Alun Davies: Thank you. I'm glad that the Member for Swansea East welcomed the general thrust of my approach to these matters in terms of devolving powers to local government structures and bodies across Wales, and decentralising governance in Wales. I'm sure that the Member will be pleased that I do welcome that. Do you know, the conversation that you've started in that question is exactly the...
Alun Davies: I'm aware of the strong feelings of the Member for Preseli. Let me say this: as I said in answer to previous questions, what I'm not going to do today is to announce my conclusions of this process. I don't think, in all fairness, you would expect or anticipate me saying that. What we are providing for is three options here, only one of which you've described in your question, and one of...
Alun Davies: I will say that the map is an indicative map, which gives indications of the direction that we would like to travel in. But, certainly, if strong cases are made, I certainly would be very prepared to look at all those cases, as I've said in answer to previous questions. This is a Green Paper process, where we are happy to consider all different proposals that will be made from any different...
Alun Davies: Yes, regional working is a crucial and critical part of what we're doing. This is not an either/or, if you like. This is about creating the units of governance with the capacity and the strategic ability to empower and to drive forward regional working. You and I both supported the proposed merger of Torfaen and Blaenau Gwent in the previous Assembly, and I think you and I both spoke in...
Alun Davies: I’m still going to be continuing with my optimism with the kinds of questions that we’re having, because what I hear from the spokesperson for Plaid Cymru is a reiteration of history; a historic argument, but without offering any new ideas. That’s what we’re not seeing in this. None of the opposition parties that we’ve heard from already have any ideas at all about how we’re going...
Alun Davies: I think Members across the whole Chamber will be glad to hear that the Conservatives do finally have a couple of questions at the end of that. I will say to the Member that I finished my statement with the words that I hoped that we can now have a positive, constructive and optimistic conversation. Perhaps that, in itself, was optimistic. The Member has listed a number of consultations and...
Alun Davies: I am committed to delivering more powers to Welsh local government and I want to give those new powers to councils that are robust and sustainable enough to use them. I hope that this will be an enriching and positive debate. All too often in the past, we have all focused solely on the challenges facing councils, whether those are financial or otherwise. I hope that we can now focus on the...
Alun Davies: Diolch yn fawr. Llywydd, I believe in local government. I was brought up in a house where both my parents worked in delivering local services in Tredegar. For me, local government is not simply about structures and lines on maps. For me, this debate is about people, and it is about who we are as a people. I want us to discuss and debate how we strengthen and empower communities and councils...
Alun Davies: Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer. I'll start my contribution very much where John Griffiths finished his, by agreeing very much with the points that John made in his contribution but also in the, I think, very strong consensus there's been on all sides of the Chamber this afternoon. I will say, Deputy Presiding Officer, that the Welsh Government will be supporting the motion...
Alun Davies: I'm glad to hear, Presiding Officer, the Member for Swansea East arguing for changes to the structure and organisation of local government bodies in Wales. I'm delighted that he's joined us in that consensus. Can I say to him that it isn't my intention at present to make any statements on this matter except to say that I have written to the chairs of all three fire and rescue authorities in...
Alun Davies: I'm grateful to the Member for that question. Can I say to him it's clearly an issue that I will need to consider in greater detail than to provide a full answer this afternoon? [Laughter.]
Alun Davies: I hope that Members will sympathise with that. Can I say, Presiding Officer, that I will make a written statement on this matter, since it's clearly of interest to the Chamber and it's clearly an important issue that we need to address?
Alun Davies: The current structure of fire and rescue authorities dates from the mid-1990s. It needs reform to ensure that fire and rescue authorities are properly accountable for delivery and spending. This will not necessarily mean changes to the number or coverage of fire and rescue authorities.
Alun Davies: Any legislation for reorganisation would include provision specifying that all liabilities, including criminal liabilities, would transfer from the predecessor authority to the new authority on the day that reorganisation took effect.
Alun Davies: I met the national joint council and the Fire Brigades Union and employers' side on 30 January in order to discuss a paper that has been presented to me and other UK Ministers from the national joint council on different ways in which our fire service can develop in order to provide greater services for the community. We do already have a number of additional services delivered by the fire...
Alun Davies: Presiding Officer, this trial has now come to an end. It made a powerful case for firefighters responding to medical emergencies, which saves both lives and money. Making it permanent now depends on a new pay deal for firefighters, and I hope that both sides can reach an agreement on this.
Alun Davies: Can I say, Presiding Officer, that I absolutely agree with the Member for Merthyr? I know how active she has been—Merthyr and Rhymney, I should say, of course, or I'll get into terrible trouble. I know how active she has been in promoting that area, and I know the work that she has done in ensuring that this is on the agenda of the Valleys taskforce and the wider Welsh Government. The...
Alun Davies: Presiding Officer, you're aware that I'm the Member for Blaenau Gwent and I have a direct interest in this matter. I will say to the Member that there's a great deal of work taking place within Blaenau Gwent between Welsh Government and the local authority there, and working with the enterprise zone and the enterprise zone board and others with an interest in investing in the economy of the...
Alun Davies: The taskforce is delivering a co-ordinated approach to economic development across the Valleys, particularly through strategic hubs and supporting entrepreneurship. It will also ensure people in the Valleys benefit from economic development across the whole of south-east Wales by working with the city deals and maximising opportunities from major infrastructure projects.
Alun Davies: I'm grateful to my friend from Caerphilly for that taxing question. Can I say that the Valleys taskforce exists in order to shape the policies and approach of the Welsh Government? It doesn't exist as an independent entity away from Government, and, as such, it seeks to work closely with both the city deals in south Wales, in both the capital region and in Swansea, and it seeks to ensure...
