Gareth Bennett: Thanks to the Minister for bringing today's debate. The Minister, when he gave us his contribution—it was very interesting. The onus was very much on rehabilitation and, of course, a meaningful rehabilitation system is very necessary. Of course, it doesn't work for all offenders, but we have to put in place the infrastructure so that we can give people the opportunity to rehabilitate...
Gareth Bennett: Thanks, Minister, for your statement today. David Melding spoke first. He hoped there would be consensus. I think there is a fair measure of consensus, particularly on the plastic issue. This has become a matter of some public concern, with the recent tv programmes raising this issue, and I think many people today have talked about the problem of plastic packaging and what we can do about it....
Gareth Bennett: I suppose, leader of the house, there is an alternative rather than—I mean, this is an alternative way of looking at this—in that your economy Minister, Ken Skates, although he has cited possible benefits of HS2 to north and mid Wales, although fairly small in financial terms, he has also made the point that the HS2 project could have an adverse impact on the economy of south Wales....
Gareth Bennett: Yes. Thank you for that answer, and I'm glad you appreciate the point. Now, flowing from that—. [Interruption.] It wasn't condescending in any way, leader of the house.
Gareth Bennett: OK. Thank you, Llywydd. Diolch, Llywydd. Sorry, leader of the house, I'll continue with the question. I hope you appreciate that there was no condescension implied. Now, I'm glad you agreed with me on that point. My researchers have done the calculations to get the Barnett consequential based on the Treasury rules, and we've come up with a figure of around £4.6 billion, which was what Wales...
Gareth Bennett: Diolch, Lywydd. Leader of the house, I wanted to ask you some questions today related to— [Interruption.] I wanted to ask some questions today relating to the HS2 project. Of course, it isn't a devolved scheme, as we know, but it does have profound consequences for Wales in terms of spending and budgets. We know that the Barnett consequential is supposed to apply where we have major capital...
Gareth Bennett: Thanks to the Conservatives for bringing today's debate. UKIP supports their motion today. Like them, we acknowledge the problems with capacity in the Welsh NHS. Like them, we acknowledge that the pressures on the NHS are year-round pressures that do not just hit patient care in the winter months. And like them, we acknowledge the need for some long-term strategy, which here they're calling...
Gareth Bennett: Thanks, Minister, for your statement today. I agree it's a promising programme, and it'll be interesting to see how far you can progress it and how much impact it will ultimately have on your housebuilding targets. I'm glad you see a big role in this for the SMEs. I think that's a welcome development. You mentioned the skills shortage that we do have in the construction industry in general,...
Gareth Bennett: Thanks to the Minister for his statement today. As we've noted, the Valleys have always boasted dramatic landscapes, so it makes sense to utilise that as far as we can. So, I think the basic idea of a Valleys regional park is quite a sound one, and I wish you well with progressing it, and I hope it comes to fruition as something that people from outside the area can enjoy as visitors, and...
Gareth Bennett: How do you respond to the acrid, black smoke being suffered by residents near that wood-burning incinerator?
Gareth Bennett: I will. You seem to have a blind faith in EU directives and regulations, and yet—[Interruption.]
Gareth Bennett: I am, Llywydd.
Gareth Bennett: And yet the EU supports wood burning, and we have people in Wales facing potential health risks as a result of that wood burning. There were at least three fires in south Wales at a wood recycling plant last year alone. Natural Resources Wales, which you oversee, gave a licence to a biomass incinerator neighbouring residential properties near Barry Dock. There's black, acrid...
Gareth Bennett: Yes, you're using your well-worn anecdote about the River Irwell in Salford again. Well, we don't have to go as far away as the River Irwell—you also cite the River Ogmore. We had two rivers in Cardiff that would also change colour, so I'm not disagreeing with you on that—the Taff would turn black with coal dust; the Ely would change into various bright colours as it passed Ely...
Gareth Bennett: Thank you for that answer. There are some contentious arguments going on about wood burning and biomass, as to whether that really is renewable, so I will ask you on that, if I may. Now, a few weeks ago at First Minister's questions, you were telling us how EU regulations and guidance were helping Wales and the UK to protect the environment. And yet I now see that the EU has recently promoted...
Gareth Bennett: Diolch, Llywydd. I add my condolences to the families of people who were affected by the tragic events at the weekend. Now, First Minister, you will be well aware of the environmental effects of wood burning. Wood burning is seen by some environmentalists as a source of air pollution. Burning wood from trees also releases concentrated toxins back into the air, increasing our carbon footprint....
Gareth Bennett: Thanks to the two Members for bringing today's debate, and also to Neil McEvoy who's been very active in campaigning on this issue. There has been an awful lot of public anxiety about this issue of materials being dumped in the Bristol channel, as we've heard today, yet again. We've had a petition that gained more than 7,000 signatures. We've had Members from all four parties in the Assembly...
Gareth Bennett: Thank you, Llywydd, for opening today's debate.
Gareth Bennett: We in UKIP note the proposed changes in the Commission report and in your recent statement. If I can go through some of the proposals individually, as the Welsh Assembly now has tax-raising powers, we have no objection to the name changing to Welsh Parliament. Regarding the Plaid Cymru suggestion of 'Senedd', of course 'Senedd' is an excellent phrase as far as it goes for the Welsh version of...
Gareth Bennett: Yes, of course.
