Russell George: I welcome this debate on the Chancellor’s autumn statement. My tone will be very different indeed to the last speaker’s, who seems to want to talk Wales down. It seems to be the glass is half empty with the last speaker—
Russell George: No, completely empty rather, absolutely. Now I welcome the UK’s investment in Wales’s economic future through a £400 million increase in capital funding over the next five years. This money, of course, is additional to the £500 million the Welsh Government will be able to borrow to invest as well from 2018, a move that the Wales Governance Centre has said could open the door for a large...
Russell George: Yes, I will.
Russell George: You continue to be ‘glass all empty’. Despite the gloomy forecast, we’ve got to remember that we close 2016 with record-low unemployment—[Interruption.]
Russell George: We close 2016 with record-low unemployment, significantly below the EU average, and with the British economy set to be the fastest growing in the G7. My own view is that making improvements to our infrastructure has got to be the priority for the UK Government and the Welsh Government, especially as a result of leaving the EU. Indeed, as a result of the funding security that the Chancellor...
Russell George: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I think that my colleague Nick Ramsay also mentioned that the autumn statement sets out the firm funding foundations to invest in our roads and schools and hospitals to, of course, drive up growth and support the economy as well. Now, on digital infrastructure such as fibre broadband and fifth generation—this is one of my hobby-horses, I know—the...
Russell George: The expansion of Heathrow Airport is undoubtedly a major boost for trade and tourism in Wales. Now, in contrast to the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government seems to have failed to attract much of a positive boost for Wales in return for the Welsh Government's support for the expansion. In a memorandum of understanding to the Scottish Government, the Scottish Government secured 16,000 new...
Russell George: Deputy Presiding Officer, the Cabinet Secretary has said that the development bank will be launched in the first half of the new year, but I do think it is a bit disappointing that the Cabinet Secretary has provided very little in the statement today in terms of the business case for the hybrid model of the development bank to allow for scrutiny today from Members of the Assembly. I am...
Russell George: Will the Cabinet Secretary confirm the status and weight to be given to policies in local development plans when her officials determine the acceptability of any local generation scheme, which, by virtue of its expected output, is now classed as a development of national significance?
Russell George: I'm grateful; I don't think there's any place for wild animals in circuses. I agree with that. This is something promoted by the Welsh Conservatives some years ago, and I'm pleased that there will be a statement tomorrow. But can I say: how has it taken so long to get to this point? It was your predecessor, Rebecca Evans, who first initiated this, and it has taken a long time to get to this...
Russell George: I have an interest as a member of Powys County Council. Members of Machynlleth Town Council have expressed their concerns regarding proposals by Powys County Council to locate a permanent Traveller site near Machynlleth. Town councillors agree that there hasn’t been a formal consultation, as they had been promised by the county council, with residents regarding possible locations for the...
Russell George: Minister, can you confirm—? The Cabinet Secretary today said that works would commence in 2018, but clearly the end of 2018 is 24 months away from now. Can you confirm when in 2018 it may start? Can you refine that date a little, subject, of course, to the public inquiry outcome? In your statement today, you say that the Cabinet Secretary said the latest assessment indicates that future...
Russell George: Can I fully endorse the views of Adam Price? It is a disgrace that the Cabinet Secretary could not be here today to bring to this Chamber what he delivered in his speech this morning. I’m not—[Interruption.] I’m not privy to that speech this morning, but what I would say to the Minister is: I’ve got two questions for you today—[Interruption.] I’m not privy to the speech that he...
Russell George: The two specific questions I have, Minister, are: can I ask you, Minister, to outline what infrastructure projects will be designated for rural Wales, and, secondly, what specific projects the Cabinet Secretary will be bringing forward to deliver the sustainable bus network service that he has committed to? It is disappointing that the Cabinet Secretary is not here himself or delivered a...
Russell George: The Welsh language and economic development task and finish group published recommendations on how bilingualism and economic development could be improved. Evidence from the review suggested that there were differences between how SMEs and larger businesses use the Welsh language, with many SMEs saying that the Welsh language was a cost rather than a benefit. Since the review was published...
Russell George: I would like to raise two issues. Firstly, before Christmas, the Cabinet Secretary for the environment responded to me here in the Chamber, saying that she would write to me regarding a question I raised on local development plans. I haven’t yet received a note on that, so I would be grateful for a response—very grateful for that. Secondly, I would request a statement. I have previously...
Russell George: By January 2020, rolling stock in Wales will need to comply with the new UK-wide rules on disability access. As it stands now, the majority of the Wales and borders rolling stock would not meet these standards and we’ve got evidence to suggest that securing new rolling stock could take, of course, up to four years. Are you confident that the fleet will be modernised in time for this...
Russell George: First Minister, you said that there’s no other offer on the table and I accept that position as well. But can I ask what initial discussions you’ve had, as a Government, with the UK Government, the unions and other interested parties, on developing an alternative strategy in the event that the current proposal is rejected?
Russell George: I certainly welcome the decision to cut the tolls, which I think will be a huge boost to motorists. Now, you have outlined your wish, Cabinet Secretary, to see the abolition of the tolls on the Severn bridge, and I agree with that ambition as well, even if there are serious financial questions that need to be addressed, and, indeed, traffic-flow issues as well, as Jenny Rathbone has outlined....
Russell George: Leader of the house, you will be aware that properties in the village of Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant, in my constituency, had to be evacuated on Friday after being flooded by water from a burst main that carries water from Lake Vyrnwy to Liverpool. The flooding even damaged the new village hall, which, I remember well, the First Minister opened only in 2012. While the cause is not yet known, the...
