10. Plaid Cymru debate: Young people and communities in Wales

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:26 pm on 14 March 2018.

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Photo of Mr Simon Thomas Mr Simon Thomas Plaid Cymru 5:26, 14 March 2018

Diolch, Llywydd. It wasn't a bad debate, at the end of the day, was it? I think we did get some good ideas from all parts of the Chamber, I agree. I would exclude one contribution from that, and I'll come to that in a second. But I do believe that we had some positive ideas for how we can strengthen our communities. Obviously I do not, and we do not, accept the amendments, but we certainly accept some of the ideas, because I think there are some good things there.

Can I start, however, with the one that I don't agree with—as you might expect, the contribution from Michelle Brown? I just want to put on the record that Plaid Cymru does not have a contempt for small business or business in Wales. The work we do in supporting business, particularly around business rates—. The Minister just referred to a flagship scheme, Jobs Growth Wales; that emerged from the coalition Plaid Cymru and Labour Government, and Ieuan Wyn Jones as the Minister during that coalition. So, I don't think Plaid has any apologies as a party that supports business and entrepreneurship in Wales.

I also need to say this: that decarbonisation—let's put aside climate change for a moment—is a massive opportunity for Wales. The growth we can have from decarbonisation in Wales, and in the communities we're talking about, because that's where the natural resources are that can power some of this growth, whether it's a hydroelectric scheme in Arfon or whether it's marine energy in Pembrokeshire—I think we should go for it, because they are ideas that will really give us a technological leap here in Wales and build on what we have. So, I don't accept that.

We don't need to debate foreign aid here. What we need to debate here is a fair funding formula for Wales. We're still stuck with the Barnett formula some 30 years after it was a temporary measure. We hear from the Minister for Finance himself that we're £4 billion down from what we would have as proper, fair funding for Wales. So, we don't need to go after the poorest in the world to look for fair funding for Wales. So, I think that's a rejection of those.

On the other ideas—I turn to Darren Millar. He was critical of us praising ourselves and then he went to praise the UK Government. I think they were Conservatives the last time I looked. I look forward to the day when Darren Millar can put down amendments to say what the Conservatives have achieved in budget agreements with any Government in this place. When he does that, he can criticise us. [Interruption.] Oh, if you insist, I'll give in.