David Melding: I call on the Minister for Education, Kirsty Williams.
David Melding: Yes.
David Melding: Thank you. Helen Mary Jones to reply to the debate.
David Melding: Thank you. The proposal is to agree the motion without amendment. Does any Member object? [Objection.] There are Members objecting, so I will defer voting until voting time.
David Melding: There will now be a break of at least five minutes to prepare for voting time, and IT support will be available.
David Melding: The Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs to reply to the debate—Lesley Griffiths.
David Melding: Thank you very much, Minister, and that concludes today's proceedings.
David Melding: Minister, the over-50s are the most at-risk group, and the importance of exercise for this group in general health and preserving high levels of mobility, which often decline with age, is really important for your immune system and for your ability to get vitamin D. However, there are many people, I think, who are quite afraid about going out sometimes, and when we are having this message of...
David Melding: Minister, I would say this is a key area, not just for the transition process itself, which has often caused difficulties and gaps, but there are several serious mental health conditions that tend to first present in late adolescence and early adulthood, and therefore the management of these conditions, especially when they first appear, is very key to a patient's long-term recovery. I think...
David Melding: 4. What arrangements are in place to support Welsh farmers through the European transition process? OQ55828
David Melding: Do you agree with me that it is essential for the export of magnificent Welsh lamb that we have a secure market, that we know as soon as possible that that market is there and, as you have said, is mostly in the European Union? And do you fear, as I do, that if we don't get lamb up front and centre of a deal, then less efficient markets in Italy, France and Spain will be serious competitors?...
David Melding: I think this is a very important report. Our creative industries are a growth area for us and an area where we have a track record of excellence going back at least to the 1980s, when S4C was established. And it's something that we were on the verge of taking to another level as well, and focusing it was one of our key growth areas to bring greater prosperity to our economy. So, there's no...
David Melding: First Minister, many areas in the former south Wales coalfield, like the Rhondda, have had a very high level of infection and the population there will be sick for some time to come with long COVID and other related problems afterwards. I'm particularly concerned about how this is going to be managed. What health services and clinics will be available for people, especially if it reduces...
David Melding: 8. What progress has been made since 2016 to improve the quality of the Welsh housing stock? OQ55867
David Melding: Minister, I wonder if you could tell us how you're going to identify those older properties, which are a substantial part of the Welsh housing stock, and, certainly before 1930 and especially before the first world war, very few of those properties are in the hands of social landlords, and yet probably the biggest concentration of low-income families is in that type of housing. They're also...
David Melding: I'm very pleased that we have seen great improvements in the quality of social housing, but there's been poor regulation, both in terms of the regulations themselves—the building regs—and their inspection in much of the private housing stock, particularly denser housing. And I just wonder how confident you are that we do not see in the 2020s, when we will face major demand to build more...
David Melding: It's always a pleasure and a frustration, sometimes, to follow Helen Mary, because she's so inspiring and occasionally infuriating in her remarks, and it's a lovely combination, I would say, to have from one of your opponents. In terms of the furlough, which I think is very significant, we've actually called for something that the UK Government has listened to—our voice, amongst many...
David Melding: 6. Will the First Minister make a statement on the estimated number of rough sleepers in Wales? OQ55919
David Melding: First Minister, I'm particularly concerned about young people in South Wales Central, including Pontypridd, who are entering or attempting to enter the labour market during this period, and I think we have very harsh past experience of young people entering the labour market during a period of economic distress. And I would urge you to look at the training packages and also the funds...
David Melding: Can I thank the First Minister for his answer? And he would have also heard the exchange in the Chamber last week with the housing Minister, and the number of 100 or 101 rough-sleepers who are now on the streets of the towns and cities of Wales is very distressing. I know that over 3,000 or 3,500, I think, people have been helped during COVID into emergency accommodation of one kind or...
