Found: I was with Mayor Andy Burnham recently in Stockport, where they used a mayoral development corporation

Found: We called witnesses, who included Bishop James Jones, who chaired the independent inquiry, Andy Burnham

Found: Clark: On the Oxford-Cambridge arc, I am struck that, whenever I am at an event or a function and Andy Burnham

Found: Examination of witness Witness: Andy Burnham.

Found: I heard Andy Burnham talking about it.

Found: I heard Andy Burnham talking about it.

Found: Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) is made up of the ten Greater Manchester (GM) councils and Mayor Andy Burnham

Found: Duncan Johnson: We are very fortunate to have Andy Burnham, Tracy Brabin and Oliver Coppard investing

Found: lessons from HS2).The Liverpool Manchester Railway Board In May 2024, Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham

Found: It is interesting that when one of my colleagues, Andy Burnham, was here, again we would have discussions

Found: It is interesting that when one of my colleagues, Andy Burnham, was here, again we would have discussions

Found: Working with Andy Burnham and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, we have managed to secure £250

Found: Working with Andy Burnham and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, we have managed to secure £250

Found: Working with Andy Burnham and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, we have managed to secure £250

Found: We have had lots of fantastic speakers—we have Andy Burnham coming to speak tonight, up in Manchester

Found: advertising code (included at the end of this document) has been endorsed by the likes of Sadiq Khan, Andy Burnham

Found: “[Andy Burnham] acts as a spokesperson for the Manchester region, he raises the profile – someone

Found: Andy Burnham unveils Greater Manchester Baccalaureate plan to boost growth. Available here.

Found: Run Local Transport” (The Guardian, 2023) https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/sep/22/andy-burnham-manchester

Found: families in all areas of work in our City Region. 1.2.Critically, the Mayor Of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham

Found: This came from my five years of working in Greater Manchester for Andy Burnham, as Active Travel Commissioner

Found: When it was established in 2020 the commission’s Co-chairs were the Rt Hon Andy Burnham and the Rt Hon

Found: This type of approach is being adopted in Scotland and Wales and Andy Burnham in Greater Manchester

Found: As you know, a number of discussions have been going on, led by Andy Burnham and Andy Street, and now

Found: Cabinet Office, 30 November 2021Leader of HM Opposition Sir Keir Starmer KC, Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham

Found: Andy Burnham, as our mayor, has a significant number of devolved powers.

Found: Additionally, The Liverpool City Region Mayor, Steve Rotheram, and Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham

Found: The Liverpool City Region Mayor, Steve Rotheram, and Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham, have established

Found: Do you agree that the work carried out and commissioned by Mayor Andy Burnham was of good value in identifying

Found: Even though Andy Burnham is responsible for lots of things in a population similar to Scotland’s

Found: Even though Andy Burnham is responsible for lots of things in a population similar to Scotland’s, Scotland

Found: In Andy Burnham, we have a very good example of a mayor who does a good job for his region.

Found: In Andy Burnham, we have a very good example of a mayor who does a good job for his region.

Found: It took Andy Burnham six years to bring a single bus under public control, which was ridiculous, given

Found: Time Date Figen Murray; Brendan Cox Until no later than 10.00 am Tuesday 29 October Andy Burnham

Found: Time Date Figen Murray; Brendan Cox Until no later than 10.00 am Tuesday 29 October Andy Burnham

Found: Time Date Figen Murray; Brendan Cox Until no later than 10.00 am Tuesday 29 October Andy Burnham

Found: Time Date Figen Murray; Brendan Cox Until no later than 10.00 am Tuesday 29 October Andy Burnham

Found: Murray; Brendan Cox Until no later than 10.00 am Tuesday 29 October Witness Time Date Andy Burnham

Found: first health and social care secretary to address a Unison conference since my […] predecessor, Andy Burnham

Found: Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester said: There is still too much digital exclusion in the UK.

Found: A few weeks ago I was with Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, who has become a great friend

Found: Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to overhaul

Found: great northern cities have so much potential and promise…  …which our brilliant metro mayors, Andy Burnham

Found: Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham said: With our devolved powers we’re mobilising the whole

Found: Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham said: Greater Manchester is growing faster than the UK economy

Found: Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said: We are grateful to this Government for listening to Greater

Found: We support the ongoing work commissioned by Mayor Andy Burnham, including into historic abuse in Oldham

Found: Local authorities and Metro Mayors can also fund their own schemes to keep fares below £3, as Andy Burnham

Found: Regional Mayors, including Andy Burnham and Tracy Brabin, have pledged to use government support to maintain

Found: Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said: It’s great to see the Government get serious about transforming

Found: determined to get even more small firms on the exporting ladder”  Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham

Found: Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said: This major investment in our roads and railways will

Found: Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said: Greater Manchester is world-renowned as a hub for innovation

Found: Attendees at the event also heard from Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, who has overseen a dramatic

Found: Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said: UK Biobank isn’t just a major asset for Greater Manchester

Found: She will meet with the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, to discuss how the area’s Bee Network

Found: Combined Authority To discuss devolution and growth in Greater Manchester Will Garton 20/11/2024 Andy Burnham

Found: the progress of Part 1 of the Review of Discloure & Fraud Offences James Cleverly 10/01/2024 Andy Burnham

Found: Lord David Owen Transcript 22 September 2020 p170 INQY1000055 2 Andy Burnham, Secretary of State for

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Found: As Andy Burnham put it: “embedded deep within the Civil Service psyche, over not just a few years in

Found: In a Commons debate the following day, Andy Burnham MP stated: “The 2010 to 2015 Parliament will be

Found: Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said: Helping more people to get the health benefits of walking

Found: England Chair Tony Juniper and Chief Executive Marian Spain visited two regional sites with Mayor Andy Burnham

Found: In government he was PPS to Secretary of State for Health, Andy Burnham and Police Minister Vernon Coaker

Found: For example, in Greater Manchester there is a mayoral commitment from Andy Burnham to end the need for

Found: arising from the digital phone switchover through a tripartite agreement established by Mayor Andy Burnham

Found: did not mention the recommendation to implement Hepatitis C testing.1393 The following day, Andy Burnham

Found: As Andy Burnham put it: “embedded deep within the Civil Service psyche, over not just a few years in

Found: In a Commons debate the following day, Andy Burnham MP stated: “The 2010 to 2015 Parliament will be

Found: Lord David Owen Transcript 22 September 2020 p170 INQY1000055 2 Andy Burnham, Secretary of State for

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Found: Combined Authorities Mayor of Greater Manchester, Rt Hon Andy Burnham (Lab) Andy Burnham was elected

Found: "All correspondence received and sent by the Scottish Government that mentions Andy Burnham, or is from

Found: Good Morning all, Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, will be in Edinburgh on Tuesday 13th

Found: All documentation from John Swinney's meeting with Andy Burnham on August 12, including correspondence

Found: All documentation from John Swinney's meeting with Andy Burnham on August 12, including correspondence

Found: All correspondence received and sent by the Scottish Government that mentions Andy Burnham, or is from

Found: All correspondence received and sent by the Scottish Government that mentions Andy Burnham, or is from

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Found: Mayor - Wednesday 24th August All, Thanks again for the briefing for the FM’s meeting with Andy Burnham

Found: All minutes and notes from the meeting held between Humza Yousaf and Andy Burnham on August 22.4.

Found: exchange of views Formulation or development of Scottish Government policyYes Yes 120 BRIEFING - FM - Andy Burnham

Found: meeting with the Energy Companies Summit on August 23, 2022. 1c) Nicola Sturgeon's meeting with Andy Burnham

Found: Minister’s email account, her office, and her chief of staff Colin McAllister - regarding meeting Andy Burnham

Found: OFFICIAL – SENSITIVE 1 BRIEFING FOR FIRST MINISTER MEETING WITH ANDY BURNHAM – 14:00, 24 AUGUST

Found: Scottish Government (including the First Minister, her office and all government officials) and Andy Burnham

Found: Firstminister@gov.scot Cc: [REDACTED] @gov.scot Subject: Meeting with Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham

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Found: Enterprise Ivan McKee MSP T: 0300 244 4000 E: scottish.ministers@ gov.scot  Rt Hon Andy Burnham

Found: of candour As you will be aware, the Public Authority (Accountability) Bill as proposed by Andy Burnham

Found: Price MS, Leader, Plaid Cymru • Alun Michael, Police and Crime Commissioner for South Wales • Andy Burnham

Found: sessions and workshops Participants in evidence sessions • Adam Price MS, Leader, Plaid Cymru • Andy Burnham

Found: Item 6: Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester Combined Authority 6.

Found: When Andy Burnham gave evidence about his time as Secretary of State for Health, he said: "... over

Found: Apologies Item 1: Introduction and welcome 1.1 The Chair welcomed the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham

Found: He will welcome the Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham, the Mayor of the Liverpool City Region

Found: The Rt Hon Andy Burnham MP (former Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Health Minister from 5th June 2009

Found: abolished in England some years ago by the then Labour Government, and a views expressed later by Andy Burnham

Found: “I have written both to the Prime Minister and the Mayor of Manchester, Andy Burnham, expressing our

Found: The Rt Hon Andy Burnham MP doubted in retrospect the wisdom of abolishing CHCs; “the abolition of Community

Found: Home Office HC Deb 12 September 2005 c2633W Andy Burnham: The Home Office is in discussion with the

<p>Thank you for that answer, First Minister. Could you explain how the recommendations of the Professor Jay report are being implemented here in Wales and taken forward, because they are an important part of the landscape to offer that protection? But could you also, as you didn't respond to the leader of the opposition, give clarity to supporting your Labour colleagues, Andy Burnham and the small caucus of Labour MPs who are calling for a national inquiry, so that the dots can be joined up and those protections can be offered across the whole of the United Kingdom?</p>

<p>Diolch yn fawr iawn, Llywydd. One of my key priorities for the remainder of this Senedd term is our forthcoming bus Bill, which will fundamentally change the way bus services are delivered here in Wales. I'm grateful for the opportunity to update you on the progress made ahead of the introduction of this legislation, which will continue the process of significant reform of the bus network in Wales.</p>
<p>I think it’s important to remember why we are making these changes. First and foremost, buses are a vital public service, carrying three quarters of all public transport journeys. They are a lifeline for some of the most vulnerable and isolated people in our society. Just under 20 per cent of households do not have a car. People need buses to get them to their places of work, to visit friends and family and to access services. However, the existing system is not effective or efficient.</p>
<p>The bus network has been contracting for many years, which started long before the pandemic, but, as a consequence, has got much worse. It is, of course, reassuring that we’re seeing passenger numbers recover, but they still remain below pre-pandemic levels. The consensus is that change is needed. The current deregulated system is not working. We believe that bus franchising is the best approach for Wales, because it allows us to design a bus network that puts people first.</p>
<p>In 2022, we set out our plans to legislate for bus reform in a White Paper. Then, earlier this year, we published our road map to franchising, which clarified our next steps on bus reform. Since then, work has substantially progressed, and I am pleased to update you today.</p>
<p>Our legislation will require Welsh Ministers to secure and ensure the delivery of local bus services through a franchise model. This will mean decisions about bus services in Wales, including on routes, timetables and fares, will be made by Welsh Government, Transport for Wales and local authorities, working on regional footprints. Franchising will allow us to create a network that better serves the public, connecting with the rail network and allowing more integrated ticketing. We’ll seek to lift restrictions on existing publicly owned bus companies, so that they are on an equal footing to other bus operators, and the Bill will allow new publicly owned bus companies to be established by local authorities, should they wish to do so.</p>
<p>Improving routes, accessibility and timetables is key, but I also want people to see improvements to the quality and environmental sustainability of the buses that they’re travelling on. Wales has the oldest bus fleet in the UK under a deregulated and largely privatised network, so we need to remedy this as soon as we can. However, we've shown, through the purchase of £800 million of new trains, how transformative Welsh Government and Transport for Wales can be for public transport. We inherited one of the oldest fleets of trains in Britain, and soon we will have one of the newest. We have the same ambition for our bus fleet.</p>
<p>That's why we've already begun to upgrade the bus fleet, moving to greener vehicles. It will take time, but lower and zero-emission vehicles are key to our climate change objectives. We also plan to purchase strategic bus depots in key areas of Wales. Depot charging and refuelling infrastructure will be required to support franchising operations and the transition to a decarbonised fleet. We'll take a case-by-case approach to determine where public ownership of depots would deliver the very best value, and we do recognise that the majority of depots will likely remain in private ownership.</p>
<p>Bus franchising will represent a huge change that is complex and has multiple interconnected elements. It cannot be done across the whole of Wales at once. Following significant work in collaboration with Transport for Wales, corporate joint committees, local authorities and industry representatives, we've concluded that the roll-out will take place based on CJC regions. This will make the transition to a franchised model far more straightforward, benefiting from existing structures and, of course, aligning with our approach to regional transport plans.</p>
<p>We intend to begin the roll-out in south-west Wales in 2027, before north Wales in 2028, south-east Wales in 2029 and mid Wales in 2030. Transport for Wales are working very closely with all of the regions on what a good network will look like in their areas. Local knowledge and expertise is key to producing bus networks that work for communities, which is why we're developing our plans in consultation with local authorities and corporate joint committees.</p>
<p>Wales has a mix of bus operators, which I want to see continue. I know that some operators are nervous of what franchising will mean for them, but I am clear that we will build a network that is delivered by a range of operators, including SMEs, national providers, publicly owned bus companies and community transport organisations. This means we'll offer various types of franchising contracts, some that are attractive to smaller operators and others that will be more attractive to larger ones. I want a network to reflect our diverse bus sector and minimise the administrative burden that may put some off from bidding. I have instructed Transport for Wales to develop an approach that attracts a range of operators that can deliver high-quality services and, of course, social value.</p>
<p>There are very strong synergies between the UK Government’s bus reform in England and our reform programme. We have been working very closely with our colleagues in the Department for Transport. And whilst the UK Bill will give the tools to English authorities to take control of services, our Bill will ensure that Welsh Ministers use the tools and deliver a fully franchised network. Our plans share common objectives with the UK Government, and both Governments agree that there are opportunities for shared learning and joint working.</p>
<p>We're also working with neighbouring authorities, including the Liverpool city region, the Manchester city region and Dee area councils to ensure we share best practice, innovation and route planning. Indeed, the Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership met recently with Andy Burnham, metro mayor for greater Manchester, to discuss joint working on public transport matters.</p>
<p>Franchising will make better use of the significant funding the Welsh Government already injects into local bus services, allowing us to design a network that works for people and communities. Bus reform will take time, but it will make a significant difference to people across Wales, particularly those who are struggling with the cost of living, are isolated, or are older or face disabling barriers in their daily life. Alleviating transport poverty is key to creating a fairer and more equal Wales.&nbsp;I look forward to introducing our legislation and working with the Senedd to deliver the transformation the bus industry desperately needs.</p>

<p>Thanks very much, Rhianon, and you’re absolutely right, I think this is an opportunity now, with two Governments, one mission. And part of that mission will be economic growth, and some of that, I’m sure, will be debated through that new structure of the council of nations and regions. And I think it probably is worth talking about how we can learn from each other. The point of devolution is that we can do things differently. We don’t all have to be the same. We can adapt and adjust to what is needed within our own communities. And it was really useful to speak, for example, to Sadiq Khan about how they have rolled out free school meals to primary schools and what they’ve learnt already and where we can perhaps learn—just as we’ve rolled out that programme, what is the learning. Apparently, the very early indications are that it’s a super-successful programme. But Andy Burnham also—an opportunity for us to learn from him in terms of transport and what’s happening in care.</p>
<p>So, I think there’s an opportunity for us all to gather, to look at best practice, and it’s not a bad thing that we all do things differently; I think it’s something we should celebrate. But, just in terms of policy areas, the obvious one for us all to focus on is the economy. I think, when you look at the potential of green renewable energy, in particular in the Celtic sea, I think that is a huge opportunity. I don’t think it is something that we’ll be able to manage in Wales ourselves—you need incredibly deep pockets to be able to drive that kind of commitment and development forward, and that’s where partnership will be absolutely crucial.</p>

<p>It turns out I've actually got more influence than I realised. I've been in power for 48 days, already the Prime Minister of Britain has made a specific visit to Wales, and over the weekend, I had the opportunity to speak with Keir Starmer, with Rachel Reeves, with Wes Streeting, with Ed Miliband, with Andy Burnham, with Sadiq Khan—all of these people were really keen to discuss with us our plans for the future and how we can work together. That is influence, and it's great to recognise that that is where we're at.</p>
<p>It is, I think, important also to recognise that we don’t have a monopoly in terms of good ideas. But when it comes to dentistry, you're quite right, we've got a long way to go, but we've come a very long way, and the fact that we have managed to introduce nearly 400,000 new patient appointments to the NHS is something that, I think, should be celebrated. If you go to England, you have absolute dental deserts. We encourage people to go and train in rural areas. We can't force dentists to work for the NHS, but the fact that that new contract has delivered that many in two years is, I think, a significant step forward, and it's much better than anything the Tories managed to do in England under the previous Prime Minister.</p>

<p>Thank you. Until the 1980s, most bus services throughout the United Kingdom were delivered through publicly owned companies, often run by local and accountable councils. And then Margaret Thatcher’s Government deregulated and dismantled the bus industry and privatised services for profit, leading to the mass sale of bus companies and the collapse of non-profit routes. And in the 20 years that followed the Tory Transport Act 1985, bus ridership outside of London fell by almost 40 per cent, despite an increase in population. So, Cabinet Secretary, as Labour's mayor of greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, has successfully brought back bus services into public control with his aptly named Bee Network, what progress is the Welsh Government making with our bus Bill? And what lessons can be learnt from this very successful example that will ensure that the communities of Islwyn get the bus services they both need and deserve?</p>

<p>Well, something like that. Anyway, I apologise for interrupting you.</p>
<p>I think that whilst it's convenient for Plaid Cymru to be personalising the resistance to devolution on the remarks made by one individual, namely the shadow Secretary of State for Wales, I think we need to move beyond that, because we need to start creating alliances. We all agree in this Chamber that designating HS2 as an England-and-Wales project is an outrageous distortion and misuse of the English language and an affront to the structures we need to create to have a more coherent and agreed set of rules, not just for Wales but for the whole of Britain. The regions of England are just as badly served by the current arrangements as Wales is.</p>
<p>Earlier this year, Andy Burnham called for a new codified constitution for the UK to wrench power out of Westminster, as he hit out at a tiny clique running British politics. And a new book by Professor Paul Collier of the University of Oxford blames the widening inequality across the UK on stale economic orthodoxies that prioritise market forces to revive left-behind regions of our country and beyond. Above all, he denounces the arrogant hands-off, one-size-fits-all approach of a centralised bureaucracy like the UK Treasury, where most of the 50 most powerful people in the UK are to be found. We cannot go on like that. It simply isn't the way forward and it doesn't reflect the depth of the political crisis in our country.</p>
<p>I'm sure we've all met levels of apathy and indifference on the doorstep amongst people who feel they are never listened to, so why bother voting when they foresee no change in their lives and their struggle to survive. We all need to take seriously the numbers of people who won't bother to vote or who have encountered deliberate barriers to voting, which discriminate against those who don't drive, never travel abroad and are yet to be eligible for a bus pass. This, in itself, is an absolute disgrace and an affront to democracy.</p>
<p>We also need to pay heed to the numbers falling for the populism project headed by Nigel Farage. Farage is absolutely adept at drilling down into the distress and despair of left-behind communities. That is why he is standing in Clacton; that’s why he launched his—I think it was called a ‘project’; it certainly wasn’t a manifesto—in Merthyr Tydfil, although that didn’t work too well, because the people of Merthyr Tydfil were just as affronted by him as he is by us. And Clacton itself is a good example of a left-behind community, despite being in the generally wealthy south-east of England. It shares many of the common features with shrinking seaside communities across Britain.</p>
<p>No change is not an option and the constitutional changes that we require are what we need to reach out to other people across Britain to try and endeavour to get some consensus. I was particularly keen on the report of the commission on the UK’s future headed by Gordon Brown, and I think he is an ally in trying to resolve a constitutional settlement that will give Wales the powers it needs to have a more coherent approach to all the issues that we face. As Andy Burnham says, a written constitution would codify relationships between national, local and regional government so that democracy functions properly. It’s not functioning properly at the moment, and decisions have to be made with due consideration of different perspectives from wherever you happen to be living and representing. So, we must join in common cause with the Greater Manchester mayor and all the other regional English leaders, whether they are mayors or whether they are heads of local authorities.</p>
<p>We must back the overhauling of the scandal-ridden unelected second Chamber. We want to see proportional representation for the House of Commons. We could have a really disturbing outcome for the first-past-the-post arrangements on 4 July, whereby we have an unhealthily large majority for what would be the party that I also have the pride to represent, but to have such a large majority would be very bad for democracy. So, we are going to have some really serious thinking to do and we need to reach out to other communities and make common cause on the constitutional changes we need.</p>

<p>Well, no, I was actually asking about the Hillsborough law. I actually was quoting directly from the Public Authority (Accountability) Bill that was passed on Second Reading in Westminster unopposed, supported by all parties, drafted by Andy Burnham. That is the Hillsborough law that the Labour Party has now committed to bringing into law, and it actually does apply in all nations of the United Kingdom, and it does create a new criminal offence for public officials in misleading the general public or media.</p>
<p>The next set of questions does take us into the territory that you invited me into. Why do you think, if you support that—? I presume that you do, Counsel General, that you support that element, because it's in the law. Why is the civil service code insufficient to deal with this issue, and why do we need a new criminal offence in regard to public officials, and how could we create circumstances where public officials are held to account, to a criminal standard, in cases of deception, whereas politicians, to whom they answer, are not?</p>

<p>Thank you, Jenny. I heard the interview with Andy Burnham and the article on Radio 4 this morning. I was very interested in the right to buy, so we've asked for a meeting with them to understand where they're coming from; it might be a powers issue or something. He said a couple of things that Mark Isherwood mentioned, but the other way up. So, one of the reasons that house building in England has dropped to an all-time low in terms of houses for social rent is because of the right to buy, because as fast as you build them, they're sold off. We stopped that, and you can actually see the exponential growth in the build from the point we stopped it, so there's a quite clear cause and effect going on there. That's not because we don't want people to own their own homes, but it's because we don't want people to be in temporary accommodation. In an ideal world, where we were building absolutely enough and you could walk up and ask for your social home, then it would be great to do that, but we're not in that ideal world, and because of the way that right to buy was put in place, it's always important to remember that it wasn't really about a home-owning democracy, because if it had been, then local authorities would have been allowed to replace what they sold, but they weren't allowed to do that. It was absolutely about the tenure change, which is what we really have seen with the growth of that tenure change over that time period. So, I couldn't agree with you more there. We obviously stopped it altogether here in Wales for that exact reason.</p>
<p>On empty homes, we've been looking to see what we can do with the transitional accommodation programme to get many of the empty homes back into beneficial use as social homes. Some of them will be adaptable to be permanent social homes. Some of them won't be, but they'll be much better temporary accommodation than some of the accommodation we've seen. And then, it's always a very difficult thing that's easy to say but much harder to deliver, because, actually, just knocking them down isn't always a solution either—we are also in a climate change emergency and there's a lot of embodied carbon in some of that. So, trying to find the exact right treatment for each of the properties is one of the things that we asked Chris Jofeh and his group on the decarbonisation of housing—I know you're familiar with that—to look at for us. He's just given us a route-map, so we'll be rolling out that route-map as we go.</p>
<p>These things aren't soundbites; these are things that need granular work on a street-by-street basis—what's best for this community, how can we bring these houses back into proper use and how can we regulate the private sector market in a way that encourages good landlords and discourages bad ones, which is why the renting homes Act piece is there. So, you have to do a series of things across various tenures to make this happen. It's not all about a silver bullet.</p>
<p>Your constituency is much like mine, isn't it? You have studentification, as I call it—I'm not sure if that's a word, but you know what I mean—and that needs to be addressed as well. I really love the students—they bring vibrancy, youth, wealth and ideas and everything—but when they're all concentrated into one particular place, they also bring problems. So, again, working with our local authorities to get density strategies in place and to spread them out into the city and all the rest of it is one of the things that will also address some of the issues about the turnover of homes.</p>

<p>Thank you very much. Given the extent of the desperate housing crisis that you mentioned, I was really surprised to see that the first act of the re-elected mayor of Manchester, Andy Burnham, is to stop new council housing from being sold for profit, but not existing housing. It seems to me that, under those circumstances, that desperate housing need is going to continue, because we're simply never going to catch up on this net loss of 100,000 dwellings for rent.</p>
<p>I very much welcome your statement. I wondered if you could tell us a bit more about the role the Design Commission for Wales is going to play in improving the quality of planning applications, because, sadly, private sector planning applications tend to be much poorer quality than social housing applications, but the people who have to live in them still have to suffer this poor planning and poor energy efficiency.</p>
<p>Secondly, when do you expect to see the fruit of encouraging planning authorities to identify sites where at least 50 per cent of homes can be affordable? Because it seems to me that's a really important way of sorting out some of the problems that we face at the moment. A huge amount has been done already, but in a place like mine, in a constituency like mine, where there's very little land available, it's extremely difficult to accommodate more people.</p>

<p>Well, who knows? I think there's merit in exploring this and, probably, at heart, I am a federalist. On asymmetry, I don't have a huge issue with asymmetry in certain aspects, because I think it's important to constantly recognise and remind the UK Government that the UK is a plurinational state where, particularly in the devolved nations—Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales—there's a strong sense of identity and belonging that cuts across political parties.</p>
<p>England is more interesting. I've come from Liverpool today, where there's a very strong sense of Scouse identity, but that's not something that's necessarily shared with other combined authorities. So, for the next Government coming in, whether it's a Labour Government or the Conservatives stay, there is a challenge here in addressing English devolution as it moves forward. Because what you have, for example, in the north of England is a very strong collective of northern mayors, who will work together. When the Government announced ticket closures at rail stations, four or five of the northern mayors came together to say, 'We will legally challenge this', and 'We don't want this to happen', and the Government u-turned. So, they do have some power. One of the mayors I interviewed said, 'In the absence of inter-governmental relations, we have the media.' The media can be just as powerful. We saw this, for example, with Andy Burnham on the steps of the town hall. So, I think there there's a big challenge.</p>
<p>Also, in terms of inter-governmental relations, there is no representative of England in these forums. The UK Government has this dual-hatted role where sometimes it speaks for the UK and sometimes it speaks for England. I think that is a challenge as the UK evolves.</p>

<p>I very much welcome the franchising of bus services and I welcomed the work that Andy Burnham has been doing in Manchester, and I think it demonstrates the need for public control of public services—something that you have an ideological issue with. I don't, because I believe in those people. I've just come back from Willowtown Primary School in Ebbw Vale, where I was at lunch time—a fantastic event in the school. Those people have a right to expect public services, publicly delivered, and publicly accountable, for them, for their parents, grandparents and children. And what you've done is to take those services away from them. And what this Government is seeking to do—.</p>
<p>And this is a question I have for the Deputy Minister, which I hope he'll address in his remarks answering this debate. How will the legislation that he will be introducing, I hope, in January, ensure that we do have access to services? Because this is where we need to be absolutely clear on what bus services are seeking to achieve. They bring people together. They bring our communities together. They link our communities with the services that those people require, and they link ourselves as a country. That's really important. And it's really important that people feel that they can depend on those services. It's important that those services are delivered with excellence, so that we have up-to-date vehicles that people can rely on, that people don't get left at bus stops in the rain because the bus has broken down, that people have access to Wi-Fi on the buses, that people know that that bus is going to turn up when it's supposed to, and that there are enough services to deliver the bus services that they require to access whatever they need to access.</p>
<p>We need it to be part of an integrated transport system, and the question I have for you, Minister, is this: what will the legislation you publish in January seek to achieve? How will that deliver the services that I've sought to describe in this contribution? How will, for example—? We are delivering on the rail improvements in the south Wales Valleys in a way that the UK Government would never ever do, and we know that, because the Ebbw valley railway is still not a devolved function, yet it is this Government spending money on improving those services. The Department for Transport in London doesn't care about the Ebbw valley railway. It doesn't know where it is. It doesn't care where it is. It's not prepared to put the money into it, because it's outside of London, it's not in a key constituency, and therefore you don't care about my constituents. I'm out of time, unfortunately. I've tested the Presiding Officer more than usual this afternoon. I'm happy to test her again—</p>

<p>I think displacement is one of the big issues you have to think about in free ports altogether. Free ports, just to be clear, are not a policy of the Welsh Government; they're a policy of the UK Government, where we have been able to work successfully alongside ministerial colleagues there to agree two free ports for Wales. But built into our view of free ports is that we have to monitor and safeguard against displacement of jobs into free ports that would exist otherwise in surrounding areas. And of course, we're not in favour of competition between the two free ports that we now have. They must both play to their strengths. Their strengths are very significant, but I think, actually, significantly different as well. In the Holyhead free port, there will be offshore wind involved, but I think it is more likely to be fixed-bottom offshore wind in the Liverpool bay area, whereas in the south, the focus is very much on floating offshore wind.</p>
<p>The free port also needs to play to its strengths in Anglesey, which are very many, such as the connections to Ireland. I think Jack Sargeant referred to lessons we can learn from Andy Burnham and the bus activity in Manchester. I meant to say in my answer there that the last meeting of the north Wales Cabinet committee was attended by Andy Burnham and the mayor of Liverpool, but also, significantly, by the two Consuls General of Ireland—the Cardiff and the Manchester consuls—because part of the strength of Anglesey is the way in which it is that route through from the Republic into Wales and onwards through the land bridge. And in energy, it's also got the huge potential that Anglesey as an energy island has, which is more than energy from the wind; it is all the stuff that Minesto, for example, is doing to harness energy from the sea. So, I think, for the free ports to succeed, they should be thought of as complementary, and definitely not competitive, and both the free ports that we have in Wales must play to their own strengths.</p>

<p>Diolch, Rhun, for your questions and observations. I think it is good to see those links being built up, and it’s really interesting, because after we met as a Cabinet on Thursday afternoon, we held a press conference. I can’t remember which journalist it was—there was a lot of interest it. There were journalists there from <em>The Guardian</em>, and there were journalists from across north Wales as well, obviously. But somebody did ask, ‘Why now?’, and I thought to myself, why has it taken me this long to think, ‘Oh, we should get the mayors over and we should start looking at those links much more formally as a Government'. I suppose it is leaving the European Union, it is all those shared challenges that we have that make the time right. But it just felt completely right and completely positive, and I think we’ve really built on some momentum to take it forward. Maybe we should have done it earlier, but at least we’ve done it now.</p>
<p>As I say, informally, there've been lots of discussions. I've certainly met with both the mayors as north Wales Minister, and I know Ken Skates, when he was previously in this post, did. I visited the port of Liverpool to see what work was being done there to prepare for leaving the European Union. So, there have been informal links, perhaps, a bit more than formal ones, but now we have established some formal links, and as I said in my answer to Darren Millar, the First Minister has asked the two mayors to be part of the Ireland-Wales forum, and the Irish Consul was part of the last visit when we went over to Dublin and Cork.</p>
<p>So, I think renewable energy is an area—and if you look at the Ireland-Wales shared statement, we listed the priorities for the next year, and renewable energy opportunities in the Celtic sea were right there. That was the first priority, because we know north Wales has such potential for renewable energy, and we’re very keen to ensure that we do get our fair share. I think you can certainly see with the plans going through—. And it was great to be at the port in Mostyn to hear about the number of projects—I think it was eight projects that they have in the pipeline. So, I think you can be assured that we will certainly get our fair share.</p>
<p>Having Holyhead as a free port I think was really important, and I worked very closely with my colleague the Minister for Economy to make sure that the bid that came in was right up there, and couldn’t be ignored, really. I think it was really important that we did get that free port, and I’m very pleased that it will proceed to the next stage of the process. I think what it does is have the potential to support the economic mission that we have for Wales to stimulate that net growth in jobs, create high-quality opportunities, and of course Ynys Môn, unfortunately, has had some bad news lately, and I think it was even more important, because of what had happened at 2 Sisters, that we got that free port potential there for Holyhead. I think, again, Ynys Môn, energy island, we’ve said that, haven’t we, in the same breath for so long? And there are so many potentials in relation to renewable energy.</p>
<p>The conversations about rejoining the single market—as the First Minister, I think, said in answer to either yourself or somebody else from Plaid Cymru, we can’t do it on our own. But what’s really important is that we make the most of those opportunities. Why would we not form a close relationship with Ireland? They’re our nearest neighbours in the European Union, and it’s really important to do that. So I think between the Ireland-Wales forum and now these links that, certainly, the mayors were very keen to take forward and I think with every Minister, they had something that they wanted to take forward—so, they want to meet again with the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language to hear about closer working with universities. Manchester is pursuing the MBacc, to have its own baccalaureate, and Andy Burnham was very clear that he could learn a lot from us. So, I certainly think we've got momentum now, and we will make sure that we will carry it on.</p>

<p>Thank you very much. Certainly, Mersey Dee Alliance are very important partners for us, and Welsh Government's a long-standing founder member of the MDA. It's very important, again, as I say, that we do work across borders, so this wasn't something that happened last week; we've obviously been doing it for a long time. The MDA's prioritised both transport connectivity and skills development as two of the priorities going forward, and, in the visit to the AMRC, we really focused on transport and skills; those were the two main areas that we focused on. And what was really interesting—. Actually, the mayor of greater Manchester wasn't with us at AMRC—Steve Rotherham, the metro mayor of Liverpool city region was—and what was really interesting was the theme that kept coming up that employers are telling us that they have concerns about not being able to access the correct skills and how fast it can be. So, I was skills Minister; it was my very first job in Government 12 years ago, and I remember trying to fit in a module for electricians to fit solar panels, but that’s completely passe now. Life has moved on, and, as I say, we’re on offshore wind now. So, it’s about keeping up with those technologies and how you move further education along to make sure you’ve always got the most appropriate skills. So, I think there will be a further conversation with the appropriate Minister around that, but it was really interesting to talk later to Andy Burnham about the MBacc. As I say, because we’ve had the Welsh bac for so many years, he was very keen to learn more about that. But I think the theme was that we need to make sure that, those technical skills that people want and that employers want, it’s very important to make sure they’re available. University’s not for everybody, so we need to do more in relation to apprenticeships, for instance, and they, again, recognise that Welsh Government has really led the way on apprenticeships, all-age apprenticeships, and making sure that we have the skills that people want.</p>

<p>If I can go—. So, I'll come on to the difference in a minute, because I just want to stress about the principle of the issue, it's a blunt instrument. Just to probe into how a clean air zone might be designed, there are different levers that you need to apply in order to construct a clean air zone, and the clean air zone levers, basically, are the standard you set and the area that you put it to. Now, the space, from our experience in England, where, you'll probably be aware that there's been opposition to clean air zones in Manchester and then latterly in London, with ultra-low emission zone expansion, which is kind of a sister policy. In very simple terms, if you've got a pollution hotspot, say, covering a couple of streets, you can set the highest possible level of standard—Euro 6—in order to drive down pollution in the quickest possible time. In that situation, the area has to be very, very small, otherwise—. That's one approach.&nbsp;Or, if you're looking for a more measured approach to reduce pollution that culminates the needs of everybody, if you want to have a wider area of clean air zone, that's possible, but the standard must be slightly lower—possibly Euro 5 in this case.</p>
<p>Now, the reason why I'm going into this detail is because if you do what Manchester has done and what the ULEZ is doing, and put the highest possible target—Euro 6—and the widest possible area, you create a shortage. You create a shortage of vehicles, because—and this is the experience—the market for the required vehicles, there's a lack of supply, and then you get market dynamics that take over. A shortage creates price inflation, but also a regulation such as CAZ sends off a signal to the market to say, 'We don't want older vehicles of any type', and so, the asset value then collapses.&nbsp;Now, I'll give you some figures based on our analysis of the heavy goods vehicles&nbsp;market and how powers affected that. Since 2013, we estimate that hauliers invested in an additional £2.2 billion to get the latest lorries in place, and that's a reflection of the price inflation, yet, they saw £1.2 billion wiped off their asset values of the older vehicles, and that created significant financial issues for our hauliers, and particularly for your smaller members.</p>
<p>Also, there's an issue about the impact on the second-hand market for small businesses. A lot of small businesses—your one-man-bands, your sole traders—they will look to acquire their vehicles not brand new, but from the second-hand market. Well, if you've created a shortage in the required vehicles, it takes time then for the second-hand market to develop in those vehicles, and, again, that will hit your small trader.&nbsp;So, that's been the real impact that we've observed and that I'm happy to present to you today about clean air zones in England. I do put in my submission that we're very pleased that Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, actually listened to that feedback, and you're probably aware that Greater Manchester is now looking to amend its clean air zone proposals. We understand that the latest is that it's going to be a much smaller clean air zone, and I'm afraid that just reflects the needs of business, and small businesses in particular, to ensure that they continue to thrive.</p>
<p>My final point is just the different approach. Rather than go down this rabbit hole of creating a clean air zone framework, what we would say is, actually, use what available state funds there are to invest in the vehicle standards and in the research and development, to improve the vehicle standards. And when you do that, so that the new standards are continuously introduced, you will see pollution levels fall from vehicles. And we can supply you with the charts, particularly in relation to nitrogen oxide pollution, where, from about 2007, when we've had the succession of Euro 3, Euro 4 and Euro 5 standards, nitrogen oxide pollution from HGVs has plummeted. We did some detailed analysis, and actually, from 2013, when the Euro 6 standard was introduced, nitrogen oxide pollution from HGVs had fallen by over 75 per cent in that time. So, to us, what that model shows is that you invest in the vehicle standards, you then allow businesses to introduce these new vehicles through natural replacement cycles—that's a very sustainable way of achieving reductions in pollution—and that would be a very acceptable, we would say sustainable, way of achieving the pollution reductions that we want to see.</p>

<p>Thank you. I would certainly agree with you on that final point and I know it’s really important that we have partners working together in relation to the Wrexham-Bidston line, and that includes, obviously, Transport for Wales, Merseyrail, and the Welsh Government itself.</p>
<p>In relation to a summit, probably at the current time, while the north Wales transport commission is having a look at what it needs to do following the publication of its progress report—. I met with the chair of the commission, and currently he is looking to talk to stakeholders around cross-border transport, because it is, as you say, so important for north Wales, and I would encourage stakeholders from the cross-border region to certainly engage with the commission.</p>
<p>You will know very well, as you, obviously, chaired the sub-committee previously, that it’s really important that, at that committee, we invite people to come in from outside to give presentations, so I have asked officials to ask both Steve Rotherham and Andy Burnham to come along to the committee. I think it’s very important that ministerial colleagues hear about the links we have with the north-west of England and how important they are for north Wales, and particularly north-east Wales, and, obviously, the local authority leaders also attend that committee. So, I’m hoping, either at the next committee meeting or the one after that, that both the mayors will be able to come along to that.</p>

<p>Minister, that's great to hear because, of course, public transport is a key issue—probably the most important issue—to consider on a cross-border basis in the Mersey Dee area. Last weekend, Carolyn Thomas and I went to Chester. We met with key figures from across the border in England, including metro mayors Steve Rotherham and Andy Burnham, as well as Samantha Dixon, and we of course spoke about the need to improve public transport, particularly bus services on a cross-border basis. As north Wales Minister, would you agree to convene a north Wales and north-west of England summit to focus on transport and the potential economic benefits of working together across the border in this area, which has such a strong contribution to make to the Welsh and UK economy? And would you agree that it’s absolutely vital that we consider important transport infrastructure improvements, including that of the Wrexham-Bidston main railway line?&nbsp;</p>

<p>As I say, it’s really important that all partners work together and I think you’re right about the HyNet project. Again, I’ve met with both Steve Rotherham and Andy Burnham to discuss the role that HyNet and the hydrogen project can play across border, and they’re both very keen to get involved. So, the committee can bring all these partners together, and you heard me say in my earlier answer to Ken Skates that it’s really important that we get people from outside to be able to help us with our deliberations, particularly as the local authority leaders from right across north Wales—north-west and north-east—are at that meeting, to hear about how closely we can work together, because, as you said, a significant number of people cross that border every day.</p>

<p>I feel that this whole episode really graphically demonstrates how fiscally beholden this Senedd is to changes that happen, sometimes at a whim, sometimes driven by dogma, at Westminster. We can complain about abolishing tax bands, about changes to NI, to levels of co-operation, but wouldn't it be better, Minister, rather than complaining, that we actually had the powers here to do something about it? Not just little extra borrowing powers here or there, but a real fundamental overhaul of the fiscal powers that are devolved to Wales. The current fiscal framework isn't fit for purpose; it really exposes how weak Wales's hand is when it comes to protecting the people of Wales from this kind of Tory onslaught on our most vulnerable and our poorest citizens. So, will you join Plaid Cymru in calling for maximising fiscal powers to Wales so that we don't end up being just some sort of buffer Parliament, passing on as little of the pain as we can, and that you, having listed a number of issues that you wrote to the Chancellor about earlier, don't end up having to write to somebody else all the time asking for this, that and the other, but that we actually have the powers to do so ourselves? I trust that you will support us on that.</p>
<p>There is one glaring omission in your statement. As far as I can see, you say nothing about the basic rate of income tax. You rightly oppose the abolition of the additional rate of income tax and you outline plans on land transaction tax. Am I, therefore, right to presume that the Welsh Government is actually adopting the Tory policy on this, effectively depriving the public purse of critical funds that it needs to protect the poorest and most vulnerable in society? Is it not the time, Minister, to utilise some of the tax-varying powers that we have in Wales, not to cut, or to increase taxes in this case, but actually just to keep them at the current level? Doing so would generate an additional £200 million for the Welsh Government to protect those essential services that people are going to be leaning more heavily on than ever before. I agree with Andy Burnham. He says this isn't the most targeted way of using the resources that we've got at this moment in time. So, I'm calling on you, Minister: will you use the powers that you have to protect the basic rate in Wales at 20p in the pound, because that money will help save livelihoods and help save lives?&nbsp;</p>

<p>Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. The fact is that the financial statement delivers a tax cut for 1.2 million plus people in Wales, meaning that they keep more of their own money—something that is difficult for the Welsh Government to accept—during these difficult times. Even Sir Keir Starmer welcomed the scrapping of the national insurance increase and cut to the basic rate of income tax, and said he would keep both, although his good friend Andy Burnham disagrees with this and said that it wasn't the time for tax cuts. So where's the continuity in thinking there? So, I wonder, who do you agree with, Minister? When is time for tax cuts, or is it just never the right time?</p>
<p>I completely accept that some of the measures we all know about today have been subject to fierce debate and could have been explained better—I agree. But let's be honest, the cap on bonuses&nbsp;never restricted bankers' remuneration, and a 40 per cent higher rate of tax is what the UK had for over 20 years under previous Labour Governments. This is not a policy by focus groups but a long-term plan with the objective to get Britain growing again, to make the UK more competitive and to attract businesses, jobs and investment. Ultimately, Deputy Llywydd, what the new Chancellor has shown is that he has a plan to get Britain moving again, something that the Welsh Labour Government has struggled to do in Wales.</p>
<p>Minister, we've heard your critique of the UK Government's plan for growth, but where is your plan? What is it? How is the Welsh Government seeking to boost investment into Wales to get more jobs into our communities and finally increase wages in Wales? For too long, Welsh workers have had the smallest pay packets in the UK, nearly £3,000 less a year than the people in Scotland. Is that a sound economic plan? I do welcome today's announcement regarding the land transaction tax following the Chancellor's statement, which will be thanks to the £70 million from the UK Government, but your Government could have and should have gone further to support families aspiring to buy their first home, particularly when the average house price in Wales is £240,000. You should be supporting economic growth.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Deputy Presiding Officer, the fact is that the Welsh Labour Government hasn't got a proper plan. For too long, they have let the Welsh people down. Instead of creating opportunities and building aspiration, they suppress the country's economy with their lack of vision and strategy. This is where our philosophy is different. We don't think aspiration is a dirty word. People shouldn't feel guilty to want a better life for themselves and their families. The Minister also argues that the financial statement does not provide support for people during these tough times. For brevity, Deputy Llywydd, I won't repeat all of the schemes that the UK Government has announced over the past few months. But, let's not forget the energy price guarantee, which will save households around £1,000 a year, the energy bill relief scheme, as well as the numerous targeted help and support schemes, including the £400 energy bill support scheme, whilst the most vulnerable households will receive over £1,200 of additional help.</p>
<p>Let's not forget that the UK Government has already raised the income tax and national insurance thresholds, meaning people on lower incomes already keep more of their own money. But, I accept there is more that needs to be done, and I worry that the Welsh Government is too preoccupied criticizing their UK counterparts at every opportunity rather than focusing on what else can be done to help people. So, how will the Welsh Government's upcoming budget help to deliver the targeted support that you are calling for? How will Ministers use their levers to provide as broad and supportive a package as possible? Thank you.</p>

<p>Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Minister, could you maybe give us an indication of whether you agreed with Andy Burnham leaving the 20 per cent rate as it is, so that it leaves the money there, so that we can actually invest in our communities?</p>

<p>I have to say that the argument you're making is directly in contradiction to what Labour-affiliated unions like ASLEF are saying, that, actually, a substantial reduction could help us increase a modal shift that will create a new habit of using public transport, which will actually have benefits in terms of revenue generation.</p>
<p>Let's move from rail to buses. The Labour mayor of the north-west of England, Andy Burnham, has capped bus journey fares in Greater Manchester to £2 for adults and £1 for children, and, indeed, the UK Government now is going to follow that for England in January of next year. Why don't we do the same in Wales? Capping it to £2 would halve, pretty much, the average cost of a single journey in Swansea. It would address the huge increase we've seen in Arriva bus fares in north-west Wales. Are you comfortable, First Minister, with a Labour regional mayor in England and a Conservative Government in England doing more for bus travellers at the moment than a Labour Government here in Wales?</p>