Mr Simon Thomas: It is this weekend.
Mr Simon Thomas: Thank you, Llywydd. I’m pleased to support the motion as drafted, of course, and to reject the amendments, despite some of the explanations that we’ve heard. May I also start by noting my gratitude at the decision of Powys council to keep the Welsh language stream in Brecon High School, and also by drawing the Assembly’s attention to why that decision was taken? Three reasons were given...
Mr Simon Thomas: As the Cabinet Secretary just said, austerity doesn’t seem to like getting its feet wet and doesn’t cross the Irish sea, but the resilience of public services in Wales does depend on the robustness of the Barnett formula. The fact that the Barnett formula has been adjusted but has not been reformed on the basis of needs is an ongoing problem for public services in Wales. So, what...
Mr Simon Thomas: As Mark Reckless has just reminded us, this discussion was started at a Finance Committee meeting in Newport, when the Minister first mooted the Government’s desire to look into the possibility of novel taxes and to take a new tax around the route. I interpreted that as two things: (1), yes, using the powers transferred to this place, but also that the Cabinet Secretary was eager to see...
Mr Simon Thomas: Would the Minister give way?
Mr Simon Thomas: I’m grateful to the Minister. I just want to understand—because he said at the outset that he would like to test this system in this Assembly. Given that there is quite a complicated process, as we have heard, in the Houses of Parliament, and given that, at the moment, with all these various tax ideas, there isn’t one obvious, salient tax that is commanding a great deal of public...
Mr Simon Thomas: Could I ask for an update on two matters? First of all, there’s been a briefing today by the Public and Commercial Services Union for members in their offices regarding the Department for Work and Pension’s estates programme in Wales. Since the election of the new Government, I’ve written to the Westminster Government, urging them to re-examine the case for closing the DWP offices in...
Mr Simon Thomas: Although it’s true what the First Minister has to say in terms of heavy industry and energy generation in Wales, it’s also true to say that the poor condition of our housing stock is also adding to carbon emissions as well as the difficult transport situation that we face in Wales. The sad fact is that, whatever we have as targets, there are more carbon emissions per capita in Wales now...
Mr Simon Thomas: Well, one of the specific challenges in rural areas is dealing with older people, and older people with dementia—well, not just older people, but others who have dementia. That’s a challenge that became very apparent during the recent general election, of course. And this is encapsulated in the debate that is currently ongoing on the future of the Bodlondeb care home in Aberystwyth, which...
Mr Simon Thomas: Could the Member just give way on that?
Mr Simon Thomas: Just to inform the Member that the committee intends to do another report, launched in the Royal Welsh Show, on food in Wales.
Mr Simon Thomas: First of all, can I say that Plaid Cymru supports the committee’s recommendations in full? We’re very pleased that we were able to agree a cross-party report that set out so clearly the issues and concerns in leaving the European Union and what needed to be addressed by this Government, but also by the Westminster Government. Because I agree with the report, I don’t want to talk much...
Mr Simon Thomas: I also would like us to do a lot more around procurement, and Paul Davies did mention this. But clearly, if we are leaving the European Union and we have some flexibility around how we use procurement now, we can prioritise, let’s be honest, what other countries do prioritise anyway in the European Union—but there we are, let’s re-examine that argument—high welfare, high environmental...
Mr Simon Thomas: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I’d like to thank everyone who’s contributed to this debate, noting, perhaps, that debates such as this one aren’t as exciting as last night’s debate on the DUP and the Conservative party. However, I think we had some thoughtful contributions that have not only interpreted the problem that we have but have proposed some new ideas in this context. I...
Mr Simon Thomas: In another language. [Laughter.]
Mr Simon Thomas: I thank the Minister for that reply. Turning from the general to the specific, I know that the forum in Penparcau are looking forward to welcoming the Minister, visiting in September I think, and if he looks around the new building outside, he’ll see—. First of all, he’ll see the place where I live, but then, more importantly, he’ll see the place where people have lived in Penparcau...
Mr Simon Thomas: Thank you for confirming that, Cabinet Secretary, and I’m sure, if necessary, you will remind the Westminster Government that this Assembly has voted unanimously in favour of the plan, having seen and studied the independent review by Charles Hendry, commissioned by the previous Westminster Government, which said very clearly that this should proceed as a matter for a pathfinder project and...
Mr Simon Thomas: Thank you for that positive response, and I look forward to reading your formal response too. But I do think that that shows the leadership that is necessary, and, as you know, we need to use the snares that comply with the code. It’s difficult to get a hold of them, but you’re giving some leadership there. If I could turn to energy now, we are still waiting, of course, for a decision on...
Mr Simon Thomas: Thank you very much, Llywydd. Cabinet Secretary, the Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee has published a report today on using snares in Wales. Many of the recommendations you will respond to in due time, of course, but I think there is one recommendation that you could respond to today. Recommendation 7 states that the use of snares that don’t comply with your own...
Mr Simon Thomas: 4. What discussions has the Cabinet Secretary held regarding the funding of community groups in light of the decision to bring Communities First to an end? OAQ(5)0171(CC)[W]
