Hefin David: Will the First Minister make a statement on Welsh Government support for former coalfield communities?
Hefin David: My question was going to be very similar to Russell George's, so I'll adjust it slightly to say that I've had the same kind of representations. One constituent particularly has asked for exams not to take place this year. Now, that's not a view that I actually support, because I think if we're going to move away from exams it needs to be done in a strategic and planned way. But certainly it...
Hefin David: Can I just take the opportunity to congratulate Mark Isherwood on that, because it's an issue very close to my heart? The week before last marked British Science Week 2022, which is a 10-day celebration of STEM, science, technology, engineering and maths, which took place between 11 and 20 March. And this year's theme was 'smashing stereotypes', by celebrating the diverse people and careers...
Hefin David: There was one statement that was made yesterday by the Minister in his oral statement to the Chamber. He said: 'The Under-Secretary of State for Wales, David T.C. Davies, told the House of Commons Welsh Affairs Committee that ''if the Welsh Labour Government think that those coal tips are unsafe, they must act now.... They have the money to do it."' Simple as that, and, of course, the Deputy...
Hefin David: It really is very, very disappointing to see Plaid Cymru using First Minister's questions for their local election campaign. It's beneath the dignity of this Chamber to do that. Peredur Owen Griffiths is there reading out a question that was clearly written by the leader of the Plaid Cymru group on Caerphilly County Borough Council. He can do better than that. I know he's better than that....
Hefin David: I'd like to bring to the Trefnydd's attention the fact that there's an event taking place called 'Next steps for waste, recycling and the circular economy in Wales' run by an organisation that calls itself the Policy Forum for Wales Online Conference. In fact, it's nothing of the kind. It's a Bracknell-based company. It charges the Welsh public sector £210, plus VAT, per person to attend....
Hefin David: I want to thank the Deputy Minister both for being an individual champion as a Member of the Senedd, but also in her role as Deputy Minister. The work that she's doing is exceptional, and, certainly, I want to put my name to it, and say, 'You represent me in what you're doing'. I put on Twitter a couple of days ago an answer to a question. Something called the Wales Women's Rights Network...
Hefin David: I'd like the Welsh Government to make a statement in the Chamber on the operational agreement of Rent Smart Wales. I've been dealing with them on matters of constituency casework, and I've found it to be a very frustrating experience. As an organisation, we've found them to be lacking in communication, transparency and any sense of urgency when trying to obtain an update on the outcome of a...
Hefin David: Move.
Hefin David: I don't want to speak on it.
Hefin David: Diolch, Llywydd.
Hefin David: I'll wait patiently.
Hefin David: That was 'cheers' from Joyce Watson there. Diolch, Llywydd. I will get started if you set my timer to now, please. I'm glad to give a minute of my time to Laura Anne Jones and to Mark Isherwood, at their request, so I think then that'll leave me with 12 or so minutes, so I'll assume that's correct. I can never remember the right time. When we stand for election, we stand to support those...
Hefin David: We've also got Trinity Fields special school, of which I'm a governor, but I think we also need another special school in the borough, such is the demand. And I'll be pushing that to the new leadership of Caerphilly County Borough Council. We're also lucky enough to have the Autistic Minds hub, which is a charity organisation, and they allow me to hold surgeries there in Caerphilly town....
Hefin David: My issue, and the problem that I've seen so often, is that it is too much about seeking a diagnosis and then dealing with the symptoms, rather than the first bit, which is looking at what is presenting—what are the presenting behaviours, what are those behaviours we're seeing, how can we support and treat them. A diagnosis is almost—not quite, but almost—secondary to that. We shouldn't...
Hefin David: 3. Will the First Minister provide an update on Welsh Government support for public transport in the Caerphilly constituency? OQ58067
Hefin David: Just before I ask my question, I'd like to welcome Mr Sean Donovan and his mother Sarah into the public gallery. He will have taken a great deal of interest in the question that was asked by Adam Price and the response from the First Minister. I have also discussed this issue with them today. And one of the key issues that I've raised previously with the First Minister is connection to the...
Hefin David: If I can come back to the premise of the question, which was the regulation of estate management companies, these companies are not well regulated—in fact, they're barely regulated at all. The charges people face can have no cap, and, very often, the work is shoddy, and, where land is not adopted, it's sold to the estate management company, who then charge residents on top of their council...
Hefin David: I'd like to thank the Deputy Minister for all the direct work and involvement she's had with people who have learning disabilities, and also advocates on their behalf. I know she's held meetings across Wales with such people. The question I've got is regarding the point she makes about joined-up services between education, health and social care, and particularly how the action plan is going...
Hefin David: I had the pleasure, in advance of my short debate on autism, ADHD and Tourette's two weeks ago, of speaking to Helen Reeves-Graham on the phone and hearing her story personally, and it demonstrates the difficulty that exists in this community. And particularly one of the things I mentioned in my debate was feeling like a pinball. As a parent of someone with autism, as Jack has kindly...
