Andrew RT Davies: 7. Will the Minister make a statement on the latest guidance for schools in South Wales Central in light of the coronavirus outbreak? OAQ55248
Andrew RT Davies: First Minister, thank you for your statement this afternoon. Could I endorse the comments from colleagues who have touched on the mental health aspect of this? We are literally seeing people's everyday lives, in whatever sphere of life they live, taken apart by this, and uniformity and regularity is one of the stabilising factors in most people's lives. Whilst I appreciate all the efforts...
Andrew RT Davies: Thank you, Presiding Officer. As someone in this Chamber whose own business has been through similar situations that businesses find themselves in, back on 20 March 1996, when the beef crisis struck and markets effectively shut down completely overnight, I can fully understand the true impact of what we are about to see unfold before many people. And it will be many years before this is...
Andrew RT Davies: Leader of the house, I notice there are several new statements appearing on the order paper this afternoon, and I fully appreciate there's a pressure on time. I've raised the issue in spokespersons' questions with the rural affairs Minister, and I appreciate there's something slated for next week statement-wise, but I'd appreciate some form of written statement this week if possible, given...
Andrew RT Davies: Under the current circumstances, it's right and proper that the Government's efforts are focused solely on the coronavirus, and the support that can be given, both in the health field, but in the economy as well. Meeting businesses in my own region yesterday, along with the constituency Member for the Vale of Glamorgan, information obviously is the gold dust that those businesses are crying...
Andrew RT Davies: I'll be voting for the motion this afternoon, and I have huge sympathy for the merits of this motion. I, like you, don't have Sky tv whatsoever and never have had that, but the financial model of the Welsh Rugby Union is predicated on international rugby. If they can't bring the revenues in, what's the alternative to make sure that the grass-roots game and the professional game in Wales can...
Andrew RT Davies: Thank you, Deputy Minister, for taking an intervention. I appreciate you've gone through the amendments. The one significant amendment that the Member for Pontypridd drew attention to as well is amendment 5, because that is a statement of fact, that the health board have not over the last 12 months actively recruited consultants to the A&E department of the Royal Glamorgan Hospital. I take it...
Andrew RT Davies: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I welcome the opportunity to speak in this debate again. It was only some three or four weeks ago that we were debating this very subject with a Conservative motion before us and that motion, after amendments, did find favour. And it's regrettable that the Government haven't moved on this particular position, when the Assembly speaks in such a positive...
Andrew RT Davies: I go back to the days when John Griffiths had this portfolio, and tried to raise this very point about connection to the grid, and the way it's holding back deployment of renewables here in Wales. And indeed, when it comes to battery deployment, there is a moratorium in south Wales until 2026, on any commercial deployment of batteries. So the point about Ofgem's role is well made by the First...
Andrew RT Davies: As someone who believes that rugby, international rugby, should be on a free-to-view basis and who doesn't own a satellite tv, and never has owned a satellite dish, I do regret the position that the home unions find themselves in. But I accept that it is a professional game now, and, for those proponents who want to keep it on free to view, there does have to be an argument put where the...
Andrew RT Davies: You do have to have the demand first, before you pass the cash on, and I don't think a demand's gone forward. But if I could ask my question, the point I would like to ask is: we had the all-party group on woodland and forestry yesterday, and various Members challenged some of the experts around the table as to why there isn't greater woodland planting in some of the upland areas. The...
Andrew RT Davies: Given, obviously, we've talked extensively in this Chamber about nitrate vulnerable zones here, and the Government regulations around NVZs, are you in a position to say whether the regulations, as you envisage them, will be tabled before the end of this term—prior to Easter, obviously? Because, again, not wishing to be alarmist, but, with such major change in the rules and regulations, if...
Andrew RT Davies: I'm grateful for that answer, and I appreciate we're very much in the foothills at the moment, because the condition is obviously unfolding before us, but, for many rural businesses, there are very stiff penalties and sanctions if you don't hit those dates, especially with your application for single farm payment support. I use a very simple description as well about calf passports—if it's...
Andrew RT Davies: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Minister, at the moment, all the news seems to be about coronavirus, and rightly so, and the concerns that Government are addressing through their various summits and meetings. Your department has a critical role to play, especially in the farm support system, and this is a critical period of time, with the single farm payment application window now open...
Andrew RT Davies: First Minister, for my region, obviously the final phase of the Heads of the Valleys road by the Baverstock Hotel is an important piece in the jigsaw to make sure that entire road is dual-carriaged. We know the delays on the eastern side have obviously had an impact on the cost pressures of that particular project. You've identified a new funding model that the Welsh Government are using to...
Andrew RT Davies: Thank you, Minister, for that update. I understand you've been in discussions with other colleagues around the rest of the UK this afternoon. From those discussions, it has been reported in the press today that, certainly in some parts of the UK, there will now be random screening for coronavirus at GP surgeries and hospitals. The list that I've seen doesn't seem to include any Welsh...
Andrew RT Davies: It's stating the blindingly obvious, and the point that the opener, Leanne Wood made—you shouldn't be building on floodplains, to be honest with you. Floodplains should be used for the very purpose that they've been designated, which is to help with the catchment of water, not to build houses on. Planning is a wholly devolved responsibility; it is something that we just shouldn't be...
Andrew RT Davies: Thank you, Presiding Officer. It's a pleasure to move the amendments in the name of Darren Millar: 1, 4, 5 and 3 in this afternoon's debate. I would just start with the point that I appreciate, in tabling arrangements, you are quite entitled to table 30-minute debates, and I agree with all the sentiments that the opener gave this afternoon, but I do believe such a serious issue does merit a...
Andrew RT Davies: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I move the amendments in the name of Darren Millar—1, 2 and 3—attached to the motion. I thank Plaid Cymru for bringing the debate, in particular on the day that the Wales Hydrogen Trade Association was launched here at the Senedd, a development that I welcome. I think as the opener of the debate, Rhun, highlighted there are some exciting projects going...
Andrew RT Davies: 2. In light of the recent escalation of the coronavirus across Europe, will the Minister provide an update on the latest public health advice for people in Wales? 398
