Nick Ramsay: I'm pleased to support this motion and to support the general principles of the public services ombudsman Bill. As we've heard, the ombudsman plays a vital role in ensuring that any member of the public who believes they have suffered injustice is able to make a complaint, and is also able to make that complaint with confidence that it'll be dealt with fairly. Many speakers have covered most...
Nick Ramsay: Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. As you can tell, I tabled this question before I realised your surprise statement was going to be made, so apologies for groundhog day. However, it's an important subject that does, as I know you agree, need to be debated. As Janet Finch-Saunders said earlier, the WLGA's reaction to your statement was less than warm. In fact, it was positively icy. They point...
Nick Ramsay: 6. Will the Cabinet Secretary provide clarity regarding the future structure of local government in Wales? OAQ51934
Nick Ramsay: I concur with the sentiments of the previous speakers. I think it's clearly important that the Welsh Revenue Authority does have the same tools at its disposal as HMRC currently does. We are now in that transition phase to the implementation of the new taxes, and this is an important part of ensuring that the new tax regime is properly enforced. I'm happy to support the regulations.
Nick Ramsay: Can I first of all put on record, Cabinet Secretary, that I think I'd rather live next to you than with you? There may still be time for your charm to work on me, but as things stand at the moment, I'm happy as a next-door neighbour. [Laughter.] You certainly deserve credit for your courage in pursuing issues seemingly designed to reduce your popularity, probably as much in the Labour Party,...
Nick Ramsay: Two issues, if I may, leader of the house. Firstly, as Minister for all things broadband and connectivity, I'm sure you'll join me in welcoming the UK Government's decision to pilot the 5G broadband technology in Monmouthshire. This is a great opportunity: I'm sure you'll agree with me on that. How are the Welsh Government planning to work with the UK Government on trialling this to make...
Nick Ramsay: First Minister, the United Nations has estimated the scale of the food insecurity problem in the UK and, indeed, in other countries, but it seems to me, looking through some of the information that the UN has provided, that there's a lack of up-to-date relevant data, both on a UK level and Wales specific, so that we can fully assess the scale of this problem. I think the data that's being...
Nick Ramsay: You must have expected me to stand up at that point. I understand what you're saying about wanting long-term reform of the Barnett formula, and I think you'd have the support of most Members on that, but you must accept that under this UK Conservative Government, working with the Labour Welsh Government, we have at least got the fiscal framework, which is a start along that process that we...
Nick Ramsay: Can I concur with the sentiments of the Chair of the Finance Committee, and also with my colleague David Melding? It has been a privilege to work with Huw Vaughan Thomas as the Chair of the Public Accounts Committee during this Assembly, and I know that I speak for my predecessors in previous Assemblies in saying that—Darren Millar, David Melding, and also Jonathan Morgan. I'd like to...
Nick Ramsay: Diolch, Llywydd. I'm delighted to be welcoming to the National Assembly tomorrow the distinguished Salvadorian parliamentarian and former United Nations ambassador, Rubén Zamora. Mr Zamora's visit comes as part of the Romero festival, leading to Romero Day on 24 March. Mr Zamora's visit to Cardiff is one of a number of events organised by the Romero Trust, whose aim is to promote the life,...
Nick Ramsay: As you mentioned, the Public Accounts Committee—and clearly we were both involved with that evidence session on Supporting People—. Would you agree with me that I think everyone in this Chamber is united in wanting to deal with the problems that you've identified very clearly in your speech? The question is: will this particular measure really deliver that change? Because I think at the...
Nick Ramsay: Thanks for giving way. I agree with what you say about the importance of having figures on the face of the Bill in the first instance. Would you say that there is a wider issue with the Welsh Government? Certainly, in the development of the recent taxes, land transaction tax and landfill disposals tax, there was an unwillingness there of the Government to put the figures on the face of the...
Nick Ramsay: Minister, for a considerable length of time now in this Chamber, national parks have been central to the idea of sustainability, the vision of the Welsh Government and the Welsh Assembly as part of the constitution of this place. I'm pleased that the Sandford rule is being followed through. Two things I wanted to ask you about. Firstly, in terms of the Brecon Beacons national park, in my time...
Nick Ramsay: Leader of the house, could I ask for a statement on the Welsh Government's support for fair trade? It's currently Fairtrade Fortnight, as I'm sure—. I can see Jeremy Miles is nodding vigorously. I was pleased to offer my own support to the initiative by attending a fair-trade breakfast in Abergavenny Community Centre in my constituency last Friday. The breakfast was extremely well supported...
Nick Ramsay: First Minister, the Cabinet Secretary for local government has said that local democracy is all about participation—the usual pearls of wisdom we've come to expect from my friend Alun Davies. Alun Davies has also said that he wants councils to pilot innovative ways of voting that reflect people's busy lives, something that I would certainly agree with in principle. Of course, in practice,...
Nick Ramsay: Cabinet Secretary, one of the objectives of the future generations Act is to ensure that every child has the opportunity to achieve their full potential, irrespective of their background. I'm sure we'd all agree with that. The gap in outcomes between children eligible for free school meals persists, however. A number of families are operating just above the poverty line but are not falling...
Nick Ramsay: Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. You've clearly got the same figures there in front of you that I've also seen. There has been, as you said, a steady improvement in categorisation in Monmouthshire, going from just three green schools five years ago to 13 today. This progress is a credit to the work of teachers and headteachers, and pupils, and also of course the local authority and the regional...
Nick Ramsay: 1. A wnaiff Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ddatganiad am gategoreiddio ysgolion yn Sir Fynwy? OAQ51856
Nick Ramsay: I don't think you have to worry about me going on, Deputy Presiding Officer. I was going to make a joke, but I won't. It will not surprise the Cabinet Secretary to learn that we will not be supporting today's supplementary budget. I think we've been over this ground before, so I know he'll understand that. Although I will admit there are some aspects that we welcome. We certainly welcome the...
Nick Ramsay: Will the First Minister provide an update on Welsh Government plans to change the law which stops childminders receiving funding for looking after relatives?
