Did you mean representations -taxation speaker:Mick Antoniw?
Mick Antoniw: ...a gross injustice. The planning system has been bought up by the incredibly wealthy corporate companies, and what I'd ask is not so much the fairness of the process, but perhaps the mechanism of representation. Why isn't it the case that one of these big housing development companies, who stand to make tens of millions of pounds out of their developments, should also pay into a fund to...
Mick Antoniw: ...be an extension to article 50, there could be a general election, there could be a referendum or ratification of some form. No-one knows for certain, especially the Government. This means that our representation on a number of European bodies will come to an end. This report is predominantly related to our representation on the Committee of the Regions. It is not, however, exclusively so,...
Mick Antoniw: ...we were to adopt the tit-for-tat approach in respect of devolved responsibilities between the respective Parliaments, then business would break down, constituents would have a bad deal in terms of representation. And it seems to me that this is a major issue, that the Home Office has adopted the position of basically completely refusing to engage with Members of the Assembly for Wales. If...
Mick Antoniw: ...over what they can do with the property that they own. So, when the Scottish Government legislated to abolish feudal tenure, they got the tone exactly right. Like many Members, I have received representations from constituents where the root cause is the inherent unfairness, the complexity and outdated nature of leasehold contracts, complaints about spiralling ground rents, people feeling...
Mick Antoniw: ...not been, perhaps, recognised as being as important as it is. I know there have been previous questions, I think from Llyr Gruffydd and others, around this particular subject. I've had a number of representations to me, because although sleep apnoea and narcolepsy are particularly recognised, those represent only two out of 70 of the various sleep disorders that can have very significant...
Mick Antoniw: ..., alongside Christianity and Islam. He was amongst signatories including prominent Jewish, Muslim and Sikh representatives arguing that the inclusion of non-religious ideas would be a more accurate representation of modern Britain and would allow young people to study a more representative sample of major world views that are common in Britain today. So, we can take pride in the moves in...
Mick Antoniw: ...can't. Can I ask then that what the Welsh Government will do is that it will formally support the actions of the Scottish Government in holding its own inquiry there, but it will also make further representations to the new Home Secretary that it's about time the UK Government now held that inquiry, disclosed the documentation that is available? Because there are real questions to answer...
Mick Antoniw: ...co-operation, pay just 20 per cent tax and the rest as dividends? And what, effectively, the locum system is actually doing is undermining GP practices. Is it the case that the Government is making representations or having discussions with the UK Government about changing the tax system so that it cannot actually work in this particular way and we actually give support to those who...
Mick Antoniw: ..., that sift committee should be made aware of any such regulations at the same time as the House of Commons sifting committee is made aware of them. The National Assembly committee can then make representations to, or advise the House of Commons committee where appropriate. Our report also highlights that other operational matters will need to be considered, particularly in terms of how a...
Mick Antoniw: ... you see communities beginning to disintegrate because of the unbridled growth of HMOs. Could you outline what the position is with regard to HMOs and what you intend to do in respect of the representations for those communities that are under threat in that particular way?
Mick Antoniw: ...a lack of control over what they can do to the property they own. When the Scottish Government legislated to abolish feudal tenure, they got the tone exactly right. Like many Members, I've received representations from constituents where the root cause is the inherent unfairness, complexity and outdated nature of leasehold contracts. Complaints about spiralling ground rents, people feeling...
Mick Antoniw: ...an industry that’s getting concerned—a £37 billion industry—and we need to be very alert. This is very similar to what happened with the tobacco industry, and we will have similar sorts of representations about how it’s really about fair lobbying, just as in America it’s all about fair gun control and so on. So, that’s important. Our concern is, of course, that we’ve got to...
Mick Antoniw: ...and in terms of race, and in terms of the background of those in the judiciary, and, really, from the lower levels of the judiciary to the most senior levels at the Supreme Court itself. These are representations that Welsh Government itself has made, in terms of any consultations and meetings with the Judicial Appointments Commission. There are a further three appointments to the Supreme...
Mick Antoniw: I have made representations to the Supreme Court about improving the diversity of the judiciary. I welcome very much the recent appointments of Lady Hale as president of the Supreme Court, the first ever female Supreme Court president, and Lady Black to the Supreme Court, and, as I’ve previously indicated, I also welcome the appointment of Lord Lloyd-Jones as the first Welsh Supreme Court judge.
Mick Antoniw: ..., a considerable knowledge of Welsh law and matters relating to the Welsh language, and fulfils that function, I think, very, very satisfactorily. Of course, you’ll be aware that we have made representations over the years in respect of the need for a permanent Welsh judge on the Supreme Court. By ‘Welsh judge’, I suppose you have to mean a judge who has a commitment to and an...
Mick Antoniw: ...code. I obviously work in the environment that exists at the moment, but of course, once the consultation has been concluded and once a code has been finalised after considering all those representations, then that will be the code that I actually apply and am held to. In respect of Brexit, losing powers—well, of course, the position of the Welsh Government is against any diminution of...
Mick Antoniw: ...composition has become a serious constitutional issue. We are very alert to these issues in respect of that part of the judiciary that comes within the responsibility of Welsh Government. In representations that we make, we make very clearly the points in respect of diversity. We also make the point very strongly that it is vital that there is Welsh representation in the higher courts by...
Mick Antoniw: ...to go to the employment appeal tribunal, and that following that, official statistics show a dramatic reduction in claims brought—around about 80 per cent. The Welsh Government has made its own representations in the consultations, which basically make the point very clearly that we do not think there should be fees at all, and certainly there should not be any fees that deny access to...
Mick Antoniw: ...that UKIP has presented. Can I also say that, in respect of children—that, in many ways, is one of the most upsetting and distressing parts of this whole scenario? I, like Members, have had representations made by EU citizens who actually describe their family situation, their family circumstances. I had one in particular who was worried that he might have to leave, leaving his teenage...
Mick Antoniw: ...is not just with regard to the Supreme Court, but also the lower level courts as well. There is an opportunity that arises in that, over the next two years, six Supreme Court justices will retire. Representations have been made by the First Minister and, in fact, the previous Counsel General about the lack of a Supreme Court justice with specific knowledge of Welsh law. And I also take the...
