Peter Fox: Thanks for that, again, Minister. I think the overspend that local authorities are facing with children and adult care is around £50 million at the moment. Moving on to my last point, Minister, the uncertain times that we again face will only exacerbate the issues that families across Wales are already facing. Now, I know this is an issue that spans across Government, but I would like to...
Peter Fox: On behalf of the communities of Portskewett and Sudbrook in southern Monmouthshire, I want to pay tribute to an outstanding public servant. Anthony Griffiths has dedicated a huge part of his life to his communities. He has served as a community councillor for over 51 years prior to retiring from community work last month. Tony has been so much more than just a community councillor—he is a...
Peter Fox: To confirm, the Welsh Conservative group will be supporting the motion before us today, and I speak in this debate today as someone who sits on the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee. In that regard, can I thank the Chair for his opening statement, but also for his leadership of the committee? It's great working with you, Huw. Inter-governmental and inter-institutional relations...
Peter Fox: What consideration does the Minister give to supporting local authorities to increase biodiversity when allocating funding to the climate change portfolio?
Peter Fox: Thank you for taking questions, First Minister. As we know, the UK Government has made available nearly £9 billion to tackle COVID-19 in Wales to date, and we know that there's an additional £270 million coming to Wales to spend on the booster campaign and financial support for business. I also note the Wales Governance Centre reported that the Government still has about £500 million of...
Peter Fox: I do recognise that there are a number of things as a result of the pandemic that are putting pressure on people's incomes, and that is something that all Governments need to work together to tackle. First Minister, I do want to ask about what more the Welsh Government can do to help people in financial hardship. The Welsh Government, in fairness, does provide a number of support schemes to...
Peter Fox: Diolch, Deputy Llywydd. Can I thank you, Minister, for your statement today? The past two years have been some of the most difficult that we have experienced. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected us all, restrictions have curtailed our freedoms, vast swathes of our society have been forced to shut, and public services have come under huge pressure. Our front-line services, as well as our...
Peter Fox: Aside from business support, we also need to look at ways of supporting our local and national economies, and I think that this budget could have done far more in this regard. Our town centres will be provided with an extra £100 million capital over the budget period, but I question whether this fund will be enough to finally start reversing the long-term decline of the high street and to...
Peter Fox: 2. How is the Welsh Government supporting charities and the voluntary sector during the COVID-19 pandemic? OQ57420
Peter Fox: Thank you, Minister, for your response. Charities and the wider voluntary sector have played a vital role in supporting our communities throughout the pandemic. And I would like to place on record my appreciation of the fantastic army of volunteers across Wales who have gone above and beyond to help us through these difficult times. However, the sector has experienced significant financial...
Peter Fox: Can I thank you, Minister, for your statement? I welcome some of the developments that have been previously outlined by the Welsh Government and expanded on by you today. For example, I'm pleased that the Welsh Government has decided to work with the UK Government on its proposals to transform public procurement now we have left the EU. I think using one legislative vehicle and...
Peter Fox: Thank you, Deputy Llywydd, and thank you, Minister, for the statement. Children, mothers, fathers, grandparents—no-one was immune to being engulfed in the depraved flames of Nazism. More than 6 million people were murdered, as we've already heard, and they were murdered not for any fault of their own, but simply because of who they were. And that number is more than just a figure; behind it...
Peter Fox: Can I thank colleagues from across the Chamber, and in particular James Evans for bringing forward this important and timely debate? As other Members have said, public transport is essential to prevent isolation and loneliness, as well as ensuring people are able to access the services that they need, especially health services at this time. Encouraging people to use public transport more...
Peter Fox: Trefnydd, could I request a statement from the Minister for health on the national roster review currently being carried out by the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust? Specifically, I would like an update from the Welsh Government on what discussions officials have had with the ambulance NHS trust on potential plans to downgrade the ambulance stations in both Monmouth and Chepstow. This...
Peter Fox: Apologies in advance, as I'll follow the same theme as Llyr, if I may, but I'm conscious of your answer, Minister. As we know, the pandemic has had a substantial economic impact on families and resulted in more people needing access to financial advice and support. Councils are often the first port of call for people, and offer an important source of help and advice, and so increasing demand...
Peter Fox: 6. How will the sustainable farming scheme support habitat conservation projects? OQ57564
Peter Fox: Thank you, Minister, for the statement. Llywydd, I would like to just remind Members of the fact that I am a practising farmer, as stated in my interests. As I'm sure you're aware, Minister, this Friday marks the beginning of the Big Farmland Bird Count, organised by the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust. This aims to encourage farmers and land managers to support farmland birds and to...
Peter Fox: Thank you, Deputy Llywydd. Can I thank James Evans for bringing forward this important and timely debate? And as everybody in the Chamber I'm sure would agree, obesity is a serious public health issue; James pointed out the issues, as well as Rhun. The Welsh health service—it's costing that millions a year to treat, and things are getting worse. It is an issue that clearly needs to be...
Peter Fox: I thank the Member for Ogmore for raising this important issue, even though I don't agree with perhaps all of the sentiment nor the way he presents it. But, following the welcome announcement by the Chancellor of a package of support to help people with the rising costs of living, including support to cope with rising energy costs as well as council tax rebate, the Welsh Government will...
Peter Fox: I would like to declare an interest that I'm currently a sitting councillor on Monmouthshire County Council. Trefnydd, could I call for a statement from yourself in your capacity as rural affairs Minister regarding the co-operation and supply chain development scheme? As you may already be aware, the rural programmes team at Monmouthshire council has applied for funding under round 11 of the...
