David Lloyd: It’s a pleasure to reply to this debate, which has been an excellent debate. May I congratulate everyone who’s participated in it? What we have before us is the story of great success in the health service in Wales. Back in the day, when I was a young medical student with a bright future—just a few years ago—we were talking about hepatitis A and hepatitis B and then hepatitis non-A...
David Lloyd: Thank you very much, Llywydd, and I’m pleased to contribute to this important debate on this wonderful document, ‘The Big Picture: the Committee’s Initial Views on Broadcasting in Wales’. As our wise, firm, and mature Chair, Bethan, has already mentioned, we are starting the journey here, because—. The background to this, naturally, is the portrayal of Wales on our networks, such as...
David Lloyd: Now, with the Brexit referendum, article 50, the great repeal Bill and the Wales Act 2017, there’s been a lot of political uncertainty and dangers for us as a nation in all of this. Everyone talks about respecting the result of the referendum, but what is missing is the need to respect the decision taken by the people of Wales in 2011 and the decision to have more powers for this Senedd....
David Lloyd: Henry VIII powers—you clearly need to read them in detail. To return back to the consultation paper on the great repeal Bill, paragraph 4.2 says that Westminster is to take powers back from Brussels, with the risk that they will retain those in devolved areas. Having seen powers rolled back in the Wales Act, we are at risk of losing further powers under the great repeal Bill—agriculture,...
David Lloyd: 5. Will the First Minister outline Welsh Government plans to support individuals who suffer from hearing loss? OAQ(5)0676(FM)
David Lloyd: Thank you very much for that response, First Minister. Further to that, perhaps you will know that the ‘Hear to Meet’ project, presented by Action on Hearing Loss, has come to an end. This means that there will be a decline in support for individuals with hearing loss across Wales. As a result of that, is your Government willing to collaborate with organisations such as the Wales Council...
David Lloyd: Leader of the house, I’m sure that you’d agree that maintaining high standards in our democracy and our electoral system is paramount. I was, therefore, shocked to see the Channel 4 revelations at the end of last week that suggested that a call centre in Neath may have broken data and electoral law when undertaking duties on behalf of the Conservative Party in the recent general election....
David Lloyd: Following the Conservative-DUP deal this week—I don’t know if you’ve heard about that, Cabinet Secretary; and I note your earlier comments to Simon Thomas, but the tidal lagoon is vitally important to Swansea and Wales—will you be specifically making representations to the Secretary of State for Wales on this matter as well, as one of eight Welsh Conservative MPs who must now stand up...
David Lloyd: 5. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the Gower cockle industry? OAQ(5)0154(ERA)
David Lloyd: Thank you for that response, but, although I welcome any efforts to try and establish the cause of cockle mortality in the area, you will be aware that the local cockle pickers and processors on Gower have declared that they have lost confidence in NRW to get to the root of the problem. The saga, as you know—certainly, we’re aware of this on the Gower peninsula—has dragged on for many...
David Lloyd: Leader of the house, you’ll no doubt be aware that the ARCH project and the Swansea bay city deal look to develop Swansea and south-west Wales as a regional centre of excellence in health, building on the success of the postgraduate medical school. Now, current discussions around a major trauma centre for south Wales will potentially undermine all that. Reports last week suggested that...
David Lloyd: May I thank the Cabinet Secretary for his statement on the policy with regard to the historic environment? Many points have already been mentioned by Paul Davies, so I won’t repeat those, but I would like to push you further. You say here, on the second page, a matter that you have already mentioned, that you want to make it easier for local planning authorities to deal with the work in an...
David Lloyd: And the question is coming. There is one question that has already been asked, in my defence, Llywydd.
David Lloyd: It’s worth emphasising that, because it’s consideration alone that people must undertake of this long list of historic place names, despite the fact that, in other countries, such as New Zealand, there are statutory safeguards in place—there is a law to safeguard Maori names, for example—we don’t have that here. So, the question is: can you, Cabinet Secretary, put your hand on your...
David Lloyd: Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on support for ‘Y Cymro’ given current uncertainty around its long-term future? TAQ(5)0192(EI)
David Lloyd: Thank you for that response, Cabinet Secretary. After all, it’s extremely sad that ‘Y Cymro’, the only national newspaper available in the Welsh language, is facing such uncertainty and has had to close—hopefully temporarily—last Thursday. It’s encouraging that there’s a group of people, Cyfeillion Y Cymro, who are interested in its purchase, but, of course, there’s no...
David Lloyd: As has already been said by others speakers, Plaid Cymru is very supportive of this aim to reach 1 million Welsh speakers by 2050, but it’s important to acknowledge that it’s not through a series of short-term policies that we can change the situation of the Welsh language. Indeed, if this ambitious aim is to be achieved, then this strategy has to be one that can withstand political...
David Lloyd: 6. Will the First Minister outline what steps the Welsh Government is taking to encourage individuals to learn new languages? OAQ(5)0724(FM)
David Lloyd: Thank you for that response, First Minister. You may be aware of the Scottish language fair, which is free of charge to the public, and receives official support from the Scottish Government. The event is held for anyone who takes an interest in languages, and it includes seminars and taster sessions on languages and cultural performances in an incredible celebration of world languages....
David Lloyd: Can I thank the Cabinet Secretary for his statement and thank Dr Ruth Hussey for her hard work—her and her team—so far? Would the Cabinet Secretary agree, however, that some matters need urgent action now? We’ve heard some of them from Rhun and others, but, in particular, the recruitment and retention of junior medical staff in our hospitals. Now, once qualified, you stop being a...
