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, and I’d like to move the amendment in the name of my colleague Paul Davies, and to thank UKIP for bringing forward this debate today. I recognise there is widespread ambition across this Chamber to remove the tolls on the Severn bridge and to reduce, of course, the burden on motorists travelling into Wales. The intention of the Welsh Conservative...
Russell George: Yes, absolutely.
Russell George: Well, it is a previous assessment that has been undertaken, and I’m happy to speak to you outside the Chamber about that. But that assessment is done, where 25 per cent of tolls were removed immediately—sorry, the 25 per cent—. The traffic would increase by 25 per cent if tolls were removed immediately. It’s certainly my view that a traffic assessment—a wider traffic...
Russell George: I’m very grateful to the Member for allowing a minute of his time. I should say for the record that I did ask at the very last minute in the day and the Member accepted if time allowed. Can I say that I agree with virtually everything that Hefin has said? I congratulate him on being elected the chair of the cross-party group on small businesses, of which I am a member also. All I would say...
Russell George: First Minister, the Welsh business barometer, from the South Wales Chamber of Commerce report, said the number of small and medium-sized enterprises that were reporting a growth in export sales and orders has fallen in the third quarter of 2016. My own postbag is growing with small businesses contacting me concerned about the potential increase in their business rates. Will you consider...
Russell George: Will the Minister make a statement on plans to streamline the Welsh Government’s economic advisory boards? EAQ(5)0076(EI)
Russell George: Can I thank the Presiding Officer for accepting the urgent question, and the Cabinet Secretary for his answer? This does seem to be a significant change in the way that Welsh Government receives advice and makes decisions in regard to economic development. So, perhaps you could outline why this was released, or reported in the media, before being made available to Assembly Members in a...
Russell George: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I’d like to thank the Cabinet Secretary for his statement this afternoon. It’s very welcome, and I’m certainly keen to have further statements of this sort. I certainly appreciate that we are in uncertain times, following the EU referendum result and the US election, but I also do think that there are exciting opportunities for new and existing UK...
Russell George: 5. Will the Minister make a statement on the application of section 137 of the Local Government Act 1972 relating to the powers of local authorities to incur expenditure? OAQ(5)0056(FLG)
Russell George: Cabinet Secretary, Llanfair Caereinion Town Council have been in correspondence with me on this issue for some time. The town council are keen to take on the running of the town library from county council control. If this doesn’t happen then it’s fearful the town library is likely to close. Now, legal advice provided to the town council actively prohibits them from funding the library...
Russell George: 1. Will the Minister make a statement on the application of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 in Wales? OAQ(5)0055(ERA)
Russell George: In a letter to me on 7 November, Cabinet Secretary, you said that you saw no need to amend the Environmental Protection Act 1990, which states that local authorities have a statutory obligation to provide residents with at least one facility where they may deposit their household waste. Now, in light of the closure of the recycling centre in Machynlleth, coupled with the fact that the local...
