Russell George: I met with your predecessor, Edwina Hart, last year with regard to Welshpool’s one-way traffic system, along with Welshpool Town Council as well. It was agreed at the time that Welsh Government would undertake some work to assess the options of Brook Street being reverted back from one-way to a two-way traffic system to ease the ongoing issues in the town. I’d be grateful if you could...
Russell George: Thank you, Cabinet Secretary, I’ll do that and I’m grateful for that. The Prime Minister’s industrial strategy has indicated that significant investment will be made towards research and development, and to training, so that our workforce is ready to deal with the challenges innovation will bring. Indeed, it states that we should be ‘creating the right conditions for new and growing...
Russell George: Well, Welsh businesses are already losing out to their competitors in England and Scotland. England and Scotland have already raised the levels of small business rate relief there. Furthermore, the development bank you are proposing is a hybrid model of Finance Wales—indeed, it provided the business case. Now, I had an example last week where I went to visit a business. Their rateable value...
Russell George: Diolch, Presiding Officer. I do have no doubt that the Cabinet Secretary will agree with me that small businesses are vitally important, of course, to the Welsh economy. But I have to say that small businesses haven’t been afforded the stability I think they need from past and this Welsh Governments. Business rates have been devolved for some time, and businesses are still at a significant...
Russell George: Can I thank all those who took part in the Conservative debate today? Can I also declare an interest as an owner of a small business myself who, unfortunately for me, has to pay business rates? But I would like to say that I listened carefully to Adam Price’s comments today, and I agree with all he said. Many small businesses are under severe pressure, and it takes no pleasure at all in...
Russell George: Leader of the house, you will be aware that properties in the village of Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant, in my constituency, had to be evacuated on Friday after being flooded by water from a burst main that carries water from Lake Vyrnwy to Liverpool. The flooding even damaged the new village hall, which, I remember well, the First Minister opened only in 2012. While the cause is not yet known, the...
Russell George: I certainly welcome the decision to cut the tolls, which I think will be a huge boost to motorists. Now, you have outlined your wish, Cabinet Secretary, to see the abolition of the tolls on the Severn bridge, and I agree with that ambition as well, even if there are serious financial questions that need to be addressed, and, indeed, traffic-flow issues as well, as Jenny Rathbone has outlined....
Russell George: First Minister, you said that there’s no other offer on the table and I accept that position as well. But can I ask what initial discussions you’ve had, as a Government, with the UK Government, the unions and other interested parties, on developing an alternative strategy in the event that the current proposal is rejected?
Russell George: By January 2020, rolling stock in Wales will need to comply with the new UK-wide rules on disability access. As it stands now, the majority of the Wales and borders rolling stock would not meet these standards and we’ve got evidence to suggest that securing new rolling stock could take, of course, up to four years. Are you confident that the fleet will be modernised in time for this...
Russell George: I would like to raise two issues. Firstly, before Christmas, the Cabinet Secretary for the environment responded to me here in the Chamber, saying that she would write to me regarding a question I raised on local development plans. I haven’t yet received a note on that, so I would be grateful for a response—very grateful for that. Secondly, I would request a statement. I have previously...
Russell George: The Welsh language and economic development task and finish group published recommendations on how bilingualism and economic development could be improved. Evidence from the review suggested that there were differences between how SMEs and larger businesses use the Welsh language, with many SMEs saying that the Welsh language was a cost rather than a benefit. Since the review was published...
Russell George: Can I fully endorse the views of Adam Price? It is a disgrace that the Cabinet Secretary could not be here today to bring to this Chamber what he delivered in his speech this morning. I’m not—[Interruption.] I’m not privy to that speech this morning, but what I would say to the Minister is: I’ve got two questions for you today—[Interruption.] I’m not privy to the speech that he...
Russell George: The two specific questions I have, Minister, are: can I ask you, Minister, to outline what infrastructure projects will be designated for rural Wales, and, secondly, what specific projects the Cabinet Secretary will be bringing forward to deliver the sustainable bus network service that he has committed to? It is disappointing that the Cabinet Secretary is not here himself or delivered a...
Russell George: Minister, can you confirm—? The Cabinet Secretary today said that works would commence in 2018, but clearly the end of 2018 is 24 months away from now. Can you confirm when in 2018 it may start? Can you refine that date a little, subject, of course, to the public inquiry outcome? In your statement today, you say that the Cabinet Secretary said the latest assessment indicates that future...
Russell George: I have an interest as a member of Powys County Council. Members of Machynlleth Town Council have expressed their concerns regarding proposals by Powys County Council to locate a permanent Traveller site near Machynlleth. Town councillors agree that there hasn’t been a formal consultation, as they had been promised by the county council, with residents regarding possible locations for the...
Russell George: I'm grateful; I don't think there's any place for wild animals in circuses. I agree with that. This is something promoted by the Welsh Conservatives some years ago, and I'm pleased that there will be a statement tomorrow. But can I say: how has it taken so long to get to this point? It was your predecessor, Rebecca Evans, who first initiated this, and it has taken a long time to get to this...
Russell George: Will the Cabinet Secretary confirm the status and weight to be given to policies in local development plans when her officials determine the acceptability of any local generation scheme, which, by virtue of its expected output, is now classed as a development of national significance?
Russell George: Deputy Presiding Officer, the Cabinet Secretary has said that the development bank will be launched in the first half of the new year, but I do think it is a bit disappointing that the Cabinet Secretary has provided very little in the statement today in terms of the business case for the hybrid model of the development bank to allow for scrutiny today from Members of the Assembly. I am...
Russell George: The expansion of Heathrow Airport is undoubtedly a major boost for trade and tourism in Wales. Now, in contrast to the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government seems to have failed to attract much of a positive boost for Wales in return for the Welsh Government's support for the expansion. In a memorandum of understanding to the Scottish Government, the Scottish Government secured 16,000 new...
Russell George: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I think that my colleague Nick Ramsay also mentioned that the autumn statement sets out the firm funding foundations to invest in our roads and schools and hospitals to, of course, drive up growth and support the economy as well. Now, on digital infrastructure such as fibre broadband and fifth generation—this is one of my hobby-horses, I know—the...
