Hefin David: I'd like to perhaps pick up where Dave Rees left off. I think that, if we look around this Chamber, the people in this Chamber represent the people of Wales better than perhaps we have seen in previous elections. This was, I believe, the first truly Welsh general election; this was the first Welsh election in which we saw a vote for First Minister and not an eye on what was going on in...
Hefin David: Wouldn't it be better to introduce, in the next 18 months, a Holtham levy to tackle the growing crisis in social care rather than allowing our social care policy to be made in Westminster?
Hefin David: The Welsh Labour manifesto—. Should I first welcome the Minister to her post as Trefnydd and offer my congratulations to her as well? The Welsh Labour manifesto said that, 'We will implement the new Additional Learning Needs Act, to transform the experiences and outcomes for children and young people.' In order for that to be successful, I think it's going to be a huge test of the Welsh...
Hefin David: Will the First Minister make a statement on the coronavirus restrictions in force in the Caerphilly constituency?
Hefin David: Can you guess what I'm going to ask about? [Laughter.] I think the FAW's ineptitude has actually done the service in this Chamber of bringing together the Conservatives, Plaid Cymru and the Labour Party, because we are absolutely united on this. And Delyth Jewell, Laura Jones, Peter Fox and myself and others—and Dave Rees also, for Briton Ferry—have had these conversations. We are deeply...
Hefin David: In the programme for government, the document says that the Welsh Government will ensure that estate management charges for public open spaces and facilities are paid for in a way that is fair. So says the programme for government. These are ordinary householders, in most cases, paying for green spaces that most of us pay for through our council tax. So, the fairest way to do it would be for...
Hefin David: I'd like to thank the Minister, as Rhun did, as co-chair of the cross-party group on long COVID, for your attendance today. I think it demonstrated your seriousness to tackle this issue. I think equally so has been the decision you've taken to make it one of your priorities as one of the first things you do as health Minister. So, it's very pleasing to see that. Some of the issues that were...
Hefin David: That's my speech.
Hefin David: If you take a stroll around the Conservative benches, you can still see, even after all this time, the still-glowing embers of the argument that was left behind by David Melding, the last of the unionists, and isn't he missed today? I think what we are seeing from the Conservative Government in Westminster is an attack on devolution, because Peter Fox mentioned subsidiarity. You cannot have...
Hefin David: 4. What action is the Welsh Government taking to support student mental health in Wales? OQ56601
Hefin David: I met with the National Union of Students Wales last week, and they've been running surveys amongst university students that find that 60 per cent of their members say their mental health is worse than before the pandemic and it's exacerbated social pressures, financial pressures and the academic work that they're facing. As a result, students are at a higher risk of developing mental health...
Hefin David: You won't believe this, Llywydd, but I was awful at sport in school. [Laughter.] I recently played as a member of the Senedd team against the House of Commons/House of Lords, and we absolutely smashed them, and I rather feel it was my pass to Rhun ap Iorwerth that subsequently went to Andrew R.T. Davies, who went straight down in the ruck, and it went out on the left wing for a try, I think I...
Hefin David: The first contribution I made in this Chamber in 2016 was about housing, and it was particularly about Caerphilly's local development plan. I was one, as a Caerphilly councillor, of a minority of councillors who voted against the proposed Caerphilly local development plan in 2016. At the time, my colleague Pred suggested to me I was doing it for political reasons. Believe me, I was doing it...
Hefin David: 1. Will the First Minister provide an update on Welsh Government coronavirus restrictions in south-east Wales? OQ56667
Hefin David: I've had a Facebook question from Rhian Jay, who raises the issue of the NHS vaccination app, and what she says is: 'Is there any idea of when the Welsh NHS vaccination app will launch please? I'm attending an event where I need proof of having had both vaccinations. Having raised it with the health board, they said that you can apply for a certificate in writing or by phone, and you can...
Hefin David: I'm pleased to say, Dirprwy Lywydd, that throughout the pandemic I was able to make contact with Stagecoach and their director for south Wales, Nigel Winter, who is a very, very good person to talk to. One of the things he said was that the bus emergency scheme that the Welsh Government introduced saved the bus industry in Wales through the pandemic. I think the Dirprwy Weinidog, and also the...
Hefin David: I want to see a flexible service to connect communities such as Ystrad Mynach and Nelson, for example. It's important that people can hop on and hop off when they need to. It would also be good to have an app and a phone number to book a bus. A pilot scheme like this is happening in Ebbw Vale at the moment, and that's good to see. It would be great to see that happening in Caerphilly, and we...
Hefin David: As Alun Davies said, there have been problems. Well, let's sort those out before we bring the pilot into Caerphilly, shall we? That's probably the best way to do it. I've been hounding the Minister for a Fflecsi service. Perhaps we can sort the problems out in Ebbw Vale first and then we'll perfect it in Caerphilly. That's the way things should happen. I think the Bill that we are expecting...
Hefin David: Will the Minister make a statement on Welsh Government support for farm diversification in Wales?
Hefin David: Chair, I would have liked to have taken the opportunity today to have nominated Mike Hedges and Alun Davies as joint Chairs of this committee on a job share, and, I have to say, it is disappointing that Business Committee has decided today not to allow a joint Chair to go ahead. I feel that it's an opportunity missed, and I'd like to put that on the record.
