David Melding: Cabinet Secretary, can I commend the Welsh Government for commissioning the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University to look at housing needs of older people and other general care needs? They found that 18 local authorities in Wales expect an increase in the general housing needs of older people; 16 local authorities expected an increase in demand for extra-care housing for...
David Melding: Can I commend our acting Chair for the alacrity with which he's performed his temporary duties this afternoon? I think it was an excellent summary of our report, and the importance of it, and a great start to this debate. I think the non-public funding that the arts sector receives is a key sign of its health, or otherwise. And it's important that we focus on this aspect. We all know that,...
David Melding: Can I add my support to Dai Lloyd, in saying how important this project is? And I am indeed relieved that, in principle, the Welsh Government is still committed to it. I do think it's unfortunate that, at this late stage, we've not really heard some of the substance of the main concerns, and I think all the stakeholders now need to get together and make some sort of statement about how this...
David Melding: I agree with you, Minister, that we need higher participation rates, but I am concerned about that gap that's affecting those from the most deprived communities in particular, and I do think it is an issue for all departments of Government under your direction and co-ordination to look at, because it does need a comprehensive approach—and you've already mentioned health education; it also...
David Melding: Can I thank the Minister for that answer? And can I also commend the work of Sport Wales, and the report that was published last week, which at least is looking at the right areas? But it did find that the levels of participation amongst the most deprived children were actually down on where they were last year, and the gap between them and children from wealthier areas—that gap has...
David Melding: Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. What is the Welsh Government doing to increase sport participation for children in deprived areas in Wales?
David Melding: What assessment has the Cabinet Secretary made of the importance of the construction sector to the Welsh economy?
David Melding: Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. I'm very pleased to take part in this debate and I welcome it. I'd like to thank those involved in producing these two reports. It's rigorous work and I think an excellent base for future options to be developed. I also think there'll be a lot of common ground on these matters, and I look forward to the development of specific proposals. We won't actually be...
David Melding: Cabinet Secretary, the External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee has heard this issue, and insulin was raised, as were radionuclides, which are essential for scanning equipment. I think what the Government has to do, in co-operation with the UK Government, is set in place arrangements over these key medicines and products about how that would be handled. I don't think for a moment...
David Melding: Cabinet Secretary, I was born on 28 August. I think I first raised this issue over 10 years ago, and I think we need to be even more radical, because I was young for my physical age as well as being born on 28 August. I think I was often 18 months behind many of the people that were in the same class year as me. It caused reading and writing difficulties when I was in primary school, and it...
David Melding: Presiding Officer, I'm pleased to have attracted your eye. I'm very grateful. I hadn't originally intended to speak in this debate, but I do think Steffan Lewis has raised points that are important and deserve a response, in what I thought was a thoughtful contribution. I enjoyed Dai Lloyd's contribution, but I'm not so sure it was quite as thoughtful, but it was certainly plangent and...
David Melding: I am very pleased to welcome this statement. In particular, I would commend the following elements: I think the focus on NEETs is absolutely right, that is a major risk indicator. As the Minister said, this is a complex problem, but it needs an approach that really ensures that young people have as full lives as possible. Therefore, they need to be doing something constructive with their...
David Melding: First Minister, I agree with many Members here that more should've been done to learn from the roll-out process and to do that as quickly as possible. I welcome Amber Rudd's decision that that will now be speeded up, especially by listening to expert advice and experience of those who have now moved to the new system. But the new system is one that has been widely welcomed in making it...
David Melding: Can I commend the work of the St Giles Trust, who presented yesterday to the all-party group on looked-after children about the county lines project that is running in co-operation with a project in Gwent? We heard really alarming evidence of how these drug rings use looked-after children, care leavers and, of course, lots of other vulnerable people, and it's really important that those...
David Melding: I speak as chair of the ministerial advisory group, which makes my response from the Conservative benches slightly irregular. So, I'll have a judicious mix of both roles, I think. But it is a serious point here that I think work in this area, which is very challenging, but there's a lot of good practice and good outcomes out there as well, requires to the maximum extent a non-partisan...
David Melding: I also welcome the fact that this cap has been lifted. It will also allow local authorities to work effectively with other organisations, especially housing associations. I note the interesting partnership model that exists in Warrington council, where they have increased the total loans to housing associations by hundreds of millions of pounds. That sort of imagination we could see in Wales,...
David Melding: 4. What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the effect of lifting the housing revenue account borrowing cap? OAQ52932
David Melding: This is a useful debate and report, and these are important matters that require very careful reflection. I think I will start with this controversy over the EU charter of human rights, which—. My understanding is that that actually catalogues the rights that exist under EU law, and as it is not a foundational document as such, but draws together those rights in existing EU legislation,...
David Melding: [Inaudible.]—give way on this. Why don't you follow the practice set out in the English Bill, which does allow local authorities to do this?
David Melding: Can I say that we in the Welsh Conservative group will be supporting the motion today? Over the last decade, the private rented sector has grown both in absolute numbers and proportionality, mostly at the expense of owner-occupation levels. If the trend continues, the private rented sector will become the second most prevalent accommodation type after home ownership; it is anticipated to...
