Russell George: Yes.
Russell George: The aim of this debate today is to highlight the need to lock in the excellent economic progress that the UK Conservative Government has made since taking office, and we don’t want to see any of that put at risk. Of course, it’s Theresa May and the UK Government who have got the plan to boost economic prosperity through the process of Brexit and beyond. But there are issues with the...
Russell George: Minister, ‘cylch meithrin’ and pre-school playgroups are already oversubscribed, and there is a real concern that, when the new school admissions policy in Powys comes into force in September, the pressure on playgroups will be unsustainable. Can I ask what the Welsh Government is doing to support the additional pressures on these playgroups?
Russell George: Minister, I was pleased to receive reports from Ysgol Pontrobert that they’re now able to access the Hwb digital learning platform after receiving a long-awaited broadband upgrade. However, the ‘Evaluation of the implementation of the Learning in Digital Wales Programme’, which was published six months ago, noted that nearly a third of schools did not register any log-ins on Hwb, and...
Russell George: 6. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the proposed changes to school admissions in Powys from September 2017? OAQ(5)0121(EDU)
Russell George: First Minister, footfall has decreased in Welsh high streets. By comparison, footfall to out-of-town shopping centres has increased by 4.6 per cent according to information from last year. Now, the Welsh Retail Consortium has called for local authorities and retailers to work together to market a high-street identity effectively. Also, they want local authorities to have more flexibility with...
Russell George: Cabinet Secretary, can I thank you for your statement this afternoon? I think Wales has got a proud history of hosting major sporting events that far exceeds the norm, I think, that would be expected for a country of our size. I fully agree with you, Cabinet Secretary, that it’s a great honour for Cardiff to be hosting this prestigious global event that has, of course, the potential to...
Russell George: Leader of the house, a constituent has raised an issue with me in regard to damage to properties in the Llandinam area of my constituency, which they believe is caused by Severn Trent’s abstraction operations in the area. Can I ask you what role Natural Resources Wales has in ensuring that Severn Trent take responsibility for their actions in regard to ensuring that the activities they...
Russell George: First Minister, the NatWest bank, in the last 12 days, has also announced the closure of the Welshpool and Machynlleth branch in my constituency—two very major towns, of course, there, as well. As Hefin David has alluded to, they’ve done so without any public consultation whatsoever. Now, a public meeting was held last night in Welshpool in this regard, and the post office, as you have...
Russell George: First Minister, you will be aware of the ongoing Future Fit process on the future of emergency healthcare services for patients in Shropshire and mid Wales. It’s important for my constituents that emergency services are based in Shrewsbury. To date, the Welsh Government hasn’t taken a public position in this regard. Can I ask what prevents you from taking a view on this matter and making...
Russell George: 2. Will the First Minister make a statement on cross-border health arrangements between England and Wales? OAQ(5)0548(FM)
Russell George: Thank you, Minister, and thank you for your written statement earlier this afternoon. Today’s statement, in many ways, just extends the state of paralysis at Sport Wales, and we’re not really any clearer or the wiser on what actually happened at Sport Wales. But this is an organisation that receives over £22 million of public funding annually, and I think it does deserve transparency...
Russell George: Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. Well, driverless cars may eventually, of course, make an appearance on mid Wales’s roads in increasing numbers. As a result, what assessment has your department made of the use of autonomous cars, especially on minor roads and single-track roads, and especially in the circumstances where one of them requires you to decide who should reverse?
Russell George: Cabinet Secretary, you will be aware that heavy goods vehicles frequently leave the road on the A470 between Talerddig and Dolfach where there is no road barrier or curb in place. You previously informed me that you intend to carry out another speed limit review of trunk roads this summer, which will prioritise a list of sites. However, the speed limit isn’t really the problem here; it’s...
Russell George: Now that the UK Government has triggered article 50, I would say it’s imperative, of course, that Wales has an economic strategy in place in order to support what is a fragile economic market. So, what is your plan to support SMEs specifically during this time? Can I also ask when you’ll be publishing your response to the UK Government’s industrial strategy?
Russell George: Cabinet Secretary, there are investment opportunities, of course, outside of Europe, which the Demos report highlights, including China. Now, China currently represents 2 per cent of the Welsh export market, and exports have reduced by 3.5 per cent since 2013. A recent trade mission to China was largely to cement links with Welsh companies, but little has been reported on any substantive...
Russell George: Cabinet Secretary, much has been made of the recent Demos report, which highlights the impact, of course, of Brexit on UK regions such as Wales. Now, on looking at the report in its entirety, a number of relevant and pertinent points are highlighted, including the potential for city deals and devolved administrations to look beyond the UK and the EU to attract foreign investment. In Wales...
Russell George: 7. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the use of autonomous cars in mid Wales? OAQ(5)0146(EI)
Russell George: Will the Minister make a statement on the future management of Sport Wales following the decision to terminate the positions of the Chair and Vice Chair of the organisation? EAQ(5)0154(HWS) [W]
Russell George: Thank you, Minister, for your answer. I hope you will be aware that the lack of broadband across parts of rural Powys is putting rural schools in particular at a significant disadvantage, which is having a knock-on effect on pupils’ education. Now, as I understand, there are 28 primary schools across Wales that still cannot access adequate broadband to enable them to teach pupils using the...
