Andrew RT Davies: The point that the leader of the Brexit Party is making is emphasised in law now. If the Bill goes through the House of Commons, the Fisheries Bill makes that point and makes it a legal point. So, it's not something that can be easily traded away.
Andrew RT Davies: Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer, and I welcome the opportunity to participate in the debate this afternoon and also to move the amendments in the name of Darren Millar on behalf of the Conservative group. Actually, looking at the main motion, it's almost difficult to disagree with the sentiments in it and, obviously, hopefully our later amendments do add to the motion and...
Andrew RT Davies: I'm grateful for the Member taking the intervention and we can argue about the figures and we have many times. The key thing, as I said in the urgent question to the health Minister this afternoon, is that he is responsible for the strategic direction of the NHS in Wales. He could instruct the health board to keep that A&E department open and devise a business case to make sure that happens....
Andrew RT Davies: Will you take an intervention?
Andrew RT Davies: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I congratulate everyone who has contributed to the debate this afternoon and created quite a robust debate, to say the least. I will just say something, if I may, about procedure. I do think it's unfortunate that, when someone intervenes on a speech, they walk straight out of the Chamber. The point of the debate is obviously to engage—
Andrew RT Davies: Well, I appreciate that, Deputy Presiding Officer, but I am entitled to say what I think, I think. And I do want to—
Andrew RT Davies: —draw people's attention to it. [Interruption.] I do want to draw people's attention to that fact. I do also want to reflect on the comments of David Rees and Dai Lloyd. I do think they made very pertinent comments, in that Friday, for many people, as Neil Hamilton highlighted, will be the culmination of a lifetime's work in politics and public life. But for many people as well, who have...
Andrew RT Davies: I'm grateful to you for taking the intervention, Dai. That is incorrect to say those decisions were taken here in the Senedd—they had to be approved in Brussels first under the seven-year envelope of cash attached to those redevelopment funds. So, you must recognise that there's a partnership to develop here, and we want to see that partnership develop with equal standing between the Welsh...
Andrew RT Davies: I appreciate there are challenges across the health board but, in particular, around staffing. But what is really important here is, obviously, that the decisions that have been taken on A&E at the Royal Glamorgan are predicated on the south Wales programme. The Royal Glamorgan is located in an area of high density population, with a growing population and growing demand. Now, I take it that...
Andrew RT Davies: Minister, I agree entirely with you that it is a complex picture that is painted every time an LDP goes for consideration, and the mix of housing that's required as well, from single-occupancy households to multiple-occupancy households. But it is a fact that, obviously, when councils are putting their LDPs forward, they have to have due regard to population forecasts. One thing that comes up...
Andrew RT Davies: Certainly from these benches, I can give you an assurance, Minister, that we would support any legislation that was brought forward to enact Lucy's law, and I hear the comments from the Labour backbench in particular. I think there is consensus around this Chamber that legislation can proceed at pace when that consensus is put to good effect. And I would implore you to make sure that, if it...
Andrew RT Davies: I agree with you. One incident is one too many, and ultimately the agricultural industry wants to do all it can to make sure that these pollution incidents are reduced. But you yourself said in 2018 there were 190 incidents reported. I think the figure you gave for 2019 was 157, which showed a downward trajectory. And can it be right to respond to these numbers with what is, in effect, a cut...
Andrew RT Davies: So, we can look forward to an announcement some time in February, I think, from that answer—
Andrew RT Davies: —that you just gave me. Will you be making available, prior to that announcement, the regulatory impact assessment, because it is vital that we understand exactly the costings of this, the implications to the industry, especially for some of the livestock sectors, the beef and sheep sector in particular? And why, as I understand it, when pollution incidents actually declined in 2019, and...
Andrew RT Davies: Thank you, Presiding Officer. Minister, there has been much conversation between you and me in this Chamber around nitrate vulnerable zones and, obviously, the environmental regulations you're looking to bring forward to control agricultural pollution, as you see it. Are you able to update us on what you told us in December, where you were having a pause in the process and you were rethinking...
Andrew RT Davies: Leader of the house, could we have a statement, please, from the Deputy Minister for social services in relation to a Government report compiled by the housing learning and improvement network around care homes and the provision of care homes? This report highlights that by 2035 there will be a nearly 30,000 shortfall in spaces across Wales for accommodation of this type of care. Many local...
Andrew RT Davies: [Inaudible.] On this specific point, because it has been stubbornly low at only 1 per cent—the number of agricultural apprenticeships—out of a figure of in excess of 30,000 apprenticeships. Where, with these discussions, do you believe that figure might be in two or three years' time? Are we generally going to see an uplift in the number of agricultural apprenticeships? I'm sure no-one...
Andrew RT Davies: I welcome the opportunity to contribute in the debate today. It is worth reflecting that two thirds of young people do not attend university, and, actually, the FE sector, whether it be part time or full time, is the main learning plank for them to enhance their career prospects. I think that's an important consideration. The leader of the opposition did touch on the enormous amount of staff...
Andrew RT Davies: Obviously, the Government has various levers that it can pull in the public transport field and transport models that it can support. The Anglesey air link, obviously, is one model of public transport I would suggest that is supported by the Government, and I have to say, the service has improved dramatically over the last 12 to 18 months, and uptake has been enormously popular on this route....
Andrew RT Davies: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Organiser, the First Minister, in response to the leader of the opposition, did not confirm when the regulatory impact assessment was going to be made available for public consideration. This is a vitally important document to understand the impact of such proposals that the Government are considering at the moment around nitrate vulnerable zones to be...
