Rebecca Evans: ...Again, that's just a simple thing I think that the UK Government could do, which would be a common-sense approach to the issues that we're facing. Obviously, we're having the opportunities to make representations to the UK Government. I don't think it's going to be making piecemeal announcements. As the First Minister said yesterday, they will obviously be considering the production of the...
Rebecca Evans: The Welsh Government does work very, very closely with the tourism sector, and we do listen very carefully to the representations that they make on behalf of their members. I think that Sam Rowlands will recognise that we are trying to strike a balance here between supporting the tourism industry and allowing that to thrive and supporting that to thrive, but at the same time recognising that...
Rebecca Evans: Thank you very much for those questions and the important point about women's representation in local government. We are absolutely far from where we should be in terms of the number of women who are taking on the role of councillors, but also council leaders. We have very, very few women council leaders in Wales, and that's something that we would want to see increased in future as well. I...
Rebecca Evans: ...reserves for next year. What we can do, of course, is to make changes between the draft budget and the final budget, thinking of the recommendations that will come forward from committees and the representations that we will have from colleagues within the Senedd, and, of course, organisations outside it. Because our approach, as colleagues will remember, which we set out at the start of...
Rebecca Evans: Diolch, Llywydd, and thank you to all colleagues for what I think has been a really constructive set of comments and representations this afternoon. And I know that, once colleagues have had the chance to digest the full suite of budget information, there will inevitably be lots more questions and comments, so I'm more than happy to continue that dialogue as we move forward towards the...
Rebecca Evans: ..., as you know, is the work being undertaken in partnership through the co-operation agreement with Plaid Cymru. And I do recognise the strength of feeling amongst operators, and I've heard those representations from individuals and from industry representatives. In the context of the wider policy priority, to support those sustainable communities and affordable housing, there's a limit...
Rebecca Evans: We did make strong representations to the UK Government at the time when the UK Government was considering introducing the levy, making that point that it does essentially represent an additional tax burden for the public sector here in Wales, and effectively it reduces the funding available to them to fulfil their duties. As the revenues from the levy have replaced existing apprenticeship...
Rebecca Evans: ...to local taxes, and we had around 1,000 responses to that consultation, which was an excellent response. And the views that were collected through that consultation, including, I have to say, representations from the wider tourism industry, did clearly support a change to the criteria for self-catering accommodation to be classified as non-domestic. And there was a wide range, it is true...
Rebecca Evans: ...want to spend this on, again that's been in discussion with local government. You'll remember recently I announced an additional £70 million in capital; well, that came about following some strong representations that local government had made to me in respect of road repairs locally, for example. So, whilst it is up to local authorities to decide how to spend that funding—they do have...
Rebecca Evans: ...to those young people. I think that these progressive discussions that we have can only be for the good. I'll just go on now, I suppose, to start to conclude by thanking all of those who set out representations, and those who have participated and co-operated through the process of setting the budget. Once again, we've delivered a budget in really trying circumstances, highlighting the...
Rebecca Evans: ...'s a technical phase of the review that's now under way, and that will deliver proposals for new funding arrangements, and a senior sector group and technical reference group has been convened with representation from the policing sector and relevant experts to lead on the development of the formula. The Home Office will work closely with the sector throughout the review, and any proposals...
Rebecca Evans: ...at the moment that the percentage of Welsh procurement spend is around 52 per cent. Well, that's the figure that we're able to publicly share. However, we don't consider that to be an accurate representation of the amount of procurement spend that goes into Welsh companies. Obviously, there are a number of reasons for that, one of which being it's based on the postcode of the invoice...
Rebecca Evans: The Representation of the People (Amendment) (Wales) (Coronavirus) (No. 2) Regulations 2021 temporarily extend these provisions to 28 March 2022. After this date, no local by-elections of any kind may be held before the ordinary local elections in May. We will consider separately what arrangements will need to be in place for the local government ordinary elections in May next year. I am...
Rebecca Evans: ...to our democracy. Anything that impacts them should be taken seriously, so I am pleased to bring these regulations before you and to hear the views of colleagues in the Chamber today on the Representation of the People (Amendment) (Wales) (Coronavirus) (No. 2) Regulations 2021. I want to ensure that local by-elections are conducted safely and in a way that maximises the opportunity for...
Rebecca Evans: Diolch, Llywydd. I'd like to thank all colleagues for what's been a really wide-ranging debate and thank you for the representations that you've been putting forward today. I do agree that, in future years, it would be excellent for this debate to be held by the Finance Committee. Clearly, for practical reasons, it wasn't possible this year, but I'm really heartened to hear that the committee...
Rebecca Evans: Diolch, Llywydd. There are two changes to tomorrow's agenda. The debate on the Senedd Cymru (Representation of the People) (Amendment) Order 2021 has been reduced to five minutes, and the debate on the Welsh Elections (Miscellaneous Provisions) Order 2021 has been withdrawn.
Rebecca Evans: ...seeking an update on the position in terms of the discussions that we have had with the UK Government on ports and borders. I can let colleagues know that I have now received a response to my representations to HM Treasury in regard to the funding for the infrastructure and the ongoing operations needed at the Welsh border, following our exit from the European Union. The Treasury has...
Rebecca Evans: Nick Ramsay will have heard the First Minister outlining the steps that we're taking as we move towards that three-weekly review on 12 March. He'll be considering all the representations that colleagues have made over the recent weeks, but then also, of course, taking the advice that we receive from our scientific and medical advisers in terms of determining where we are able to make those...
Rebecca Evans: ...due consideration to that request, I'm very sure. On the matter of the DVLA, clearly it is a matter of huge concern to us that people don't feel safe in the workplace, and you'll be aware of the representations that the Welsh Government has made in support of the workforce there at the DVLA in the period leading up to now, and of course we continue to support those workers. Welsh...
Rebecca Evans: ...be taken at home, as he says, the consultation ended, I believe, today, in terms of whether or not to make those arrangements permanent. I know that the Minister will be listening very carefully to representations that he's made this afternoon, but also those representations that have been made through that consultation process, with a view to coming to an informed decision on the way...
