, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
We on these benches very much value greater co-operation and increased trade with Ireland. Around 1.5 million passenger journeys are made between Wales and Ireland each year through Holyhead port, making it a vital gateway between the two nations. Holyhead…
, Plenary
Reform UK Debate: Local referendums on council tax rises
Sarah, you are right to point out that Reform say one thing and do another. Now—[Interruption.] The figures, I won't repeat them again, but—. A £600-plus increase in the average band D council tax bill in Wales over the past five years. The annual band D…
, Plenary
Reform UK Debate: Local referendums on council tax rises
Diolch, Lywydd. Cor blimey, I'm on my hobby horse now, I'm afraid. Now, this may shock some, but I have to begin by congratulating Reform. [Interruption.] Not because you've come up with a brilliant idea of a new policy, but because once again you've…
, Plenary
Statement by the Deputy Minister for Transport: Climate Adaptation and Resilience in Wales's Transport Network
Yes, over to you.
, Plenary
Statement by the Deputy Minister for Transport: Climate Adaptation and Resilience in Wales's Transport Network
Thanks for your statement. [Laughter.] Now, as someone who uses the train service in particular—I'll mention buses in a minute—this summer in particular highlighted to me just how we always tend to think it's the winter, with the leaves and everything on the…
, Plenary
Statement by the Deputy Minister for Transport: Climate Adaptation and Resilience in Wales's Transport Network
Diolch, Lywydd.
, Plenary
Business Statement and Announcement
Bit of a long one that one, sorry.
, Plenary
Business Statement and Announcement
Thank you, Llywydd. I would like to request a statement from the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care on how they are working to eradicate scabies in Wales. Over the last month, we have seen two hospitals close wards due to the presence of Norwegian scabies…
, Petitions Committee
Updates to previous petitions
Thank you, Chair. In the first consideration, the committee noted the importance of care and services being available in the language of choice, and of this issue being borne in mind as part of the development of an additional learning needs strategy. It was…
, Petitions Committee
New Petitions
Why not? [Laughter.]
, Petitions Committee
New Petitions
I was still muted. So, yes, again, a huge, huge thanks to the petitioner. It's fair to say this has been a hot topic over years, really, not just recent months, but certainly during the summer when people found it impossible to get over from the mainland to…
, Petitions Committee
New Petitions
Again, a huge grateful thanks to the petitioner. [Inaudible.]—topic during the summer holidays, not least of which, in north Wales we've suffered for far too long—[Inaudible.]
, Petitions Committee
New Petitions
I agree.
, Petitions Committee
New Petitions
Yes, I'll support that.
, Petitions Committee
New Petitions
Thank you, Chair. So, again, very timely. However, this particular petition follows on, really, from other work done in a previous Petitions Committee. They want to reform environmental permitting laws to close the critical regulatory gap in landfill across…
, Petitions Committee
New Petitions
Thank you, Chair. It is very timely that we're discussing environmental pollution and landfill sites, because this was the main topic of a debate a couple of weeks ago in the Senedd. It's fair to say that there was cross-party agreement that we now, as Senedd…
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: The defence sector
Yes, I will. It's essential we have productivity in Wales. We are lagging behind because of the previous Welsh Labour Government, supported by you. The evidence is clear: the defence sector is a vital component. We need the Welsh Government to commit to…
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: The defence sector
There's some irony here that only last week, when we were scrutinising and challenging your ethical defence framework, the aircraft went down at RAF Valley. I would hope that everybody on these benches is glad that those two pilots were able to eject and that…
, Plenary
Reform UK Debate: Default 20 mph speed limit
The Minister is completely reversed in his chair, almost intimidating a Member that is speaking.
, Plenary
Reform UK Debate: Default 20 mph speed limit
Llywydd, on a point of order, I find it really bad that the Minister is sat almost intimidating—
, Plenary
Reform UK Debate: Default 20 mph speed limit
That's very generous. Would you not agree with me that the reason why there's so few Labour people sitting on benches now—? This was one of the fundamental reasons why the people of Wales were so angry—that their petition of 0.5 million people was completely…
, Plenary
Reform UK Debate: Default 20 mph speed limit
Would you take an intervention?
, Plenary
Reform UK Debate: Default 20 mph speed limit
I apologise for using the word 'blanket'. Anyway, we knew at that time, when the road network was subjected to 20 mph, 2024, it increased from 2 per cent to 37 per cent by road length. The Welsh Government's 2022 impact assessment estimated direct financial…
, Plenary
Reform UK Debate: Default 20 mph speed limit
I used both. [Laughter.]
, Plenary
Reform UK Debate: Default 20 mph speed limit
Now, of course, I was here when this legislation came forward, as were my Welsh Conservative colleagues, and right from day one we said 'no' to the 20 mph default, blanket—call it what you like. The fact was that the majority of our roads were being turned…
