, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
Llywydd, I thank Vikki Howells for that and I agree with the point she made about the wider benefits of the co-operative model. And I think the figures today are even a little better than the ones that she quoted from back in June, because we now have 65…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
Well, I thank Paul Davies both for what he said and for the invitation. Of course, there's a long history of co-operative endeavour in the farming sector and in the milk sector in particular. And I'd like to congratulate those who participate in the First…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
Well, I thank Luke Fletcher for that further set of questions. Llywydd, I read the Member's article in the Morning Star recently, and it sets out the views he has expressed this afternoon and develops them further. Thank you to him for his recognition that we…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
Llywydd, the Welsh Government has long supported the co-operative sector, including dedicated development funding. The latest 'Co-operative and Mutual Economy 2023' report shows further growth, with over 520 co-operatively owned businesses in Wales.
, Plenary
Statement by the Llywydd
Llywydd, diolch yn fawr. This weekend brought a terrible escalation in the violence against Israel, and this week has seen that violence continue and widen. The events are shocking and appalling. As we sit here in this Chamber, children, older people and the…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
Well, of course, I'm willing to look into the case that the Member has drawn attention to. We are willing to do so, because, as the Member will know, the Arfor programme, for example, focuses on the Llwyddo'n Leol programme. We want to develop alongside local…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
Thank you for the question. Our approach to regional economic development draws on support we have secured from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, which has international expertise. The OECD team will hold an event focused exclusively…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
I thank the Member for the question. I'm afraid I'm not aware of the specific instance to which he referred, but I do agree with the general point that he made—that investment in prevention in the health service repays you back many, many times over. I'll…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
The Welsh Government remains committed to prevention in healthcare services. Tomorrow, for example, we will add to the repertoire of our outstandingly successful screening services when the bowel screening programme will be widened to include 51 to…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
The Welsh Government's policy is there for a reason. It is there to distinguish properly between holiday lets that are organised on a commercial basis and those that fall below a commercial threshold. The number of days that a property has to be available for…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
The Welsh Government uses UK Government guidance—the Magenta Book, as it's called—as the basis for evaluation of socioeconomic policy updates. That is supported by independent research and evaluation of policies adopted in north Wales and elsewhere.
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
I thank the Member for that question. I think that it's an important question, where the answer, in the end, has to be that you have to have a balance between those two things. There are parts of Wales that we will need, in future, to make their contribution…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
I thank Vikki Howells for that, Llywydd. I note her reference to the so-called 'towns initiative' announced as part of Conservative Party conference publicity. Vikki Howells is absolutely right, Llywydd; that is exactly the sort of announcement that…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
Llywydd, amongst the actions taken by successive Welsh Labour Governments has been the community facilities fund, a fund sustained across the devolution era that has supported new facilities in communities in every part of Wales.
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
Well, I agree with Huw Irranca-Davies, Llywydd, that these are the desperate actions of a Government and a party that knows it has lost the confidence of people in the United Kingdom, and where an election is desperately needed in order to give people in this…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
Well, that is a very fair point that the Member makes. There are road charging schemes, and they're to be found across the border where the opposition party is in charge. We do study those things, of course we study those things. You want to see if there are…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
Well, Llywydd, no doubt, in a week or two, one of the Member's colleagues will be saying to me that rumours are rife that road charging is going to be introduced in Wales, despite the fact that I answered a question last week making it clear that there are no…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
Llywydd, powers to implement universal road charging and to retain revenues are held by the UK Secretary of State for Transport. Welsh Ministers can provide powers to local authorities to implement local schemes. There are no plans to introduce charges for…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
Llywydd, the Member makes a series of powerful points. Let me just respond to two of them. In the period before HS2 became the topic of debate it is today, in the Senedd term between 2011 and 2016 the Welsh Government contributed some £362 million to wider…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
I thank Hefin David for that. He makes a strong personal case for the further investment in such a service and the truth is, Llywydd, that there are potential developments in railway reopening in many parts of Wales, and many of us in our constituency…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
I rule it out today, as I ruled it out last week. I look forward to her and her colleagues reporting that in all the outlets that they have at their disposal, so that the rumours that are rife can be put to rest. No such plans exist. It will not happen. You…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
Well, of course, Llywydd, I commit to making that case and making it as powerfully as Members on the floor of the Senedd do regularly. Delyth Jewell is right that, with the money that should have come Wales's way, we could have done even more to see to the…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
I thank the Member for that, Llywydd. We're making huge investments in our railways—£800 million in new trains and over £1 billion in electrifying the Valleys lines. But we cannot continue to invest without fair funding from the United Kingdom Government, and…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
Well, Llywydd, I think that the leader of Plaid Cymru is mixing a whole host of things there. I had an opportunity to meet with the chief executive of Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water last week, and I heard from them about the plans that they have to invest in things…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
Well, I hear what the Member said about flying to the United States; I see that the Chancellor of the Exchequer flew to Manchester, presumably because he couldn't find a way of getting there by train. Look, as I've explained many times to the leader of Plaid…
