Mark Reckless: In principle, I think that's a fair point, Andrew. There was, though, reference, I think in Dai's contribution, to this having first been looked at two and a half years ago, and I welcome what you said in your speech, but I did find it contradictory in one bit in that you said that you wanted to leave this in the hands of the Commission and then, at the end of your speech, you said that it...
Mark Reckless: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd, and can I thank all Members for their contribution to the debate? May I thank Plaid for their support for our motion today, and share my disappointment that the Conservatives and Labour are coming together tonight to resist transparency of a lobbying register? Caroline introduced—
Mark Reckless: Yes, I'd be delighted to, Andrew.
Mark Reckless: I thought there was an instructive divergence between how the two previous speakers described what the institution was becoming. Rhun referred to our flowering into a national Parliament, while David referred to our becoming a classic Westminster-model institution. In either event, I think it's important that we call ourselves what we are and since we now have primary law-making powers and we...
Mark Reckless: Many of our students will, at some stage of their careers, seek employment over the border in England. It's only recently that England has diverged from our grading system by moving to one to nine, but I just wonder whether, over the longer term, the education Secretary sees any risks to Welsh students in that divergence getting their qualifications treated as they should be in England,...
Mark Reckless: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. We talk about how we're keen to increase house building and construction in Wales, both to provide housing and to generate economic growth, yet the reality is we put more and more restrictions and conditions on what developers have to do before they are allowed to develop. One of these has been the sustainable urban drainage requirements. When I served on the Economy,...
Mark Reckless: [Inaudible.]—how many did you build then?
Mark Reckless: First Minister, given you only built 57 council houses last year, people can judge the plausibility of that, or otherwise, for themselves. You have said that you are going to—and I quote your manifesto here in 2016: 'We will deliver an extra 20,000 affordable homes in the next term'. Yet that implies 4,000 a year. You've been averaging only 2,500 a year. Is it really plausible that you are...
Mark Reckless: Well, First Minister, that £3.4 billion of Barnett consequential is dependent on a huge increase in public borrowing and, if you succeed in your aim to force the people of Wales and the UK to vote again and succeed in your campaign to remain, you will be banned from borrowing that money by European Union rules. Now, First Minister, Labour's manifesto has promised to build 100,000 council...
Mark Reckless: Well, could I specifically ask the Llywydd: why was there a need to ensure you were on side, as the complaint involved a Labour woman and a Brexit man? And was this proper conduct by the standards commissioner?
Mark Reckless: So, why in one complaint, ruled as being without merit by the standards commissioner, did he refer to an e-mail suggesting you as Llywydd would deal with it by knocking heads together? Why were there—[Inaudible.]
Mark Reckless: Will the finance Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government's relationship with Gavin Woodhouse, Afan Valley Limited and Northern Powerhouse Developments Limited?
Mark Reckless: The economy Minister visited Gavin Woodhouse's Afan valley project and starred in a promotional video for it. The project has now stalled after administrators were appointed. Since Dai Lloyd questioned you about this in July, the administrators have stated there were signs that Gavin Woodhouse's hotel projects were a Ponzi scheme. I'm sure we're all pleased to hear that no Welsh Government...
Mark Reckless: 2. Will the Commission make a statement on the Llywydd and the Chief Executive’s interactions with Sir Roderick Evans in respect of standards complaints? OAQ54706
Mark Reckless: We don't agree with the change in the franchise, but Mark Isherwood has already spoken about those, and I will therefore focus my remarks on areas where I think we agree with the Government, at least in principle. The single transferrable vote—we'd like to see electoral reform, and I think STV has a lot of attractions, and actually I think it's quite exciting that the Welsh Government is...
Mark Reckless: I'm grateful to the Minister for his confirmation that this 32-hour week is merely an aspiration for 10 years' time. I think that will be quite reassuring to many of the health boards who are under enormous pressure already, with waiting lists having increased by 16,000 for hospitals just in the latest year. One area of policy from your party at a UK level, which again I understand will apply...
Mark Reckless: Diolch, Llywydd. Minister, you didn't answer the question as to what increase in NHS workforce or, indeed, increase in spending you would need if this policy of a 32-hour average working week were to be applied to the NHS. Can you not tell us what is that average contracted full-time equivalent rate currently, and what would that change be if it was shifted to 32 hours, if indeed this policy...
Mark Reckless: May I ask the Member whether the committee has discussed or approved Douglas Bain as a candidate before she put forward the motion today? Can I also ask a little more about the scope of the work? She mentioned 'temporary', but I'm unclear whether she's referring to perhaps a few weeks, or is this something that could extend through to the end of the Assembly? Also, in terms of his skills and...
Mark Reckless: Thank you. I'm going to use the phrase 'holiday home ownership', which I think covers a range from two categories: the 'second home' the Minister referred to, perhaps only used for a few weeks—or perhaps, at most, months—a year, compared to a property that is let out to a wide range of holidaymakers, more as a commercial proposition. I just wonder, as housing Minister, do you consider...
Mark Reckless: 8. What assessment has the Minister made of the impact that holiday home ownership is having on housing provision in Wales? OAQ54672
