Mick Antoniw: 8. Will the Leader of the House make a statement on the progress of Superfast Cymru broadband roll-out in Pontypridd and Taff Ely? OAQ51396
Mick Antoniw: I will do my best to avoid repeating any points that have already been commented on. Can I, first of all, thank the Cabinet Secretary for his report and the sober introduction to it, which recognises the severe impact of UK cuts on our budget? In paragraph 1.5, you say that despite ongoing and severe cuts to the Welsh budget as a result of the UK Government's damaging austerity agenda, the...
Mick Antoniw: That point is just factually incorrect. The actual percentage of borrowing compared with GDP at the time of the financial crisis was 37.2 per cent—about 0.2 per cent higher than it was when Labour came into Government in the first place. The only difference was the increase to 50 per cent, which was effectively the steps taken by Gordon Brown to actually save the UK economy from collapsing....
Mick Antoniw: I'm very grateful to you for making those particular points about the cuts and so on referred to by Bridgend. Do you agree with me, therefore, that there's a desperate need for an end to the UK Government's austerity programme?
Mick Antoniw: Well, I just wanted to give you further information, because, you see, the UK national debt at the time that the Tories took over was 50 per cent of GDP. It's now 88 per cent, so, clearly, austerity can't be working.
Mick Antoniw: Thank you for that answer, First Minister. You , like me, might have been under the misapprehension that we were living in a parliamentary democracy, that Parliament was there to represent all the interests of all the parts of the United Kingdom, and we now find, First Minister, that it is apparently being run and dictated to by just 10 people, who have strong right-wing and homophobic...
Mick Antoniw: Will the First Minister make a statement on the implications for Wales of bespoke border arrangements for Northern Ireland? (EAQ0001)
Mick Antoniw: Will the First Minister make a statement on the devolution of policing to Wales?
Mick Antoniw: Thank you for that really important short debate. It is a very clever point, and while I’m glad you mentioned the report, which is the first really new evidence that we’ve got specifically focused on communities in Wales, the second thing is to draw attention to the fact that we are all now being lobbied by an industry that’s getting concerned—a £37 billion industry—and we need to...
Mick Antoniw: Will you take an intervention?
Mick Antoniw: Just for clarity, as a matter of principle are you for or against regional pay?
Mick Antoniw: There is also no evidence that the alternative disputes resolution process, operated by the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution, is any more effective. My constituent Mr Gray, who is in the public gallery today, is a rare case of CEDR granting a victory. CEDR instructed CIGA to remove the insulation at Mr Gray’s home, which they did, but, in the process, the extraction work caused...
Mick Antoniw: Presiding Officer, cavity wall insulation misselling is no laughing matter for the thousands of people who are living with the consequences of inappropriately or badly installed CWI. The cavity wall insulation process is complex and entirely loaded against the consumer. It is routinely sold as 'government backed', a key selling point for unscrupulous installation companies. It is not...
Mick Antoniw: Presiding Officer, as we approach the festive season, it is perhaps appropriate that we have a debate on an issue that, for those affected, could be fairly described as a pantomime, albeit one with a dark and sinister plot. The cavity wall insulation pantomime has few heroes, but many villains. First, there are the energy companies. Interested only in meeting UK Government targets, they have...
Mick Antoniw: Could you just tell me what your view is as to what would be the most credible in the eyes of the public—a committee outcome of persons who are clearly members of political parties and political appointees, effectively, or an independent adviser?
Mick Antoniw: No, the point was very clear. In terms of the issue of public confidence in outcome, which will have the most confidence: an independent adviser or, as you say, a committee of political appointees?
Mick Antoniw: The point is that, if we give a body a quasi-judicial function, then the rules of natural justice must apply to it and the way it operates so that perceptions of impartiality are absolutely fundamental, and that is why the issue of an independent adviser becomes such an important one. [Interruption.] No, I want to finish my theme. The investigation—
Mick Antoniw: I've taken two interventions.
Mick Antoniw: The investigation has to be independent, a point accepted, I believe, by all party leaders in this Chamber. The process has to be independent. The person conducting the investigation and reporting has to be qualified to carry out such an investigation and robustly independent if the outcome is to be respected and carry public confidence. We are establishing principles and a precedent in this...
Mick Antoniw: Yes, I will.
