David Melding: Diolch, Llywydd. Leader of the house, can I ask for a statement on the progress that is being made with the cladding safety tests in high residential buildings in Wales? You may know that, last week, a report to the south Wales fire and rescue authority stated that a hotel and a block of flats in Cardiff had not met, I quote, 'combustibility requirements'. This now brings the total of failed...
David Melding: I think this was always going to be a tough negotiation, but the way I read it is that we are moving decisively towards agreement. And I have to say, in terms of how this will be viewed by the historians, I think it will be seen as a classic federal-type discussion, because, whatever you think about the UK Government, it is not treating the devolved administrations—unfortunately, as they...
David Melding: Can I just—? Because we've had a very interesting statement. I think the CLAC report that we'll discuss tomorrow is one of the best reports CLAC has ever produced and we do some heavy lifting or, if I can change the metaphor, we get pretty dirty down in the engine room. But tomorrow's debate I think is very significant and that really is about the governance arrangements we will need for...
David Melding: Can I just start by saying that this is largely positive news? Wales does have much to be proud of, and I do think it is a success for devolution. I remember all the debates way back 20 years ago about what sort of policy differences could emerge, and even in areas where the policy direction is largely agreed, comparing different jurisdictions and their performance could be key to the...
David Melding: I agree with what you just said in terms of promoting positive behaviour is absolutely key, and that we do that in schools—amongst other places, but schools are really important. But I think most public agencies are in a very good place to detect poor behaviour and attitudes, and then also signs of actual violence, because there's such under-reporting in this area. And that's got to be part...
David Melding: Can I commend the work of our Chair, Mick Antoniw, his predecessor, Huw Irranca-Davies, and the whole secretariat, particularly the clerk? I think this is an excellent report. It's succinct, and I think it's already had some impact and leverage. But it requires an awful lot of effort to produce something as powerful as that, and to draw some sort of reasoned argument out of the whole range of...
David Melding: First Minister, perhaps you've noted that, in Scotland, in the referendum on Scottish independence, the number of 16 and 17-year-olds who voted was 75 per cent. That compares to 54 per cent for the age group just after that—18 to 24—and a very similar differential was present in the 2017 Scottish local elections. Do you agree with me that engraining a habit to vote early offers great...
David Melding: I start by saying where we do agree with the Welsh Government on this side of the Assembly, and that's as has been outlined in a statement, and I quote, 'It remains the Welsh Government’s view that the best approach to this issue remains an amended EU Withdrawal Bill which can be given legislative consent by the National Assembly.' And I do agree that this should be approached on a UK basis...
David Melding: There wasn't unanimous support. There was a take-note motion that we did not want to divide the Assembly on because, in the tactics of this, we have been keen that the Welsh Government's attempts to negotiate effective frameworks and effective framework governance get the maximum support from the Assembly. So, we took a very pragmatic decision, but that was not a decision to approve a...
David Melding: I will if the Presiding Officer—
David Melding: Look, there's no way around this. What's been proposed today is that, in whatever it is—20-odd days, or less actually—we would pass some form of continuity Bill. It's going to take nine or 10 months through the Westminster procedure, and we're supposed to do it in 14, 15, 16 days or whatever. I think you need, Rhun, if I may be so bold to say, to look at the big picture here. We should...
David Melding: I assume you've given way. [Laughter.]
David Melding: I apologise. In our view, it's simply not plausible for a UK EU withdrawal Bill to operate if it doesn't get the express consent of this place and the Scottish Parliament. That's the reality of the political situation, and that's what we should rely on.
David Melding: 2. Beth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru'n ei wneud i ddenu myfyrwyr o dramor i brifysgolion Cymru? OAQ51846
David Melding: Cabinet Secretary, students from overseas are worth more than £151 million to the economy of Cardiff alone. You may have seen a new study by the Higher Education Policy Institute that shows the benefits of international students are up to 10 times greater than the cost. So, for places like Cardiff, and other university cities and towns around Wales, this is a really, really important source...
David Melding: I think the reason, Llywydd, this double act doesn't quite work—though it's been very well staged, I know, I grant them that—is that the Vale of Glamorgan is a highly competitive authority politically; it's been run recently by Labour administrations and Conservative administrations, with other parties involved and independent groups also, and they've all had concerns about the funding...
David Melding: 3. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the Welsh Government’s leasehold contract agreement with five major home builders? 152
David Melding: Llywydd, in the past year since the UK Government's announcement of a crackdown on unfair leasehold practices, we have seen this issue become a real focus as well in Wales. Can I welcome the Government's announcement this afternoon? I think it is definitely a good step in the right direction. However, I am concerned that this announcement doesn't come across as an amnesty or a pardon for...
David Melding: Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. In September 2016, a man named Gary had run most of the Cardiff 5 km Race For Victory before collapsing on the roadside in great pain, suffering from a cardiac arrest. Astonishingly, Gary's heart stopped for seven minutes. The first help to arrive at the scene was the Cardiff cycle response unit of St John Cymru, a group of volunteers who were able to get Gary's heart...
David Melding: In 1920, there were 11,000 prisoners in England and Wales. In 1980, there were 42,000 prisoners in England and Wales. Today, there are 85,500 prisoners in England and Wales. We send many more people to prison than our Edwardian ancestors did. I do find that deeply, deeply shocking, and it is something, I think, that we need to look at very, very seriously. I believe that imprisonment is an...
