Julie James: As I was saying, the UK Government relies far too heavily on the RAB mechanism for funding these things, which adds costs to customer bills, rather than on general taxation. It is regressive and it places a disproportionate burden on those who can least bear it, which in itself slows progress towards the energy system we need. A different model of investment is desperately required. But...
Hannah Blythyn: ...conscious of the pressures on industry as a consequence of the coronavirus pandemic. It would therefore have been difficult for stakeholders to engage with and respond to a full consultation, and representations were received from industry that a consultation would not be welcome at this time. The bulk of the measures are also relatively small, technical changes, and implementing...
Hannah Blythyn: I thank the Member for her questions. If I first touch on the issue of wet wipes, it was remiss of me not to pick that up in my response to Janet Finch-Saunders as well. The single-use plastics consultation here is perhaps a first phase in a phased approach at tackling problematic single-use plastics, and, within that consultation, we invite people to suggest perhaps things that they think...
David Rees: ...legislative consent memorandum yesterday, and whilst this afternoon we've heard from the Minister the details of that amendment made in the Lords, with the timescales allowed to us, clearly we have not been able to provide a report on our consideration, but we are content to say that no further substantive points of scrutiny have arisen for us based upon the amendment we considered. I'd...
Jane Hutt: ...they just can come direct. The Welsh Government scheme will enable them to come direct to us for that support. On the second question, the points you raised are reserved matters, but we can make representations on behalf of you and constituents to the UK Government. We're working very closely with the UK Government, clearly, in terms of all Ukrainian refugees who come to us. If it's the...
Russell George: ...in England, and I think the performance of devolved nations seems to, sometimes, escape attention. It is, I think, the very least we should expect that the new unitary board of the BBC will have representation from Wales and that the continued partnership between the BBC and S4C will be protected after a united approach, I think, from this Assembly in supporting the Welsh language...
Joyce Watson: ...and informative paper, and, most importantly, to recognise the thousands of dedicated, passionate volunteers who, through their love of nature, donate their time. Without their help, we would not be as well informed about the state of nature in Wales and this would make it incredibly difficult to know where intervention is most needed. The report does give us a stark insight into...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: ...of what was in the White Paper. I will start with the concern on the intention to get rid of the community health councils. I will make the point again, as I’ve done previously, that we’re not asking for the CHCs to be kept forever—that’s not what people are asking for—but for the retention of their function and the purpose that was and is delivered, as the voice of the people. I...
Mick Antoniw: ...cross-party support, and it was clear from Members' contributions that leasehold is a problem in every part of Wales. Since that debate, there has been a statement from the Minister. It does not rule out legislation, but focuses on voluntary agreement with a number of major developers not to build new leasehold housing. Now, I very much welcome that statement, but make the argument today...
Huw Irranca-Davies: ...problems with navigating narrow streets with parked cars for buses, or damage to buses or anti-social behaviour, or because of the pandemic. But, so often, these cuts become permanent, despite representations from local people and local representatives. Sometimes the cuts, we are told, come because the route just isn't profitable. Yet buses and public transport have a true social and...
Rhianon Passmore: ...the economic action plan, and the economic contract, which the OECD and the World Economic Forum are exemplifying in Wales. I also welcome the report's recommendation to do more to tackle the under-representation of disabled people in apprenticeships. The establishment of an inclusive apprenticeships working group, which will publish an apprenticeships disability action plan, is also a...
Mick Antoniw: ...Affairs Committee report, 'UK governance post-Brexit', where one of its key recommendations then was to advocate fundamental reform of the JMC and to recognise the need for collaboration not just between Governments but, importantly, collaboration between Parliaments as well. And, yesterday, we had a round-table, an open and public round-table, of some of the UK's leading constitutional...
David Lloyd: ...Wales and borders franchise, and also the situation with the metro? Of course, in talking about the franchise in the first instance, the situation as we talk about trains can be difficult because not all railways are devolved here to Wales, and specifically with this particular franchise, part of the track is in England and part of the track is in Wales also. Now, the intention of the...
Rhianon Passmore: ...for his political life in the House of Commons—he was busy and didn't tweet his support for the PM until late into the night. And this cost-of-living crisis, as has been stated earlier, it's not about beer or nights out, it is about anaemia, it's about rickets and it's about respiratory disease. So, I welcome strongly the fact that the Welsh Labour Government has been co-ordinating its...
Mark Isherwood: 'the majority of the evidence received oppose the provisions that allow principal councils to choose their own voting system.' The regulatory impact assessment also notes that an additional cost would be incurred should a principal council opt to change its voting system, but that these costs are currently unknown. It is therefore deeply concerning that the Minister rejected the committee...
Jane Hutt: ...national scandal the way consumers, often the poorest in our communities, have been treated. Jack Sargeant has been at the forefront of the campaign to expose this scandal, and the Welsh Government not only welcomes, but supports this motion today. I thank all the Members who've spoken today and contributed. It's good to see the whole of the Senedd—you've united us all behind your motion...
Suzy Davies: ...Assembly Member. I'm very sorry, I've already forgotten so much, but watching the signing at the Welsh Government's COVID press conferences makes me realise how important it is and it also makes me notice its absence at the UK briefings and I think that's worth me, as a Conservative, calling that out. As I suggested in my short debate on modern foreign languages a couple of weeks ago,...
Suzy Davies: ...Mr Bumble with, quote, 'the biggest begging bowl', because that’s what they’ve been reduced to: begging. Neath Port Talbot has announced that they are—quote again— 'getting very close to not being able to run services safely'. And they’re not just talking about the revenue support grant. A thousand vulnerable Gypsy and Traveller children in the county borough area will lose...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: ...of the motion. All of us in this Chamber represent people affected by this terrible pandemic: people who have lost loved ones, people who want to know that when this happens again—hopefully not in our lifetimes—that Wales can be prepared, as prepared as possible, and as well armed as we possibly could be to make the right decisions next time. It was obvious we would need an inquiry. We...
Helen Mary Jones: ...the circumstances that led to this statement coming into the public domain before it had been placed before the Senedd, and I do accept that the Minister himself regards that as suboptimal and not the way that he would usually wish to proceed. As the Minister knows, Plaid Cymru are pleased to support him in this approach. When the opportunity came up a couple of years ago, we felt that...
