David Lloyd: Thank you very much, Dirprwy Llywydd, and I’m very pleased to open this debate on the Culture, Welsh Language and Communications Committee’s report, ‘Building Resilience’, which discusses non-public funding of the arts. The arts are an indispensable part of Welsh life. As a nation, we rightly celebrate an enduring and rich history of artistic endeavour and output. We've long had a...
David Lloyd: And because of the small number of large businesses headquartered in Wales, attracting business support is difficult. Nick Capaldi, chief executive of the arts council, explained that business sponsorship is more prevalent in the metropolitan centres and in support of larger, higher profile arts organisations. He added that smaller, community-based organisations in rural areas, for example,...
David Lloyd: Thank you very much, Llywydd. And thank you to everyone who has contributed to this important debate, and first of all to David Melding for his kind words and also for outlining the history, of course, because we are talking here about a number of challenges in this field of fundraising for the benefit of the arts. And, of course, I’m very pleased to hear about the Mabinogion—it’s not...
David Lloyd: Absolutely, but some of us have never lost them, so if you go far enough back—[Laughter.]
David Lloyd: So, thank you very much, David, and, indeed, to Mark, and also to Caroline, who put forward a strong argument for the wider value of the arts and also the key contribution in terms of tourism. And also, I’m very pleased to note in the Minister’s response, to be fair, that he did answer our questions—questions that we put forward. The Minister also told us about the challenges that we...
David Lloyd: 1. Will the First Minister make a statement on improvements to older people's social services in Wales? OAQ53040
David Lloyd: Thank you very much for that response. Naturally, tackling loneliness and isolation is one of the stated goals of your Government. However, financial cuts made by your Government to local authority budgets mean that councils the length and breadth of Wales are finding it more and more difficult to safeguard front-line services, such as social services for older people. We hear about the...
David Lloyd: With one health board in special measures and three health boards, including Abertawe Bro Morgannwg in my own region, in targeted intervention, the picture is not rosy, however. Despite talk of moving care into the community and of prudent healthcare over the past 10 years, do you not agree that your Government's workforce planning over the past 10 years has simply not been up to scratch?
David Lloyd: At this crucial time in our history, we all here have a duty to show leadership. From my point of view, and on these benches, that means to reject Theresa May's withdrawal agreement; it means to extend article 50; it means to stay in the single market; it means to stay in the customs union; and it means to push for a people's vote, including the option of remaining in the European Union....
David Lloyd: I can remember a big red bus: £350 million a week for the NHS. That is one massive lie, admitted to by Nigel Farage on the day of the vote. What shocking campaigning. David Cameron will go down as one of the UK's worst Prime Ministers ever. Mind you, it's a crowded field. [Laughter.] There is no deal that is better than the one we currently have as members of the European Union. Labour's...
David Lloyd: The facts have become clear. We honour results. David Melding was saying we've stood in elections, some of us, we've lost in elections—I've lost more elections than I've won. Of course, I respect the result and no wittering on about what a sad failure I am—I just get up, dust myself down, and stand again—much like David Melding would do, no doubt. But in terms of a people's vote, the...
David Lloyd: Leader of the house, you'll be aware—.
David Lloyd: You'll be aware that the Cabinet Secretary for Local Government and Public Services last week published a written statement on the role of town and community councils in Wales in future. Clearly, when considering local government provision and any reforms in Wales, this sector, which is the level of government closest to the people, is vital. Many would argue that the sector has been ignored...
David Lloyd: May I welcome the direction that we're travelling in here, as the Counsel General presents this statement today on the Legislation (Wales) Bill? Of course, the intention is to strengthen the legislature here for Wales. Of course, we have been in this place before as a nation. We remember Hywel Dda's laws, of course, in the past. David Melding always reminds me—I think he was around at the...
David Lloyd: It's a pleasure to take part on this important debate on the draft budget, as Chair of the health committee. And, of course, with the health and social care of around £ 9 billion, there is a huge challenge facing the members of the committee to scrutinise all the details of that major budget. So, I will go through some of the process of scrutinising and gathering evidence. In July, we...
David Lloyd: We have deep concerns around whether the NHS and social care services will be able to achieve this, given the demand and cost pressures identified and the continuing failure of the majority of health boards to break even. We welcome the £100 million being made available through the transformation fund for pathfinder projects, but we have sought assurance that the use and impact of this fund...
David Lloyd: But not according to this generous script that the clerks have provided for me. [Laughter.]
David Lloyd: Thank you very much, Llywydd, for your patience. So, just to briefly mention social care. In 2017-18, 23 per cent of local authority gross revenue expenditure in Wales was on social services, and this is the second largest area of local authority expenditure after education. In a statement on 9 October, the Cabinet Secretary for Local Government and Public Services detailed that the local...
David Lloyd: I am coming to a close now. We’ll forget the meagre expenditure of £22 million on sport. The Welsh Local Government Association calculates that there is a £67 million funding gap for social services, once this additional £50 million is taken into account without any council tax increases. That is a matter of concern. Thank you for your patience, Llywydd.
David Lloyd: 4. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on local government budgets? OAQ53038
