Andrew RT Davies: I clearly identified how the gap is widening and that clearly is unacceptable, especially over the last two to three years, where, in English and science in particular, there's been a real deterioration. Over the border in England, they've introduced phonics as a policy area to improve the ability for children to improve their reading. Since 2011, 147,000 more six-year-olds are benefiting...
Andrew RT Davies: Thank you, Presiding Officer. Leader of the house, could you give me an assessment of what the life choices are of young people here in Wales?
Andrew RT Davies: Well, Leader of the house, when it comes to education, many of the things that can be done to improve life chances for young people are within the gift of the Welsh Government, and, sadly, the achievement has been hindered by some of the policies that have been brought forward by previous Labour Governments. But in the field of dyslexia, there's a real poverty of ambition in trying to improve...
Andrew RT Davies: Will the First Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government's plans for reorganising local government?
Andrew RT Davies: Thank you, Cabinet Secretary, for that answer. You'd be aware of the considerable residential developments that are going on around the city of Cardiff, and in particular I draw your attention to the developments in the west of the city, where surgeries and practices have issued notices to say they are unable to take on more patients because they haven't been allowed any more resources...
Andrew RT Davies: Thank you, Presiding Officer, and I will stick to the subject. As a huge supporter of breastfeeding, having four children who were all breastfed, I can see the benefits of that. But, sadly, many new mothers give up after a short period of time and cite a lack of support, or a perceived lack of support, that they might have had from a designated midwife, because of pressure on community and...
Andrew RT Davies: Minister, twenty-first century schools has offered the opportunity for local authorities to work with Government in redeveloping their school estate. You may or may not be familiar with the closure plans for a small rural school in the Vale of Glamorgan, Llancarfan school, and relocating to a new site in the village of Rhoose. One of the concerns—
Andrew RT Davies: South Wales Central area—twenty-first century schools. I thought Cardiff was part of South Wales Central. Sorry, Presiding Officer.
Andrew RT Davies: It is part of South Wales Central.
Andrew RT Davies: I withdraw the question, then.
Andrew RT Davies: 3. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the recruitment and retention of staff within the Welsh NHS? OAQ52018
Andrew RT Davies: Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on Welsh Government guidance for supporting and maintaining rural primary schools in South Wales Central?
Andrew RT Davies: Thank you for that answer, First Minister. The formula that underpins funding of schools, and in particular rural schools, is based on the sparsity element of the census of 1991. The special education formula was last reviewed in 2006 and the primary and secondary school formula was last updated in 2003, First Minister. By any stretch of the imagination, those are dates that have long since...
Andrew RT Davies: I wish I could join you in being positive about those figures, First Minister. As David Melding pointed out, we need 12,000 houses per year to meet the demand. As I pointed out, the figures—not my figures, the industry figures—show a 10 per cent decline in house building last year. I've indicated about wage restraint here in Wales. After 20 years of Labour in Government, we are the...
Andrew RT Davies: As I said, regrettably, over the 20 years, we've seen that massive gap open up between a Scottish worker and a Welsh worker, and obviously, sadly, Wales stay at the bottom of the league table when it comes to wages. I have to say the answer you gave me doesn't give me much confidence that there is going to be that big change by, certainly, the early 2020s, if not the mid 2020s. That money...
Andrew RT Davies: Thank you, Presiding Officer. Could I join the sentiments of the leader of Plaid Cymru in acknowledging the statement you made to the Labour Party conference, First Minister? There will be a time to pay tribute in this Chamber to your time in public life and service here as First Minister and Minister, but, without doubt, obviously, this will now form an election in the Labour Party to find a...
Andrew RT Davies: 8. Will the First Minister make a statement on Welsh Government policy for supporting rural schools in South Wales Central? OAQ52019
Andrew RT Davies: I do believe, in this situation, that she was correct in the action she took, because it was an alliance of France, the United States and the United Kingdom. It wasn't unilateral action. I think that, if it was unilateral action, it would be a completely separate issue and it would require, in my mind, parliamentary approval. This week, we have had votes in the House of Commons, which the...
Andrew RT Davies: Yes, Mike.
Andrew RT Davies: Well, that's a view you might put forward, but I've noticed this week that many people who voted to prevent those air strikes—specific air strikes, I might add, because it wasn't an open-ended mandate—specific air strikes, now regret that they took that decision. But history will show us what has been achieved, and what we do know is that Assad has continued to use chemical weapons...
