Did you mean representations -taxation speaker:Rhun ap Iorwerth?
Rhun ap Iorwerth: ...of Wales, the COVID bereaved, and all of us wanting to ensure that lessons are learnt. In March this year—I quote from the Welsh Government's website—the First Minister said that 'concerted representations' had been made 'to the Prime Minister to ensure the experiences of people in Wales will be properly and thoroughly reflected in the inquiry'. In April, he said: 'I'm pleased to see...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: ...would amount to a real-terms cut in their wages, in order to make it entirely clear that we wouldn't accept a settlement such as that here. We are calling on the Welsh Government to make further representations to the NHS pay review body, supporting a fair wage for staff. We're also expanding the motion to include care staff. Plaid Cymru wants to integrate health and care by having a...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: ...and to fund decarbonisation efforts. I accept that if Welsh Government were to issue its own bonds, that would count towards its borrowing cap, which we'd like to increase, of course; I've made my representations to the Minister on that. They also accept the evidence given by Gerry Holtham to the Finance Committee's review on Welsh Government capital funding sources around Welsh...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Our amendments here specify that not only should Welsh Ministers be able to be recipients of representation by the CVB, as is proposed by the Conservatives, but that if they do receive representation the Government then has to provide a response. So, I would ask the Conservatives to perhaps look at ours as an improvement on their amendment—or at the very least, if your amendments fall, that...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: ...that we can't look to the Secretary of State for Wales, because the office of the Secretary of State for Wales is redefining itself very much as UK Government's voice in Wales rather than Wales's representation at the UK Cabinet. So, we have to look to Welsh Government to go out there and seek deals for us. It seems to me that 10 members of one political party in Northern Ireland are using...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: ...that are already in special measures? Are you talking about introducing very special measures or hugely special measures? Please give me an explanation of that. Finally, in terms of the representation on health boards, are you as Cabinet Secretary in agreement that more balance in terms of gender across the health boards is necessary and that we have an example of the need for that balance...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: ...of course, have made their voices heard. But, whilst this is not a devolved matter, and we also accept that point, it is quite appropriate for the Government to make its opinions known and to make representations to UK Government on non-devolved matters. Would the Cabinet Secretary agree with me on that?
