David Melding: Minister, the fire was said to have spread rapidly up the high-pressure laminate panels on the outside of the building, and I think anyone who saw pictures would have been very, very alarmed by the way it did engulf the building and just its rapidity. I'm grateful to Cardiff University, incidentally, for sending us an e-mail, having had notice of this question, on the condition of their...
David Melding: Will the First Minister make a statement on how the Welsh Government works with police agencies to ensure the effective delivery of public services?
David Melding: Can I start by thanking the Minister for her leadership and work and her kind references to me as chair of the ministerial advisory group? But can I also then formally tell Members that I have that interest as we're debating the first annual report? I'm delighted that we do have an annual report and also a website. It was a key recommendation of the Public Accounts Committee that we should be...
David Melding: If I look at safely reducing the numbers of children in care, the Minister's already given the figures, and we've heard from Siân the range of factors that affect this, but the number has gone up, and it's not always clear why that number is increasing. Deprivation; triggers like domestic abuse—and I should say on White Ribbon Day, it's a really important factor and it's something that...
David Melding: 5. Will the Minister make a statement on social care provision in South Wales Central? OAQ54760
David Melding: Minister, I've had a very distressing e-mail from a constituent whose 90-year-old mother was first admitted into hospital on 8 August. The situation was stabilised, and she was physically well enough to go home a couple of weeks later. She's still in hospital. They still have not had a care package to keep her at home, and, as my constituent says, 'Until hospitalisation, mum was going out...
David Melding: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Can I say that I'm very disappointed indeed not to be able to vote for the Bill, and indeed to be voting against it actively? And the reason for that is there are very welcome things in the Bill, which the Presiding Officer has outlined. Although we have a free vote on the issue of extending the franchise to 16 and 17-year-olds, it's something I've been...
David Melding: Can I pay tribute to Lynne Neagle for that speech, but also for the work you've done in this area? I also want to put on record my thanks to Pancreatic Cancer UK for the information drop-in that they organised today, which I know many Members attended and we found the information there to be particularly valuable. Deputy Presiding Officer, over the past 50 years, diagnosis and treatment...
David Melding: 3. Will the First Minister make a statement on the number of people with autism who are studying in higher education in Wales? OAQ54803
David Melding: First Minister, you may remember the unfortunate case last year at Swansea University, where a student was allegedly suspended from her university course on health grounds. Now, I'm very pleased to see that Swansea University and Gower College Swansea have teamed up in a year-long project to support students with autism spectrum conditions as they prepare to make the transition from college...
David Melding: Minister, since 2012 the economic activity rate in Rhondda Cynon Taf has increased from 69 per cent to 75 per cent—much of this, I think, through behind-the-scenes, anyway, active co-operation between the UK Government and the Welsh Government, and I commend you for that work. It seems to me that skills and training are particularly important in achieving these improved figures, and as you...
David Melding: I speak as someone who's not a member of the committee, but I do have the privilege of speaking on housing for the Welsh Conservative group, so I've taken a great interest in this report. Now, it's true that despite a number of good initiatives implemented over the years by the Welsh Government, such as the empty homes good practice guidance, which, I think, was 2010, and the introduction of...
David Melding: 1. Will the Deputy Minister make a statement on the implementation of the Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Act 2015? OAQ54824
David Melding: First Minister, Pancreatic Cancer UK has said it's 'disappointing to see the Welsh Government refusing to acknowledge the fact that pancreatic cancer is a cancer emergency when other UK Governments have accepted the need to act faster when there is a clinical need'. Now, I do welcome what you've just said, because it does seem quite a change in emphasis in terms of rapid access to surgery,...
David Melding: Minister, as you know, the auditor general has said that victims and survivors face a fragmented system that is inconsistent, complex and short term. And he says that progress on delivering on the key aspects of the Act is poor and has not had the desired impact. And he calls for effective collaboration and joint working in key areas, and that we must redouble our efforts to ensure that there...
David Melding: Minister, I think it's very important that we value the role of the voluntary sector in particular in advice giving, because, as you said, they are at the heart of communities, they are accessed by people more readily very often, and it's very important, I think, that we continue to support organisations that have this function and that the city as well realises how important giving help to...
David Melding: Minister, can I commend the work of Healthy Air Cymru, which is the umbrella group campaigning for a clean air Act? And I think if you look at their literature and the campaign material you'll see clearly why we do need an Act to embed the World Health Organization air quality guidelines, to ensure that we mandate a strategy on air quality every five years, and also ensure there are statutory...
David Melding: 3. What efforts are being made by the Welsh Government to restore peatlands? OAQ54822
David Melding: 5. Will the Minister make a statement on Welsh Government support for homeless shelters? OAQ54823
David Melding: Thank you for that encouraging answer. Can I say, Minister, that last month the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service held an international conference of the title 'Manage the Fuel: Reduce the Risk', looking at the risk of wildfires? This conference did focus on land management practice internationally, and some really valuable lessons. There's also the Lost Peatlands of South Wales project,...
