David Melding: I think we're talking about our democratic culture here and what most people think. These are axial times. It will determine how people think, and most people, I think nearly everyone who voted for Brexit, thought we'd be out a long time before now. That's the reality. I don't like that, but we've had a long time to make a decision, and alas, that's what really is damaging us at the moment.
David Melding: Well, Minister, I have to say I find it a bit rich that you're warning about the disasters that would follow from a 'no deal' Brexit. I agree there would be incredible dislocation and we don't know how deep that would be, and I would never take that risk, but the only way to prevent that is to have a deal. There's only one deal that's been negotiated by the British Government...
David Melding: Minister, I know that, in the international strategy you're developing, you will have regard to 'Selling Wales to the World', the report of the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee, and I think it's really important in developing these export strategies that we realise that, as well as the big companies—they're very, very important—SMEs in higher level high-value manufacture and...
David Melding: I'm very pleased this debate is being held this afternoon and I thank Plaid Cymru for moving it, and I think we do need to state that social housing is an essential component of the housing supply we need. It has frequently in our history led great innovation, it's liberated people and given them homes fit to live in, and it is time we restated the value of the principle of social housing. I...
David Melding: First of all, there's evidence out there, so these are not figures that I've plucked out of thin air, or that you have. I know that you've also been greatly influenced, as I was three years ago, by the report of Professor Holmans. And my broad assessment is that we need about 40 per cent non-market homes and 60 per cent market, which coincidentally seems to be what you're calling for—you...
David Melding: Can I say how much I value the petitioning process? In this Assembly, we've had a particularly strong Petitions Committee and really interesting petitions coming forward. I congratulate the way David outlined the case in very forceful terms. It is right that we discuss these issues that our constituents feel are particularly important and ask ourselves have they seen something in the current...
David Melding: First Minister, one way of promoting social cohesion is to ensure there's full and proper access to culture and arts programmes. I wonder if you've observed some of the Fusion programme, which, in fairness, your Government has promoted to expand access to arts and culture, and the Caerau and Ely Rediscovering heritage project in your constituency is, at this very moment, unearthing new finds...
David Melding: I nominate Janet Finch-Saunders.
David Melding: Minister, I'm sure you'll want to join me in commending the work the Assembly has done in this area, particularly under the leadership of Lynne Neagle in 'Mind over matter', but also Dai Lloyd in the health committee. The simple message is: far, far too many people die as a result of suicide. It's hundreds a year in Wales. We must set targets to radically reduce the number of people who...
David Melding: Minister, I'm encouraged to hear how you're talking to colleagues, because this does seem to me an area for the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 methodology to come in place, because, clearly, you can improve health. The other key thing, if we do, is we improve the environment, because the school run is something that really got embedded in the 1990s. Of course, those of us...
David Melding: I thank the Chair for making the statement and raising these important issues; I just want to amplify two, if I may, to the Minister. The first is how various networks will operate: Creative Europe, Horizon 2020, Erasmus+ and aspects of the European regional development fund that were used for community and creative projects. These networks—I think all of them, but certainly most of...
David Melding: Can I assure you that it causes no pleasure to this side of the Assembly to have to highlight these controversies and note the issues that have restricted NRW since its creation? Because the body's role is critical and its purpose is crucial for the effective management and sustainability of our natural environment here in Wales. Back in 2011, when details of the planned merger of the...
David Melding: Well, it's clear what they've got to—they've got to balance their regulatory powers, which, in fairness, they've exercised, I think, with some purpose, with their commercial ones. Some of the commercial judgments just defy any sort of analysis as soon as anyone looks at them, let alone the auditor looking at it and pointing out the alarming failures in commercial practice in treating...
David Melding: In regard to these two amendments, relating to the court ordering the repayment of prohibited fees, I already have an amendment further into this Bill in group 10, amendment 44, that will achieve this at the same point that a fixed-penalty notice is paid, whoever issues that fixed-penalty notice. Under the Government's amendments in group 9, the licensing authority, Rent Smart Wales, will...
David Melding: Again, I have a lot of sympathy with Leanne's position here, but I will not be supporting this amendment. As I said at Stage 2, in Wales, we're in a unique position to have Rent Smart Wales in place, and the Welsh Government pushed and promoted this body to be transformative in the private rented sector. One of my later amendments—amendment 45 in group 11, which Plaid Cymru supported at...
David Melding: Dirprwy Lywydd, if I could quickly speak to Plaid Cymru’s amendment 64 in this group, which clarifies the uncertainty around Green Deal payments. I recall that there was some confusion at Stage 2, because I too brought forward an amendment in relation to this issue. I decided to withdraw the amendment to avoid any overlap. For similar reasons, I didn't resubmit the amendment at this stage,...
David Melding: If I can discuss the Plaid Cymru amendments in this group, which I'm not prepared to support, because I think that balance is not well-struck between the interests of tenants and landlords. I spoke to these amendments at Stage 2, but I think it's appropriate that I air my opposition to the whole Chamber at this stage. By implementing a 48-hour cooling off period for the holding deposit, as...
David Melding: Can I again place on record why we'll not be supporting Plaid Cymru's amendment 62 in this group? Again, I don't think it strikes the right balance between tenants and landlords, and, as I said previously, trying to build a housing market that is fair to everyone ought to be central to what we are doing. By defining default fees as specifically as this amendment does and by deleting a breach...
David Melding: Object.
David Melding: On 34, we object.
