Rebecca Evans: That's certainly something I'd be happy to take up with my business manager colleagues in the various parties for potential discussion within the Business Committee. But I think the point that Llyr raised in his remarks about the importance of having early discussion is important, which is why I was so pleased to see and respond positively to that recommendation by the Finance Committee...
Rebecca Evans: Diolch, Llywydd. I welcome the opportunity to have this debate this afternoon, and I do thank Members for their contributions. As I outlined in my opening statement, this is a budget that has taken place amidst uncertainty and evolving circumstances and, of course, we expect those to continue beyond the Chancellor's UK budget on 11 March. It's only right that I put on record my thanks to our...
Rebecca Evans: We expect the that costs associated with the remediation in the longer term to be significant. Depending on the scale, it is unlikely that we can reasonably absorb the cost of the works required within existing budgets, especially given the £100 million general capital reduction we have just seen. That is why I've written to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, seeking additional financial...
Rebecca Evans: Thank you. I'm pleased to open the debate on the final budget for 2020-21 this afternoon. Since we debated the draft budget in the Chamber a month ago, we've carefully considered the recommendations of the Finance Committee's report and those of the other Senedd committees. In line with the commitment we made following last year's scrutiny, I am pleased that we were able to respond to all of...
Rebecca Evans: I'm sure that, in future, there'll be a great deal of debate regarding Welsh rates of income tax, because of course whilst it was a pledge not to raise income tax during the course of this Assembly, it'll certainly be a matter of particular interest, I think, as we go to the electorate for the next Assembly elections, in terms of determining what our respective parties' offer might be to the...
Rebecca Evans: The irony, of course, of Mark Reckless's protestations about not standing on a manifesto for something is not lost on me. But I think will respond to those points that are directly related to the regulations that are set out in front of Members today. I agree, actually, with Nick Ramsay, who suggested that this is actually a very short motion for something that is incredibly important. It's...
Rebecca Evans: I'm pleased to open this debate on the Welsh rates of income tax. Welsh rates of income tax were introduced in April last year and applied to income tax payers resident in Wales. The Welsh rates for next year were announced in the draft budget. In keeping with previous commitments, there will be no changes to Welsh income tax levels in 2020-21. This will mean that Welsh taxpayers will...
Rebecca Evans: I thank Huw Irranca-Davies for that lovely picture of the things that happen within his community to celebrate the local heritage and, of course, the beautiful natural environment in the area that he represents. He also talked about the importance of local heritage in terms of our tourism offer, in terms of boosting our local economies, and also the social potential that it brings in terms of...
Rebecca Evans: David Rowlands raises a number of questions in relation to curriculum reform. I know that the Minister for Education does provide updates in various ways to colleagues in terms of curriculum reform, which I think it's fair to recognise is a long-term piece of work, and it's certainly a complex piece of work. David Rowlands had some specific concerns regarding recruitment and STEM subjects...
Rebecca Evans: I recall, in response to your representations to the Minister on this particular issue, that she was happy to come to the Rhondda to undertake a visit. I know that she's already been to Rhondda Cynon Taf more widely on two occasions, and Members right across the Government have been visiting and speaking to people who are quite understandably completely distressed by the flooding. I've spoken...
Rebecca Evans: In the first instance, I would encourage Mohammad Asghar to write to the education Minister with his concerns regarding school admission policies and the associated guidance that goes alongside that, because the question that you asked does have some detail to it and it deserves a detailed response.
Rebecca Evans: Diolch, Llywydd. There are two changes to this week's business. The Minister for Health and Social Services will deliver a statement shortly on the coronavirus, and as a result, the statement on Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has been postponed. Draft business for the next three weeks is set out on the business statement and announcement, which can be found amongst the meeting papers...
Rebecca Evans: Thank you for raising those two issues. The issue of the BBC licence fee is very much an emerging issue, and I know that the Deputy Minister is very alive to the discussions and the issues that are coming to the fore there. I know that, in due course, if there is an update to provide you, we'll certainly be keen to do so. The environment Minister heard your request for a statement on opencast...
Rebecca Evans: Well, I'm very pleased that the treatment works issues that you described have now been resolved but, of course, the Minister has been here to hear your request for a statement on drinking water resilience more widely.
Rebecca Evans: Thank you to David Rees. I'll certainly ensure that I liaise with my colleagues to provide you with detailed answers to both of those points. On the first, being the steel industry meeting, I'll ensure that you do get an update as to the outcomes of that and the discussions that have taken place following that particular meeting. Of course, Ken Skates does have questions tomorrow again, so...
Rebecca Evans: Thank you to Delyth Jewell for raising what's a really important aspect of the recent flooding episodes, and that is the distress it will cause particularly to children and also to young people as well, who, for all the reasons that you've described, might find it difficult to go home and feel safe at home. So, the points that you made are very well made, and we do have a statement next this...
Rebecca Evans: The Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales does have questions tomorrow in the Senedd, so that might be an opportune moment to raise those particular concerns about St Athan airfield, but, failing that, I will certainly make the Minister aware of your request for a fuller statement.
Rebecca Evans: Thank you to Huw Irranca-Davies for raising both of those issues. The first related to unadopted lanes, and, of course, the Minister, Ken Skates is currently undertaking a piece of work that looks at unadopted roads, and I'm sure that many of the lessons that we'll learn from that particular piece of work will apply equally to the issue of unadopted lanes. We've heard a lot from the First...
Rebecca Evans: I thank Leanne Wood for raising what is a particularly harrowing and distressing case. I remember reading about Christopher and finding the entire story that I was reading absolutely appalling and horrific. Leanne Wood is right that criminal justice does remain a reserved matter, but the Welsh Government and, I know, this Senedd as a whole has a really strong interest in ensuring that we...
Rebecca Evans: I thank Mohammad Asghar for raising his concerns relating to two specific schools in Newport, but perhaps on this occasion, certainly in the first instance, I would invite him to write to the Minister for Education setting out those concerns, so that she can consider an appropriate response to you.
