, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Public Appointments: Evidence session 2
And just finally on that. Do they highlight what you've done well? 'Thank you for coming for your interview. Your knowledge and experience on accountancy and finance was very good, but we were desperately short of people with experience in personnel matters…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Public Appointments: Evidence session 2
When you weren't appointed, what did they tell you? Did they just say, 'Sorry, you weren't appointed', or the classic, 'You were very good in interview, but, unfortunately, we had better candidates, so therefore we're not appointing you', or did they explain…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Public Appointments: Evidence session 2
Yes. Your experience of the interview. Did it appear fair to you? It's very difficult to ask that question to people who've already been appointed. In their view, it might well have appeared fair. Did you, perhaps, find that you were having any preconceived…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Public Appointments: Evidence session 2
I agree with that. I think you're absolutely right when you said that we have people who speak in different accents, but when you have people speaking in different accents—. I mean, you have Huw Edwards on the news, he speaks with a Welsh accent, but he…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Public Appointments: Evidence session 2
[Inaudible.] The problem with being online is that you never know if you're muted or not muted. I think that point you said was very helpful. I suffer from a disadvantage—you've probably noticed already that I speak with a Swansea working-class accent; in…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Public Appointments: Evidence session 2
I would also say that, if we did a map of Wales and where people came from, we'd have big black blobs in some of the most affluent parts of Wales and we'd have huge deserts where the less affluent parts of Wales are. We did a map of justices of the peace in…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Public Appointments: Evidence session 1
Okay. That's me finished, Chair.
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Public Appointments: Evidence session 1
That's been a problem over many years, hasn't it? You've had lots—. What is it? You've had six chief executives since it was set up.
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Public Appointments: Evidence session 1
Finally from me, and it's something I feel very strongly about, but the vast majority of the people in the Senedd disagree with me: you've been there for several years now, do you think Betsi Cadwaladr can work as a health board?
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Public Appointments: Evidence session 1
I was a non-executive director of Swansea health board, over 20 years ago now, and there were two things I noticed. One is, if it was difficult, put it towards the end of the agenda, so people had been in a meeting for four hours, and we could skirt over it…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Public Appointments: Evidence session 1
I don't want to step on the toes of people who are going to follow me, so I'll make this absolutely specific. The chief executive controls the agenda of board meetings. Do you have concerns that things, and you talked about some—? Do you have a general…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Public Appointments: Evidence session 1
Thank you. I've just been unmuted. I've got a question in about three parts, so if I start with the first part. I'll make myself able to be seen better. Betsi Cadwaladr has had a troubled history during the 12 years I've been in the Senedd. Were you aware of…
, Plenary
Short Debate: Investment in highway maintenance: The route to a resilient road network
Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Thank you, Carolyn, for giving me a minute in this debate and also for highlighting the importance of highway maintenance. I want to discuss potholes. Potholes are areas of a road's surface where the surface layer has…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Finance and Local Government: Update on Local Tax Reform
I welcome the statement. Council tax and business rates are the most disliked taxes by the rich. They are very difficult to avoid. Compare these taxes to taxes such as income tax and corporation tax, which are easily reduced and avoided. The revenue brought…
, Plenary
Business Statement and Announcement
I would like a Government statement on the Welsh Government animal welfare plan to introduce compulsory microchipping of owned cats, and when consultation will begin. The 2022 cats report, published by Cats Protection, states that approximately 160,000 owned…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
I thank the First Minister for that response. River pollution is a problem across Wales, but I only want to talk about the River Tawe. We have raw sewerage discharge, agricultural pollution and microplastics. Some suggestions: has the Welsh Government…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
1. What action is the Welsh Government taking to reduce river pollution? OQ59418
, Finance Committee
Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Bill
The other important thing is that you turn data into information, because raw data can be misleading, quite often. The last question I've got is: the RIA doesn't estimate any cost for strengthening consultation requirements relating to air quality…
, Finance Committee
Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Bill
The half question, I'll start with, because local authorities, would you want them, if they've got areas of very poor air quality—as we had on Neath Road in Hafod, and then we had the Hafod relief road built and that has improved air quality there…
, Finance Committee
Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Bill
I have one and a half questions.
, Finance Committee
Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Bill
Local authorities and health boards will also have costs. I think you accept that, don't you? What estimate have you made of those costs?
, Finance Committee
Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Bill
It's an opportunity cost, not real money.
, Finance Committee
Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Bill
You estimate that the cost of publishing and consulting on a new national strategy on the Bill will be the same as existing duties. Can you explain why?
, Finance Committee
Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Bill
I'll just make a comment that the Minister might want to respond to or not. We're aware of how long it took to get people to accept that smoking was bad for them, and it took a whole range of activities, a whole range of media campaigns, a whole range of…
, Finance Committee
Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Bill
Thank you. I've got parents who think we ought to have drive-in schools so that their children can minimise the amount of walking they do after they get dropped off. Just going back a stage, before what you were talking about there, it's actually getting…
