Neil McEvoy: ...of Conduct Committee undertook a review into lobbying, but the recommendations were weak and fell short of providing any kind of regulation. The First Minister thinks that rules for lobbyists are not needed. This seems to be a wider part of the culture in the Assembly, refusing to acknowledge the lobbying that is going on here. The last Presiding Officer went as far as writing to...
Gareth Bennett: ...the Plaid Cymru proposals we in UKIP Wales fully support. Yes, we agree with the first part, that good local government can make—and I paraphrase here—a valuable social contribution. There’s nothing to disagree with there. On point 2, on poverty of ambition of local government, as attested by the Williams commission, well, yes, we regret that, too. Point 3 is where we have some...
Siân Gwenllian: ...procurement policies. The success or failure of public services is also crucial in terms of the progress of the Welsh nation, but the future of those services is at great risk at the moment. We cannot over-emphasise the gravity of the challenge posed by austerity at a time of a changing demographic. The Institute for Fiscal Studies and others have anticipated that the demand for health...
Carwyn Jones: ...this moment in time the Welsh Government, unlike the Scottish Government, is prevented from running a franchise and having that franchise run by a public body or public agency for reasons that are not fathomable in logic, but that’s what the current Wales Bill actually says. We’ve made strong representations to the UK Government saying that if it’s right for Scotland, therefore...
Jane Hutt: ...legislation. In Wales, we continue our commitment to increase the numbers of women in public life and to achieve gender balance in positions of power. We also, through our work to address the under-representation of women on public sector boards, and our diversity and democracy programme driving that, are challenging and changing the status quo. We have pledged our commitment to the 50/50...
Joyce Watson: ...close friends, the Germans in front of the Canadians, the Australians, the New Zealanders, the Indians or anyone else…. It is…an entire revolution in the historic position of this country. I am not putting it forward that necessarily old things are right…. It may be they are right; but make no mistake: this is an enormous change.’ Well, 20 years ago, I would never have imagined...
David Rees: ...with others. Like my colleague from Caerphilly, I came across many individuals during my educational time. Like most Members across the Chamber we’ve heard this afternoon, I’ve received many representations from families who have children or siblings living with ASD, and it’s critical that the Welsh Government and all public bodies support these families who, on a daily basis, face...
Hefin David: Yes, I absolutely agree with that, and the Member for Cardiff North seems to have had very similar representations to those that I’ve had. Therefore, if we are to vote with the Government today, I’d suggest that we ask the Minister to provide some assurances in her response that these issues are going to be addressed and closely monitored, and that the need for future legislation...
Michelle Brown: ...the last few years, many of the main police stations in our towns, certainly in north Wales, have been closed. Follow the signpost to the police and you’ll wind up at a phone on the wall. What representations have you made to the police and crime commissioners and police authorities to ensure that the police service is visible, accessible and effectively builds relationships with local...
Janet Finch-Saunders: ...for further scrutiny of the BBC, to include the appointment of a non-executive director to be agreed by the UK and Welsh Governments. Amid concerns that the National Assembly for Wales will not be afforded, however, the same weighting as the House of Commons and the House of Lords, what representations are you making on behalf of this Assembly to ensure that we are part of that...
Rhianon Passmore: ...the importance of original, universal programming, when programmes such as the successful, bilingual ‘Hinterland’ are universally applauded and when my constituents are concerned at the lack of representation of English language or bilingual Welsh lives across the public sector network?
Andrew RT Davies: ...well then start to inspire confidence. Some of those questions were explored at length in our debate last week, straight after a bovine TB debate moved by backbenchers in this Chamber. It is worth noting that, in the programme for government, there is no indication as to exactly how the Government will progress its strategy on bovine TB. I appreciate the Cabinet Secretary will be bringing...
Vaughan Gething: ...they’ve had on actually setting priorities with the health service, so it’s genuine engagement and isn’t just about the service deciding for itself what it will do. You’ve got that direct representation from the third sector. It’s one of the strengths of the approach that we take, actually, that we’ve got the third sector there as critical friends, but who are still able to...
Jeremy Miles: ...that pressing for fulfilment of promises made in relation to the electrification of the main line to Swansea was jumping the gun, will the Government bring forward a statement indicating what representations will be made to the UK Government so that the residents of the Swansea bay area and west of Cardiff aren’t let down by the UK Conservative Government again?
Huw Irranca-Davies: It was fascinating the other day, First Minister, to see a representation made by 35 Conservative MPs saying we should seize this opportunity to look anew, post 2020, at how we actually use what they termed ‘public funds’ for public gains as well, such as environmental gains, flood alleviation, and so on. The immediate issue is Brexit and making sure we work with farmers to get what’s...
Carwyn Jones: We want to protect the world-class vascular service for the whole of Betsi Cadwaladr. We’ll consider all the representations that are made, and the health board will consider it next. I have to say, she makes the point about urban solutions in rural areas, and, I’m sorry, but that’s sometimes used as ‘a slightly worse service for rural areas than in urban areas’, and I disagree. I...
Andrew RT Davies: ....] At least the UK Government have put on the table what their aspirations are. What have you done in this document? Fifteen pages of just fine words, but little or no substance. That cannot be a Government that is—[Interruption.] I will not take an intervention at the moment. If I have time, I will take it a little later, Joyce. But that cannot be sign of a confident Government—a...
Suzy Davies: ...Welsh Conservatives here in the Assembly also welcome the improvements in the draft charter and agreement. I won’t rehearse them all again. I think the re-focus on the rights of nations to fair representation, in both senses of the word, present an interesting test for the Assembly. In supporting all the Plaid amendments, I’m going to concentrate on the last of them. The Welsh...
Alun Davies: ...role that we have to play in supporting and enabling the BBC to continue to perform these functions. In doing so, it’s also important, I think, for us to recognise what is right and proper for us not to do as well. It is not right and proper for any elected politician, in my view, to either abuse or to bully BBC journalists because they do not follow the line that some of us would prefer...
Kirsty Williams: ...the Brexit vote. That is why I have set up a higher education and FE group, which will advise me, as education Minister, with regard to these challenges, and why there is a significant level of HE representation in the First Minister’s European reference group. We are looking very carefully to ensure that any applications that Welsh HEIs already have in the system are approved as quickly...
