Paul Davies: In a moment. Now, I fully accept that difficult financial decisions have to be made, but today’s debate is also about making sure that there is a fairer local government funding formula in place so that rural authorities have sufficient funding to deliver their local public services. I appreciate that a funding floor has been introduced to address some of the challenges facing some rural...
Paul Davies: I’m afraid the Member for Swansea East can’t get away from the fact that Powys, Monmouthshire, and Ceredigion have faced the largest overall falls in their funding since 2013-14. Now, the third point of our motion acknowledges the important role played by small businesses in driving the Welsh economy and believes local authorities should work closely with the business community. Welsh...
Paul Davies: What is the Welsh Government doing to support voluntary organisations across Wales?
Paul Davies: 3. What is the Welsh Government doing to support the housing needs of the people of Pembrokeshire? OAQ(5)0566(FM)
Paul Davies: Thank you for that response, First Minister. I recently met representatives of Cohousing Hafan Las to discuss proposals for a cohousing community in Pembrokeshire. That would mean providing affordable housing for local people, with at least a third of the residents over 50 years of age in order to bridge between the generations. Would you agree with me, therefore, that we should be...
Paul Davies: Will the First Minister outline what the Welsh Government is doing to support businesses in west Wales?
Paul Davies: 3. What is the Welsh Government doing to improve education in Pembrokeshire? OAQ(5)0114(EDU)
Paul Davies: I’m grateful to the Cabinet Secretary for her response. Now, you may be aware, Cabinet Secretary, of the reading ambassadors scheme, which aims to improve children’s reading skills by working closely with cluster primary schools in my constituency. This collaboration has been praised in a recent ERW report, with the Schools Challenge Cymru adviser, Hefina Thomas, saying it had resulted in...
Paul Davies: Will the First Minister outline the Welsh Government's transport priorities for Pembrokeshire for the next twelve months?
Paul Davies: Cabinet Secretary, one way to ensure that we have thriving high-street businesses in Wales is to make our high streets as accessible as possible, by developing car parking strategies that factor in local nuances around individual town-centre layouts. Now, I appreciate that the Welsh Government last year announced a package worth £3 million to help local authorities pilot town-centre free...
Paul Davies: Cabinet Secretary, it’s absolutely crucial that all of the 1,198 outstanding Glastir applications are now paid as soon as possible in order to protect the viability of those farm businesses, and it’s simply unacceptable that it’s been 18 months since some farmers have received a Glastir payment, and I think this is further evidence that the Glastir scheme is still plagued with...
Paul Davies: I’m pleased to have the opportunity to take part in this debate this afternoon. Safeguarding children and young people online continues to be a genuine challenge for society, and we all have a duty to ensure that children are protected better from the risks of using the internet. As Darren Millar said, the internet is an extremely useful tool, too, for educating children online, and...
Paul Davies: 1. What is the Welsh Government doing to improve health services in Pembrokeshire over the next twelve months? OAQ(5)0610(FM)
Paul Davies: First Minister, it’s important that we do improve health services in Pembrokeshire over the next 12 months to start to tackle obesity, because, unfortunately, obesity rates in the Hywel Dda Local Health Board area have increased as compared with other health boards. Now, I accept that the Assembly passed the Public Health (Wales) Bill recently, which will assist in tackling the problems of...
Paul Davies: Diolch, Llywydd. Like others, I’m delighted to see your return to this Chamber and I hope you will be fully recovered in the very near future. Now, Cabinet Secretary, at the Royal Welsh Spring Festival recently, you said that young farmers are the future of the industry and we must invest in them to ensure both they and this industry have a bright future. Of course, I completely agree with...
Paul Davies: A recent NatWest report concluded that, young farmers need more support to diversify and while the entrepreneurial ideas may be there the support networks could be improved.’ Therefore, it’s crucial that more support is offered to young farmers, both in terms of advice and support, and in terms of finance as well. So, in light of this report, will you confirm what funding you will now...
Paul Davies: Cabinet Secretary, the same report concluded that There is a generational crisis in farming’, which has long been a concern of many in the agricultural world. Indeed, according to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the percentage of farmers under the age of 45 had fallen to just 13 per cent in 2015, down from 18 per cent in 2003. Therefore, in light of the pressing...
Paul Davies: Cabinet Secretary, the Blue Cross ‘Unpicking the Knots’ report tells us that the last time Government brought in a specific law to regulate the sale of pets Winston Churchill was about to replace Clement Attlee for a second term as Prime Minister, Newcastle United won the FA cup, and ‘The Archers’ had just passed its pilot probation period. Now, I’m sure you’ll agree with me that...
Paul Davies: What are the Welsh Government's housing priorities for Pembrokeshire for the next twelve months?
Paul Davies: First Minister, a year-long study by the Seale-Hayne Educational Trust and the Farming Community Network has noted a number of concerns about the impact of dementia in rural areas that we need to tackle, including a lack of awareness of the support available in rural areas, as well as the difficulty in accessing support services. So, in light of those concerns, what additional work is the...
