Alun Davies: Presiding Officer, I was wondering if I'd have another opportunity to speak this afternoon. I have to say, I think she's diminished herself in that previous contribution. I think there was a question there somewhere, although I'm struggling to find it. Let me say this: there has been certainly no debate within the Labour Party of that sort, and, as I said, she diminished herself with that...
Alun Davies: The Conservative Member uses—[Interruption.] The Conservative Member uses the fact of austerity as if it's the greatest gift that local government has ever received. Let me say this: there are significant issues facing local government today. Most of them are the result of the financial constraints that they face, but not all of them. Welsh local government has, at many times, been clear in...
Alun Davies: When you posed the question, I replied here in the Chamber, and also on my blog, and you’ve questioned me on that since the publication of the article. And I was entirely clear at the time that I have a vision for the future and I have a vision of a different government in Wales—a model that devolves power from this place, and you and Plaid have—. I have heard many speeches from Plaid...
Alun Davies: Llywydd, what would be most insulting would be to finish a consultation yesterday and inform you of the decision today, without considering any of the representations made to us over the past months. That would be most insulting to those people who have participated in this discussion. But may I make this quite clear? I met with Professor Prowle last week, and I had a long conversation with...
Alun Davies: That cost will reflect the kind of framework that we decide upon.
Alun Davies: Presiding Officer, sometimes, this debate can be extraordinarily repetitive rather than illuminating. I've answered the question that the Member's asked on a number of occasions. I have to say that if we offered local government the same stability as local government in England is being offered, which is the stability of knowledge that there will be fewer resources next year than last year,...
Alun Davies: We have been discussing how we can work with local government, and we’ve been doing so for some time. May I say this? What I wish to do throughout this process is to ensure that we are proposing not just the reform of local government, because there’s no purpose in doing that unless there is a good reason behind it. So, what I want to do is strengthen local government, strengthen...
Alun Davies: The Green Paper consultation is about having a constructive debate on how we can deliver strong and empowered local government.
Alun Davies: Presiding Officer, I'm not sure that's an entirely—how shall I say—balanced view of that report, but, in terms of the support that we provide for the armed forces community in totality, I will continue to keep that under review. I've made a statement on how we will be responding to the report of the cross-party group—a report that I value greatly, I must say—and we will look at how we...
Alun Davies: Presiding Officer, we have made tremendous progress over the past two years and will continue to build on that progress. I set out in my written statement in April the future support the Welsh Government will provide to the armed forces community.
Alun Davies: The use of local authority reserves is a matter for locally elected representatives. However, to support transparency across Wales I will make a written statement before summer recess.
Alun Davies: I regularly meet Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service in Wales. I have also met Dr Phillip Lee, Parliamentary Under-secretary of State for Youth Justice, Victims, Female Offenders and Offender Health and hope to meet Rory Stewart, Minister of State at the Ministry of Justice, in the near future.
Alun Davies: The consultation on the Green Paper closed at midnight last night. I look forward to considering the responses and I will be making a statement in due course.
Alun Davies: I aim to make the service properly accountable, and to give it the governance and finance model it will need to face the challenges ahead. I will consult on our plans shortly.
Alun Davies: Local authorities are responsible for their own compliance with legislation. Welsh Government sets the broader governance framework and independent audit, inspection and regulation bodies support local authorities in improving effectiveness.
Alun Davies: The impact of automation has been raised by the Ministerial Taskforce for the Valleys. The Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport has commissioned a review on digital innovation including automation. The taskforce will contribute and use the recommendations to inform its forward plans.
Alun Davies: We work closely with the Wales Chief Constables and Police and Crime Commissioners on matters of mutual interest aimed at making communities safer.
Alun Davies: Welsh Government is committed to improving the skills levels of young people. We are supporting people into work, raising engagement and employment and realising the full potential of skills for the Welsh economy. We are aligning skills provision with growth opportunities in each region, working with regional skills partnerships.
Alun Davies: [Inaudible.]
Alun Davies: I'm very happy to provide all Members with a review, if you like, or an analysis of all our engagement during this process, when this process is complete. I'm very happy to provide Members with that information, but I will go further than perhaps the Member asking the question. I believe this is a matter for us as a country, as a people, and as communities. I do not believe that it is simply...
