Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: I’d like to follow-up on the austerity point, because, of course, that’s the backdrop to this whole budget discussion. When the UK Government keeps insisting on sticking to those punishing austerity measures, then clearly things are going to have to be cut. Now, let’s not forget why we’ve got these austerity measures. They were meant to ensure that we reduced our deficit and our debt...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: I will. Let me just finish my point, because I’ve got a lot more to come—[Interruption.] This—[Interruption.]. This Conservative Government—. Hey, when you’ve finished. Thank you. This Conservative Government has borrowed more money than every Labour Government in history. Go on.
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: It’s not; it’s absolutely not.
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Darren, did you—
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Did you actually listen?
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Did you actually listen to what I said?
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: You have borrowed more money than every Labour Government in history. It is your policy, and austerity is not working—[Interruption.] Now, the Welsh Government—[Interruption.] The Welsh Government can only spend money that it’s given by the UK Government, although in this historic year we will as a—[Interruption.] Darren, please—
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Thank you, Llywydd. Now, this is a historic year because, for the first time now, we are introducing these tax-raising or tax-changing powers. I very much welcome this—[Interruption.]
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Oh, not another one. No, I won’t if you don’t mind.
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Thank you. The welcome news that—the news that the finance Secretary has announced that we are now going to have the lowest starting rates of land transaction tax in the UK. And I felt a real buzz in the Chamber when that was announced. We felt like a really grown-up Parliament, and that’s what I want to see this place becoming. I would like to know from the finance Secretary how much...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: 4. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on pupil welfare in education? (OAQ51106) [W]
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. You’ll be aware that choosing the right subjects to study will make a huge difference to the enjoyment of children in school, but also we need to be encouraging people to study subjects that will lead to good and rewarding jobs. Girls in particular are massively under-represented in studying STEM subjects that lead to engineering qualifications. This morning,...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on sexual health services?
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I want to focus on the issue of bus travel in rural areas. One thing that angers me more than anything as I travel around mid and west Wales is seeing public buses, travelling around, costing thousands upon thousands to the public purse, and time and time again I see virtually no passengers on board. The issue of ensuring that older people, particularly,...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: I was wondering whether you would be willing to consider that. Thank you.
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: 3. Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on the Welsh Government’s plans to drive forward the Welsh economy? (OAQ51162)
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: That’s excellent news; we’ve all been looking forward to that because the UK Government’s austerity measures have meant that, at local authority level, we’ve seen a 65 per cent reduction in the money in economic development departments, a 45 per cent reduction in planning departments. Because of that massive reduction at local authority level, I just wonder if the Cabinet Secretary...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: 2. What is the Counsel General’s assessment of the constitutional implications of the Sewel Convention on the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill? (OAQ51159)
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: So, would the Counsel General agree with me that, if they were to try and undermine that need to consult with us and to indeed get our consent to this Bill on parts that were relevant to the devolution settlement, this could indeed provoke some kind of constitutional crisis for the Welsh Assembly?
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: I think it’s really important for us on the external affairs committee of this Assembly to be realistic in terms of the extent to which we are likely to be able to influence the Brexit debate. With this in mind, I think it does make sense for us to focus on areas where we can shed light on what Brexit will mean for Wales where the UK Government is unlikely to focus. I represent the...