David Rowlands: Well, wait a minute. There’s only one in 27 as far as the Commission is concerned with the UK Government in Europe, and the Commission, as you know, makes all the decisions with regard to powers that will come out of Europe and affect the Welsh people. This despite the fact—and I’ll go on to make this point—this despite the fact that we had only four representative MEPs in an...
David Rowlands: Of course.
David Rowlands: Let me in the first instance reiterate UKIP AMs’ total and unconditional commitment to having any devolved powers that return from Europe passed in total to this Assembly. However, I find it quite incomprehensible that there are two parties in this Assembly that have become so vociferous with regard to this land grab of powers that are to be devolved to the UK from Europe, when they were...
David Rowlands: I thank you for that reply, First Minister. First Minister, you’ve set up an inquiry into what was described by a committee of this Assembly as a cavalier approach to disposal of public assets, which was scandalous. And this deal has also been described as one of the greatest blunders of recent times in Wales. Therefore, does the First Minister not agree that this inquiry is a test of the...
David Rowlands: 1. When will the report on the investigation into the sale of land to South Wales Land Developments Ltd be published? OAQ(5)0735(FM)
David Rowlands: Diolch, Llywydd. Can I thank all those who’ve contributed to this debate? And, if I may, I’d like to highlight some of the comments Members made. Mike Hedges—can I belatedly echo Mike Hedges’s comments on thanking both the Business Committee and Plaid Cymru for allowing this debate to take place? And I concur with all of his supportive comments. Suzy Davies spoke about the therapeutic...
David Rowlands: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Can I say, I’m delighted to open this debate on behalf of the Petitions Committee? Earlier this year, the Petitions Committee and the Business Committee agreed to introduce a new petitions threshold whereby any petition that gathered more than 5,000 signatures would be considered for a debate here in Plenary. At the time I was a member of the Business Committee, and...
David Rowlands: Many Members here will be familiar with the specific local background to this petition, which concerns Womanby Street in Cardiff city centre. A vibrant campaign has been undertaken during the first half of this year, in response to local concerns about the implications of new developments planned in the heart of one of the cultural centres of our capital city. Womanby Street, in the centre of...
David Rowlands: Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the ability of Torfaen's education department to support Cwmbran High School?
David Rowlands: Patently, they’re not accurate figures. That’s the whole point of this debate. You’re taking those figures as having to be absolute and accurate. We’re arguing that they are not. So, you can quote whatever figures you want to, Cabinet Secretary, but the truth of the matter is if they’re not being recorded properly and in the right manner, then those figures, I’m afraid, are not...
David Rowlands: I’m not too sure that I can get it in within that period of time. Any crime or incident motivated by either prejudice or hatred of an individual or a specific group of people is clearly deplorable. Fortunately, such crimes are a rare occurrence as the majority of people living throughout Wales and the UK are, quite rightly, respectful and tolerant. Where this does occur, as a civilised and...
David Rowlands: I thank the Cabinet Minister for that answer. But, following on from a number of comments you’ve made earlier, do you not agree that there have been many attempts to reform local government in Wales, including the aborted attempt to institute the Williams commission recommendations, and that the present arrangement of 22 local authorities has proved to be financially and strategically...
David Rowlands: 4. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the savings anticipated as a result of the Welsh Government’s new model for local government? OAQ(5)0147(FLG)
David Rowlands: I thank the Cabinet Secretary for his statement, and can I say that UKIP Wales welcomes many aspects of this legislation? In particular, that the Government is making the scheduling process for monuments and buildings more open and accountable. We also welcome the proposal to put owners and occupiers at the heart of the consultation process, with a right to request a review of a decision by...
David Rowlands: Of course.
David Rowlands: Well, I welcome that intervention. Of course we do. We need both things to work in harmony. What we’re talking about here, though, of course, is where the emphasis should lie, and I’m in agreement with this motion, where the emphasis should lie. Whilst agreeing with point 2 in the proposals, I have to note here that there is more than a little irony in the proposal to reduce fuel...
David Rowlands: Can I begin by saying that UKIP will be supporting this motion? Indeed, I myself have argued for the emphasis to be on reducing carbon output by using the sort of strategies outlined in the motion proposals, rather than concentrating on so-called carbon-free energy production. Because there is, of course, no such thing as carbon-free energy production because the production of, say, solar...
David Rowlands: First Minister, we know that many of those who have developed these community hydro projects are very, very worried about these huge increases. Now, as the member for Arfon has alluded to, the Scottish Government has actually said that it will have 100 per cent business rates relief for these projects, and even the Government in England has committed that it will not cost them more than £600...
David Rowlands: And Jeremy, that is precisely—
David Rowlands: [Continues.]—why we are here, because you did not listen to the people.
