Carwyn Jones: My answer to that is: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Special advisers have never been called into question in terms of their behaviour. They are indeed expected to behave in accordance with their own code. I see no reason why there should be hearings for the appointment of special advisers. In terms of the third amendment in the name of Paul Davies, this is a mischievous amendment,...
Carwyn Jones: Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd. Can I thank most Members for their contributions? [Laughter.] Just to explain first of all—to deal with the amendments. I know that Members are concerned that the ministerial code should be open—it is; that it gets amended and reviewed from time to time—it is; and that Members are aware of what the ministerial code actually says. What the amendment does, of...
Carwyn Jones: Formally, Dirprwy Lywydd.
Carwyn Jones: I think that’s quite right. What we should say, of course, is that we want the power—and it has been given to us—to change the electoral system to any system that the Assembly should vote for, rather than restricting ourselves to one system. What we have at present is a wording that states that we ask Westminster to change the system to a particular model, rather than us having the...
Carwyn Jones: I’d like to thank everyone for their contributions. First of all, of course, there is an amendment before the Assembly that would broaden the scope of the case that has been put already in the Chamber. The purpose of the debate, of course, is to concentrate on the fact that the National Assembly will have the power to change the electoral arrangements at a local level, but also at an...
Carwyn Jones: Formally.
Carwyn Jones: It’s quite correct, of course, when the Member says that there is a direct link between health and education when it comes to additional learning needs. We know, for example, that with looked-after children, to give an example, merely looking at their education achievement in isolation from everything else is never the way to work, which is why we’ve taken the holistic approach that we...
Carwyn Jones: First of all, the taxes that we will look to introduce will be appropriate for Wales, as we see it. Clearly, they will need robust anti-avoidance measures within the legislation, and Members will be able to see the legislation and what is contained in it when the legislation is introduced. In terms of learning from Scotland, yes, it’s clear to me that you need to have the revenue-raising...
Carwyn Jones: The liaison committee has been established between the Government parties and Plaid Cymru. Your party didn’t want to be part of such an arrangement; that’s your choice at the end of the day, so there’s no point complaining about it. Of course that liaison committee will look at what shape legislation might take, but Members of all parties in this Chamber will have the usual...
Carwyn Jones: Well, I can assure the leader of UKIP that there is nobody in my constituency living in social housing and earning £100,000 a year. That much I can guarantee. The response I give to him about what happened in—he mentions one part of London—is Wandsworth and what was done there, where people were forced out of houses and flats and those houses and flats were sold at a huge profit to the...
Carwyn Jones: Could I thank the leader of the Welsh Conservatives for his comments? Yes, there are some areas where we’ll not agree. With the right to buy—and I’m sure we’ll have this debate again in the future—there are parts of Wales where the housing stock is half of the level that it was 30 years ago, and trying to make that up is hugely difficult. But, that’s perhaps for another day. Yes,...
Carwyn Jones: Could I thank the Member for those comments? To start with autism, this is something, of course, that is being considered at present by the liaison committee, in terms of seeing in what way we can develop legislation on autism, and particularly whether we can ensure that the action plan can be strengthened through being placed on a statutory basis ultimately. That is being dealt with in that...
Carwyn Jones: Diolch, Lywydd. Today, I’m pleased to announce the first year of our legislative programme. In this Assembly term I will make an annual statement, setting out the primary legislation the Government will introduce over the coming 12 months. Moving from a five-year programme to an annual programme and statement is one step in developing our practices to ensure they befit the parliamentary...
Carwyn Jones: There is always a welcome for the Member on these benches with his views. But he’s right—he’s right. Because Members will know that getting money out of the Treasury, fairness, the Barnett formula, air passenger duty—the answer was always ‘no’, because apparently the people of Wales and their views are not important. Well, that has to change. Others have said it in this Chamber...
Carwyn Jones: He has spent months and months complaining about money being controlled from Brussels, saying it should come to Wales, and is now saying that it should be controlled by the Treasury in London. That is not in keeping with devolution. That is not what was promised by the ‘leave’ campaign. It’s not what we will ever sign up to, or agree to, in this Assembly, on this side and others of the...
Carwyn Jones: Of course.
Carwyn Jones: I beg your pardon; the leader of the Welsh Conservatives—old habits, I’m afraid. The leader of the Welsh Conservatives, what he said—he has put himself forward as somebody who can add to the vision of the future for Wales. What we had today was flowery waffle. He was asked—. [Interruption.] I’m trying to enter into the spirit of the debate and be kind. I asked him to give us some...
Carwyn Jones: Diolch, Lywydd. I knew, when this debate was tabled, and when it began, that we would spend much time I suppose re-running the events and arguments of last week. But the result is there. It’s right to say that it was close, but then the establishment of this institution was a close referendum result as well—subsequently, of course, much strengthened in 2011. I have to say to Caroline...
Carwyn Jones: I am grateful. I want to give him the opportunity to outline the opportunities. Perhaps he could name three.
Carwyn Jones: Diolch, Lywydd. Well, the democratic voice of the people has been heard, and we have to respect that, but we have to say that the debate that preceded the vote last Thursday proved to be very divisive for our communities. It’s now time to abandon the unhelpful, disruptive rhetoric and work towards restoring community cohesion and doing what we were elected to do, and that is delivering for...
