Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:21 pm on 7 March 2017.
I did hear the Member make that point in his contribution, Llywydd. I want to make sure I give him the most accurate answer to his question, so I will reply to him separately to today’s debate to make sure that he has the most accurate account in response to his inquiry.
Can I say generally in relation to health that this Government makes no apology whatsoever for using opportunities that come our way to invest further in the health service? That has always been our priority; it will continue to be our priority. Of course I agree with Mike Hedges’s point that prevention would always be better than cure, but Members here have heard a statement this afternoon on stroke services. No Cabinet Secretary with responsibility for health will ever be in a position to say to somebody who has suffered a stroke already and who needs treatment, ‘I’m sorry, you’re not going to get that treatment because I’ve diverted money to prevent somebody else suffering in this way in the future.’ It’s simply not possible to operate in that way. You have to somehow manage to deal with the very real needs of today while trying our best to find ways of investing so that we can prevent pressures in the future.
Llywydd, can I end by turning to what I thought was an extraordinarily ill-judged contribution from Adam Price? He’ll be happy to know that Plaid Cymru’s message to the people of Cardiff that the Assembly Government does too much for them and that too much money is spent in Cardiff is already well known to—. [Interruption.] No, I won’t. No, no. He can listen to me for once. I’m not giving way. I’m not giving way, Llywydd.