David Melding: Thank you for that answer, Minister. Would you join with me in congratulating Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Hamadryad in my region in Cardiff, which is becoming a pioneer for active travel in schools, not just in Wales but the rest of the UK? Their innovations are quite incredible: personalised travel planning for the pupils and parents; park and stride, so that, where a car has to be used, at least...
David Melding: I think the World Health Organization has said that antibiotic resistance could be one of the major health challenges we face, as common infections once again become common killers if we don't get this right and there are fewer new drugs coming on board. One thing we could do is to encourage people, instead of going to the doctor in search of an antibiotic for a common cold or a sore throat...
David Melding: I welcome the tone, especially towards the end, about the need to work together and increase the pace and scale of social home building. But also, across the piece, I think we need to look at our targets and set a really serious ambition for the 2020s. We need to do that now so that we can get all the necessary approaches in place so that we can see an increase at scale, then, in house...
David Melding: How does the Welsh Government intend to safeguard tourism from the EU post-Brexit?
David Melding: I note, at this stage of the development of UK common frameworks, that the aim is to widen engagement and consultation, and indeed the UK Government stated on 3 July that they have developed a more detailed engagement plan, and this is to mandate increasing engagement and to raise transparency. Now, it does seem to me that this is exactly how the system should operate. I note that you have...
David Melding: I'm pleased to contribute to this debate, although I was not a member of the committee when the report was being formulated. I have been very pleased to follow the work as it moved to publication and was then launched, as the Chair has indicated. I think it has been a very important area of work, and the report focuses on very practical ways in which we can improve film and major tv...
David Melding: Deputy Presiding Officer, I hope you'll forgive me for starting in a slightly more celebratory mood because the central purpose of this Bill as far I'm concerned is to extend the franchise to a most important group of people and, for me, the experience of seeing how 16 and 17-year-olds contributed to the 2014 Scottish referendum was real confirmation that this is a positive move. Far from...
David Melding: I know I'm out of time, but can I just record my gratitude, as a former Chair of CLAC, that the recommendations on disqualification will now take forward quite fully the work of that committee in the fourth Assembly? I'm grateful to see that.
David Melding: Will the Member take a point?
David Melding: Well, English, for a legislature, uses the French loanword 'parliament', and in Welsh we use the Latin loanword 'senedd'.
David Melding: First Minister, housing policy has a key role to play in tackling climate change. The UK Government announced yesterday that it will amend building regulations so that the installation of charge points for electrical vehicles will be required on all new housing developments. You may have realised that, when the Welsh Conservative group published its housing strategy, this was one of the...
David Melding: Minister, would you join in congratulating the Assembly Commission with me on the action it has taken? I clambered up to the top of the Pierhead building a couple of weeks ago, with our excellent staff there, some of whom are now expert beekeepers, and indeed I think some Assembly Members' support staff also have joined the programme. I saw our two hives, and they were very active and, I'm...
David Melding: Perhaps I can bring a little calm consensus to this matter. It is important that we strike the right balance here—that we don't put off potential landlords and existing landlords and ladies from making available housing for rent. But we do need a rebalance as well, and the UK Government has been part of a similar approach. I do urge you to remember what Richard Lambert said—who is the CEO...
David Melding: Can I begin by thanking David Rees for the way he Chairs the committee? I think it's a monumental task in a most remarkable period of our political history, and we have a very necessary part to play here in Wales, and David's leadership has been instrumental in getting that committee to work with incredible effectiveness and really deep agreement on many, many issues, which, given the...
David Melding: But Parliament is the national forum of the British state. Now, I know some of you don't sign up completely to that, but just as we are the national forum of Wales, Parliament is the national forum of the British state, and at this time of supreme domestic crisis, to even tolerate others proposing proroguing Parliament as an option to get you over the line of a 'no deal' Brexit is utterly...
David Melding: I fear I can't on a statement.
David Melding: Deputy Presiding Officer, I make this contribution first and foremost as a unionist—I do hope not as one of the last unionists. But it is time, I think, for all unionists to recognise the peril we are in. It's the greatest peace-time crisis since the Irish crisis. The challenge is to achieve a meaningful Brexit that does not leave Scotland, and remainers in England and Wales, embittered....
David Melding: Will the Member give way?
David Melding: I do find it curious that the Brexit Party now is arguing that the one thing this Assembly shouldn't do is debate Brexit.
David Melding: Can I thank the Minister for her statement on this important area of public policy? I'd just like to ask, as the Minister said responses are now being considered, quite how firm is your policy, because I think what you've just outlined seemed to be a very clear path that you want to take. So, I would like to know how contingent it is, and how those consultations may now alter your views, if...
