Alun Davies: —supporting local need and local distributed supply, because I think that offers us an opportunity to do far more. And that means the Welsh Government removing a lot of the problems that exist, because, certainly, one of the great barriers we find is that other public sector bodies withhold consents and permissions that make and create barriers for the development of small-scale renewables.
Alun Davies: I'm grateful to you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I'm speaking this afternoon on behalf of the committee. We considered the regulations during our meeting yesterday. As the Minister outlined, we reported immediately afterwards. The Minister has already outlined that these regulations form part of the suite of subordinate legislation required to support the implementation of the Renting Homes...
Alun Davies: I’m grateful to you, Presiding Officer, and at the outset of this contribution I’d like to declare an interest, in that I’ve recently joined the board of the Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association for Wales. I’m grateful to the Minister for opening this debate, and grateful to her also for reminding us that, when we debate and reflect on these matters in November, we reflect on...
Alun Davies: 5. What discussions has the Counsel General had with other law officers regarding the impact of the Transport Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill on the devolution settlement? OQ58668
Alun Davies: I'm grateful to the Counsel General for that response. It is, of course, a forced labour Bill. It takes away freedoms and it takes away rights from people, and acts in a way that is incompatible, I would argue, with our expectations and our values in a free and open and democratic society. It is also at odds with the values that we, on this side of the Chamber, have certainly held dear...
Alun Davies: 8. What discussions has the Counsel General had with other law officers in the UK about the impact of the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill on the UK constitution? OQ58670
Alun Davies: I'm grateful to the Counsel General for that. I'm grateful to hear his final point there. This is a rotten and grubby piece of legislation that has, by its introduction, tarnished the reputation of the United Kingdom in councils across the world. It has damaged our relationship with the EU and has demonstrated that the UK Government itself is prepared to break international law and agreements...
Alun Davies: 3. Will the Commission provide an update on the provision of ICT for Members in the Chamber? OQ58669
Alun Davies: I'm grateful to the Presiding Officer for that. Presiding Officer, I want you to rip out these grotesque computers that we have placed in front of us. They are completely inappropriate for a debating Chamber; they were designed at a time before we had iPads and before we had the ability to communicate in the way that we can. It's a twentieth-century response to a need that doesn't exist in...
Alun Davies: I hesitate to expand on any matters in this forum, but I'm grateful. I think it's right that James Evans has thanked other members of the committee. I'd like to add to that Rhys ab Owen and, of course, other Members who have sat in this place—Jayne Bryant and Peter Fox as well have contributed to the work of the committee. I also want to thank of course not only the Chair, but the...
Alun Davies: Like others, I'd like to start my contribution this afternoon by paying tribute to Aled Roberts. I served here with Aled, and I remember seeing his face on those benches over there, and he was smiling across the Chamber. Whatever people said, he had a smile on his face, and he always had a kind word to say in the tearoom after any debate. It was a pleasure to serve here alongside Aled, and it...
Alun Davies: —we won't just be changing Welsh language policy, we won't be changing the Government's approach, but we'll be changing Wales.
Alun Davies: Will the First Minister make a statement on the future of public services in Blaenau Gwent?
Alun Davies: 4. Will the Minister make a statement on ambulance response times in Blaenau Gwent? OQ58699
Alun Davies: I'm grateful to the Minister for that earlier response. It's certainly true that people want that level of reassurance that an ambulance will be available should they, or a member of their family, become seriously unwell and require an ambulance. And it's important that we're able to provide that level of confidence to people. And one of the things that people raise with me isn't simply the...
Alun Davies: Presiding Officer, there does need to be a point of order.
Alun Davies: When Members are afraid to sit in this Chamber—
Alun Davies: Will the Member take an intervention?
Alun Davies: I'm listening with great interest to your contribution. The numbers that you're reading out are an extraordinary indictment of the United Kingdom Government and their failure to deliver on what is a reserved matter. Will you be joining us in supporting the Welsh Government in telling the UK Government it's time to pull their finger out and actually remember that Wales is a part of this UK and...
Alun Davies: It's a non-devolved function.
