, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Sustainability of Welsh Bus Services - evidence session with bus operators
And I'll be leaving you, and I'll see everybody next week in Cardiff. Thank you.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Sustainability of Welsh Bus Services - evidence session with bus operators
Yes, sorry. Yes, yes, yes. So, the fact that withdrawal of COVID emergency funding in England was initially announced in August 2022, and then, of course, the withdrawal date was subsequently extended from 31 March this year to 30 June this year—how has this…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Sustainability of Welsh Bus Services - evidence session with bus operators
Okay, so, the fact—
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Sustainability of Welsh Bus Services - evidence session with bus operators
Thank you, Chair. The witnesses' response to the Deputy Minister's 1 March comment that a three-month notice period was being given on the withdrawal of funding in Wales, while England was experiencing a more severe cliff edge—can we have some comments around…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Sustainability of Welsh Bus Services - evidence session with bus operators
Thank you.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Sustainability of Welsh Bus Services - evidence session with bus operators
Thank you. I agree entirely.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Sustainability of Welsh Bus Services - evidence session with bus operators
Absolutely right. I agree with Scott on that.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Sustainability of Welsh Bus Services - evidence session with bus operators
Really good responses there, Aaron, because we’ve got first-hand experience here in Aberconwy, where they took a really important bus route out, and so it was the bus operators, Welsh Government and Transport for Wales, and the local authority, and all that…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Sustainability of Welsh Bus Services - evidence session with bus operators
Thank you. And also, will the new governance system for public transport be effective, particularly considering the role of Transport for Wales and corporate joint committees?
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Sustainability of Welsh Bus Services - evidence session with bus operators
Yes. Thank you, Chair. The leadership of the Welsh Local Government Association has written to the First Minister outlining the impact of what it describes as the 'sheer volume of transport related issues'. Do you agree with this analysis, and if so, could…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
The Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Bill - evidence session 5
Thank you.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
The Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Bill - evidence session 5
Thank you. The Royal Town Planning Institute has suggested that the role of the natural environment in addressing both air quality and soundscapes is not sufficiently reflected in the Bill or the explanatory memorandum. What are your views?
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
The Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Bill - evidence session 5
Thank you, Chair. In your written evidence, you suggest that some developers are wary of the proposed approach to sound and noise assessment. Could you expand on this? Also, are developers' concerns directly related to the Bill provisions or to the possible…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
The Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Bill - evidence session 4
Thank you.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
The Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Bill - evidence session 4
Yes, and I think we all picked up a lot of that during COVID, with fewer cars on the road, with more about nature. And the residents didn’t mind—you didn’t have any opposition?
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
The Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Bill - evidence session 4
Yes, because we know now—. Round here, it's 20 mph outside schools, and a lot of the headteachers now are saying, 'Don't come and idle—.' You used to see five or six cars with parents dropping children off and idling their engines at the same time. But what…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
The Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Bill - evidence session 4
That was going to be my next question. Would you mind, Christine, just elaborating on this particular pilot you've just done?
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
The Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Bill - evidence session 4
Thank you. And then the explanatory memorandum suggests it will be a matter for local authorities to determine what charge to issue, depending on the circumstances of each offence. Do you agree with this, or should a more consistent national approach be taken?
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
The Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Bill - evidence session 4
Yes. Sorry.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
The Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Bill - evidence session 4
I've only just come in, with all respect. These are the first questions I'm asking.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
The Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Bill - evidence session 4
Okay. Thank you for that. Because of the Welsh Government's new decision on the roads, for instance, the Chair will be aware, we have roundabouts on the A55 that were going to be removed to save a lot of the queuing going into the villages coming off those…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
The Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Bill - evidence session 4
Thank you, Chair. Do you agree that introducing a monetary range within which fixed penalties for idling can be issued is the right approach? And, should the existing penalty charge simply be increased?
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Tourism
To be honest, I was elected to represent the people in Wales here in the Senedd, and that's what I'm doing here. So, to be honest, whatever they decide in Manchester or Luton or Cornwall is not relevant to this debate here today. In 2014, of course, we have…
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Tourism
Absolutely, yes.
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Tourism
Tourism, the hospitality sector, and the retail sector on our high streets are very much an important part here in Wales. In fact, tourism is the backbone of Aberconwy. Apart from the public sector, the third sector, tourism is now one of the most prolific…
