Alun Davies: I expect all local authorities to work closely with each other, as well as other public sector bodies. The Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 requires us to think about the long term, work better with people, communities and each other, look to prevent problems, and take a more joined-up approach.
Alun Davies: Local authorities and local health boards are both statutory members of public services boards, and have a joint responsibility to work together to improve the wellbeing of their areas.
Alun Davies: I will be making a statement on the future of local government on 17 July.
Alun Davies: Local authorities are able to charge for services where there is statutory provision to allow it. Fees should be used to deliver quality services whilst providing value for the local taxpayer.
Alun Davies: I am reviewing the governance and finance arrangements for fire and rescue authorities to improve their accountability to communities. I will consult on our plans in the autumn.
Alun Davies: I can absolutely make that confirmation today. When you take decisions about strategic investment, you do create that sort of situation whereby some people feel they're in and others feel that they are not. I recognise that, and I know that others have made very similar points to me at different times. But let me say this: I think all of us who have travelled through the Afan valley and have...
Alun Davies: Presiding Officer, the points made by the Member for Cynon Valley are very well made. In terms of health and co-operatives, of course, we have just celebrated what many people described as the seventieth anniversary of the national health service. Of course, for those of us from Tredegar, Presiding Officer, it is simply the seventieth anniversary of the Act of Parliament that created the...
Alun Davies: Presiding Officer, the Rhymney valley has some great advocates speaking on its behalf. I know that Dawn Bowden, the Member for Merthyr and Rhymney, speaks for the upper Rhymney valley and our colleague Hefin David speaks for the lower parts of the Rhymney valley with equal ferocity, shall we say. I understand the points that have been made, and I recognise those points. I'm very happy to come...
Alun Davies: Presiding Officer, one of the issues that was raised with us at almost every public event we've done over the last two years has been the issue of local transport. Most people raise issues around local buses rather than the metro system, and I think it's important that we do recognise that, in developing the metro, we are developing and delivering a transport network that does go beyond...
Alun Davies: Presiding Officer, before answering the questions from the Plaid Cymru spokesperson, I think that Members on all sides of the Chamber would like to join me in welcoming him back to this place and congratulating him and wishing his family well in the future. I think all of us on all sides of the Chamber want to pass on our good wishes to you. Can I say this? In terms of where we are today,...
Alun Davies: I'm grateful to the Conservative spokesperson for those questions. Can I say first of all that I did read the response of the Bevan Foundation? I actually enjoyed it. I thought it was a very good response, actually. I thought it was very well articulated, and I thought it made some very fair points. Can I say more than anything that I share the same frustration? I want to see a greater tempo...
Alun Davies: Presiding Officer, I am grateful to you for the opportunity to update Members about the progress that the Valleys taskforce has made since the 'Our Valleys, Our Future' action plan was published last July. I would like to start by placing on record my own personal thanks for the taskforce members’ work and support over the last 12 months, including my colleagues, the Cabinet Secretary for...
Alun Davies: I join the Member in commending those efforts as well. At the same time as investing in the education and public awareness that the Member for South Wales Central has referred to, it is also useful to point out that the fire service itself has invested heavily in specialist equipment and training to take on these fires. The firefighters I spoke to this morning have been working together with...
Alun Davies: Presiding Officer, I did visit firefighters on the duty watch in Tonypandy earlier today, and I spoke to them about the work they were doing across Wales and also to those firefighters from the south Wales area who had attended the fire on Saddleworth moor. I visited the station alongside Andrew Morgan, the leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf council, and we did discuss some of the wild fires that...
Alun Davies: Presiding Officer, I think Members across the whole Chamber will wish to join me in thanking all those firefighters from across Wales who have worked extraordinarily hard over the past weeks. Their commitment, their expertise, their skills have been tested in some very difficult circumstances. I have made a written statement on this matter already today and I think that Members across the...
Alun Davies: Well, that would be lovely, wouldn't it? [Laughter.] I'm grateful to the Conservative spokesperson for the 20 years of history she's managed to weave into this topical question. I will be making a statement on these matters in two weeks' time, and I will address the matters that she's raised in her question.
Alun Davies: Presiding Officer, I repeat that I'll be making a full statement on this matter on 17 July, where I will be responding to the consultation and responding to other matters as well. However, the Member seems to believe that Ministers should be silent in terms of a national debate and not participate in national conversations outside of this Chamber. I'm sorry, if that is her case, then I...
Alun Davies: Presiding Officer, Members will be aware from our order papers that I'll be making a statement on this matter on 17 July.
Alun Davies: That's terrible. That's terrible.
Alun Davies: Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer. Could I start, like other Members who've spoken this afternoon, by thanking Mick Antoniw for bringing forward this proposal? I think all of us who've listened to this short debate today have been quite taken with the level of agreement on all sides of the Chamber. I know that all Members have spoken from real personal and constituency...
