Andrew RT Davies: Biodiversity is an important part of the consultation exercise you're undertaking at the moment into supporting farms, and the farming community obviously will play a really important role in developing that biodiversity. One thing that is central to your consultation document is specific on-farm plans, individual farm plans, and individual land manager plans. What assessment have you made of...
Andrew RT Davies: I responded.
Andrew RT Davies: Well, with respect, the First Minister, in his legislative statement yesterday, made no mention of this at all. Given that we've only got about 18 months of this Assembly term left, it's quite clear that the Government will not be legislating in this particular area. And as I've said, given the urgency in this area—2,000 premature deaths; five a day—surely, that has to be one of the top...
Andrew RT Davies: Thank you for that answer, Minister. I think quite a few residents, if not many residents and businesses, would be surprised that the protesters have not engaged with you at all, given that their explicit request is obviously that Government achieves more in this particular area, and so, instead of protesting and blocking roads, perhaps engagement is a far better way of protesting in this...
Andrew RT Davies: Thank you, Presiding Officer. Minister, you will obviously be aware, as all Members and the general public are aware, of the disruptions at the heart of Cardiff centre today and yesterday and the day before. One of the accusations that the protesters have put against governments of all colours, but in particular here, is that the governments are not taking enough action on the agenda on...
Andrew RT Davies: Thank you, Presiding Officer. Organiser, could I seek three statements, if possible, please, and I will be very brief? The first one is on the equine flu that is, obviously, around Wales and around other parts of the United Kingdom, as I understand it. Many summer shows have already announced either vaccinated animals or no horses whatsoever will be in attendance at their summer show. It...
Andrew RT Davies: I will gladly refer to the current First Minister, because the question is pointed at him. What have you learnt, First Minister, from the previous Cabinet reshuffle, which had such tragic consequences, and what measures are you putting in place that will give Ministers that confidentiality, which the economy Secretary highlighted in his comments yesterday, that Cabinet Ministers do deserve...
Andrew RT Davies: Thank you for that answer, First Minister. I heard what you said to the leader of the opposition in respect of the leak inquiry. But it is important when it comes to Cabinet reshuffles, for which you and your office are solely responsible, that there is confidentiality. The economy Secretary highlighted that yesterday in comments that he made. There is an impression—whether that's right or...
Andrew RT Davies: You will not silence me on this, First Minister. And quite clearly, the leak inquiry highlights that there was evidence of authorised sharing. It is in there. It might only be 330 words, former First Minister, but it's there. And if you want to debate it, I'll happily debate it with you—
Andrew RT Davies: —but I'll direct my comments—
Andrew RT Davies: 8. Will the First Minister make a statement on the relationship between his office and professional lobbyists? OAQ54265
Andrew RT Davies: Thank you for that response, Minister. I'm taking it from that response that you have no meetings scheduled over the summer recess. Am I correct in saying that?
Andrew RT Davies: 4. What meetings does the Counsel General have scheduled with the UK Government to discuss Brexit over summer recess? OAQ54193
Andrew RT Davies: Thank you, Minister, for your statement. I've said to you before and I'll repeat it again, I believe that you have one of the most exciting opportunities in Government to actually genuinely shape a policy that historically has been shaped some distance from these shores over the last 45 to 50 years. Irrespective of what people think about Brexit—and I appreciate there have been many heated...
Andrew RT Davies: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Thank you, Minister, for the introduction of this important piece of legislation, albeit a small piece of legislation when it comes to thinking of some of the Acts that Government and backbenchers have brought before, but a very important one. As you highlight in your statement, 6,500 respondents to the consultation for evidence shows that this has an...
Andrew RT Davies: Organiser, can I seek some assurance from you? You’ve highlighted what the planning of the next Assembly term is going to be regarding Government statements and Government business. The Minister for rural affairs brought forward a consultation, which closed in May, around third-party sales of puppies and domestic animals. I’d be grateful to understand how the Government now is going to...
Andrew RT Davies: First Minister, you were quite right to identify that this is public money, and scrutiny is required to make sure that it delivers value for money, but one scheme that has proved problematic with the rural development scheme—and I have raised it with the Minister as well—is the woodland grant scheme. It is a very bureaucratic scheme. People have open windows when they can plant in the...
Andrew RT Davies: Minister, obviously, automation is an opportunity for us. Figures do show that up to 35 per cent of the workforce will have to retrain, remodel, their skills and, indeed, many of those jobs might disappear altogether. So, the demands placed on the further education sector in particular and part-time learners are going to be considerable in the next decade or so. What efforts has the...
Andrew RT Davies: I'm glad to contribute to this debate today, because the devolution of air passenger duty is something that I've championed long and hard for many years, and I can't find a coherent argument to say why air passenger duty should not be devolved to this institution. In fact, I was on point in the negotiations on Silk for the Conservative group here, and when all the leaders were sitting around...
Andrew RT Davies: I'm sure that you have better access to the Member for Cardiff Airport than maybe I do these days. [Laughter.] So I'll leave you to pose that question, and maybe you'll listen to the answer. But, generally, this is a tool that can come into the hands of this Assembly and, by extension, to the Welsh Government, that can drive opportunity. I personally would like to see what the First...
