Huw Irranca-Davies: I'm pleased to say that the Minister has never been speechless. But, could I say, we're not alone in Ogmore in having people on the social housing list waiting for accommodation, for different types of units, and at the same time we have many empty properties, often above shops, in the Valleys, that with the grants that are now available from Welsh Government for regeneration, with a bit of...
Huw Irranca-Davies: Could I ask how much of the inspections, which I very much welcome, will deal not only with the large and obvious coal tips and coal deposits that still remain in some valleys, but also those which actually have been subject of reclamation previously, where you have, for example, housing, roads or other infrastructure built on top of it? Because it would seem to me that the same issues of...
Huw Irranca-Davies: 7. How does the Welsh Government's rights of way policies support the Ramblers' 'Don't Lose Your Way' campaign? OAQ55179
Huw Irranca-Davies: 2. To what extent was the Welsh Government consulted over the content of the UK’s mandate for the negotiations with the EU? 402
Huw Irranca-Davies: Could I welcome the statement today and the short written statement that preceded it, but also welcome the coronavirus action plan, signed up to by the UK administration, but also, of course, all the devolved administrations as well? And, in concert with the tone that is set here by the Minister today, which is measured but also very purposeful, I think what these documents show us is that...
Huw Irranca-Davies: Could we have a debate on the celebration of the culture, heritage and natural beauty of the south Wales Valleys, and how these can contribute to the quality of life for residents and also act as an attraction for day visitors and tourists alike? Last Friday I was pleased to attend an event in the historic Nantymoel boys and girls club, which, thanks to a partnership between the Nantymoel...
Huw Irranca-Davies: I absolutely agree, and that's absolutely the case at it currently is, but I don't think either we should give up on having good, affordable, accessible, reliable, frequent public transportation in rural areas as well. It's a measure of how far we've got to shift this paradigm to say we should be tipping the investment into that. One of the greatest fears of god that would go through...
Huw Irranca-Davies: I only rise to make a very brief contribution in this debate, which I've really enjoyed, actually. What it's thrown up for me, as I anticipated, is this real conflicted thinking that we struggle with—not just as a Senedd here, but also in the wider public—between our desire to be sitting in a warm car, on our own, with the radio turned on, with the heater on, driving wherever we want to,...
Huw Irranca-Davies: He was heckling you. [Laughter.]
Huw Irranca-Davies: Will you give way?
Huw Irranca-Davies: I thank you, and I agree with some of the points that you made. There will be arguments continuing for and against road expansion, not just around the M4, but it'll be Briton Ferry next, because—. The question for us as supporters of sustainable transportation is: to what extent do we advocate shifting unnecessary journeys off the whole of that stretch? So, we allow the white van man and...
Huw Irranca-Davies: Will you take an intervention?
Huw Irranca-Davies: Thank you, Russell, for giving way. Russell, I've got the pleasure of being, with you, a member of the all-party group on active travel, and I know your commitment to sustainable travel as well. If he, like me, agrees with the sustainable transport hierarchy, a real hierarchy about who should be using our roads, and he talked about the importance of freight—I absolutely agree with him on...
Huw Irranca-Davies: Diolch, Llywydd. Can I just check—do I need to read my question or—
Huw Irranca-Davies: Diolch yn fawr iawn. Minister, there's been real and understandable anger at the crude label of 'low skilled' that the UK Government has now levelled at people such as social workers, when we know that they're not low skilled, they are low paid, and you simply cannot put a value on the precious human qualities of compassion and care. How would he respond to Dr Moira Fraser-Pearce, the...
Huw Irranca-Davies: I wonder if I could ask the Minister what role he thinks the further education sector plays in developing the skills that can underpin our growth in economic prosperity for all, particularly in some of the more disadvantaged communities. We don't have an university in our immediate patch within Ogmore and Bridgend, but we have a fantastic FE college—it happens to be double excellent rated...
Huw Irranca-Davies: Could I just address my thanks to Network Rail, TfW? Representatives from the Secretary of State's office as well have been part of the meetings that have been organised alongside Pencoed Town Council, myself and Chris Elmore, the MP, in order to make the case and to actually get us to the stage where we have now completed the Welsh transport appraisal guidance first phase study into the...
Huw Irranca-Davies: 7. How does the Welsh Government intend to increase economic prosperity across Wales? OAQ55112
Huw Irranca-Davies: 6. What recent discussions has the Counsel General had with the UK Government regarding immigration policy following the UK's withdrawal from the EU? OAQ55111
Huw Irranca-Davies: Can I, before I begin, just say what a pleasure it is to serve on the committee under the stewardship of John Griffiths? I concur with many of the comments that he made in terms of the varied evidence that we've seen in various inquiries in the time that I've been on there and preceding me as well. And I very much welcome the Minister's statement in response to the report of the Equality and...
