David Melding: Diolch yn fawr, Lywydd. Can I thank everyone who has taken part in what I think was a very constructive, insightful debate? And lots of common themes have emerged. Can I just start with Jeremy Miles? I think this point that technology can out-trump geography is correct, but I think the other side of that is that it has made all of our urban areas a part, then, of the actual cities we’re...
David Melding: 2. Will the First Minister make a statement on the provision of bespoke mental health services for former armed services personnel? OAQ(5)0408(FM)
David Melding: First Minister, can I welcome what you’ve just said there about preserving the service. You are actually leading the way in the UK, and I commend you for that. But as we now review this service that has had a lot of initial success, I think we are perhaps too reliant on self-referral—that seems to be one of the things that has come through—at the moment. And I think one key objective...
David Melding: Can I make it clear I’m speaking as an individual, rather than representing the Welsh Conservative view on what I’m going to say? It’s not particularly interesting, I suspect, but—[Interruption.] I’ve now obviously—[Interruption.] I’ve now raised expectations. [Laughter.] Can I just say, on extending the franchise to 16 and 17-year-olds, I warmly welcome this, if it’s going to...
David Melding: 5. What policies are in place to increase biodiversity in marine environments? OAQ(5)0090(ERA)
David Melding: Cabinet Secretary, when do you expect the marine protected areas steering group to publish its report on improved management?
David Melding: Thank you for that very pithy answer, Cabinet Secretary. [Laughter.] It was—[Inaudible.] The last piece of work done—. You did commission, or your predecessor commissioned it in March 2014, so it would have taken them a little over three years, alas, and the last major piece of work was done by Natural Resources Wales’s predecessor, the Countryside Commission for Wales, and that said...
David Melding: And it should be a priority and I think we’ll all be reassured when you deliver on that. Many experts and stakeholders believe that MPAs need a more spatial approach rather than being species or habitat specific. Furthermore, many also argued for non-extraction areas. Is this going to be the likely direction of policy?
David Melding: Thank you for that, Cabinet Secretary. The Welsh Government supports the UN Convention on Biological Diversity and that commits us to halting the decline in biodiversity by 2020, and then starting to reverse that decline. I read just recently about the fall in the numbers of sewin in Welsh rivers and seas. A mark of Wales in many ways—sewin. It does bring home how vigilant we need to be in...
David Melding: The crucial thing here, Cabinet Secretary, is that this power station will now keep generating power into the medium term to meet peak demand. So, it’s part of the power-generating infrastructure and people must be reassured that these high standards—or higher standards, anyway—are followed as a matter of course, and don’t just suddenly come into the public domain when particular...
David Melding: Cabinet Secretary, it’s often said that play is the work of children, but, in deprived areas, many children just do not have access to safe playing areas. A generation or so ago, they would often have played on the street. Even that is now not an option. And, you’re right—the Welsh Government has a really good record in this area. But I think one weakness is perhaps that it hasn’t got...
David Melding: I declare my interest as the Chair of the ministerial advisory group on outcomes for children. Can I welcome the decision of the Public Accounts Committee to carry out a comprehensive piece of work on services for looked-after children? I think this will help the ministerial advisory group in its work to advise on how a national plan and programme can be developed, with the aim of producing...
David Melding: Like Jenny Rathbone, I’m very concerned about congestion in our cities, particularly Cardiff, and the sheer inefficiency with which we allow current traffic flows. Obviously, we need to do more in terms of public transport. We need to build on what we have and ensure that other schemes are there to get people off the roads. Not driving single journeys with just one passenger would improve...
David Melding: What discussions has the First Minister had with the other devolved administrations on the establishment of a council of Ministers and independent arbitration mechanisms?
David Melding: Diolch yn fawr, Lywydd. This is not a debate about whether we should stay in the EU. We’ve all moved on from that. I bitterly regret the result, but the result is the result. Now, we have a common objective, and that is achieving a successful Brexit. There are challenges that face the UK and Wales in that context. I think some of the mechanisms of Government and inter-governmental work in...
David Melding: Well, I think you've rather amplified my anxiety, rather than done anything to calm it. [Laughter.] Can I just say this? I think some form of mechanism, perhaps a bit like the British-Irish Council, needs to occur between the UK Government, with the devolved Governments involved, and the EU institutions. I think that type of process would send a very positive signal that we do want to be...
David Melding: Cabinet Secretary, as the chair of two governing bodies, I often think that teachers have a similar working lifestyle to us. They need to do a lot of preparation. They have to do a lot of work in the evening and in what people refer to constantly as the holidays. But, sometimes, you need to have that protected time—when we are in the office environment but when they are in the school—so...
David Melding: I’m delighted to support this initiative. I’d just like to talk about the strength of the voluntary sector in this area, because there is so much to draw upon that I think makes this proposal even more viable in terms of improving policy in this area. Can I talk about St John Cymru in particular? I’m proud to be associated with that marvellous charity, and I am indeed wearing their tie,...
David Melding: I’m really pleased to take part in this debate this afternoon, because I’ve had a great interest in FE education throughout my time as a Member of the Assembly, and I’ve raised these issues in the past because it is sometimes the forgotten part of the education sector, but it’s hugely important to the Welsh economy. As we’ve heard, it allows students to acquire vocational skills,...
David Melding: First Minister, as Cardiff continues to create jobs and attract very many visitors, we are seeing more and more congestion on the roads. I notice that there’s now a proposal to examine the feasibility of using the Taff and the bay as our main water arterial routes around the city—already popular for tourists, but it might have a commercial application as well in moving commuters. Is the...
