Nick Ramsay: Okay. Turning to the all-important spending commitments, I welcome the news that the NHS is the top priority for the Welsh Government. I’m glad that the Welsh Conservative message has finally hit home after years of us saying—and Angela Burns saying—that the NHS should be properly funded, and not just in cash terms as in the past but in real terms that mean the proper protection of the...
Nick Ramsay: Can I also thank the finance Secretary and his staff, actually, for the briefing earlier today? It's always helpful in the budget-setting process, when time is limited. I should also thank you, of course, Cabinet Secretary, for the usual clamour of austerity. Where would we be without it, particularly on these benches? [Assembly Members: 'Oh.'] And to set—[Interruption.] And to...
Nick Ramsay: Can I thank the Cabinet Secretary for his statement today, presenting his bread-and-butter budget? Perhaps more basic labels are a sign of things to come. If he is successful in his bid for the top job later this year, perhaps we can expect a beer-and-sandwiches budget in future. The anecdotes go on.
Nick Ramsay: I’m sure you do, in your position, have to make difficult choices, but would you agree with me that, aside from whether it is right to reform the services in the way you’re proposing or not, there is a bigger issue that was raised by Neil Hamilton amongst others—that you’re not carrying people along with this process, hence we have this petition, which has been given in with all of...
Nick Ramsay: Thank you. I agree with many of the points that Caroline Jones made about the need to move to electric vehicles, but would you agree with me that that electricity has to be made somewhere, and if we simply move away from diesel and petrol to electric charging, that charging is coming from fossil fuels and, actually, that can in the long run be less efficient than modern petrol engines? So, we...
Nick Ramsay: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I will be brief; I know time is pressing. Leader of the house, I recently met with representatives of Moncare, a Big Lottery and Disability Wales-supported initiative to improve social care in towns and villages across Wales though a co-operative, co-production type model. It seems to me it's the type of project that ticks the Welsh Government's boxes, ticks local...
Nick Ramsay: The problem with speaking at this point in any debate—well, certainly this one—is that many things have been said. Half the Members have already put the boot into the poor Lib Dem scapegoat, or whatever. They were unfortunate words that they used, and they were not my words, Kirsty—they're words of other Members. And now David Melding has pulled the positive rug from under my feet by...
Nick Ramsay: Will you take an intervention?
Nick Ramsay: Thanks, Adam Price, for giving way. I was the Chair of the Enterprise and Business Committee in the last Assembly when we considered the initial active travel legislation. A certain Lee Waters, now the Member for Llanelli, came and gave a lot of evidence at that time in his role at Sustrans. We said exactly what you've just said in your speech there—that this shouldn't be a bolt-on. Active...
Nick Ramsay: Diolch, Llywydd. Last weekend I was delighted to welcome Chief Chinamhora from Zimbabwe to Monmouthshire, who is responsible for over 280,000 people in his area. The chief, the mayor of Abergavenny and I led the 'march for Africa' at the Abergavenny Food Festival, invited by Martha and David Holman from the Gilwern-based charity Love Zimbabwe. I've known Martha and David for the past seven...
Nick Ramsay: Thank you, Cabinet Secretary, and I support what you've been saying about electronic discharge and I welcome the progress that's been made in trying to achieve that. I hear what you say about MTeD, but I've also heard recently that a new, more integrated service is also being developed that will or could ultimately replace MTeD. Is this the case? It does seem a little odd, if a new system...
Nick Ramsay: You're shattering our illusions.
Nick Ramsay: 4. Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on the roll-out of Medicines Transcribing and E-discharge across all hospitals in Wales? OAQ52577
Nick Ramsay: Two things from me, leader of the house. Firstly, when can we expect an update on the Welsh Government's decision on the M4 corridor around Newport, and will that be brought to this Chamber? We've had the public inquiry, which ended earlier this year. And we've also, I believe, had the due diligence over the summer period—that was the original plan anyway. So, if you could update us on a...
Nick Ramsay: First Minister, unfortunately you can't lay all of the world's ills at the door of the UK Government, much as you might like to, and, of course, when the Welsh Government does get money there are numbers of devolved areas such as farming where it is your responsibility to make sure that adequate funding is there. You'll be well aware of the deep concerns of farmers, certainly farmers I met...
Nick Ramsay: First Minister, I fully appreciate that the Welsh Government is still awaiting details, the finalised details, of the shared prosperity fund, and its vitally important that, within Wales, we do have an effective replacement to the structural funds that we have benefited from, depended upon for a very long time. Albeit we are in the situation we are, can you give us that assurance that your...
Nick Ramsay: 7. What is the Welsh Government’s vision for the future of financial support for the agricultural industry? OAQ52576
Nick Ramsay: I've very little to add to that, Llywydd, you'll be pleased to know, other than as a former PAC chair, I know how closely Darren Millar worked with Huw and did a lot of important work. I should probably have pointed out at the start that Huw is in the gallery. I'm just thinking of people watching this from outside and we're all looking heavenward as if he's sitting on a cloud somewhere, but...
Nick Ramsay: I wondered why it seemed so long ago. Yes, it was a totally different weather situation then. But, yes, you're quite right: it's as we discussed during that process. This is an important role. That cannot be overstated. I think I said 'understated' in my initial speech; I meant 'overstated', of course. It cannot be overstated, and it's really important that the process, not just the people...
Nick Ramsay: When people ask me to give them a solid reason why we should have more Assembly Members, I often cite the fact that not only do I chair the Public Accounts Committee and have that role of looking back, but of course I sit with Simon Thomas on the Finance Committee with the job of looking financially forward. I'm trying to look both ways at once sometimes, which wouldn't happen in larger...
