Hefin David: And this is part of the improvements that are being carried out. In order to achieve that, you also need a modal shift. But, if you’re going to achieve a modal shift, that doesn’t happen quickly, and some of the improvements that are being introduced at this point will actually address some of the things that you’ve mentioned. However, my point is that there is political risk involved...
Hefin David: I welcome this legislation as it will undoubtedly make it easier for social landlords—registered social landlords, such as United Welsh, which is based in my constituency—to deliver on the Welsh Government’s affordable housing target. If there’s one thing we need in Wales and in my constituency and in the northern Valleys and in appropriate places, its affordable housing. I also,...
Hefin David: Diolch, Llywydd. On Friday last week, I attended the annual service at the Welsh national mining memorial in Senghennydd, which is in the Aber Valley ward of my constituency, and I had the honour of laying a wreath at the memorial. The service is held every year on or near the anniversary of the Universal Colliery disaster of 1913—a tragic incident that claimed the lives of 440 men and...
Hefin David: Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on how the planning system can be used to build new homes?
Hefin David: 5. Will the First Minister make a statement on patterns of self-employment in Wales? (OAQ51252)[R]
Hefin David: This afternoon, I chaired the cross-party group on small and medium-sized enterprises, and it was our pleasure to welcome the Federation of Small Businesses to launch their report, ‘Going Solo: Understanding Self-employment in Wales’, written by Professor Andrew Henley and Dr Mark Lang. There are a number of recommendations for Government there, but one of the stark issues in the report...
Hefin David: That’s a very thorough answer. The centralised system to coincide with the devolution of teachers’ pay and condition, I have to say, is very welcome. I was surprised it wasn’t mentioned in the Welsh Government press release, because I think that’s a fundamental issue that will be of benefit to supply teachers in these circumstances. So, you are recognising, therefore, which was going...
Hefin David: Darren Millar’s main question is quite timely for me. I have a constituent who is in the sixth form. He is 18 years old and his dream is to go to Oxford and all he wants to do is sit the admissions test. Not only is his conceptual knowledge excellent, he also predicted Trump, he predicted Brexit, he predicted the Corbyn surge and he can give detailed demographic explanations for why these...
Hefin David: I appreciate some of the nuances in this debate today. Communities First has played a role in my area and I don’t recognise the language of failure, because many people in my community will say that Communities First didn’t fail, but actually provided a great deal of uplift to people who live in my community. I’ve seen in the report the evidence of strengths. There’s a lot about the...
Hefin David: Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the use of national indicators in delivering performance improvement for local government?
Hefin David: I'd like to echo the Minister's statements about his predecessor, about Carl Sargeant. One of the lessons I've learnt from Carl Sargeant about how to deal with Ministers was during the election campaign, when I had a difference of opinion with the Government and I came here, on the invitation of Jeff Cuthbert, to meet with Carl Sargeant, and I said, expecting a big row, 'I have a difference...
Hefin David: I would argue that it's important that we address housing need far more, in fact, than we address housing demand. And housing need is those people on lowest incomes who aren't even recognised on the demand curve. Local development plans hopelessly fail to address housing need, and instead deliver expensive executive accommodation in areas like Caerphilly, in the south of my constituency....
Hefin David: 1. Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on Welsh Government plans to improve access to Cadw-maintained heritage sites for local people in their respective areas? OAQ51325
Hefin David: Thank you for that. I'd like to welcome the Minister to his post—a Minister for spreading joy around the nation. [Laughter.] And who better? Earlier this year, I wrote to the Cabinet Secretary, when he was responsible, regarding a Cadw local residents scheme, which you just mentioned. That was because residents in Caerphilly were unable to access Cadw sites on geographical boundary reasons,...
Hefin David: When I write my Hollywood screenplay blockbuster, I will be using the Ger-y-Gors story as an example. We took evidence on 19 January from Duncan and Ray Taylor, and they told us the story, with no telecommunications experience whatsoever, of how they established a mast that delivered broadband. I've been looking on their website, and what they did was negotiated and accessed a number of...
Hefin David: And everybody was still listening.
Hefin David: Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the role of travel plan co-ordinators in promoting flexible working patterns in Wales?
Hefin David: Diolch. I've never fully understood this concept of entrepreneurship, despite having tried to teach it for some period of time in my professional life. The concern I have is where entrepreneurship is wrapped up with the concept of small and medium-sized enterprises, and, of course, when you talk about innovation-driven entrepreneurship, which is what the Cabinet Secretary has raised today,...
Hefin David: It is with some regret, Llywydd, that I raise this point of order. During a debate earlier, the leader of the opposition, from a sedentary position, said to another Member, 'You have taken the shilling.' Would you rule that that is not in order, in particular with reference to Standing Orders 13.9(iv) and 13.9(v)? And, if so, would you give the Member the opportunity to both withdraw and...
Hefin David: I listened earlier to Nick Ramsay's question, which was: what is this budget setting out to achieve? And I think that's been answered, certainly from these benches, and the benches on this side of the Chamber, in delivering the Welsh Government's programme. But also, I would say what it is setting out to achieve as well is limiting the damaging effects of his Government in Westminster. That...
