Speeches by Medi.

“As I mentioned in Committee, the Barnett formula is not a fair formula for Wales. In the Scottish model, £10 million was taken out of the block grant, but those communities received £103 million back. I think that is a fair exchange. Does the Minister not agree?”

“Prynhawn da. You mentioned youth justice, which was also a priority in the UK Labour manifesto. Have you had conversations, prior to the election, about devolving youth justice? The link with those local services that you mentioned, especially with the youth services, is paramount to supporting youth justice work, and …”

“One of those further places is policing. You have commissioned work to look at policing in Wales. Have you discussed that further with the UK Government and police and crime commissioners in Wales?”

“Diolch; thank you. I want to continue on public funding and the impact of the budget on our local councils. As we all know, local councils are the backbone of public services, educating our youngsters and caring for our elderly generation. We have seen the value of that public protection since covid, and the need to in…”

“I would like to thank you as well. We worked through covid and it showed how agile we can be at a time of crisis. In terms of the resources we have in the councils in Wales and their abilities, I was always proud to be the leader of an authority where the staff moved quickly and served the community. The challenge now …”

“On that point, before I go into the final question, I hope that lessons are learned and that they are then transferable to other areas such as Ynys Môn and the energy island. It is important that we do not reinvent the wheel on those projects and that we learn lessons from other areas that have already done that skills…”

“The last question is on freeports. We have come quite a long distance on freeports. At one time, we were arguing the case for parity in Wales; we got that parity around funding in competition with the English freeports. How do you see the freeports working for the growth of the economy in Wales? And how do you see that…”

“indicated dissent.”

“This is a leadership discussion—it is about the leadership we are asking the Government to show in giving Wales the fairness it deserves. We are asking for clarity around public money. I am a bit concerned that there should be a commercially sensitive discussion around public money, which is meant to be transparent. We…”

“I note that since 2021 the net revenue profit and asset value data for Wales has not been published by the Crown Estate. The Crown Estate says that the reason for this is that: “While in the past, we have produced illustrative figures for Wales, we have since shifted our focus to a more holistic approach to assessing v…”

“I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time.”

“I beg to move, that the Clause be read a Second time. The new clause would require the Crown Estate commissioners to transfer all profits generated by the Crown Estate in Wales to the Welsh Government on an annual basis. Although figures for the profits generated in recent years by the Welsh Crown Estate are not availa…”

“I thank the Minister for those comments; I will come back on a few of them. This debate is about fairness. We are asking for fairness and equity for Wales, and parity with Scotland. It is important to give a bit of history. Our natural resources in Wales have been extracted from our communities yet, as I mentioned earl…”

“For clarification, does that plan not include Scotland, which has already been devolved?”

“That is why we have asked for a two-year approach, so that we can work together. It has happened in Scotland and it is possible. I think it is only fair that we ask the new UK Government, who want to devolve local authorities and regions in England, for devolution of the Crown Estate in Wales as well. It was another La…”

“The new clause places a duty on the Treasury to transfer management of the Crown Estate in Wales to the Welsh Government within two years of the commencement of the Bill. This would correct the glaring imbalance in the constitutional settlement of the UK whereby Wales is unable to direct and benefit from its own natura…”

“I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time.”

“I am unsure how the Minister can say that we would not receive any profits when the Government cannot work out what profits Wales generates. It feels a bit difficult to understand that argument. I am fighting the corner for fairness for Wales. We have lost all our natural resources and that has been feeding the UK mach…”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship. Ms Furniss. I rise to speak to amendment 6, tabled in my name. The amendment would amend clause 3, which relates to the regard of sustainable development that the Crown Estate commissioners must have when undertaking their activities. It would require the commissioners to…”

“Ian, as a private port owner, have you felt that there is support there, even though you are a private owner? During that time, did you feel that there was support if needed?”