David Melding: So much for the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.
David Melding: I'm delighted to make my first contribution as the new culture and heritage spokesperson for my party, following in the great example of the person now chairing our proceedings; I think that's an elegant link. Can I say, Minister, that for 12 most distinguished years, you sat in that chair and you promoted the concept of constructive challenge, and that's the type of relationship I think that...
David Melding: Talking about Neath abbey, I'm obviously pleased to see the reference to the Welsh places of worship forum. You referred to this and the incredible heritage we have with chapels. I think something like one a week opened in the nineteenth century—5,000 or more places of worship. One of the great expressions of the advance of evangelical Christian faith, and it's something we should be...
David Melding: Cabinet Secretary, I welcome this initiative, but it's taken us a long time to design, build and maintain roads to this sort of standard, and I just wonder why we still have a fairly selective approach. I just wonder whether the improvements planned between Dowlais Top and Hirwaun will be part of this solution as well, because roads are a huge intervention in the natural environment,...
David Melding: What I don't understand, when you say you are not a climate change denier, is that we know there's twice as much carbon in the atmosphere now as there was before pre-industrial levels, and you've got to go back many millions of years before there was enough volcanic activity, presumably, to have reached a similar level of carbon. We know that. Nearly all that additional carbon is man made,...
David Melding: Friendly fire. [Laughter.]
David Melding: Would the Member give way?
David Melding: I campaigned hard for us to remain in the EU, and I will join the campaign to get us back in the day after Brexit becomes a reality, because that's when a democratic response is possible. Public opinion has not shifted at all in the time since the vote, and all these arguments have been rehearsed repeatedly. People still stick to the judgment they made in that referendum.
David Melding: The commissioner also said 'the Black Route is particularly weak...on the criteria set out in the Well-being of Future Generations Act'. I think this is a key moment. I'm quite neutral on what the decision should be; I think there are arguments on both sides. But it's clearly going to be a key moment for the application of this Act for long-term projects and policies, and I do hope the...
David Melding: Presiding Officer, can I also record my sympathies to those who have been affected in any way by what will be seen as adverse outcomes that could have been, possibly, prevented? Obviously, the Cabinet Secretary's quite right: we must await further examination of the evidence. I do think that, when an event like this occurs and requires investigation—and this is really as a result of...
David Melding: Cabinet Secretary, can I refer you to a report delivered to the Royal College of Midwives's annual conference last week? This report found that midwives, despite being specifically trained to recognise domestic abuse, often didn't realise when they were themselves the victims. One of the key recommendations to come out of the research was the need for specific policy to support staff who may...
David Melding: 1. What assessment has the Commission made of the Assembly's participation in the 2018 National Eisteddfod in Cardiff Bay? OAQ52715
David Melding: I was delighted to see the popularity of the National Eisteddfod, with very many people visiting the event for the very first time. Having the Lle Celf in the Senedd seemed to be a very appropriate use of the building, and I would be interested to hear about the broader benefits that it brought to the Assembly.
David Melding: Today, we mark World Homeless Day. Since its foundation in 2010, World Homeless Day has been observed on every continent, with the obvious exception of Antarctica. The purpose of World Homeless Day is to draw attention to homeless people's needs locally, and provide opportunities for the community to get involved in responding to homelessness, while taking advantage of the stage created by an...
David Melding: I realise that these Standing Orders will pass, and for the efficiency of what we need to do, I think we have to accept that. However, it would have been much better if we were amending this afternoon Standing Order 25 to accommodate the new needs that are on us, in relation to taxation powers. In response to the Business Committee's preference, the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs...
David Melding: This process has been made even more convoluted by the reporting mechanisms that the Government has committed to. I won't bore the Assembly with them all, but it seems to say there should be a reporting mechanism, but the whole committee is not involved in it, just the Chair. Whilst I have no doubt that Chair will be diligent in the exercise of his duties, this is not robust procedure. I...
David Melding: First Minister, I do agree that housing is an asset like no other, really, and has to be treated with its social dimension very much in mind. For this reason, I do agree that Government can look at policies like a premium on the council tax. Where you do that, however, shouldn't it also be, at the very least, the guidance that any extra revenue so generated is then reinvested in affordable...
David Melding: I welcome the continuation of this programme, and I am pleased to see that it's now being opened to the private sector. I think when it was announced last year there was a general feeling around the Chamber that this was a very positive development, and I see no reason to change that initial assessment. I particularly welcome the emphasis on building design, because if we are to build for...
David Melding: Will the First Minister make a statement on the support that is available for housing adaptations for older people?
David Melding: Cabinet Secretary, I've served as a school governor since 1992, and I've always been privileged to work with the most outstanding senior management teams. I do notice in the independent review that has given you advice on how these powers may be used that the way headteachers are employed could change radically, so that they're employed on a regional and national basis. Now, I wonder how that...
