Mr Simon Thomas: Thank you very much to Steffan Lewis for those questions. May I start by saying that there’s some good news here in the wider context? Namely, if you look at the reports of the public services ombudsman over recent years, then the number of complaints, without the proposed legislation, has been increasing regularly. Now, does that reflect on the quality of public services, or does that...
Mr Simon Thomas: I thank Mike Hedges not only for his comments today but for the work he’s done on the Finance Committee previously, and of course very much support what he said about Jocelyn Davies. I hope I can continue—. I think Jocelyn had an approach where she wanted to work with all parties here, and I hope that—. Certainly, taking through a Bill, I need to do that, and I’m very much aware that...
Mr Simon Thomas: I thank Janet Finch-Saunders for her comments and her broad welcome for what the Bill proposes to do. Can I say at the outset that the Bill is based on the current—it does not change the current legislation in terms of the accountability of the public services ombudsman to the National Assembly, not to the Government? It’s a he. He currently is an independent ombudsman, and appointed...
Mr Simon Thomas: May I thank the Cabinet Secretary for his response to the statement, and for stating, in the first place, that he will take a positive approach to this Bill? He has put his finger on a very obvious element, where the Bill addresses a current weakness, in that complaints cannot be accepted orally. It’s obvious in the way that technology is developing and the way that some people, as he...
Mr Simon Thomas: Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer. I’m pleased to say that, on Monday, 2 October, I formally laid the Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Bill before the Assembly. This is the first time that a committee has introduced a Bill since the Assembly gained full primary law-making powers. The Bill represents a significant amount of work undertaken over a number of years and I would like...
Mr Simon Thomas: I’m pleased that the Minister has just mentioned other sports, because although rugby has been given a great deal of coverage, it’s true to say that all sorts of team sports have some element of risk and contact. Of course, we must safeguard children and young people who participate in those sports. So, in that context, what tools and mechanisms does the Welsh Government have in order to...
Mr Simon Thomas: What assessment has the Cabinet Secretary made of the health impact of tackling and scrums in rugby?
Mr Simon Thomas: What is the Welsh Government doing to support the development of veterinary education?
Mr Simon Thomas: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, and I’m very much aware that Members will want to vote on the financial resolution and also vote on the Bill on the basis of policy and the widespread support there is for the aims of the Bill, but I think it is appropriate that I talk to the report that the Finance Committee’s produced on the Bill, and for some Members who are not involved in this...
Mr Simon Thomas: May I say at the outset that I welcome the statement that confirms the actions currently being taken, and in light of the previous statement by the Minister, which has also been supported in general terms by Plaid Cymru? Of course, at their core, these issues relate to public health on the one hand and animal welfare on the other, and Plaid Cymru is of the view that we need to treat animal...
Mr Simon Thomas: I just wondered if the Member would like a penny, because it’s more than he’s ever got out of any budget deal with any Government in Wales.
Mr Simon Thomas: Will the Member give way?
Mr Simon Thomas: As I understand it from what the First Minister and the Minister for the economy have said in the past, the current situation is that the franchise will commence without the full powers or the full budget having been devolved to the Welsh Government, and therefore the Welsh Government to all intents and purposes will be an agent for the Westminster Government. Now, if that is the case, can I...
Mr Simon Thomas: Will the Member give way?
Mr Simon Thomas: I’m grateful to him for giving way. I know we are discussing a report that he’s already produced, but I was also aware of the evidence taken in the committee this morning. It seems that it is not resolved yet as to whether the franchise powers will be devolved in time for the agreement to be made. Is he content that an agency agreement is sufficient cover for both the Welsh Government and...
Mr Simon Thomas: May I first of all welcome the fact that the Cabinet Secretary is here today, rather than listening to his leader in Brighton? I’m sure he would prefer to be at the seaside there, but we are very pleased to have him here. May I ask specifically about this concept of some sort of growth deal for mid Wales? We must think in terms of the whole of west Wales, in my view, because we have...
Mr Simon Thomas: May I welcome today’s statement, in general terms, by the Cabinet Secretary because it has put more meat on the bones from her statement back in December of last year? Certainly, we can now see specific figures and targets in terms of renewables, and specifically renewable electricity. Just to give some context here, we have just had the best summer ever in terms of renewable energy...
Mr Simon Thomas: Could I ask for two statements from the Government? First of all, I’m sure, like me, business manager, you were really excited to hear John McDonnell promise to bring back private finance initiative in house, bringing it back home. So, could we have a Government statement about bringing home Welsh PFI, the cost to the Welsh taxpayer of doing that, and the policy of Welsh Government to bring...
Mr Simon Thomas: Thank you, First Minister. May I first of all put on record my thanks to the staff of Bronglais hospital who cared for my son over the past fortnight in the accident and emergency department? I’m very grateful and I very much appreciate the work that the staff do at the Hywel Dda health board. But, we must acknowledge—and the Minister has acknowledged to me in answering a question over...
Mr Simon Thomas: I agree entirely on the point on electric vehicles. Perhaps I’ll turn back to cycling and how important it is that cycling is a part not only of the active travel plans, but also of the local authority travel plans. I have seen too many of these local plans referring to cycling in the context of leisure and sport and don’t put cycling at the heart of the plans as a means of...
