Gareth Bennett: Thank you for that information, Cabinet Secretary, and, in itself, yes, that is a good performance. The problem is that, as councils advance towards recycling targets, frequently fly-tipping rates rise. In the two years up to 2016, fly-tipping rose by 10 per cent in Conwy, by 22 per cent in Gwynedd and, in Pembrokeshire, by a massive 47 per cent. In the light of these figures, is it time for...
Gareth Bennett: Thanks to the Minister for his statement today. In UKIP, we do broadly support the right to buy, but we also recognise the practical difficulties that this policy has led to. It’s interesting that the right to buy has become an ideological battleground between Labour and the Conservatives, because it was actually Labour that first proposed this kind of scheme in their 1959 general election...
Gareth Bennett: Well, I will start to introduce some questions. Thank you for reminding me, Deputy Presiding Officer. So I wondered, Minister, what you thought about this as part of your joined-up approach, presumably, to the housing issue. Because perhaps you can comment on this when I suggest that what we don’t really want are endless new private estates on the green belt, with only grudging and very...
Gareth Bennett: I am indeed. I am indeed, Deputy Presiding Officer.
Gareth Bennett: There are other issues, such as leaving the EU. I see that the EU forces member states to allow international investors to buy into their housing markets. This may now change. Is this a welcome development, therefore, noting that two Cardiff postcodes are in the top 10 for properties being owned by offshore companies? So, that could be addressed by us leaving the EU. So, a series of...
Gareth Bennett: Thank you—diolch, Lywydd. I move the amendments tabled in the name of David Rowlands. We don’t support the Government today because we do have profound doubts over where they are going with their recycling policies and what the effect will be on householders. We do support the Plaid amendment 5, but we will be abstaining on Plaid’s amendment 2, relating to the deposit-return scheme....
Gareth Bennett: Certainly.
Gareth Bennett: Yes, it could well be that there is a case for better advice given to householders, and if there is going to be some meaningful programme of doing that then we wouldn’t rubbish that policy. But I merely point out that sometimes good intentions can lead to worse consequences, so we do have to be very mindful of the fly-tipping problem, but I do appreciate the point you’re making.
Gareth Bennett: Yes.
Gareth Bennett: Yes, we—. I would have to look into that, but when I had a—. [Interruption.] Thank you, Joyce. To continue, when I had this exchange with the Minister responsible, Lesley Griffiths, we did actually have this difference of opinion over data. So, I apologise; I will look into it. I am being given data; I haven’t actually—. I can’t personally verify where it came from at this point....
Gareth Bennett: Will you give way?
Gareth Bennett: You are partly correct, but I would actually advise you to look at the original piece that Martin Shipton wrote, because I didn’t solely blame ethnic minorities; I also blamed students as well.
Gareth Bennett: What discussions has the Welsh Government had with the financial services industry to secure investment and jobs in South Wales Central?
Gareth Bennett: What discussions has the Cabinet Secretary had with local authorities to ensure accountable and transparent governance of the Cardiff Capital Region City Deal?
Gareth Bennett: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, and thanks to the Minister for today’s statement. We do welcome the statement, because we are very sympathetic in UKIP to the concerns of the park home residents. Some of the UKIP Members did meet today with the residents, and it became clear that one of their ongoing concerns is that the Welsh Government consultation is viewed by many of them as simply...
Gareth Bennett: Despite the twenty-first century schools programme, difficulties do still arise with older schools in need of repair. We had a rather ludicrous situation this winter, when 1,400 pupils from three Cardiff secondary schools were being ferried out to places like the Motorpoint Arena, the SWALEC stadium, county hall and Barry College for lessons. This did cause considerable disruption. Does the...
Gareth Bennett: 7. What discussions has the Welsh Government had with Cardiff Council regarding the provision of a new bus station in the city? OAQ(5)0538(FM)
Gareth Bennett: Thanks. Yes, I understand it is a matter principally for the council but the bus station is an issue of growing concern to south Wales residents in general. There have long been fears that the new facility may be too small and now there are fears over the funding as well; there is also the little matter that we don't yet know if there will be coach bays at the new station—none of which...
Gareth Bennett: I take on board Nick Ramsay’s reservations that he expressed. However, UKIP does support the Plaid Cymru amendment allowing local authorities to make representations to the Welsh Government regarding tax bands and tax rates. We believe that, in general, powers should be devolved to the lowest possible level of Government. This is backing the principle of localism, and we stated this...
Gareth Bennett: 8. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement regarding hospital car parking charges in South Wales Central? OAQ(5)0150(HWS)
