David Melding: Will the First Minister make a statement on building new houses in Wales?
David Melding: As we heard, they are moving to a mixed system—more state intervention, but not excluding the private sector. I'm happy to look at the models that work, and as an empirical Tory, I can see no other policy being appropriate than one that is seen to work in practice. As I said, I'm for reform and I think that indicates that the current model dominated by the six giants is not delivering the...
David Melding: I think the real issue is the extent of what Plaid Cymru are calling for: what would it amount to? And I noticed in your spring conference, Adam Price was a bit more candid, calling for a connected Wales, creating an national energy grid with a national energy company connecting locally owned electricity-generating companies in every part of Wales. Now, it does seem to me that this company...
David Melding: I accept that, but I think the consequences, practically, of what you are proposing would go far deeper than that, and if I have time, I will touch on those. I don't talk about this lightly. Energy prices are high and they are difficult to understand, and perhaps there's a place for better co-operation between the state and the private sector. So, reform in this area is certainly required....
David Melding: Can I thank Plaid Cymru for bringing forward this debate? I think Simon ranged far and wide and certainly beyond the wording of the motion, but, I think, outlined this whole area of policy and the challenges and shortcomings he sees in it, and it was very interesting, some of which I sympathise with. But can I just unequivocally put on record, as I did last year when we debated this very...
David Melding: We've not just published a strategy for cities; it's very important that we emphasise urban areas and you can look at the south Wales Valleys area as being, potentially, a more interconnected urban area. If you're looking at Swansea and then stretching across to Llanelli and beyond, it is very important. I accept that there is a danger you can suck too much into the core of these city...
David Melding: Sure.
David Melding: Well, it needs to be at the heart of that vision, and I certainly think that the greater scope it offers for planning and regional development is very, very important. But our vision is, as you say, set out in that paper, and we think it’s fully compatible with the co-operation we’re seeing between the UK and the Welsh Government. But we have seen, perhaps to highlight the concern...
David Melding: Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. Indeed, I am delighted to move the motion and open this debate this afternoon. For the first time in history, most of the world's population live in urban communities. In 2010 it was calculated that around 66 per cent of the Welsh population lived in its urban areas and this percentage has continued to grow year on year. This really should be no surprise to any of...
David Melding: Cabinet Secretary, I note from the Wales Co-operative Centre's last annual report that they helped develop four housing co-operative schemes, and I really believe that this is a sector that needs further development. Now, we know that shared ownership harnesses innovation, and innovation accounts for 70 per cent of long-term economic growth in the UK, and I do think the use of co-operatives...
David Melding: Cabinet Secretary, perhaps you'd like to join with me in congratulating the vice-chancellor of Cardiff University, Colin Riordan, who launched today their sustainability strategy and how they're going to help the staff of the university and the students to cycle between facilities—and he cycled to the barrage, where they launched this policy—and that's what we need. We also need the...
David Melding: 8. What assessment has the Cabinet Secretary made of the impact that co-operatives have on the Welsh economy? OAQ52279
David Melding: May I begin by commending the Minister for a careful and thoughtful approach to developing public policy in this area? It is a complicated area, as you've suggested. We clearly need a strong business model for park home owners. At their best, park homes and park home owners create a pleasant environment in which to live. Investment in facilities such as roads, grounds, common areas, needs an...
David Melding: First Minister, can I welcome the fact that Monmouthshire will be chosen as a 5G test bed? I think the implications for rural connectivity are outstanding, and this announcement is a clear example of the UK Government delivering in terms of a digital strategy for Wales, and I look forward to how you're going to co-operate with it. We've heard about the range of applications and these, to add...
David Melding: Will the First Minister make a statement on support for active travel in Wales?
David Melding: Well, my understanding is that it's been acknowledged by the campaign to have been given over to the campaign. Now—as I said, I understand the issues. I know time is now racing on and I just need to make a few essential points, because there has been a discussion about the methodology. I am not a nuclear scientist—I'm not a scientist of any description, unless you count political science...
David Melding: Well, my understanding of the evidence is that that internationally accepted methodology could have detected the need to examine specifically for the other contaminants that you have referred to. And you've put that on record, and it is for others now to point to evidence if it so exists. Can I just say that we've already heard that the data has been made available to the campaign? Now, I...
David Melding: Just a moment. But the basic transparency of sharing of the information cannot be contested. Again, I think we should do something to ensure that it can be then interpreted by as wide a range of people as want to look at it, but it is not a closed procedure. I know you're interested in this issue very deeply and you will make your own contribution, but if you want to intervene again, this...
David Melding: Just a moment. I do think we have a problem regarding the public understanding of these issues and the engagement with the public, and I will address that. But if we are going to ride roughshod over the established norms of scientific internationally accepted practice, as is conducted by states all over the world, then we're in a very, very difficult position, and I do urge Members to bear...
David Melding: Can I thank David Rowlands and his Petitions Committee for the diligence with which they've worked and produced this report? I'm also grateful to Tim Deere-Jones, who took the trouble to meet with me and brief me on the campaign. I sit, as does Mike, as the Chair, on the Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee, and, of course, we have had discussion of these matters and...
