David Rowlands: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Cabinet Secretary, we are of course all aware of the congestion problems at Brynglas tunnels in Newport. Notwithstanding the decision on the black route or otherwise, it is obvious that any intervention will take some considerable time to be effective. What measures is the Cabinet Secretary putting in place to alleviate the problem in the short term?
David Rowlands: I hope that my comments on the statement by the leader of the house, following on from the conciliatory tone set by colleague Neil Hamilton on an earlier statement, does not lull the Government into some sort of complacency. But, having said that, I thank the leader of the house for today's statement, and I wish to acknowledge and congratulate the Welsh Government on its successful roll-out...
David Rowlands: What assessment has the First Minister made of the success of Welsh Government policies in relieving deprivation?
David Rowlands: Can I refer back for just a moment, Dirprwy Lywydd, to the previous debate? Whilst I agree wholeheartedly with all the sentiments so eloquently put forward by Lee Waters, and, indeed, by all the other contributors, we must not forget that the public sector funds that will form the basis of the foundational economy can only be provided by a strong, industrial-based economy in Wales, which...
David Rowlands: What assessment has the Cabinet Secretary made of educational standards in Wales?
David Rowlands: Will the Cabinet Secretary confirm the opening date for the critical care centre in South Wales East?
David Rowlands: I thank the leader of the house for that enlightening answer. Can I now turn to another matter, which I know you take extremely seriously—that of bullying, particularly in the context of schools? Given the recent tragic incident in St John Lloyd Catholic Comprehensive School in Llanelli, where a young boy, Bradley John, suffering from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, committed...
David Rowlands: I thank the leader of the house for that answer. It is encouraging, leader of the house, to see that Wales is already establishing itself as a leader in the area of digital innovation through initiatives like the compound semiconductor cluster based in my own South Wales East constituency. Fifth generation technology will undoubtedly be an enabler of new technologies, which can only support...
David Rowlands: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Leader of the house, Innovation Point, Wales's leading digital business growth agency announced last week the first meeting of an extra group set up to prepare and shape a coherent national 5G programme in Wales. This will support the wider 5G UK ecosystem and help to position Wales as a world leader in the development and delivery of 5G. Can you give an update on...
David Rowlands: First of all, can I thank all the Members for their contributions? I must say that there is one theme that ran throughout each of your contributions and that's the availability of the equipment in order to be able to test for type 1 diabetes. Dai Lloyd brought his considerable experience, obviously, as a GP, to the debate and spoke of the necessity to test every child who presents with some...
David Rowlands: In our report on this petition we have made 10 recommendations to the Welsh Government. We believe these would assist the timely diagnosis and treatment of type 1 diabetes. The committee welcomes the fact that the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services has accepted, at least in principle, all of our recommendations. We hope this indicates a shared commitment to making progress in...
David Rowlands: Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition under which the pancreas does not produce insulin. The body requires insulin in order to convert glucose from food into energy and, without it, that glucose remains in the bloodstream leading to high blood sugar levels. Though type 1 diabetes can occur at any age, it is most commonly diagnosed under the age of 15. There are approximately 1,400...
David Rowlands: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I'm pleased to open this important debate on behalf of the Petitions Committee. The circumstances behind the petition that we are discussing today have been extremely moving for all the members of the committee. The petition was submitted by the family of Peter Baldwin. Peter, who was 13 and from Cardiff, tragically died in January 2015 from the effects of undiagnosed...
David Rowlands: I thank the Cabinet Secretary for that answer. But, Cabinet Secretary, during a seminar given by the chief planning officer of Wales, a question was asked of him as to whether there were planning laws that would allow local authorities to force owners to maintain the cosmetic appearance of empty commercial premises. This would, of course, enhance the appearance of town centres, perhaps...
David Rowlands: 3. What consideration has the Cabinet Secretary given to changing planning laws in order to deal with the condition of empty shops in our towns? OAQ52658
David Rowlands: Can I thank the Cabinet Secretary for his statement today and for some of the positive initiatives he outlines? I feel reasonably qualified to take part in this debate, and perhaps here I should declare an interest. Many of the key concerns surrounding older people are identified in their ability to deal with statutory authorities on matters such as financial worries, housing, health, crime...
David Rowlands: Will the Member take an intervention?
David Rowlands: Thank you. I don’t think that in any way you have addressed the whole thrust of this debate at all. You’ve made it a tirade against the Tory Government. You’ve not addressed the fact of what I’m trying to point out, which is that the Labour Government are quite happy to allow this huge disparity of wage increases to carry on. I’ve pointed out the figures. You haven’t addressed...
David Rowlands: I'm sure Members will be pleased to hear that my dissertation will be short and to the point. It is a well-recognised fact that organisations with a large pay gap between the highest and lowest workers experience more sickness absence and staff turnover than those with more equitable pay differentials. Exaggerated pay gaps also impede the recruitment of staff, particularly to middle...
David Rowlands: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I shall endeavour—. First of all, I shall thank all those who've taken part in this debate, and, clearly, there are some very serious passions involved with regard to this debate, so I'm going to take a little time and try to repeat some of the things that people have been saying. First of all, Paul Davies asked the Cabinet Secretary to intervene and oppose the...
