Mike Hedges: Carwyn Jones.
Mike Hedges: 2. Will the First Minister make a statement on the Swansea Bay City Region? OAQ(5)0023(FM)
Mike Hedges: May I thank the First Minister for that response? I think that we both agree that Swansea bay city region has a clear direction of travel. I believe in the importance of city regions as economic drivers. Cardiff has had agreed funding for its city deal. Can the First Minister provide an update on funding for the Swansea city region, including the city deal?
Mike Hedges: I had begun to fear that Wales would never again qualify for a major championship in my lifetime. I was one when they qualified in 1958; most Members in this Chamber probably weren’t born. But it’s a tremendous achievement for Wales to get to a major tournament, and I’m very, very pleased that they have done so. I think that we need to look at it not just as being good for morale and...
Mike Hedges: What is Wales's projected housing need over the next five years?
Mike Hedges: There is a substantial need in Wales for good-quality housing, not least in Swansea East. I would like to ask for a statement by the Minister with housing as part of their portfolio on how they intend to increase the availability of social and co-operative housing, including support for councils such as Swansea building new council houses?
Mike Hedges: First, can I declare an interest? I have a daughter who attends Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Bryn Tawe and a granddaughter attending Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Tan-y-lan. I welcome the report and the commitment of the Welsh Government and the Minister to the Welsh language. I believe that education is the key to the continuation of Welsh as a community language. I am pleased with the growth of Welsh-medium...
Mike Hedges: Of course it’s a huge gamble to have income tax devolved without either control of macro-economic policy or without protecting income. Welsh income tax is affected by decisions at Westminster. We know it fell by £440 million between 2007-08 and 2009-10, none of which was the responsibility of the Welsh Government. Does the First Minister agree that, if taxes are devolved, we need a mixture...
Mike Hedges: No.
Mike Hedges: I’m glad the Conservatives have finally recognised the importance of local government. For those who’ve been here for the last five years, we’ve heard them attempt to take money out of local government and give it to health, the equivalent of buying a car, not maintaining it, but spending money on repairs. Spending on sports facilities, environmental health and elderly care helps keep...
Mike Hedges: Can I nominate Julie Morgan?
Mike Hedges: I second Jayne Bryant.
Mike Hedges: 6. Will the Minister make a statement on the use of SQuID for purchasing by local authorities? OAQ(5)0001(FLG)
Mike Hedges: Can I thank the Cabinet Secretary for that response and managing to get out what SQuID actually stands for much better than I could have done? I’m going to carry on with SQuID, though. [Laughter.] SQuID is an excellent scheme that allows smaller contractors to compete across a range of projects, and Welsh Government policy is that all local authorities should use it. A survey by the...
Mike Hedges: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Can I first of all thank Rhianon for giving me the opportunity to speak in this? In Swansea East, two replacement secondary schools and one replacement primary school have been built. One replacement primary is under construction and planning has been applied for another replacement secondary school. Demountables have been replaced by permanent buildings....
Mike Hedges: 5. Will the First Minister make a statement on proposed social housing developments in this Assembly term? OAQ(5)0086(FM)
Mike Hedges: Can I first of all thank the First Minister for that response? I believe in the importance of social housing; I have many of my constituents on the council house waiting list at the moment. I also want to stress the importance of ending the right to buy so that councils are able to build again without the fear that those houses will be sold very, very quickly. Can some of the funding...
Mike Hedges: Taxation exists to pay for public services. It’s very important if we are to have high-quality public services that we have a taxation system that works. It’s not there primarily as a means of economic development; it’s there to get money for services that we all rely on. The two taxes proposed to be devolved on 1 April 2018 raise limited income. The policy intention is to continue to...
Mike Hedges: What is the Welsh Government's position on the optimum size for key stage 1 classes?
Mike Hedges: Of course, when pupils get to school, they have to make their way around the school. A number of children have mobility difficulty, some are in wheelchairs, but some also have difficulties in making their way round the schools. How many schools are not fully Disability Discrimination Act compliant? What is the Welsh Government doing to ensure that they are?
