Ken Skates: ...for that particular bridge in the area he represents, I would reject such a consideration. [Laughter.] The fact of the matter is—I go back to the point that I made earlier—in so far as general taxation is concerned, users of the Severn crossings have already paid a considerable amount over and above the estimated level of debt. Now, it’s my understanding, based on the Welsh Affairs...
Kirsty Williams: ...to work with university leaders and counterparts in other UK Governments to advance the interests of our higher education institutions in a UK, EU, and global context. This includes, but is not limited to, research, innovation and student mobility. We share the views expressed by many Members here today that students, researchers and academics should continue to be able to access the...
Kirsty Williams: ...in the PISA tests are good enough, and our performance in science has been particularly disappointing, especially our performance in science from our higher performing children, and our lack of representation on an OECD average level 6, level 5, and level 4. And you will be aware that, earlier this month, I announced the creation of a network of excellence for science and technology. That...
Jeremy Miles: ...schools are being treated less favourably than English academies. The payroll of a local authority school may attract the levy, when the payroll of a similar-sized academy in England might not. Will the Government bring forward a statement, indicating what representations it may be making to the UK Government, to make sure that Welsh local authority schools aren’t being unfairly treated,...
Jenny Rathbone: Diolch. I am grateful to Plaid Cymru for raising this issue, because I think it’s an extremely important one. I want to talk about two changes in the law that are likely to make the problem worse, not better: one is the universal credit and the other is the new immigration rules. I fully acknowledge, as indeed has Bethan Jenkins, that the Welsh Government has made supporting communities and...
Carl Sargeant: ...application to allow the Government to continue to fund the uneconomic elements of the Post Office network, which I think they should look at very carefully. The Welsh Government will be making a representation and I would urge the Member to do the same.
Mark Isherwood: ...spokesperson said the consultation was part of the Government’s application to the European Union to continue the state aid to the network. I welcome the fact that you say you’re going to make representations. I wonder if you could confirm that you would share both the representations you make and the responses you receive with the Assembly.
Russell George: ...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 site. I have made my own representations to the local authority and I would be grateful if you would add your weight to the calls for Powys County Council to hold a full and proper and transparent consultation to ensure...
Bethan Sayed: ...regard to Home Office provision via the company Clearsprings Ready Homes. I was wondering whether you would be able to facilitate a conversation with the Home Office on these terrible conditions, notwithstanding the fact that many private landlords in Wales have contacted me saying that they do lease their homes to the Home Office for Clearsprings to utilise to house asylum seekers. So,...
Carl Sargeant: I think many Members have made representations to me and previous Ministers on this issue. Indeed, Kirsty Williams last week had a conversation with me about a group in her constituency. I am aware of the issue around the 10 per cent levy, commission rate, on this, and I am giving this further consideration in the round of the whole report, based on the outcomes of my discussions with my...
Alun Davies: ...afternoon. I want to listen to those concerns and those questions. I want to seek to answer them today and during the Stage 1 scrutiny, but I’m also prepared to listen again if those answers are not sufficient. I think it is important that, as a Government, we not only listen to what is said here but across the professions and listen to practitioners and continue to listen. So, this is...
Rhianon Passmore: ...The people of Islwyn, like my grandfather and my great-uncle, like so many in the south Wales Valleys, worked in hard and dangerous conditions, often to the detriment of their health. What further representations, then, can the Welsh Government make to the UK Tory Government in denial for them to play fair with Welsh miners?
Rebecca Evans: .... And we’re making really good progress towards our target of 16 per cent by 2020. You’re absolutely correct that tackling obesity is a very complex issue, and it does involve things such as taxation and advertising. We’re very pleased that the UK Government is committed to the sugar levy, for example. However, we are concerned that there doesn’t seem to be any demonstrable...
Russell George: ...treatment availability. Again, this is one that fills my postbag. I’m forever replying to constituents saying, ‘This is my advice for how you deal with your particular request, and I’ll make representation on your behalf’. Then I’m going on to give them a lesson in devolution, because often one of the issues that is raised is, ‘I’m a taxpayer, we’re supposed to have a...
David Rees: ...and their whole communities have been living with a sword over their heads for this whole 12-month period. The speculation—from positive news on Friday to less positive news yesterday—is not doing any good to the morale of the workers or their families. It’s important we get clarity on the position of the steelworks and the future of our steelworks. In that sense, can I join Adam...
Ken Skates: ...media landscape and the important role that the print media plays. This proposal is currently out to consultation and I will be responding formally. Unfortunately, as the Member may be aware, it is not a decision that is being taken here in Wales locally or by the Media Wales team. Instead, it’s being taken by another company within the Trinity Mirror group. So, I’ll be making direct...
Mick Antoniw: Whilst not, perhaps, directly relevant to the question, the Welsh Government has made representations in these areas, in particular about the composition of the Supreme Court. The issue has also been raised by the Judicial Appointments Commission itself and by a number of justices themselves. The Member may well be aware of some of the comments made by Baroness Hale, the sole woman on the...
Mick Antoniw: Thank you for the question. We continue to make representations. The proposed changes to civil litigation and small claims are likely to have serious impacts on people across Wales, and we are continuing to challenge the UK Government on reforms that restrict access to justice.
Mick Antoniw: The simple answer to that is ‘yes’. I’ll elaborate on it to the extent that we continue to make representations to the Ministry of Justice about its raft of reforms to the justice system to ensure that access to justice is available for everyone in society, including the most vulnerable. We have serious concerns about the quality of the evidence provided by the Ministry of Justice in...
Alun Davies: ..., advice and advocacy services for children and young people with special educational needs. Where legal advice is sought, children, young people and their families can seek out private legal representation and, in some circumstances, may also be eligible for legal aid.
