Nick Ramsay: Cabinet Secretary, can I welcome your statement today—and that’s not just paying lip service to it; as you know, I genuinely welcome the potential that this framework offers Wales and, indeed, the UK for the future. As you know, I’ve been a full supporter of a fiscal framework for some time now, and since it became clear that tax devolution was with us, was going to happen, and there...
Nick Ramsay: It’s the way you tell them, Cabinet Secretary. Happy new year to you as well. You would be forgiven for thinking that it was still ‘Blue Monday’ by listening to some of the less than positive questions you’ve received today, Cabinet Secretary. Whilst we accept that many of us would like to see no tolls at all on the Severn crossings, and recognise that that would be a massive benefit...
Nick Ramsay: Thank you, First Minister. We know full well the problems that businesses in some areas of Wales are facing with the huge hikes in business rates this April. This is particularly difficult for newer businesses. While I welcome the commitment of extra support in the budget, there’s still a lack of clarity over how that money is going to be distributed, and some businesses have told me that...
Nick Ramsay: 8. Will the First Minister make a statement on the financial support available for new businesses in Wales? OAQ(5)0378(FM)
Nick Ramsay: Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. Monmouthshire County Council has worked closely with the Welsh Government to immeasurably improve, initially, primary schools in Monmouthshire, and Monmouth Comprehensive School is now being rebuilt, with other comprehensives having to wait. There continues to be a real problem with the presence of asbestos in schools across Wales. How are you going to ensure...
Nick Ramsay: That is certainly good news, Cabinet Secretary, and a major plus of the current Wales Bill as it progresses. These are clearly fiscally complex times for the Assembly with the devolution of new taxes, the consequent variance in the block grant, the advent of borrowing powers—I could go on. I understand that the agreement allows for yearly review of arrangements. Can you update us on...
Nick Ramsay: Thank you for your commitment to a statement next week and also for your team’s efforts in this regard. I think it is a good example of what can be achieved when the Welsh Government, the Assembly as a whole, and the UK Government work together. It’s not always happened in the past, but it’s good to see that progress has been made. Can you clarify, as you understand it, the permanence...
Nick Ramsay: Diolch. Happy new year, Cabinet Secretary.
Nick Ramsay: I am risking repetition, with this morning’s committee, which you’ve already mentioned, but it is fresh in the mind and extremely important: can you update us on your agreement with the UK Government on the much-awaited fiscal framework?
Nick Ramsay: 7. Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on the 21st Century Schools programme? OAQ(5)0070(EDU)
Nick Ramsay: Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on her priorities for education spending in 2017?
Nick Ramsay: A light afternoon for us, Cabinet Secretary, isn’t it? I’m pleased to contribute to this debate. I think we have on numerous occasions in debates and statements over the last year or two highlighted that stamp duty land tax will be the first tax devolved to Wales in several hundred years, a point made by the Chair of the Finance Committee. Indeed, as the Chair said, it is the first time...
Nick Ramsay: I’m pleased to contribute to this debate today on the final budget. Can I firstly concur with the comments made by the Chair of the Finance Committee and also welcome the Cabinet Secretary’s response to some of the Finance Committee’s recommendations, some of which I received earlier today? As the Cabinet Secretary said in opening this debate, the lateness of this year’s budget, due...
Nick Ramsay: I’m pleased that Adam Price has raised this question. Only you could make Corbyn and May sound like a 1960s folk group, Adam. I’d rather focus on the food and drink issue that the First Minister mentioned in answering you. I agree with you, First Minister, that Wales does have a great story to tell in terms of our home-grown food and drink, and you’re right to point out labelling as an...
Nick Ramsay: Cabinet Secretary, given that, as Llyr Gruffydd said, resources are tight, and flood prevention protection schemes are, in terms of capital, very expensive, and revenue as well, do you think now would be a good time, with the agenda moving on to greater local authority collaboration, and pan-local authority developments, such as the south Wales metro, and city regions, to look at...
Nick Ramsay: Can I concur with the comments that Adam Price has made? Cabinet Secretary, as you know, the business-rates revaluation continues to be a source of immense concern for those businesses facing sizeable increases in their rateable value. This concern extends to the scheme of relief that the Welsh Government has decided upon and the transitional relief that we are voting on this afternoon. I...
Nick Ramsay: I concur with the thoughts of Mark Reckless and also the Chair of the Finance Committee. The Welsh Conservatives will also be supporting the LCM that has been laid before us today. I've heard that there are some concerns, if I can put it that strongly, from the UK Government. However, having looked at this myself, I not only don't think that those concerns are justified in this instance, but...
Nick Ramsay: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Cabinet Secretary, can I thank you for your statement this afternoon? A quick question from me: what are you doing to localise the new development bank? I understand your reasoning for locating it in north Wales. We welcome that, and other Members have done so. But part of the criticism of Finance Wales has always been its lack of a local presence in towns...
Nick Ramsay: Steffan was right when he said that the whole Assembly in that debate has backed the Welsh Government's position on this. It is important that the former mineworkers' pensions are protected and that there are arrangements with the UK Government that are transparent and fair. What discussions have you had with the UK Government regarding the need for them to continue to guarantee the pension...
Nick Ramsay: I’m grateful to Adam Price for giving way. I neglected to mention air passenger duty in my speech, but you’ve just brought it up, and you make a very valid point, and we will be supporting the Plaid Cymru amendment on air passenger duty. I think that would be a very important tool in the Welsh Government’s toolbox.
