Paul Davies: Can I thank the Cabinet Secretary for her statement this afternoon? I'm pleased that the Cabinet Secretary has brought forward this important statement, particularly in light of the agreement between the Welsh and UK Governments over the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill, which means that we're one step closer to a new future for British and Welsh agriculture. Of course, we all agree to the...
Paul Davies: First Minister, there is clearly a huge problem in terms of out-of-hours doctors in the Hywel Dda health board area, and one of the impacts of this is to place significant pressures on A&E services, for example. Now, the options for the health board's current consultation mean that Withybush hospital will be downgraded to a community hospital without A&E services, which is entirely...
Paul Davies: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I note Members' contributions in this debate this afternoon. I particularly note the Member for Mid and West Wales's contribution, and I would remind him that this report was unanimously agreed by a cross-party group of Assembly Members, including a Member from his own party. I would also remind Members that the Assembly Members' code of conduct should be...
Paul Davies: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, and, as temporary Chair of the Standards of Conduct Committee, I formally move the motion. The committee considered the report from the commissioner for standards in relation to a complaint made against Michelle Brown, the Member for North Wales, for bringing the Assembly into disrepute, which is a breach of the code of conduct. The facts relating to the...
Paul Davies: I'm grateful for the opportunity to take part in this debate, and I'll be focusing my contribution on the effects that any local government reform could have on my area. Members will not be surprised that I remain completely opposed to the proposals for local government reform in Pembrokeshire, which would see the whole of west Wales returning to a Dyfed model of governance. It's my view that...
Paul Davies: Cabinet Secretary, all three options in this consultation will result in the downgrading of Withybush hospital from a general hospital to a community hospital, which is totally unacceptable to the people that I represent. The consultation, as far as the people I represent are concerned, is worthless, given that they have no choice in this matter whatsoever. Surely this cannot be right. In the...
Paul Davies: Leader of the house, I'd be grateful if you could ask the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services to bring forward an urgent statement regarding Hywel Dda health board's plans to reconfigure health services in west Wales. As you will be aware, last week, Hywel Dda health board launched its new service change plans, and in all three of the options published, Withybush hospital will be...
Paul Davies: First Minister, it is important to nurture an appropriate culture and the right culture within Welsh Government, and to ensure that work is carried out in a timely manner and that people working within the Government correspond in a timely fashion. Following on from the question that the Member for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire asked you last week, I can confirm that I'm also...
Paul Davies: Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the overall budget allocation to the health and social services portfolio?
Paul Davies: Cabinet Secretary, it won't surprise you that I remain opposed to a merged Pembrokeshire and to forcing it back into a Dyfed model, because I remain of the view that that will lead to further centralisation of services away from Pembrokeshire. Now, I appreciate that today's Green Paper is looking to explore the approach that should be taken by the Welsh Government, which includes a single...
Paul Davies: First Minister, you have made reference to the Standards of Conduct Committee’s inquiry. The committee stated clearly—and I'm quoting here—that they 'firmly believe that Assembly Members should be treated equally with Government Members. The Committee therefore recommends that any future changes made...for Assembly Members should also apply to the Government and the Ministerial Code,...
Paul Davies: Cabinet Secretary, as you're already aware, Hywel Dda university health board will shortly be consulting on its proposals to transform services in west Wales. As you know, I strongly oppose any proposals that would result in services at Withybush hospital being downgraded, or the hospital being closed down completely, which as you know the health board has not ruled out. In the...
Paul Davies: 8. Will the Cabinet Secretary outline the Welsh Government's priorities for the health service in Pembrokeshire for the next 12 months? OAQ51880
Paul Davies: Can I thank the Minister for her statement this afternoon? I'm pleased to respond to this statement, as a Member whose constituency lies in the heart of the Pembrokeshire coast national park area. Wales's designated landscapes are beacons of natural beauty and conservation. They host millions of visitors, promote and protect our culture, help foster more cohesive communities, and play a...
Paul Davies: Therefore, it would have been entirely appropriate for the Welsh Government to consider this issue on its own, as originally considered by a former Minister for environment, farming and rural affairs, rather than making it part of a wider consultation on mobile animal exhibits. And I will give way to the Member for Mid and West Wales.
Paul Davies: Absolutely, that's why, obviously, this particular issue should have been looked at independently of those other issues. Whilst I want to see a ban on the use of wild animals in circuses, there are still several questions that need to be asked following the Welsh Government's recent statement confirming a ban, and so, perhaps in responding to this debate, the Cabinet Secretary will be able to...
Paul Davies: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I'm delighted to add my name to those Members that, for some time, have been calling for the use of wild animals in travelling circuses to be banned in Wales. I think most people across Wales believe that the practice is outdated, unnecessary and puts the welfare of animals travelling as part of a circus at risk and, therefore, I'm not surprised at the...
Paul Davies: As the Chair of the committee has said, it's absolutely crucial that the Assembly promotes a culture of dignity and respect for all its Members and staff so that anyone who has a complaint or grievance against another person has the opportunity to declare it in a safe and secure environment. Therefore, I'm pleased to be a member of the standards committee for this inquiry and work with...
Paul Davies: I'm grateful to the Cabinet Secretary for his answer. It won't surprise the Cabinet Secretary to hear me again arguing that one way to improve the transport infrastructure in Pembrokeshire is to dual the A40, which would have a huge, positive knock-on effect on Pembrokeshire's economy and, indeed, on the economy of the whole of west Wales. Dualling would also improve road safety. Sadly,...
Paul Davies: Sadly, figures from the Local Data Company and the Wales Institute of Social and Economic Research, Data and Methods show that Milford Haven still continues to have the highest vacancy rate of retail premises in Wales. This, of course, has been a long-standing problem that desperately needs support. It won't surprise the Cabinet Secretary that business rates is one factor in preventing...
