Mike Hedges: I always say that, Jack Sargeant. It should be noted that this is all happening even though private rents across the UK have increased by far less over the last year than all measures of inflation. Can I agree with one thing of the Conservatives? There are too many empty properties. Having spent most of the last three weeks canvassing and delivering leaflets, it's sad to see so many...
Mike Hedges: Can I thank Plaid Cymru for tabling this debate? I'm also pleased that I am no longer a lone voice raising housing concerns—we're talking about it more and more. Can I just say something in response to what Janet Finch-Saunders said? And I'm quite happy to be interrupted if what I say is wrong. I would say, unequivocally, that no-one wants landlords to increase rents. No-one wants that to...
Mike Hedges: Whilst we can make regulations about the buying and selling of dogs, unless there is a paper trail—or more correctly today, an electronic trail—it will always be open to abuse. Does the Minister agree with me that a good first step would be to bring back dog licences and keep a record of dogs, their buyers and their sellers?
Mike Hedges: I thank the Minister for that answer. I personally would like to commend Swansea Council and local registered social landlords on the work that the have done in decarbonising their new housing. I represent a constituency that has a large number of owner-occupied and privately rented houses, which were built in the nineteenth century. What progress has been made to reduce heat loss from...
Mike Hedges: 2. Will the Minister provide an update on decarbonising housing? OQ57878
Mike Hedges: I welcome the statement by the Minister on devolved public services, and can I join with others in welcoming the living wage in social care? But, will the Minister commit to no exploitative contracts and everyone to be paid at least the real living wage in all devolved Welsh public services? Will the Welsh Government use its procurement powers to exclude from Welsh Government-funded contracts...
Mike Hedges: I very much welcome the statement, and I'm really pleased to see acceptance of national non-domestic rates as an important part of local government income. Of course, pre NNDR, rates were paid by businesses to the local council. Why does the Minister not want to return business rates to local authorities? I am pleased that the Welsh Government supports more regular revaluations. This should...
Mike Hedges: I would like to ask for two statements. I've received a lot of complaints regarding hospital food, not just in Morriston Hospital, which is very near to me, but in hospitals across south Wales. I would like a Government statement on hospital food, to cover quality, quantity, how ward managers are implementing the policy that allows relatives and friends to help those who need help to...
Mike Hedges: As you look around Wales, it is obvious that, in this day and age, Wales now has a huge excess of chapels and churches for its current religious needs. What we have seen in response to this overprovision is the closure of many, in an attempt to not only save money, but also to save some of the really magnificent buildings of the same denomination. The upkeep of these remarkable buildings has...
Mike Hedges: Thank you, acting Presiding Officer. I would like to thank my co-sponsors and those who supported the motion for this debate. Jane Dodds will be responding to the debate. This debate is not about religion, it's about our built heritage. It's about the importance of church and chapel buildings in our community. Members cannot have failed to notice the continuing closure of religious buildings,...
Mike Hedges: Morriston Hospital A&E is the main A&E centre for eastern Carmarthenshire, especially the Amman valley, as well as Neath Port Talbot and Swansea. A&E in Morriston is very busy and there are regularly several ambulances waiting outside. Does the Minister agree that we need to get those who are not accidents or emergencies seen by either their GP or a pharmacist, and can the Minister indicate...
Mike Hedges: As mentioned by the Minister, I asked a question on this to the Trefnydd yesterday. Can I thank the Welsh Government for their very prompt action? I read the Minister's statement yesterday. I welcome the decision to serve proceedings via judicial review on BEIS. This has the potential to seriously affect the employment of people living in Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend, as you know...
Mike Hedges: I'm asking for a statement from the Welsh Government following the decision of the High Court yesterday not to accept the injunction it applied for in relation to ensuring the power can stay on at Baglan Energy Park until a new connection has been completed. Many of my constituents are employed in the numerous businesses that are based in the energy park, and this decision now puts their...
Mike Hedges: Would you ask schools just to set the colours that they want children to wear, rather than making it complicated?
Mike Hedges: How could one think that not feeding children was a good idea?
Mike Hedges: I obviously support free school meals to all children in state primary schools, and await the plan to extend to secondary schools. The increase in energy costs and food costs will have a devastating effect on children living in low-income families. It is inevitable that some children will be cold and hungry during the next year. Spending a night in a cold bedroom, not being adequately fed and...
Mike Hedges: I, again, also very much welcome this debate. Firstly, I want to address the problems faced by schools. The local government settlement is a good one, but one year's increase cannot negate over 10 years of austerity. While school budget allocations in most councils are yet to be finalised, the expectation is they will go up in line with council expenditure. This is different to the increase...
Mike Hedges: The major cause of poverty is low pay and irregular hours. Does the Minister agree with me that we need the cruel cut to universal credit reversed and an end to exploitative contracts—fire and rehire—and for everyone to be paid at least the real living wage?
Mike Hedges: What assessment has the Minister made of how many staff of Welsh Government-funded bodies are employed on less than the real living wage?
Mike Hedges: First of all, can I thank the Minister for her statement and welcome the second supplementary budget? I just want to make two very brief points, both following on from things that have been said earlier. On 3 February, the UK Government announced measures to help with the cost of living in light of the rise in the energy price cap. This included £150 council tax rebate from April 2022 for...
