Paul Davies: Can I thank the Minister for his statement this afternoon and congratulate the development bank on its fifth anniversary? Now, the Development Bank of Wales has been very open to scrutiny from the Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee, and I know Members welcome the ability to question the team on its investments and progress. Now, today's statement rightly recognises that the Welsh...
Paul Davies: First Minister, as I'm sure you're aware, on Saturday, it's World Stroke Day, and I hope Members all took the opportunity to meet with the Stroke Association outside on the Senedd steps earlier to learn more about stroke care and the positive impact that thrombectomy can have on stroke patients. In my health board area, the rate of thrombectomy in 2020-21 was 0.15 per cent, meaning that far...
Paul Davies: 7. Will the First Minister make a statement on the delivery of health services in the Hywel Dda University Health Board area? OQ58598
Paul Davies: Now, Members such as the Member for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire and the Member for Dwyfor Meirionnydd have raised the impact of implementing these regulations on farmers, in particular the financial costs. The committee understands that these regulations will have a huge impact on Welsh farming and that they could seriously threaten the sustainability of many farms. For that...
Paul Davies: Diolch, Llywydd. Can I thank Members for contributing to this debate this afternoon? There is no mistaking just how important these regulations are, and how important it is that we set the correct balance between protecting the environment and supporting our farmers to produce the food that our nation needs. We've heard very insightful and, indeed, passionate contributions this afternoon, and...
Paul Davies: Diolch, Llywydd, and I move the motion tabled in my name. Llywydd, it feels like a long time ago that the Senedd unanimously passed a motion for a committee to urgently review the Welsh Government's Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021. And that's because it was. The Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee took this task extremely seriously,...
Paul Davies: Trefnydd, I'd be grateful for your advice in managing expectations around ministerial and Welsh Government correspondence. A constituent has contacted me after writing to the First Minister back in March 2021 because he didn't receive a response, despite speaking to several different officials from multiple departments. I wrote to the First Minister myself asking for my constituent to receive...
Paul Davies: Hosting a major event is important, not just because of the money spent whilst the event is taking place, but also because it focuses the world's attention on Wales and provides us with an opportunity to market the whole of Wales to visitors. And so we need to use that window to promote everything that Wales has to offer, not just the location of that event. For example, the recent WWE event...
Paul Davies: Diolch, Llywydd, and I'm pleased to move the motion, tabled in the name of my colleague, Darren Millar. As Wales's football team heads to Qatar later this year, and following the publication of the Welsh Government's major events strategy in July, it's wholly appropriate that we consider the economic significance of major events, both home and away. In developing a refreshed major events...
Paul Davies: Thank you for that response, Minister. Now, as you know, funding from the equality and inclusion funding programme has made a real difference for individuals and communities in Pembrokeshire and across Wales, and I'm sure that you'll appreciate that the renewal of this funding is crucial to a lot of the work done by the third sector. Now, as you know, voluntary organisations and groups are...
Paul Davies: 4. What is the Welsh Government doing to support the voluntary sector? OQ58469
Paul Davies: Can I thank the Minister for his statement this afternoon? The creation of regional frameworks in December was an important step forward in recognising the economic value of individual regions and also provides the opportunity to build for the future by harnessing the potential of regions in different sectors and industries. For example, in south-west Wales, sectors like tourism, agriculture...
Paul Davies: Thank you for that response, Minister. Now, in the foreword of the Welsh Government's infrastructure investment strategy, you said that 'It is essential that the role which infrastructure plays is maximised, and that we have the infrastructure in place to support the Wales we want to hand on to future generations.' And I very much agree with that statement. Now, one infrastructure project...
Paul Davies: 4. What are the Minister's spending priorities for Preseli Pembrokeshire for the next 12 months? OQ58431
Paul Davies: First Minister, it's vital that high-quality dental care is available to people when they need it, and yet I continue to receive correspondence from frustrated and indeed angry constituents who are living with discomfort and pain because they've not been able to access a local NHS dentist. In one case, a constituent was advised to buy a self filling kit in order to provide some temporary...
Paul Davies: 4. Will the First Minister make a statement on the delivery of health services in Preseli Pembrokeshire? OQ58385
Paul Davies: Llywydd, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth had a profoundly deep impact on families right across the world. My own family was indeed one of them—so profound in fact that, as some of you know, my middle name is Windsor, named after the royal family as I was born in the year of the then Prince of Wales's investiture back in 1969, so the Queen and the royal family touched my family very deeply...
Paul Davies: I stand today to share the nation's grief following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth. Our thoughts at the moment are with those who have felt that loss so deeply—the royal family, those who loved her, and those who served and worked in her name. The Queen was loved and respected by many in the UK and across the Commonwealth, and Preseli Pembrokeshire was no exception. During her...
Paul Davies: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I'd like to thank Members and, indeed, the Minister for their contributions to this debate. We've heard just how devastating bovine TB is for Welsh farmers. I want to make it clear to the sector that the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee has heard you loud and clear, and we will continue to do what we can to scrutinise Ministers to bring forward improvements...
Paul Davies: I move the motion tabled in my name. As the Welsh Government reviews its bovine TB strategy, the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee felt this presented a good opportunity to undertake a short, sharp inquiry into the programme. From the outset, I'd like to thank those who gave evidence to the committee and helped shape our report. One of those giving evidence was Roger Lewis, a dairy...
