Alun Davies: I'm grateful to the Minister for that, and I know the Minister has demonstrated a very great personal commitment to delivering a high level and high quality of services for people and families with autism. I would ask him to review the way that those policies are being delivered in Blaenau Gwent. I hear in my advice surgeries on a weekly basis about difficulties that families are having...
Alun Davies: The Minister was kind enough to spend some time yesterday in my constituency meeting with ALN teachers, and I was very grateful to the Minister for both the time she spent talking with those people but also the conversation that took place, which I thought was beneficial for everybody. The teachers there, Minister, were very clear that, in order to deliver the vision, which I think is shared...
Alun Davies: 8. Will the Minister provide an update on autism provision in Blaenau Gwent? OAQ54904
Alun Davies: Could I emphasise the need for speed in debating and coming to a conclusion on these matters? In the 20 years since democratic government was introduced in Wales we've had what appears to me to be an embarrassment of riches when it comes to commissions and committees and when it comes to examinations by some of the greatest minds in this country—certainly a greater mind than I have. And if...
Alun Davies: I'm grateful to you for that earlier answer, Minister. In terms of the overall budget, during our conversation in the Finance Committee before Christmas, you confirmed that there would be a real-terms cut to the funds being available to support and to sustain bus services across the country. This is something that I think many of us will find very difficult, because a Government that is...
Alun Davies: 8. Will the Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government's budget for 2020-21? OAQ54878
Alun Davies: I'd like to simply raise two issues with you this afternoon, Minister, and I'm grateful to you for the statement. First of all, to emphasise again the importance of inter-governmental arrangements and the machinery of Government. We do have some experience of working in international negotiations with the United Kingdom Government through our membership of the European Union, and we do have...
Alun Davies: And I will do so, Presiding Officer. You are very gentle and very sympathetic to me, I agree.
Alun Davies: I ask the Government, in closing, to not only deliver the funding levels, but deliver the radical reform that a Labour Government should be doing to ensure that we have public services fit for the future.
Alun Davies: I've heard Conservative Members here over the years making this point and Conservative councillors telling us not to touch it— [Interruption.] The fundamental point—[Interruption.] The fundamental point I make, though, is a different one—that is, the destructive way in which the debate was framed. It's north against south, east against west, rural against urban. Blaenau Gwent was...
Alun Davies: Like others in this debate this afternoon, I want to give a welcome to the budget and the commitment that's running through the budget to providing the funding that is available to public services. I want to particularly welcome the £8 million additional funding for additional learning needs. It's something that I've spoken about on a number of occasions. The £20 million we allocated to...
Alun Davies: Will you take an intervention?
Alun Davies: I listened to what you said—I always listen to your contributions with great fascination, as you know. What is your alternative on the airport?
Alun Davies: I'm grateful to you, First Minister, for that response, and also to the economy Deputy Minister, who's been leading on many of those initiatives. I'm also grateful to the economy Minister for his words and meetings in this last week about developments with Thales and with TVR. The Welsh Government has committed significant resources and made a number of statements on supporting the investment...
Alun Davies: 6. Will the First Minister make a statement on the work of the Valleys Taskforce in Blaenau Gwent? OAQ54832
Alun Davies: Business manager, the First Minister referred to the new hospital being built, the Grange University Hospital, being built in Llanfrechfa, during FMQs. This has been welcomed by people I represent in Blaenau Gwent, who are looking forward to the hospital and the facilities, and the extension and improvement in healthcare that this offers. But to maximise the potential of the hospital in...
Alun Davies: Do you think the £100 million that the UK Government spent in October on preparing for Brexit was money well spent?
Alun Davies: Will the Minister make a statement on the provision of education in Blaenau Gwent?
Alun Davies: It's your question. You wrote it.
Alun Davies: Perhaps I can help out Darren Millar here by continuing the debate on the international strategy—I don't know. But certainly, the purpose of any strategy, whether it happens to be international or otherwise, that the Welsh Government pursues has to have an impact on places like Blaenau Gwent. And it is important, I believe, that the Welsh Government has a very clear vision, idea, on how...
