Peter Fox: Thank you, Minister, for that response. I absolutely recognise what you said about play being absolutely important for physical and mental health. I welcome initiatives such as the Summer of Fun scheme to extend play. However, I've had recent discussions with Scope, and they suggest that equipment is often inaccessible to disabled children and many playgrounds are not designed with full...
Peter Fox: I thank Heledd Fychan for bringing forward her question. The world cup is an ideal opportunity to promote Wales on the global stage, but let's look at that global stage a little wider. The Welsh Government has 21 international offices and all have a remit to attract inward investment. However, it is questionable how effective these have been in securing new opportunities for Welsh businesses;...
Peter Fox: 6. What action is the Welsh Government taking to ensure that opportunities for play are available and accessible to all children? OQ58356
Peter Fox: My contribution is going to be more technical in nature, I think. Firstly, First Minister, can I thank you for bringing this annual report forward, the first of this Senedd? An annual report is something we should look forward to. It gives an opportunity to praise success, but it also should give an opportunity to demonstrate where things are wrong. It should demonstrate self-awareness of the...
Peter Fox: I thank the Minister for her statement and welcome the contribution of the Chair of the Finance Committee, and I would like to associate myself with the comments he made around local authorities and the work they put in. I'm contributing to this debate as the Welsh Conservatives' spokesperson for finance, and from the outset I would like to confirm that we will be abstaining on the motion...
Peter Fox: First of all, I want to thank everyone who gave evidence as part of the Finance Committee's scrutiny of the Bill and to place on record my gratitude for the support and advice offered by the clerking and legal team throughout this process. I'd also like to thank you, Minister, for the way you and your officials have constructively engaged with me and colleagues during the amending process. I...
Peter Fox: Thank you, First Minister, for the response, and I thank you for acknowledging the issues around Chepstow. That's one of my main issues, because air pollution on the A48, and particularly the route on Hardwick Hill, which you will be aware of, is one of the most polluted stretches of roads in Wales. Residents have been pushing for a bypass for some years to help alleviate the issue. As I'm...
Peter Fox: 8. What steps is the Welsh Government taking to improve air quality in the Monmouth constituency? OQ58365
Peter Fox: Can I thank my colleague the Member for South Wales West for bringing this forward, this motion? It's safe to say that the tourist sector is fundamental to so many of our communities, so hard hit by the pandemic and deeply concerned about the potential impact of these regulations, as Tom Giffard and Sam Rowlands have eloquently shared. Indeed, as pointed out in evidence provided by a number...
Peter Fox: The issue that the Member for South Wales East raises is of course an important one. So too is how third sector employees and volunteers are remunerated for additional expenses that occur whilst they're undertaking their roles—for example, fuel costs. Recently, I've been contacted by the Community Transport Association, who are working with a number of charities to campaign for an increase...
Peter Fox: No.
Peter Fox: Yes. Move.
Peter Fox: Move—. No—
Peter Fox: Amendment 10 inserts a minimum scrutiny period of 28 days, as we've just heard, before a vote on an extension Order made by the Welsh Ministers under section 7(2) can be held. Currently, as drafted, the Bill does not specify a minimum time in which the Senedd can scrutinise any attempt by the Welsh Ministers to extend the lifetime of the Act. As such, there are concerns that the Welsh...
Peter Fox: Thank you, Llywydd. Can I firstly thank Llyr Gruffydd for his support throughout and for my amendments there? Minister, I'm pleased that you said that you will be supporting amendments 3 and 4 in the name of Llyr Gruffydd. I'm disappointed that you can't accept 8, as I think it's only fair to say that there was a huge amount of concern from everyone we took evidence from that using secondary...
Peter Fox: Diolch, Llywydd. Amendment 8 requires a review of the Act two years after coming into force, as well as four years after coming into force. For brevity, I won't repeat some of the detailed discussions that we've had with the Minister during Stage 2. However, during the passage of the Bill, numerous issues have been raised about the appropriateness of Welsh Ministers using secondary...
Peter Fox: I have very little to say, Llywydd. I'm disappointed that that can't be added, but I've heard what the Minister has said. I'm happy to move that.
Peter Fox: Diolch, Llywydd. I welcome the opportunity to discuss amendment 7, tabled in my name. The purpose of this amendment is to require the Welsh Ministers to take steps to promote awareness of changes to taxation law made by regulations under section 1 of the Bill. Under the powers within the Bill, the Welsh Ministers will be given powers to make potentially significant changes to taxation...
Peter Fox: Move.
Peter Fox: Move.
