David Melding: I would like to start with areas of what I think are profound agreement, probably, across the Chamber, on this most important of issues, I think—a whole barometer for the sort of civility we have in society, or otherwise. I think rough-sleepers are the most vulnerable, in terms of being so far from secure, suitable housing. I was pleased to hear that from the Minister. While rough-sleeping...
David Melding: Minister, I was encouraged to hear about some of the direct consultation mechanisms you are using to get the views of young people on the curriculum and its development, and I applaud what you've done there. I would like to hear whether anything's been done with the school councils, because they're in a very good place to do some really deep deliberative work where they actually take control...
David Melding: Thank you, Llywydd. Minister, in Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, for non-emergency outpatient appointments, the non-attendance rate is now over 10 per cent. I noticed in England one of the things they do with sending texts—and it may be what we do, but could you just inform me—is that they do provide a rough estimate of the cost of a missed appointment, and then do that on an...
David Melding: Can I thank Hefin for bringing this subject to the Assembly today and really wish the Caerphilly campaign well? Last week, I facilitated the deposit-return scheme machine, which was on display. I think many Members came along and tested it out. And it is really, really easy to use—I can just see us all getting into a habit of using that, lots of small children wanting to put the bottles...
David Melding: 1. What action is the Welsh Government taking to increase the provision of mental health support for young people? OAQ53395
David Melding: First Minister, last week the UK Government announced one of the largest mental health trials in the world to find out what can be done differently to improve young people's mental health and well-being. Three hundred and seventy English schools will take part in these trials, testing different approaches, while nine areas will trial new ways of ensuring children entering care get the mental...
David Melding: Apposite to that, I think the major regeneration for Porth town centre, which is currently being considered by RCT council, includes a new transport hub and station quarter, and that would link into the south Wales metro. We know that we have many cases in Wales where bus and rail stations are in separate locations, timetables are not synchronised and there are restrictions on taking, for...
David Melding: 5. What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the evidence received so far by the House of Commons Welsh Affairs Committee during its ‘Brexit, trade and customs: implications for Wales’ inquiry? OAQ53394
David Melding: Thank you for that answer. I wonder if you read the evidence from representatives of the University of Edinburgh, the Institute for Government and the University of Sussex, where those witnesses expressed considerable reservation on any power for the devolved institutions to have a veto over trade deals, and one of the witnesses expressly warned that that was a potentially dangerous process,...
David Melding: I think it is a matter for the UK Government and the Welsh Government working together, and a particular difficulty, I think, comes from short sentences, and we've seen an increase in the number of people subjected to short sentences, very often for offences that do not include violence against the person, for instance. Obviously, if we use community punishments, there is a much greater...
David Melding: We welcome the introduction of this Bill. It is an important recognition of the status of the Senedd as a legislature, as the Counsel General also indicated. So, it's an important landmark. And I think that those of us who have served—as you have, in the Chair at the moment, Deputy Presiding Officer—since 1999, it's almost like we've been in this huge constitutional convention, when we...
David Melding: On the extension of the franchise, I do think this is a matter that requires careful examination, although there are certainly clear examples around the world of the benefits of lowering the age of voting to 16, or the eligibility to 16. That captures that part of the population obviously that are going to live with the more profound decisions that are taken for them, but also in terms of...
David Melding: What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the impact that current trends in retail sales will have on the wider Welsh economy?
David Melding: Minister, I think this area of public policy deserves a lot of attention and needs to be speeded up. Your first written answer, I think, or written statement, was in December 2016, so, it's well over two years ago that that was made. The public are demanding some action here, because it's not just circus animals. We've all been to agricultural shows and seen the birds of prey there, and, at...
David Melding: Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. Deputy Minister, you'll know that having a safe and affordable home is without any doubt a basic need, and stable surroundings can help maintain health and well-being. So, today, I'm sure you will welcome with me the initiative of Tai Pawb and the Chartered Institute of Housing to publish a report on mental health within the private rented sector. I think it's a very...
David Melding: Well, I certainly welcome what you've said there, Deputy Minister, and your broad support. For tenants, the stress and worry of accruing rent arrears, for instance, can exacerbate existing mental health problems, and for some, of course, it can trigger those mental health problems. And the cognitive and behaviour changes that often accompany mental health problems can make it extremely...
David Melding: I welcome your full-match game today, as it were, as the super-sub—[Laughter.]—and I'm sure you are able to form your own judgments and urge the boss to move on this. It's really significant, I think, that there's unity in the sector, including the organisations that represent the private landlords. And it is an area that is growing—20 per cent or so of people now are in the private...
David Melding: No one noticed.
David Melding: Llywydd, Brexit does not have my name on it, but I do accept the authority of the 2016 referendum and I do not believe that you can overturn a referendum. You have to implement it, and then the likes of people in my position can then work to scrutinise it, adapt it and even seek the repeal of that decision—that is how democracies work. But, I do not underestimate the gravity of our current...
David Melding: But they do implement the jurisdiction—jurisprudence, rather—of the European court. That's clearly what they do, but there are technicalities, you're right—they meet in partnership in the way you describe but, in effect, it is the EU court that determines things. As for a second referendum, what would be gained? Would we get a decisive and different result? Well, that's unlikely...
