Russell George: But in every town in Wales, there are still areas where it’s hard and unpleasant to walk and ride. There are cyclists who share roads with heavy traffic, where potholes are obstacles and create other dangers as well, where cycle pathways are simply too narrow or too short or badly placed, and where pavement parking has made it impossible to walk safely. In a couple of weeks, campaigners...
Russell George: Well. I even bought a new pair of trainers for the race, and I still lost—but there we are. Light-hearted though it was, there was of course a serious message behind what we were doing back in May. The cyclists reached their destination first, and the journey of course for them was inexpensive, and provided a great opportunity to exercise. Yet since the Act has become law, rates of active...
Russell George: Diolch, Llywydd. Nearly five years ago, in November 2013, the Active Travel (Wales) Act became law. The Act was intended to create a generational change, and transform the way we travel on essential journeys, to work and to school, making walking and cycling the norm. The reasons for doing this I think are clear: active travel promotes better health, reduces pollution and congestion. In fact,...
Russell George: Leader of the house, the Welsh Government's lack of transparency over the ongoing delays to the second phase of Superfast Cymru is causing concern. I would be grateful if you could bring forward a statement on this. Over the summer recess, as you know, I've written to you on a number of occasions in an effort to understand the reasons behind the delays to implementing phase 2 of the...
Russell George: There is a system called check, challenge, appeal that operates in England, which allows businesses to check the facts about their properties and view valuations before deciding whether to challenge the valuation. This seems to minimise uncertainty and ensure businesses reach a resolution quicker. It also reduces uncertainty for local authorities, who, of course, have to set aside money to...
Russell George: 1. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on business rate relief for the tourism sector? OAQ52538
Russell George: I'd like to thank the Cabinet Secretary for his statement this afternoon. The Cabinet Secretary will be aware that the devolution of Network Rail funding in Wales was, of course, examined by the Silk commission and discussed during the St David's Day process, and no consensus on that issue was achieved. Presiding Officer, I would say that the Cabinet Secretary, like me, has always been a...
Russell George: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. It does seem to me that enterprise zones have been, perhaps, a series of place-based experiments and will continue to merit further study over the coming years. The clear lesson, I think, to date, is that there is a real benefit to knowing your strengths and bringing partners together around a shared vision, and I think that the lesson learnt is that this...
Russell George: I think there is a legitimate question as to whether enterprise zones were actually needed in some of the areas selected by the Welsh Government, particularly in Cardiff, where the committee heard the zone was pushing at an open door in economic terms. In contrast, the committee heard from the chair of the Snowdonia enterprise zone board that the board has realised very early on that they...
Russell George: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. The committee Chair has just dropped all his papers on the floor in different order. Thankfully, the notes are numbered. I move the motion this afternoon, Deputy Presiding Officer. In January and February of this year, the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee undertook a short inquiry into enterprise zones in Wales. Five years after the zones were...
Russell George: Cabinet Secretary, you may have heard my question to the First Minister yesterday in regard to an ex-Montgomeryshire person who feels disenfranchised by the electoral system, as an overseas voter—[Interruption.] I'm not sure which way this particular constituent does cast their vote. I'm not sure whether the First Minister quite understood the intention of my question, so I wanted to raise...
Russell George: Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on efforts to reduce local government costs?
Russell George: Thank you, First Minister. I've been contacted by a former constituent who's written to me to say that he feels disenfranchised at not being able to vote in Welsh elections. He was born in Wales and raised locally and has extensive family in mid Wales. He moved from mid Wales to Shropshire, where his job took him, and then went to work abroad. Contacting the election office in Powys,...
Russell George: 4. Will the First Minister make a statement on eligibility to vote in Welsh elections? OAQ52479
Russell George: When you announced your digital innovation review, Cabinet Secretary, you said that you wanted to develop the potential of our regions so that they would support better jobs closer to home, and this is something that I would agree with you on. You've also been very supportive, like me, of a mid Wales growth deal. Now, in order to ensure that mid Wales is plugged into the wider midlands...
Russell George: How is the Welsh Government supporting the manufacturing sector in Wales?
Russell George: Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the findings of the review of elite and performance sports facilities?
Russell George: Since 2010, spending on bus provision by the Welsh Government has fallen by 20 per cent and the number of registered bus services in Wales continues to fall. This is certainly having an effect right across Wales, but particularly in rural Wales, I'd suggest. So, can I ask, First Minister: what are you doing to solve this crisis in Wales? And do you agree with me that what passengers in Wales...
Russell George: Absolutely, yes.
Russell George: Thank you, Simon Thomas. This is something new I'm exploring myself, so I'm happy for that point. I can see I've just about run out of time, but I think one issue that I do think needs to be resolved is that tension as well between what role hydrogen plays versus the need for electric vehicles, or electric generation as well, because there are limitations that exist there. So, I think it is...
