David Melding: Today is 4 July, and in Jefferson's sparkling prose, we are reminded that we are born with inalienable rights, and the most important are 'Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness'. Now, 'the pursuit of happiness' we would define as some form of emotional well-being today, and there's absolutely no doubt that the denial of effective help and diagnosis of emotional and mental health...
David Melding: Cabinet Secretary, I do commend the written statement you made earlier today for concentrating on the prevention of fires and the work of the fire service and the other emergency services to raise awareness in schools and also just around the community about the dangers of starting fires. I think that's a really, really important part of their work, and we are seeing a lower incidence it...
David Melding: Cabinet Secretary, you'll know the Low Pay Commission is visiting Anglesey today and tomorrow to get the views of people affected by the minimum wage. Do you agree with me it's essential that all people are involved, from businesses, workers and trade unions—indeed, anyone with an interest in this important public policy area—to ensure that they deliver evidence so that next year's...
David Melding: Neath abbey.
David Melding: I appreciate your science-led approach in this matter, and I do hope you extend it to other areas of your policy.
David Melding: Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. I move the amendment. Can I congratulate Neil Hamilton on the sensitivity of his speech in emphasising that environmental concerns must override the free market? I'm sure that many of us have thought that a very, very, very important principle. Hurrah, UKIP now embrace it also. This is a very important debate and we don't talk enough about it in the Chamber, so I'm...
David Melding: Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. I do accept the point that this is an important referral, even though it is not an active one for the Welsh Government, now that they have come to an agreement, and a very solid agreement, in my view, with the UK Government. It was always our position, this side of the Assembly, that the legislative consent motion process remains the key defence, but there are...
David Melding: Get to it. [Laughter.]
David Melding: First Minister, of course, I acknowledge the work that's been done in the social sector, and very welcome it is, but, last month, Wales's chief fire adviser said that residents in private high-rise blocks may have to live with unsafe cladding for years because of wrangling over who should pay for it, and the Residential Landlords Association has called on the Welsh Government to offer...
David Melding: 1. Will the First Minister make a statement on fire safety in high-rise blocks in Wales? OAQ52469
David Melding: Order. I'm sorry, Simon, but we've lost the translation. The testing is working. Has everyone now got the transmission? Thank you. I do apologise, Simon. Do continue.
David Melding: Thank you. The proposal is to note the committee's report. Does any Member object? The motion is therefore agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.
David Melding: Item 8 is the Plaid Cymru debate on hydrogen energy and I call on Simon Thomas to move the motion.
David Melding: David Rowlands to reply to the debate.
David Melding: I call the Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths.
David Melding: Mark Reckless.
David Melding: You're quite right that any Government is accountable to the electorate on its platform in a manifesto. I don't think there is any Government that achieves everything it sets out to do, and obviously if you fall below a certain line you can expect a withering response from the electorate. But we are proud of what we are achieving, and we will defend it, and I'm sure the people of Wales, and...
David Melding: I'm just going to make this one point. Could I just add this, in a spirit of consensus? The way the UK Government and the Welsh Government co-operate in economic matters, I think, is worthy. And, since 2010, we've seen small and medium-sized enterprises grow by over 18,000 in Wales, and I don't think you can say that's UK Government exclusively, or Welsh Government—it is a partnership....
David Melding: Well, let me finish my point, thank you, Leanne. Politics needs comparisons. At the heart of devolved Government is the theory that you look at different jurisdictions, and you learn from them. That is definitely legitimate. But what you don't do in the Westminster model—indeed, in any democratic system of government—is get one legislature to vote 'no confidence' in a Minister who's not...
David Melding: Well, you know, that's the cut and thrust of politics—
