Gareth Bennett: Thanks to the Minister for bringing forward today’s debate. Now, the Government’s motion today looks perfectly benevolent in that nobody is really going to start arguing that we need less openness in the provision of Government data. What we do need to know, though, is what this greater openness will actually mean in practice. The future intentions of the Welsh Government in providing...
Gareth Bennett: Yes, thanks for the response. It’s usually potentially a good idea to make a bid for these large events due to the potential to generate revenue for local businesses, although there is also the possibility of disruption as well. So, there is a balance that we have to make. But we do have a problem at the moment with the state of Cardiff Central Square and also the possible lack of capacity...
Gareth Bennett: 2. Will the First Minister make a statement on Cardiff's bid to hold matches for the 2020 UEFA European Football Championships? (OAQ51086)
Gareth Bennett: Thanks to the Conservatives for bringing today’s debate forward on an important subject. We’ve heard a lot already about the flaws in the Welsh Government’s consultation process, so I won’t dwell on that, but rather on the changes that they propose in their White Paper. Now, ‘Services fit for the future’, the White Paper, recognises the need for what it calls a strong citizen...
Gareth Bennett: Thanks. Oddly, my next question was on your £20 million innovation scheme, which you’ve now mentioned yourself. Obviously, your announcement is coming shortly. Is there anything you can give us here today regarding that scheme?
Gareth Bennett: You’ve mentioned this before. When I did Minister’s questions with you for the first time in April, you mentioned your ongoing discussions with Ken Skates’s department and the possible use of Welsh Government land for brownfield housing development, and you suggested at that time that there were—at least, I took the suggestion to be that there were—many redundant NHS buildings that...
Gareth Bennett: Diolch, Llywydd. Good afternoon, Minister, and welcome back to the Chamber. Yesterday, one of your backbench Members, Hefin David, raised the issue of the remediation of brownfield sites. Now, I realise that brownfield sites can be problematic to develop, but there are some brownfield sites that can be prepared for housing relatively cheaply. So, I wondered what involvement your department...
Gareth Bennett: Diolch, Llywydd. It’s on agricultural payments, actually.
Gareth Bennett: Yes, thank you for that answer. Clearly, I understand that there is some uncertainty regarding the future, but you sound reasonably convinced that some speedy and effective form of payments can be made if the responsibility does eventually devolve to here. Would you agree with that?
Gareth Bennett: 5. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the Welsh Government’s plans for common agricultural policy payments post-Brexit? (OAQ51036)
Gareth Bennett: What discussions has the Welsh Government had with the UK Government concerning migration after Brexit?
Gareth Bennett: Yes, certainly. All in all, there could be a more promising future for the Welsh rural economy, if only we see the coming years as a period that could bring with it some upheaval, certainly, but also a large element of opportunity. Thank you.
Gareth Bennett: We’re bringing this debate today because we are interested—as, I expect, are all Members—in reviving the rural economy. We have related today’s motion to the subject of Brexit, not to needlessly cause a commotion in the Chamber on the last day of term, but rather to look at the opportunities that might flow from Brexit. Now, I know that we have had a few minor disagreements in this...
Gareth Bennett: The Welsh Government’s abolition of the right to buy Bill seeks to address the issue of the social housing stock, and this certainly is a serious issue, but of course we have to find the most effective means of addressing the problem. There are various aspects to the housing crisis. Abolishing the right to buy is one way of looking at the problem, but it is only a small part of the overall...
Gareth Bennett: Thanks, Minister, for your statement today. Local government reform brings with it an opportunity and I think reforms could work well as long as the main aim is to bring local government closer to the people it serves. So, the issue of localism, I think, is key. Now, you’ve highlighted a bigger role for town and community councils. I think that is a promising path to go down in some cases....
Gareth Bennett: Many employers feel young people leave the education system today lacking the practical skills they need for the labour market. Many people have degrees, for instance, but are not regarded by employers as being work-ready. Do you think that the university system in Wales could do with a shake up?
Gareth Bennett: We had extensive scrutiny of the Welsh Government’s Trade Union (Wales) Bill on the equality and local government committee earlier this year. Janet is moving the amendments today. I was interested to hear Janet’s comments on the Bill at the time, and I think it is sometimes good when there is a dissenting voice at the committee stage, because it does test the Government’s arguments....
Gareth Bennett: Thanks, Minister, for your statement this afternoon. It’s good that there is a Welsh Government plan for the Valleys, but, of course, we do need to ensure that it is an effective one. There does seem to be a measure of scepticism in various sectors of the Chamber so far, and we do have a lack of detail. Of course, you are hampered by the historic problem of the relative failure, or the...
Gareth Bennett: Thanks to Plaid for bringing today’s debate. As Assembly Members we do need to support effective measures to bolster the growth of Welsh, and we in the UKIP group do endorse those aims. I listened to Sian Gwenllian’s opening remarks, and I agree with her that we need to put an onus on safeguarding Welsh in its heartlands: the idea of taking measures to keep jobs in those areas and stop...
Gareth Bennett: Yes, thanks. You’ve cited the example of Ynys Môn, where there was a resolution, and I think you’re right to look at past examples and where there has been success from the Welsh Government to look at that as a way of dealing with cases that come before you in future. Now, again, it’s slightly sticky because I don’t want to refer to a specific instance, but if there is a case where a...
