Paul Davies: In a minute. If we fail to secure a deal with the EU, we will crash out in March 2019, threatening chaos for our economy. Business leaders have already warned that the biggest barrier to economic growth right now is uncertainty due to Brexit. A 'no deal' scenario would only exacerbate that uncertainty, threatening investment, jobs and the household income of hard-working families. And it...
Paul Davies: Llywydd, the referendum on leaving the European Union saw passionate arguments and strongly held opinions on both sides. The decision to remain or leave saw families, communities, political parties, this Chamber and, indeed, the country sharing opposing views. Forty seven and a half per cent of the electorate voted to remain while 52.5 per cent voted to leave. And each individual will have...
Paul Davies: Leader of the house, you're not just failing on home building; your anti-aspirational policy to scrap the right to buy has removed a vital rung from the property ladder for many families here in Wales. Even for first-time buyers, very few will actually benefit from your land transaction tax relief policy because the average house price in Wales now is higher than the £180,000 threshold. You...
Paul Davies: Well, clearly, Wales is not building enough homes, leader of the house. Let me remind you that your Government has been responsible for housing policies since 2006, yet what you have done so far is completely inadequate. The new housing completion rate consistently falls short of the targets set by the Welsh Government with just 6,000 homes being built in the last 12 months: 19 per cent fewer...
Paul Davies: Diolch, Llywydd. Leader of the house, is Wales building enough homes?
Paul Davies: Leader of the house, I feel that you’re not accepting the scale of this problem. This is an institution that is failing: it’s failing to improve on its performance and to learn from its grave mistakes, it’s failing to follow its statutory and legal requirements, and it’s failing to deliver value for money for the taxpayers of Wales. It’s clear that your Government has no strategy in...
Paul Davies: Thank you, Llywydd. Leader of the house, do you believe that it's right that an important public body can operate without giving due regard to legal frameworks or taxpayers' money?
Paul Davies: Well, I'm pleased that she would agree with that, because we do have an institution here in Wales that is operating without giving due regard to legal frameworks or taxpayers’ money. As you know, Natural Resources Wales is responsible for a catalogue of failings that have grave outcomes for the sustainable management of Wales’s resources. Not only have the body’s accounts been qualified...
Paul Davies: Can I put on record my sincere thanks to the Clerks of the Standards of Conduct Committee for their hard work throughout this inquiry, and producing this report? Creating the right culture in any workplace is imperative to a conducive and effective working environment, and I believe that all parties in this Chamber are committed to nurturing that environment. Therefore, I'm pleased to have...
Paul Davies: Llywydd, the tone of today's statement, and the First Minister's commentary on UK Conservative internal party relationships, is a bit rich when you look at the discipline of some Welsh Government Ministers, and does nothing remotely constructive to support Welsh industry. Indeed, it makes Wales look weak in leadership at a time when the country should be focusing on getting the best possible...
Paul Davies: Can I thank the First Minister for his statement this afternoon? Whilst I'm disappointed with the tone of today's statement, the First Minister does confirm that, to support this deal, relatively little in the draft withdrawal agreement needs to change. And so, Llywydd, my first question is: in that case, can the First Minister explain why on earth he and his Government are not supporting...
Paul Davies: Since your Government has taken over this franchise, services have got worse, and that's just in a month, First Minister. Now, the previous franchise agreement made no allowance for growth in passenger numbers and no provisions for extra train capacity. Since that franchise was first let in 2003, passenger numbers have increased by around 75 per cent. This created chronic congestion, a lack...
Paul Davies: First Minister, only a number of months ago, your transport Secretary stated that the new rail franchise would be transformational. We are now just over one month since Transport for Wales—[Interruption.]—since Transport for Wales took over the Welsh rail franchise, and already—
Paul Davies: Diolch, Llywydd. We are now just over one month since Transport for Wales took over the Welsh rail franchise, and already we have a public full-newspaper-page-spread apology that you've referred to. Now, the apology states, and I quote: 'We know that you, our customers, deserve better from your rail services in Wales and the Borders, and this is not what you expected from your new operator.'...
Paul Davies: Diolch, Llywydd. First Minister, how do you consider the early stages of the new rail franchise to be progressing?
Paul Davies: Leader of the house, your recent statement on broadband confirmed that one of your priorities is developing community-based models and solutions for tackling notspots. You made reference to schemes in Michaelston-y-Fedw between Cardiff and Newport, and Llanddewi Rhydderch in Monmouthshire. Whilst this work is welcome, it's important that your officials are looking at ways of working with...
Paul Davies: Cabinet Secretary, you're already aware of my outright opposition to Hywel Dda Local Health Board's plans to downgrade Withybush hospital to a community hospital and centralise services to another site. I remain deeply concerned that no commitment has been given to the construction of any new hospital in west Wales. Given the desperate need for the health board to plan its service delivery...
Paul Davies: 4. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the budget allocation for the health and social services portfolio? OAQ52894
Paul Davies: 6. Will the Leader of the House outline the Welsh Government's priorities for improving digital infrastructure in Pembrokeshire? OAQ52893
Paul Davies: First Minister, you said yourself that you took your eye off the ball on education. Clearly, your party has been asleep at the wheel for the last decade. And let me give you some figures: under your party's stewardship, we've seen the worst GCSE results in a decade; the lowest ranking PISA scores in the UK, with educational attainment ranking behind countries like Vietnam and Slovakia; an 8...
