Alun Davies: Like others, I'd like to start my contribution this afternoon by thanking the clerking team of the committee, and also thanking David Rees for his leadership of the committee on these matters. I also wish to follow others in welcoming the appointment of a Minister for international relations. I enjoyed the session we had, Minister, on 21 January and I hope we'll be able to return to some of...
Alun Davies: Minister, it was a real pleasure to welcome you to Blaenau Gwent some months ago, where we discussed the access to GP services in and throughout the borough. You'll be aware, as well, that the Welsh Government has helped to invest in a new well-being centre in Brynmawr. I think nearly £4 million has been invested in improving the facilities available to the people of Brynmawr and the upper...
Alun Davies: 1. Will the Minister make a statement on access to GPs in Blaenau Gwent? OAQ53765
Alun Davies: If this is an emergency, I would like to ask for a statement from every single one of the Ministers in front of us today on what their actions will be, what their department is going to be doing to respond to this, and what the Government is going to do to ensure that the emergency they've declared is going to have a response, which it deserves and it requires. I would also invite the...
Alun Davies: Thank you very much, Presiding Officer. Minister, I think many of us welcomed the announcement from the Welsh Government yesterday in declaring a climate emergency, but many of us also want to know what the substance of the Welsh Government's actions are going to be as a consequence of that. I have to say, the written statement we've had this morning from the Minister is a wholly inadequate...
Alun Davies: Will the First Minister make a statement on the progress of the Valleys Taskforce?
Alun Davies: Like other Members this afternoon, I very much welcome the process we've been following over the last few years. It certainly has been a journey that this place has been on, from the founding of an Assembly in 1999 to becoming a Parliament that raises taxes in 2019. I very much welcome the fact that we have seen the devolution of these powers now. I was never one of these people who believed...
Alun Davies: Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer. Well, in that case, I'm delighted to have caught you drafting the strategy. That's certainly something to be welcomed. We're all aware of the disaster of Brexit and the impact that's having on the standing of the United Kingdom across the world. It's important, therefore, that the Welsh Government renews its work to promote Wales as a place to do...
Alun Davies: Did he finish it?
Alun Davies: Minister, we're aware that the chaos surrounding Brexit at present is already having a damaging impact on the budgets of the United Kingdom, but also on the perception of the United Kingdom in the wider world. We are also aware that there isn't a single form of Brexit that actually benefits the economy. There's no such thing as a jobs-first Brexit, there's no such thing as an economy-first...
Alun Davies: We are at the moment enjoying historic record levels of investment to support and sustain the economy in the Valleys of south Wales. There's nearly £0.5 billion being spent around my constituency alone in dualling the A465 Heads of the Valleys road. But what's important is that we're able to maximise the value of these investments and we're able to have the maximum economic impact and...
Alun Davies: 6. Will the Minister make a statement on budget allocations to the economy and transport portfolio to support economic development in the valleys? OAQ53732
Alun Davies: 8. What assessment has the Minister made of the potential impact of Brexit on future Welsh Government budgets? OAQ53733
Alun Davies: 4. Will the Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government's international relations strategy? OAQ53734
Alun Davies: It's an oratorical device; I'm sorry, Presiding Officer. I believe that that will return the sovereignty of the people and the sovereignty of our communities, and that is a sovereignty of which we can all be proud.
Alun Davies: Thank you very much. I would say that our democracy demands a number of things. It certainly demands the honesty and transparency that Adam Price described, but it also demands respect for other people's points of view, and that is a fundamental part and tenet of our democracy. It's also a recognition that nobody owns our democracy; we all do. But there's also a recognition that democracy...
Alun Davies: And when you tell me to shut up and to sit down, what you're doing is undermining the democracy—[Interruption.] I won't give way again, I'm fed up of you. Let me say this: when the Member tells me to sit down and shut up, what he does, of course, is to undermine the democracy in this Chamber as well. And let me say this: we won't allow you to do it. We will not allow you to do it. This...
Alun Davies: I will give way, because I'm sure the Member wants the opportunity to apologise for that and to withdraw it.
Alun Davies: I don't think this tweet was meant for me on that occasion and I notice that you haven't apologised for it. But that is the language that leads to threats to my partner; it's what leads to police officers in my home, protecting my family, and it is your language that's doing that. And by doing so, you undermine our democracy and you should be deeply, deeply ashamed of yourself.
Alun Davies: I condemn all sorts. I condemn it without qualification. But I also say to the Member for Clwyd West that the language he uses—. In his own contribution this afternoon, he's talked about an out-of-touch political establishment and used the word 'betrayal'. Now, that, to me, is not the hallmark of a democrat who recognises and values points of view with which they disagree. Let me say this:...
