Hefin David: The Minister will know, from private conversations and public, that I fully support the Welsh Government's consultation. In last week's meeting of the Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee, I asked you for a commitment, should the forthcoming Welsh Government consultation recommend anything that causes a restriction on greyhound racing in Wales, that the Valley Greyhound Stadium in my...
Hefin David: Thank you for that. That's very helpful. Two of those cases that you've identified are in the Caerphilly borough. One is fully in my constituency, Lewis School Pengam, and the other has a campus in my constituency, which is Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni, and there are nine years left to run on the original 30-year PFI contracts. I don't think we would have had the schools without them, and they are...
Hefin David: 5. What assessment has the Minister made of the financial legacy of the use of the private finance initiative in Wales? OQ59320
Hefin David: 5. Will the Minister make a statement on the forthcoming consultation on the future of greyhound racing in Wales? OQ59319
Hefin David: I thank James Evans for that intervention. I think he's making his view known, and I think it's a point that will be heard by the Senedd. In this debate today, I'm not going to take a position, but it is worth hearing from all sides, including from Jane Dodds and from Joel James as well. So, we've had those views expressed, and I think that James's views will be heard as well, but I'm...
Hefin David: Yes.
Hefin David: I'm not going to be taking a position today other than that of the Government, and the Government's position is to proceed with a consultation, which I think is the right approach. I think there are a lot of strong feelings that we've heard today on this issue, and I think that a consultation is the right way forward, and the place that I'm speaking from is only from the position of...
Hefin David: Will you take an intervention?
Hefin David: Just stop reading and get rid of the paper. Just say what—[Inaudible.]
Hefin David: I think the key point made by the Minister there is that, at the time, I think income tax is something that should be revisited in the future, but she's absolutely right to say that this is not the time for it. Last week, we saw an amendment to the Welsh Government's budget by Plaid Cymru that would have cost people on the basic rate £2.47 a week extra, during a cost-of-living crisis....
Hefin David: 1. What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the potential impact of increasing the basic rate of income tax in Wales? OQ59146
Hefin David: My question was specifically about that £20 million of capital funding for community-focused schools. It was referenced in the Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee—if I've got that right—which looked into how that money should be spent. The 'Levelling the playing field' report is the one I'm thinking of. I also met recently with Dr Nicola...
Hefin David: 6. Will the Minister provide an update on support for community-focused schools? OQ59083
Hefin David: I sincerely withdraw and apologise for using that term. It was intended, in the heat of the debate, to make a political point. It was flippant and it was indeed inappropriate. In fact, given the fact that one of Plaid Cymru's councillors in Caerphilly had been pictured holding a gun, threatening to shoot English people, the word I should have used was 'appalling'.
Hefin David: There's a lot of difficulty, I think, with Plaid Cymru's approach to this, and it's inconsistent with what they're saying locally.
Hefin David: I'll tell you what I'll do; I'll withdraw the word 'pointless'. I wouldn't want to be the subject of a point of order later on today. I withdraw the word 'pointless' and I apologise for that. What I should have said was 'politically convenient', because what they are doing is using this proposed rise in council tax, which will hit the poorest people, in order to justify uncosted expenditure...
Hefin David: I fully agree with the reform of council tax, but, on a band B property, the proposed rise in Caerphilly—the lowest council tax in the whole of Gwent, if not the whole of Wales—is £1.91 a week. The proposal that he's putting forward for basic rate of income tax from the same workers is around £2.50 a week. So, actually, the consequences of his tax rise will be higher for those people...
Hefin David: I'll try and keep it short, Dirprwy Lywydd. I might not succeed. This is a debate in two parts really, isn't it? It's a debate that comes from the committees' responses to the draft budget, and the committees making reasonable points, cross party, that are well made. Pered was the first to speak from his committee, and a very impressive contribution it was. I think that is where this debate...
Hefin David: Will you take an intervention?
Hefin David: Given the uncertainty around that last statement about independence, isn't that one of the greatest risks you could take with the economy?
