Alun Davies: 5. Will the First Minister make a statement on investment in transport infrastructure in Blaenau Gwent? OQ57256
Alun Davies: Then we will be able to take a decision on this matter in due course. Thank you, Presiding Officer.
Alun Davies: I'll say at the outset that I'll be supporting the Bill this afternoon, and I'm doing so because I think it does have the potential to act as a real catalyst for change. Food is at the heart of who we are—it's at the heart of our family life, it's at the heart of our health and well-being and it's at the heart of our society. It is emblematic of our national identity in many ways, as has...
Alun Davies: I'm grateful to the First Minister for that. The toxic mixture of Brexit and Tory incompetence and economic mismanagement is hitting families hard. I see that every day in Blaenau Gwent. I'm sure Members across the whole Chamber will see the impact on real families, real people, real lives. We are seeing spiralling energy costs, the costs of food increasing, inflation across the whole of the...
Alun Davies: 2. What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the impact of the rising cost of living on people in Wales? OQ57215
Alun Davies: In contributing this afternoon, I've been reflecting on the centenary of the Royal British Legion. It was, of course, established in the shadow of the great war, and many of the things that we see today were influenced by that conflict. We don't celebrate conflict, and we don't celebrate war, we take a moment to bow our heads in silence, to remember those people who were lost, who sacrificed...
Alun Davies: It's been a somewhat fractious afternoon, and I think it's right and proper that we conclude our deliberations this afternoon by coming together and remembering that there's much more that unites us, even Darren, than divides us. I'd like to start my contribution to this debate by saying a word about Darren's commitment to the cross-party group on the armed forces, and I know it's something...
Alun Davies: The final point I'd wish to make is that the greatest exclusion of electors is first-past-the-post, and I hope that we will be able to introduce proportional representation—fair proportional representation—STV, to ensure that everybody is included in choosing who represents them and not just people who happen to live in constituencies where the majority of people agree with their choices.
Alun Davies: One of the more disappointing parts of the Elections Bill from the United Kingdom Government is that it takes a whole range of different powers, and none of those powers seek to encourage participation. None of them seek to extend the participation in the democratic process. All of them seek to reduce democratic participation, and I think whatever the individual issue is—you've spoken about...
Alun Davies: I think it's difficult to subvert the will of an electorate that's voting for you. It's one of the more curious arguments I've heard for some time. But I think it's right and proper that we discuss our democracy and how to deepen and broaden that democracy, and it's right and proper that we do it now, this time of year. Last weekend, we were marking the anniversary of the Chartists' march to...
Alun Davies: No, I didn't say that.
Alun Davies: What I said was that first-past-the-post is not a proportional system and is not fair, and it does not deliver any sort of proportionality.
Alun Davies: It delivers Tory Governments.
Alun Davies: Point of order. Could you confirm that the last vote was not passed by accident?
Alun Davies: It's not an inconvenience for me because it guarantees that people who are in exactly that position can attend these events and activities on the same basis as you and me, and that is why equality of liberty is so important in this debate. And the final point I'll make is this: it might not always appear on social media, but let me say this, these passes are actually very popular. They're...
Alun Davies: The Member will know that I've argued in this place throughout the last period that Government needs to demonstrate the evidence for its proposals, and it must do that on all occasions. I argued a month ago, and I'll argue today, that I believe this proposal is proportionate, both to the evidence available and to the nature of the threat that we face, which it is trying to overcome. And...
Alun Davies: Darren Millar, in his contribution, said that the Conservatives had argued a month ago that this would set a precedent, and that was the argument that they pursued. Actually, the argument that was pursued by Russell George a month ago was that the introduction of these COVID passes would be a 'disaster'. That was the word he used, and he based his analysis on the experience of Scotland. He...
Alun Davies: You've spoken passionately about the importance of liberty and freedom of choice of individuals, and you've spoken about vaccination. Your colleagues across the border in England are making vaccinations mandatory. Would you go down that route? Would you support that?
Alun Davies: Could I ask for a debate on environment legislation in Government time, Minister? The United Kingdom Government amended the Environment Bill yesterday to include sewerage undertakers whose area is wholly or mainly in England. Now, this clearly makes policy for England, but it doesn't make policy for Wales. And, with all the chaos that's been going on in Westminster over the last few weeks, I...
Alun Davies: I'm grateful to you for that, Minister. I'd be grateful if the Welsh Government could publish a quarterly analysis of UK spending in Wales on some of these matters, because it's clear to me that the greatest investment being made in this country by the United Kingdom Government is that in press releases, various forms of PR and marketing, and not in the substance of supporting people in need....
