Alun Davies: No, it isn't. I think we need to elevate the debate rather than try to reduce it. And, do you know, Jayne—? I'm looking at you, Jayne. Janet, I would implore you not simply to read out a speech, but to appreciate what that means, and that goes beyond simply reading somebody else's words. And I think it's important—[Interruption.] I think it's important that we have a serious conversation...
Alun Davies: I'm grateful to you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I'm grateful as well to Rhun ap Iorwerth for bringing forward this debate. When I was reading the order paper and I read the title of the debate—community benefits of energy—the word that stuck out at me was 'community', of course, and it's something that, quite often, is forgotten when we talk about having a much richer energy mix than we...
Alun Davies: Will the Minister make a statement on the digital transformation of local government services?
Alun Davies: I'm grateful to you, Minister, for the statement this afternoon. I think it contains a lot of things that we have the right to look forward to. Also, I'm very grateful and pleased to hear your answer to Delyth Jewell earlier in this session, where you outlined the process by which you will be looking towards developing targets; I think that's absolutely essential in terms of driving forward...
Alun Davies: Could I ask for two statements from the Government please? Firstly, on the implications of the Supreme Court decision last week to rule two Scottish Acts to be out of competence. Those Acts contained a number of provisions that we have already enacted in this place, notably on the place of the rights of children in legislation. It appears to me that that has a direct read-across to...
Alun Davies: I should say that our committee's not debated these matters, so I don't understand how the Chair can speak as the Chair of the committee. But the debate we're having today goes to the heart of what a democracy is and the role of a Parliament in debating these matters. I do wish that, as a Parliament, we had more time this afternoon to debate this matter. I think this is a matter that demands...
Alun Davies: I'm grateful to you, Presiding Officer, for that. When I look at these matters I ask myself, 'Is this a proportionate response to the public health challenges we face?' We've all wrestled with these challenges over the last 18 months. We've all asked ourselves, 'Is this right or is this proper that the Government seeks these powers to intervene in the way that we live our lives?' For myself,...
Alun Davies: The Home Secretary, speaking at the Conservative conference today, outlined plans to prevent people moving freely around the United Kingdom if their intention is to take part in a protest. If you do not believe in a checkpoint society, I'm sure you will join us in opposing such a draconian law.
Alun Davies: I'm grateful to you for that answer, First Minister; you’ll have support for all of that across the whole of the Chamber. But, it’s also important to support serving armed forces today, and to ensure that we have bases and locations in Wales that are able to support and sustain today’s armed forces. In the past we have had debates here about a firm-base strategy to enable us to support...
Alun Davies: And I'll finish with this, if you'll be kind. What I can see is that they are repeating the mistakes of the past, and not learning the lessons of the past.
Alun Davies: I'm grateful to you, Minister, for the statement. I've found the process of the last few years deeply and profoundly disappointing. When I was first elected to this place, and when I joined the Welsh Government for the first time, we had a good and cordial relationship with the United Kingdom Government. We didn't agree on everything, as you'd expect with different political perspectives, but...
Alun Davies: I'm sure it wasn't. Not this time, no. [Laughter.] Minister, I asked, last week, for a statement on civil contingencies. Since last week's business statement, of course, we've seen further chaos across Wales, and constituents have been telling me that people who work in the emergency services, people who work in the caring services, are unable to reach their places of work because of the...
Alun Davies: Thank you very much, First Minister. It was good to see you visiting Ciner in Ebbw Vale and looking at the potential of that £350 million investment taking place in the constituency, and good, then, the following day, to see Vaughan Gething continuing a close relationship with Thales, which is a part of the £100 million Tech Valleys investment in the economy of Blaenau Gwent. Taken...
Alun Davies: 4. Will the First Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government's economic development initiatives in the south Wales valleys? OQ56899
Alun Davies: I'm grateful for that full and comprehensive answer, Minister. It would be useful if you were able to provide us with a little more detail in terms of the timescale for that. You, like myself, have seen a number of commissions come, and their reports go. How will you ensure that this process is different? Because the one thing that we have all learnt over the last, certainly, two years is...
Alun Davies: 2. Will the Counsel General make a statement on the proposed constitutional convention? OQ56856
Alun Davies: Will the Counsel General make a statement on the legal basis of COVID-19 regulations?
Alun Davies: Minister, can we make time for Government to bring forward a debate on civil contingencies and emergency preparedness? Over the last few months, the catastrophe of Brexit has hit home to many people. The farming community have been telling us about the betrayal that they feel. The fishing industry have told us about the betrayal that they feel. We've seen thousands and thousands of lorries...
Alun Davies: Will the First Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government’s support for the media in Wales?
Alun Davies: —us not just to save life, but to actually invest in the future of life as well. I hope that Members across the Chamber will come together and vote for this this afternoon, and will support the private legislation that I hope to put forward in this Senedd, to make all our hopes a reality. Thank you.
