Mr Simon Thomas: 6. What assessment has the Counsel General made of the impact that European legislation regarding air pollution will have on Wales? OAQ(5)0039(CG)[W]
Mr Simon Thomas: Move.
Mr Simon Thomas: Move.
Mr Simon Thomas: Thank you, Presiding Officer. Can I thank the Minister for responding to the debate and at least welcome in part what she said in terms of some of the action that’s been taken. I’ll attempt to restate my arguments in a more persuasive way for Angela Burns and possibly for Caroline Jones. Amendment 45—I think it’s important to remember that the Welsh Government has already stated that...
Mr Simon Thomas: Thank you, Llywydd. I hope that I will be more successful than Angela Burns. I’m not sure that I will be. But certainly, to date, the discussion on this Bill has seen greater discussion between the two main opposition parties on improving the Bill in a collaborative manner. I’m pleased that we are dealing with this second stab at the Bill in a more inclusive manner than we did the first...
Mr Simon Thomas: Will the Member give way?
Mr Simon Thomas: We take that out because we’re putting something much better in. That’s what an amendment is. The thing that we’re putting that’s much better in is the reference to the well-being of future generations Act and the environment Act, because that’s the legal concept, that we now approach our community development and our whole-nation development. There’s no point making orders around...
Mr Simon Thomas: I’ll just finish this point, if I may, and I will give way. There’s a real conflict here. We’ve heard all day from UKIP today, because we’ve been debating local authorities, that there must be local referenda, local people must decide, and then they bring a motion to the Assembly that says you can’t build any solar panels whatsoever if it cuts down a mature tree. Well, that...
Mr Simon Thomas: I do so, Deputy Presiding Officer. And, though I’m always delighted to debate energy in the Assembly, as I believe that one of the most important things we can do as a nation is to chart our energy and low-carbon future, I have to say that I do not believe a word of what UKIP says on energy. I don’t believe they’re working towards a low-carbon or a zero-carbon future at all. The only...
Mr Simon Thomas: Will the Member give way on that point?
Mr Simon Thomas: She just pledged to restore bin collections fortnightly, which, as has been pointed out already, is a bit of a nonsense really when you should be taking a local approach to this. But this was a promise by the Conservatives in England, by Eric Pickles, and they had to abandon that promise. What guarantees can she give to the people who vote tomorrow that she won’t abandon her promise?
Mr Simon Thomas: Clearly, we have to await the full investigation before we can make any decisions, or before any of the professional bodies can make any decisions about what consequences might flow on from that, so I agree with what the Cabinet Secretary has said and note his strong words in that regard. However, there have been administrative consequences from Tawel Fan: the chief executive was suspended...
Mr Simon Thomas: Thank you, Llywydd, for that answer. It may be too late for some of the people I met in the Nefyn show on Monday who still didn’t understand the difference between the Assembly and the Government, but with the younger generation and with young people, it’s extremely important that they see the work that we do here as an Assembly. Therefore, I welcome the fact that Commission staff were at...
Mr Simon Thomas: I think some of us may feel it’s a scandal that you stand for election in one party’s name, change to another party and then go uncontested. And some of us may also feel that, at the local level, in the case of independents who don’t stand on any manifesto, then go into cabinet and enact policies for the whole of those counties, it’s far better to stand for the colours you want to...
Mr Simon Thomas: 2. Will the Commission make a statement on work undertaken to promote access and public understanding regarding the work of the Assembly? OAQ(5)0007(AC)[W]
Mr Simon Thomas: What further discussions has the Cabinet Secretary held regarding the framework for funding?
Mr Simon Thomas: I think we can add payments of Glastir as well to the point that was already being made. I particularly wanted to ask the leader of the house whether she could timetable a debate in Government time on access to primary care services. I think we heard earlier a question from Leanne Wood, the leader of Plaid Cymru, about events in the Rhondda. If I can tell the house that, last week, I and my...
Mr Simon Thomas: The problem of second homes and holiday homes is a particular problem in Pembrokeshire, as it is in a number of areas that are popular with visitors and tourists and people who are looking to retire to those areas. And, of course, it overheats the local housing market in terms of the incomes available to local people, particularly young people. There are whole streets in Tenby where nobody is...
Mr Simon Thomas: I’d like to thank Mike Hedges for bringing this debate forward today. I think he’s gone beyond the city deal and presented a much broader vision for the Swansea bay city region. But I want to focus on two issues: first of all, I’d like to welcome the emphasis on rail that was included in Mike Hedges’s presentation, and to endorse the need to reopen the rail line between Carmarthen and...
Mr Simon Thomas: I thank Andrew R.T. Davies and I was with him all the way until he mentioned special advisers, with my own history there. But it’s a fair point. It’s something that can be explored in that regard. I think the fundamental point that you were making, which I absolutely agree with, is that this is a good way of opening up the issue to the public and to show the public and demonstrate to the...
