Peter Fox: The Welsh Conservative group will be abstaining on these regulations. We are, of course, supportive of any measures to help hard-working people to buy their own home, particularly during these more difficult times, so I generally do welcome the steps that the Welsh Government have taken today. However, as is the group's long-standing position, we believe that the land transaction tax...
Peter Fox: Trefnydd, could I ask for an update from the Welsh Government about progress being made on the Heads of the Valleys road project, and on two issues in particular? Firstly, I'd like to ask for an update about the recent news that an eight-mile stretch of the A465 Heads of the Valleys will be subject to a series of further closures over the next 18 months. The road between Brynmawr roundabout...
Peter Fox: Thank you, Trefnydd, for your response. I do welcome what the Welsh Government has been doing around advocacy services, especially for children and young people around the active offer. However, the recent report by the Children's Commissioner for Wales highlighted that, despite some improvement, health-related advocacy services in particular are still not available for all young people who...
Peter Fox: 7. How is the Welsh Government improving access to advocacy services? OQ58653
Peter Fox: Can I thank you, Tom Giffard, for bringing forward this debate and giving me some time? I think all of us in this Chamber agree with the notion that research, development and innovation are important drivers to economic growth and prosperity, and of course universities are fundamental to this. Now, there is good news. Wales has been noted as a consistently strong player within international...
Peter Fox: Thank you, Jenny, and I absolutely recognise your point and some good points of how that assistance can be used. I'm going to come on a little further, in a moment, to local government funding, but I'll just pick up where I left off. I know personally how my own children and many other Monmouthshire children have benefited from their time at Gilwern outdoor education centre and Hilston Park....
Peter Fox: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I'd like to start by saying that I will be supporting this motion today, and I very much welcome the proposal that has been tabled by Sam. Knowing myself how much work goes into designing a Bill from scratch, I really feel that your explanatory memorandum was excellent and really sums up why we need this forward-thinking legislation. Deputy Presiding...
Peter Fox: Sam Kurtz and James Evans have already talked about the tenant situation, and I must draw Members' attention to my interests as I am an active farmer. But Sam also mentioned common land, and I'd just like to push a little further on that, because common land is currently an eligible area for the purpose of the basic payment scheme, which is vital to many businesses across Wales. Farmers are...
Peter Fox: I thank John Griffiths for raising this, and I very much welcome the renewed focus of the Welsh Government on Monmouthshire; it was sadly lacking for 13 years when I was a leader. And I'm also very pleased that the new Labour administration is taking forward the plans we put in place, so I do thank them. Minister, you will know that I've consistently pushed, throughout my time in local...
Peter Fox: Thank you, Minister, for your statement. As I'm sure you will remember, Minister, Monmouthshire County Council, back when I was leader, took the initiative to establish its own solar farm on council-owned ground in Crick. The intention was to generate renewable power for around 1,400 homes and to reduce carbon emissions. The council asked the then Welsh Government to join the project as a...
Peter Fox: Thank you, First Minister. The latest data released on cancer cases showed that, in August, only 52.5 per cent reached the Government's 62-day target of starting treatment—the lowest number since records were collected. One of my constituents has been waiting over seven months for cancer treatment. In previous years, he had mouth cancer and had accessed Hereford hospital, where he was...
Peter Fox: 6. What action is the Welsh Government taking to improve NHS cancer waiting times? OQ58607
Peter Fox: These issues don’t just impact on businesses directly, such as by increasing overheads, but they have indirect impacts as well, and we know that the inflation and cost-of-living crisis will reduce discretionary spending powers, meaning businesses face another hit to their income streams. Many have tried to absorb price pressures over the last few months already, but clearly this is not...
Peter Fox: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, and I move the motion tabled in the name of my colleague the Member for Clwyd West, and welcome the opportunity to bring forward this debate this evening. Businesses in Wales are fundamental to our economic prosperity. They are important drivers for growth, creating jobs, wealth, and they underpin our communities, with many providing important services to...
Peter Fox: It's an important point that Ken Skates makes, and, indeed, privately run swimming pools, and certainly local authority-run swimming pools and leisure facilities are in a really difficult situation. They're so fundamental, aren't they, to the well-being of our communities. So, for these facilities to become more sustainable, then, we need to look to help them utilise alternative and green...
Peter Fox: Can I also thank the Minister for the statement? And can I also thank the current commissioner for her work so far, as well as her predecessor, Professor Sally Holland? The past few years have been difficult for us all, and in particular, children and young people, who’ve had to experience significant disruption to their lives and development. So, it’s important that we in the Senedd...
Peter Fox: Thank you, Minister. Firstly, I want to acknowledge that the past few weeks have not been good, to say the least. And I think we are all disappointed that we find ourselves—[Interruption.]
Peter Fox: Thank you, Llywydd. As I said, I think we're all disappointed that we find ourselves in this position. I welcome the new Chancellor to his position. He is somebody who has a wide range of knowledge of the workings of Government and has the experience needed to put the country back on track. These are not normal times and, whilst recent events haven't been helpful, to pretend that we could...
Peter Fox: How is the Welsh Government working with stakeholders to ensure equal access to support for parents following a family breakdown?
Peter Fox: Thank you, Jane Dodds, for raising this question. Yesterday, the First Minister told the Chamber that tens of thousands of new appointments will be made, and that was very welcome. We look forward to where and when these will be made available—when we will start seeing them. I am continuing to receive correspondence from anxious constituents, as we all are here, who are struggling to...
