David Melding: What is the Welsh Government doing to improve the energy efficiency of housing in Wales?
David Melding: We remain opposed to this Bill in principle for the reasons I set out in Stage 1. I don't think anything that's happened this afternoon could reassure people that this has in fact been a robust process for any type of Bill, frankly, let alone a constitutional one. But, in essence, as I said at Stage 1, the LCM process is the appropriate constitutional mechanism to protect the devolved...
David Melding: I move.
David Melding: I thank the Members for their vigorous parliamentary performance and reflections on my traditional opinions on these issues. The point is that, over this major area of constitutional law and Britain's exit from the European Union, we need legal clarity. We would need to move quickly. The whole reason that you argue you have to do this in an emergency fashion is that you need speed in the...
David Melding: Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. I move the amendments. It was strange that this Bill had no repeal clause, unlike the Scottish Bill. The amendment I am speaking to will rectify that defect, and I believe this is necessary because the Welsh Government continues to state that it would prefer to proceed via a UK Bill, and I do accept that statement as in good faith. The Welsh Government continues to...
David Melding: You now have the audacity as a Government to make a virtue of the fact that you used an emergency procedure, which, of course, doesn't mean you can actually scrutinise things properly. That's what you've just told Simon Thomas. I mean, it is shambolic.
David Melding: We're embarking on this huge constitutional Bill with a matter of profound principle that has been placed into the Scottish version of, well, their Bill, and you're now saying we don't have time to really examine these things and fully consider them. So, isn't this whole procedure an utter sham?
David Melding: Thank you, Presiding Officer. It is fitting that we pay tribute today to Nicholas Edwards who died on Saturday. As Secretary of State for Wales between 1979 and 1987, he made a lasting contribution to Welsh public life. Here in the Senedd, Nick Edwards's vision for the urban renewal of Cardiff Bay is obviously apparent. This morning, I crossed the barrage and had views of a truly beautiful...
David Melding: But calling him a liar is—[Inaudible.]
David Melding: Can I support Jane Hutt's representations to you that we need an environmental impact assessment? That plea has also been made by the Tory-led Vale of Glamorgan Council. There's complete political unanimity on this. If you go down to Barry and talk to anyone, often the first thing they'll talk about is this incineration plant and its sheer scale. We need that assessment and we need NRW to...
David Melding: Again, I'm going to push you. I think car-free days are wonderful. The first I ever experienced was about 20 years ago when I was in Brussels, and I was wandering around thinking—[Interruption.] Well, no, I don't share some of the phobias that are present in certain parts of the Chamber. [Laughter.] But I remember feeling, 'What's strange? What's unusual' and then I thought, 'Gosh, I can...
David Melding: I just wonder, Minister, if this piecemeal approach, even if it's well co-ordinated, is enough, and that's why I'm pushing you on a clean air Act. Can I just remind you that poor air quality contributes to 40,000 early deaths in the UK—in Wales, 1,300—and that the annual cost of all that at UK level is over £27 billion? Road transport is responsible for 80 per cent of roadside nitrogen...
David Melding: Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. Minister, last week, you'll probably be aware that there was, I think, an unprecedented joint inquiry by four House of Commons committees, stating that poor air quality is now a national health emergency in the UK. Obviously, they're talking about all Governments; it's not just yours. They've called for a clean air Act. We know from our own Public Health Wales that...
David Melding: Can I start by welcoming the publication of this draft legislation Bill, and also the consultation document and the period that will now be given to that consultation of nearly three months? I do think that these are profound matters and they need extensive consultation. I know that the Government will be very interested in the range of opinions that it hopes to receive back in this process....
David Melding: Will the First Minister make a statement on housing need in the south Wales valleys?
David Melding: Can I thank Vikki Howells for such an excellent use of the short debate? This is exactly what we should be discussing, and made more vivid still by that excellent film. This is a really important issue, Cabinet Secretary. There is cross-party consensus. We need to build more, as Vikki outlined. And can I just say that I think there is a mood across the UK, and just remind you that yesterday...
David Melding: Can I thank Hefin and I also thought his hwyl on this this afternoon was very, very appropriate, because I think it really is the purpose of a legislature that's reflecting on the interests of the people it serves effectively to allow this sort of avenue where backbenchers can identify really key issues. It's not possible for the Government always to feel the force of these things, because...
David Melding: Can I say that I welcome this motion and the proposed nomination to Her Majesty the Queen? It has been my honour to work with Adrian Crompton for many years, most recently when I was Deputy Presiding Officer. He is a man of the highest integrity, clarity of thought, and of the deepest commitment to scrutiny in public life. Above all, Adrian Crompton has been a champion of the legislative...
David Melding: I thank the Cabinet Secretary for that answer. You will know that there's long been a call for specialist paediatric rheumatology services in the region. And, indeed, Wales is the only nation in the UK at the moment that doesn't have a specialist service for paediatric rheumatology. You will also further know that the Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee is meeting on 27 March to...
David Melding: 1. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on rheumatology services in South Wales Central? OAQ51882
