Mr Simon Thomas: Just to reiterate that I hope she’s able to see in the Hendry report that he compared nuclear with the tidal lagoon and said, over a similar lifetime cost analysis, the tidal lagoon was actually cheaper than nuclear.
Mr Simon Thomas: I’m very pleased that the Assembly has come together, hopefully, to express its support for the concept of tidal lagoon energy. I do fully understand why the Government is not in a position to give direct support to a single project, but I would like to place on record that Plaid Cymru is content to do so—and is in a different position, of course—and can state that we are in favour of...
Mr Simon Thomas: I rise to support and endorse what Llyr Gruffydd has just said. I have been increasingly concerned over the past few weeks about the work of this UKRI. I have asked several questions, but unfortunately I haven’t reached the list for oral questions yet. But I did receive a written answer to the question that I had hoped to ask the First Minister today. The response says that the Government...
Mr Simon Thomas: Of course, one recommendation you can’t respond to, but which must lay on file for the moment, is the wider recommendation on ministerial responsibility, taking decisions that are important to a Minister’s constituents and constituency, but not actually based in the constituency. The Public Accounts Committee says that the perception of a conflict of interest is just as important as an...
Mr Simon Thomas: What discussions have been held between the Welsh Government and Welsh universities regarding the effect of establishing a UK research and innovation body on research funding in Wales?
Mr Simon Thomas: What discussions has the Cabinet Secretary held with universities regarding creating a UK research and innovation body for Wales? Transferred for written answer by the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure
Mr Simon Thomas: Will the Member give way?
Mr Simon Thomas: Would the Member agree that it would be easier to perhaps come to a certain agreement if we understood what the UK Government’s intention was around the single market and continued access to that? For example, he knows—as he’s just written to members of the committee on which we both serve—that George Eustice has pulled out today from coming to be examined in committee on Thursday,...
Mr Simon Thomas: [Inaudible.]—dig your own hole, Presiding Officer. [Laughter.] It reminds me of what a Eurosceptic told my colleague Jonathan Edwards today in the House of Commons, that they will tell anything to win the argument, and we just heard it from the mouth of the campaign itself. This is the kind of double-dealing that has got politics into the dreadful post-truth, alternative facts world we...
Mr Simon Thomas: I think the reason for Plaid Cymru’s amendment to the debate today, though we agree with the White Paper, is quite clear, and it’s best given by Gerry Holtham to the Lords this morning, actually, in examining this when he said, ‘Without a constitutional protection the Welsh interest is going to be overridden.’ And he went on to say also: ‘The brute political reality is with few...
Mr Simon Thomas: Will you give way?
Mr Simon Thomas: Just on this point, the First Minister knows that the White Paper from Westminster talks about a ‘frictionless’ trade possible in goods and services. Does he have any idea what ‘frictionless’ means in that context?
Mr Simon Thomas: That was exactly the point, Minister. What we want to see in west Wales is investment and a prosperous future for our young people, so that the children currently going to Llangennech school to get a Welsh-medium education will know that there are also good jobs available for them in west Wales. We want to see from Government the same kind of flexibility towards funding this project as you...
Mr Simon Thomas: Thank you, Llywydd. Thank you very much. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, fe sonioch am rymuso fel un o’ch themâu, ac os yw hynny’n mynd i olygu unrhyw beth o gwbl, rhaid iddo gynnwys grymuso’r bobl sydd fwyaf ar y cyrion yn ein cymunedau. Hoffwn dynnu eich sylw at brosiect o’r enw Prosiect Undod yng Nghil-maen yn Sir Benfro, sy’n brosiect ymhlith y gymuned Sipsiwn a Theithwyr yno. Daeth...
Mr Simon Thomas: I thank the Cabinet Secretary for his reply. He knows that I’ve drawn to his attention in the past some examples of very good practice in Mid and West Wales that stand outside some of the Communities First and Government-supported things, and there are some good things happening in the third sector and in the voluntary sector. I met with Jig-So, which is a project in Cardigan, a couple of...
Mr Simon Thomas: I thank the Cabinet Secretary for her reply, which didn’t actually specify what discussions she’s had. But, within the last hour, I think all Assembly Members have had a letter from the Cabinet Secretary, setting out what’s happened recently with Aberthaw. I note, from that letter, that Natural Resources Wales did not write to RWE, who operate this plant, until 6 January this year,...
Mr Simon Thomas: Thank you, Cabinet Secretary, and I accept, of course, this is very much a fluid situation. I don’t think that we’ve had new cases in Wales this year, but that’s not to say that we won’t. There is, however, a real issue here because, if free-range status is removed from eggs at the end of February, then, quite frankly, consumers won’t know what they’re buying. With what’s been...
Mr Simon Thomas: I am pleased that negotiations have commenced, because, if the current ban goes beyond February, then we will lose that free-range status. As you’ve just confirmed, 89 per cent of eggs in Wales are produced under that status, and that compares with 44 per cent throughout the UK generally. So, we in Wales specialise in free-range eggs and it’s very important for our egg producers. The...
Mr Simon Thomas: Thank you very much, Llywydd. First, Cabinet Secretary, you will be aware of the restrictions relating to avian flu in Wales at the moment. If these are to remain until the end of February, then 90 per cent of egg producers in Wales will lose their free-range status. We will then have passed the threshold for keeping poultry indoors and we will lose the status that is very important to both...
Mr Simon Thomas: I hope you wouldn’t listen to the kings Canute at the other end of the Chamber, who believe that they can manage our seas. There is an important fishery in Wales, which is the shellfish fishery, which is extremely important. What are the possibilities as we look at scallop fishing, for example, and mussels of course, to open fisheries that could be certified under a Marine Stewardship...
