Huw Irranca-Davies: Minister, can I thank you for the statement and welcome very much the fact that the four-nation conversations have started, but just to ask him is he sure and confident that there will indeed be regular, reliable rhythm to these meetings now, that it is not a one-off? And can I also thank him for the incredibly intense engagement that he's had, not only with Members of the Senedd, but also...
Huw Irranca-Davies: I wonder if the Counsel General and Minister could outline the legal and constitutional consequences of this Chamber, Siambr, not giving its consent to this Bill being railroaded forward by the UK Government. And, could he also explain why this should matter profoundly to the businesses, the farmers, the food producers, the students and the constituents in a constituency like mine of Ogmore?
Huw Irranca-Davies: It's a pleasure to follow on from the last speaker and also from my Chair of the committee, John Griffiths. I stand simply to support all the points that have been made in terms of the report that we brought forward and the recommendations, because I think the report is actually very balanced. It isn't strident or ideological or fixated on a certain end point. It listened very carefully to...
Huw Irranca-Davies: Diolch, Llywydd. Can I just begin by joining the Minister and others who have praised the work of front-line officers on the ground in different departments in RCT, under the leadership of Andrew Morgan, but also other agencies? They've put sterling work in not just now in recent hours and days, but actually weeks and months as well. But also his call on the UK Government to extend support to...
Huw Irranca-Davies: Thank you, Minister. I've got absolutely no doubt that you're working every hour of the day to make sure that we do have, and we do put the pressure on the UK Government to secure, a good trade deal for the benefit of Wales as well as for the rest of the UK, but, during a visit to a farm in mid Wales last week, a UK Government Minister, Mr Jayawardena, was reported as saying he was confident...
Huw Irranca-Davies: 9. What assessment has the Minister made of the implications for the food and farming sector in Wales of the UK Government not being able to secure an EU trade deal? OQ55483
Huw Irranca-Davies: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Minister, could I turn straight away to the NHS COVID-19 app? Could I ask first of all: are there similarities with the system being used in Scotland, where, for example, the QR codes are on every table and every counter and every bar in every restaurant? It is very easy, very convenient to use, and I have to say that everybody that I observed when I was there recently...
Huw Irranca-Davies: Further to the previous question, we're seeing data published in June showing that, for the first time, Minister, since 2016, the reports of suspected modern slavery in the UK were down by 14 per cent, and this is raising the worry that it's actually that victims are being pushed further out of sight and away from seeking help. So, can I ask our Welsh Government to make formal representations...
Huw Irranca-Davies: What recent discussions has the First Minister had with the UK Prime Minister regarding the implications of the European withdrawal negotiations for Wales?
Huw Irranca-Davies: Thank you, acting Presiding Officer, and I'd like to speak up for the humble footpath, because what people have discovered during the coronavirus, for all its challenges, is actually the joy of walking on their local footpaths. It really has helped with issues around mental health as well and mental well-being, and it'll be the same going forward. But, because of the years of austerity,...
Huw Irranca-Davies: Indeed, and, Minister, only this week the Institute for Fiscal Studies has noted that, less than six months from the EU withdrawal date, we still have no details on the UK shared prosperity fund. It's not just the Welsh Government and the Scottish Government who are calling for clarity as well as trying to engage constructively on this; it's actually local authorities in England of all...
Huw Irranca-Davies: I thank the Minister for that response and for the continuing Welsh Government support and interest within this project. He'll be pleased to know that the meetings, chaired by myself and Chris Elmore MP, which bring together Network Rail, TfW, Bridgend County Borough Council, Welsh Government interest, but also the local town council, who have been a major champion of this, and along with an...
Huw Irranca-Davies: 6. Will the Minister make a statement on Welsh Government support for alleviating road and rail congestion in Pencoed? OQ55440
Huw Irranca-Davies: 5. What recent discussions has the Counsel General had with UK Ministers regarding the UK shared prosperity fund? OQ55441
Huw Irranca-Davies: I want to turn my attention immediately to bus travel. In thanking the Conservatives for bringing this debate, I want to particularly thank bus drivers first for their efforts in keeping transport going, especially for key workers, through this crisis, the pandemic that we’ve had. It’s actually the bus drivers that have been the key workers all the way through this crisis, and they put...
Huw Irranca-Davies: I have to say, locally, people are utterly gutted with hearing this last-minute decision, when construction and development was happening there on the ground, and I really do strengthen the call from others here for you, Minister, and the First Minister to make a direct appeal to the Prime Minister, to Boris Johnson, to ask the chief executive and this company, even at this last minute, to...
Huw Irranca-Davies: Minister, thank you for the answer, and you're absolutely right—it is a decision for the board. But I want to ask you if you would welcome the renewed emphasis that the health board has put on, not least in the light of the very welcome decision on the Royal Glamorgan Hospital, to also invest heavily in primary and community care in order to actually protect our emergency services as well,...
Huw Irranca-Davies: Minister, we must ensure that our ambitious Welsh language targets in Merthyr Tydfil and across Wales are accomplished, and it's important that the benefit of Welsh-medium education is given to all children in all communities. May I, therefore, ask whether the Minister will give Bridgend council further support, as important land developments have fallen through and impacted their plans? It's...
Huw Irranca-Davies: 9. What discussions has the Minister had with Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board on the future development of the Maesteg Community Hospital following the report to the health board on emergency care at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital? OQ55400
Huw Irranca-Davies: I thank the committee for their reports, as they've shone a helpful light on the economic response to the COVID crisis from the Welsh Government and the UK Government, and also how partners, like local government and Business Wales, have really stepped up to help businesses and employers and employees through these unprecedented and difficult times. It is worth noting, of course, that our...
