David Rowlands: Diolch, Llywydd. Cabinet Secretary, sadly Wales currently has the lowest productivity of any UK nation, standing at just 83 per cent of the UK average. Economists identify improving productivity as central to our economic future. Can the Cabinet Secretary outline his plans to improve productivity levels in Wales?
David Rowlands: First Minister, we often hear the word 'austerity' used in this Chamber. So, given the limited size of many of our local authorities, how can the money spent on community councils be justified, in that it requires the expense of a chief executive, several staff, and a number of office buildings to facilitate their operations? In other words, First Minister, what do community councils offer...
David Rowlands: Yes, first of all, can I thank all the Members for their contributions to the debate and the Cabinet Secretary for his positive response to the petition and the committee's recommendations? Mike Hedges mentioned the courage of Whizz-Kidz in giving evidence to the committee, and reiterated many of the points in the report, but added that disabled people often decide not to go out for fear of...
David Rowlands: In the evidence we received from Arriva Trains Wales and Great Western Railway, we heard about the positive policies that are already in place. These included the ability for disabled passengers to request alternative transport to another station when the closest one is not accessible, or when, for example, lifts are out of order. However, our conversations with the petitioners, who are all...
David Rowlands: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I am delighted to open this debate on the Petitions Committee’s report on disabled people’s access to public transport services in Wales. Can I acknowledge at the outset that the Welsh Government's response to the report and its recommendations has been extremely positive? The petition that led to this report was submitted by young people from Whizz-Kidz, an...
David Rowlands: I've considered this report very carefully, and with the understanding that I'm sure that all in this Chamber want the Welsh Government to succeed in its stated aim of providing prosperity for all. However, before I comment on this report, I have to put it in the perspective that the Labour Party has been in power in Wales for all of this Assembly's existence, and, in that time, we've seen...
David Rowlands: I thank the leader of the house for that answer, but Wendy Williams, HM inspector of constabulary, has said: 'While modern slavery cases can be complex and require significant manpower, many of the shortcomings in investigating these cases reflect deficiencies in basic policing practice. We found inconsistent, even ineffective, identification of victims', which led to investigations being...
David Rowlands: Again, I thank the leader of the house for that comprehensive answer, but Welsh Women's Aid, one of the excellent agencies—I'm sure you alluded to it earlier on—dealing with domestic crime, and part of whose remit is the provision of refuges for victims, are hugely concerned with cuts to funding, citing the fact that 388 survivors of domestic abuse could not be accommodated in 2016. These...
David Rowlands: I thank the leader of the house for her answer, but latest figures show that reported incidents of domestic crime rose in the police areas of Dyfed-Powys, Gwent and north Wales by 23 per cent, and a massive 48 per cent in the South Wales Police area. Whilst much of these rises may well be attributed to police recognition and growing confidence in reporting such crime, does the leader of the...
David Rowlands: Diolch, Llywydd. Following on with theme explored by some earlier AMs with their questions, does the leader of the house think that the intervention agencies dealing with domestic abuse in Wales are robust enough to deal with this pernicious crime?
David Rowlands: 5. Will the Leader of the House make a statement on anti-slavery measures in Wales? OAQ51583
David Rowlands: Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on council tax rises in Wales?
David Rowlands: Can I thank the Cabinet Secretary for his full and comprehensive statement? I take this opportunity to acknowledge that May of this year will certainly be an historic date, when the first ever contract with a 'made in Wales' label will be awarded. Your vision, Cabinet Secretary, that Transport for Wales should take on a similar role to Transport for London is one that I fully support. The...
David Rowlands: Cabinet Secretary, I rise today not so much to pose a question, but simply to say that UKIP unreservedly welcomes and congratulates the Welsh Government on this investment, particularly as it's in an area that is one of the most deprived in Wales, and I'm absolutely certain that the constituents of Ebbw Vale will wholeheartedly welcome this announcement. TVR ticks all the boxes as far as...
David Rowlands: Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on local government reform?
David Rowlands: Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on scope within the planning process for action to be taken against empty premises in town centres?
David Rowlands: Can I, first, fully endorse and commend the First Minister's letter to the UK Government in support of the Swansea bay development and reiterate UKIP's total support for any interventions that might bring that development about? Cabinet Secretary, we do not have to look far outside the confines of this Chamber to experience the chronic inadequacies of the road infrastructure in Wales. Some...
David Rowlands: Again, I thank the Cabinet Secretary, and I do share, to a certain extent, your belief that perhaps things may be changing, but things do not all go well, particularly for the poorest in our society. The burden on the taxpayer in 2018 is likely to increase. The Welsh Government's rents policy will increase social housing itself by £200 per two-bedroomed home. And likewise, the modest...
David Rowlands: Well, once again, I thank the Cabinet Secretary for his reply, but I have to say that I think the time has ended where we can keep on blaming austerity in Wales for our lack of progress. Once again, after 17 years, the people of Wales are facing another promise of jam tomorrow. The First Minister said, prior to the 2016 Assembly elections, that 'we started the job five years ago, and I need...
David Rowlands: Diolch, Llywydd. Can I take this, my first opportunity, to wish you, the Cabinet Secretary and the rest of the Members of this Assembly a happy new year? Blwyddyn newydd dda. Cabinet Secretary, local authorities, businesses and the charitable sector are making very real efforts to address the challenges facing Wales, but the progress that many would like to see is minimal and, in some cases,...
