, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Annual scrutiny of the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales
And then, in terms of meeting with people and engaging with people, you said it was very important to engage with the First Minister, for example. What about your engagement with the First Minister?
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Annual scrutiny of the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales
So, there's a lot to do there.
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Annual scrutiny of the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales
When you talked about the budget setting, you said you were frustrated and so was your predecessor. Can you explain why you were frustrated?
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Annual scrutiny of the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales
Thank you. Prynhawn da. I was going to ask you about working with the Welsh Government. You obviously have requests from the Welsh Government to work with them. Could you give us an assessment of what those requests are like, and how do they compare with…
, Plenary
Business Statement and Announcement
Could we please have a statement about the progress of moving towards removing profit from foster and residential care for children in Wales? I don't know if the Trefnydd saw the press reports over the weekend about how in England now, three London firms are…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Annual scrutiny of Transport for Wales
Thank you very much.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Annual scrutiny of Transport for Wales
It is, yes. Thank you. So, just finally, is the Bill robust enough to provide a stable statutory system that will operate well for Wales, regardless of any change in Westminster Government? Have you got any sort of specific area of concern?
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Annual scrutiny of Transport for Wales
Yes, thank you. And moving on swiftly, in terms of non-devolved passenger services in Wales, do you think there's going to be sufficient influence? Will Wales have sufficient influence on those, and also, of course, sufficient freedom to operate the services…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Annual scrutiny of Transport for Wales
Well, that sounds like good progress.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Annual scrutiny of Transport for Wales
So, what about this partnership? What work has been done towards developing the partnership to date?
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Annual scrutiny of Transport for Wales
And then the partnership arrangement between TfW and GBR's Welsh business unit, as you've mentioned, will be critical, but, again, that's not statutory.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Annual scrutiny of Transport for Wales
Yes. Well, congratulations on what you've done on the core Valleys lines, because I think that's superb, really. We've mentioned the memorandum of understanding between the Secretary of State and the Welsh Ministers providing a framework, but, obviously, does…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Annual scrutiny of Transport for Wales
Thank you.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Annual scrutiny of Transport for Wales
Thank you very much. I'm going to ask you about the UK Government's Railways Bill and the implications of that. In the House of Commons Transport Committee, the Welsh Government's director of transport and digital connectivity said the Railways Bill takes us…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
UK Government rail policy and rail reform - evidence session with Professor Mark Barry
Right. And well, the last question, really: as you know, we have had a fantastic investment in the electrification and the Valleys lines, which have been a big boost in my constituency, a great boost. Do you think this new UK Bill will be anything that will…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
UK Government rail policy and rail reform - evidence session with Professor Mark Barry
The Bill requires GBR to have regard to the Wales transport strategy. Do you think that's strong?
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
UK Government rail policy and rail reform - evidence session with Professor Mark Barry
So, you don't see much in this Bill to support development in Wales, really.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
UK Government rail policy and rail reform - evidence session with Professor Mark Barry
GBR will be responsible for network capacity and access, including access charges. How will that work? Are there sufficient safeguards in the Bill to—
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
UK Government rail policy and rail reform - evidence session with Professor Mark Barry
That's okay. In terms of managing non-devolved services operating in Wales, how do you see this Bill affecting the role of the Welsh Government?
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
UK Government rail policy and rail reform - evidence session with Professor Mark Barry
There's nothing in this Bill that will help that.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
UK Government rail policy and rail reform - evidence session with Professor Mark Barry
Thank you very much. Bore da. A lot of the questions I'm asking you've already given your view on, really. But in terms of the Wales and borders franchise, the Welsh Government told the Commons Transport Committee that rail reform should provide full autonomy…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Annual scrutiny of the National Infrastructure Commission for Wales
With the one that wasn't delivered, didn't happen, it'd be interesting to hear something about that.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Annual scrutiny of the National Infrastructure Commission for Wales
I think you've already talked a bit about this. I think you say in your document that Wales has got a mixed record on delivering major projects, and some of them don't materialise. So, could you provide an overview of your research on infrastructure delivery?
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Annual scrutiny of the National Infrastructure Commission for Wales
No. Shall I go on to the infrastructure delivery?
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Annual scrutiny of the National Infrastructure Commission for Wales
Great. And you've also said that you've had very good relationships with the UK National Infrastructure Commission. And so, since the new creation of the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority, NISTA, how has that altered things?
