Gareth Davies: —the 2021 census figures do show a decline in the numbers of Welsh speakers. And it is important that we are honest about the causes and solutions to this. The Conservative Government, under Margaret Thatcher, created S4C in 1982, bringing the Welsh language to homes in Wales as well as making the Welsh language equal with the English language. Now, 25 years of Labour and Plaid control...
Gareth Davies: Thank you very much, acting Llywydd. It’s a pleasure to participate in this debate this afternoon, and though I can speak Welsh when I put my mind to it, I don’t usually speak as much Welsh as I should, perhaps. I think in English, therefore, I’d have to think twice if I hear or speak Welsh. As everyone’s heard through this debate, the Welsh language is at the heart of our nation, and...
Gareth Davies: I'm pleased this subject has been raised today, and where the Member for Cardiff Central and the Government think we have a shortage of Gypsy and Traveller sites, I think we have too many, especially in the north Wales area in particular. The Welsh Government have dictated from here, in Cardiff Bay, that every local authority needs to have at least one Gypsy and Traveller site in place to...
Gareth Davies: Thank you for your statement, this afternoon, Minister, and, indeed, for inviting MSs and MPs to the Welsh Government office in Llandudno Junction yesterday to receive your briefing. I'm going to be straight with you, Minister, really. The people of the Vale of Clwyd have had enough, and it's not funny—I can see you're smiling there—because they've had years of excuses, with failure after...
Gareth Davies: Thank you for that answer, First Minister. A public meeting was recently held at the White House in Rhuallt, regarding progress with the much-needed reconstruction of Llannerch bridge, following its erosion through natural causes with storm Christoph, back in 2021. Local Denbighshire residents, councillors, council leaders, and departmental heads from the authority engaged productively on...
Gareth Davies: 2. What discussions has the First Minister had with Denbighshire County Council regarding plans to replace the Llannerch bridge between Trefnant and Tremeirchion? OQ59153
Gareth Davies: I'm pleased to take part in this debate this afternoon. Coming from a rehabilitation background in physiotherapy in the NHS, it's pleasing to see the work being done to improve children's mobility, navigation and independent living skills, in order to better the lives of people who are visually impaired or blind. I think that should be celebrated. I'm also pleased to see the support for the...
Gareth Davies: Good afternoon, Minister, and happy Valentine's Day. [Laughter.] I had to get that one in. Young people are amongst the most likely groups impacted by the cost-of-living pressures, and I'm glad that the Welsh Government seems to be resisting Plaid Cymru's idea that you can tax your way out of a crisis, when it's young people who will face the highest burdens by their proposed tax increase....
Gareth Davies: I'm pleased to take part in this debate this afternoon, and I'm going to keep my contribution fairly brief and to the point today. And I thank Plaid Cymru for tabling such an important discussion, as it shows again that the so-called Party of Wales is the most out of touch it's ever been with the needs of the people of Wales. Only last week, Llywydd, they were happy to grandstand with their...
Gareth Davies: Thanks, Joyce, for giving way, and it's an interesting speech. Can you just clarify that you are saying that you don't want to invest or create jobs in your own region of Mid and West Wales?
Gareth Davies: Will you take an intervention?
Gareth Davies: It's a pleasure to take part in this debate this afternoon, although I do feel a bit like a radio DJ on early breakfast now, as we're in the graveyard shift. This time of year, I usually get a little bit disappointed as well, because I always have this picture in my mind that we're going to be sat here like Charles Babbage with calculators, sort of going line by line through the figures, but...
Gareth Davies: I'm struggling to understand your ideation around this, really, because last week I saw in the press that Plaid Cymru want to raise taxes across Wales. How will that help the lowest paid people in the country?
Gareth Davies: Thank you very much for that answer, Trefnydd, and I'm pleased to see the latest news that the ambition is for the Queen's Market Building to be opened, indeed, this summer, as you mentioned. And indeed, seeing the erection of the steel frame on the promenade in recent weeks has caused me much delight. However, there are many units to fill, and the opening in the summer of this year needs to...
Gareth Davies: 4. Will the First Minister provide an update on the Queen's Buildings development in Rhyl? OQ59102
Gareth Davies: Thank you for your response, Minister. I'm sure you're able to anticipate what I'm going to say, as it was reported in the BBC last week that only 62 per cent of buildings owned by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board are classed as operationally safe. In Abergele hospital, which serves my constituents well, only 15 per cent of the building complies with modern day health and safety...
Gareth Davies: I appreciate your response, Minister, and the reason I’m asking this question today is for that very reason, because HSBC in Denbigh is set to close in the summer as part of 114 branch closures across the UK. But what I don’t believe is that the due diligence has been considered for people in rural areas, and in particular the people of Denbigh, where some can’t travel as far as Rhyl or...
Gareth Davies: Could I ask for a statement from the Minister for Finance and Local Government this afternoon on the condition of rural roads in Denbighshire? I've been contacted by local people in the county concerned by the increasing amount of potholes and deep crevices causing many headaches for road users and farm traffic, and some being described as being from the third world. In the previous cabinet,...
Gareth Davies: 3. What steps is the Welsh Government taking to improve rural banking provision in Denbighshire? OQ59049
Gareth Davies: 5. What assessment has the Minister made of the condition of hospital estates across Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board? OQ59042
