Mike Hedges: I'm very pleased that, at the last Senedd election, we had a large number of councillors who had been council leaders, like Sam Rowlands, deputy leaders and cabinet members elected to the Senedd—people who know first-hand the importance of local government services and the money needed to run them. I will not always agree with them, but I respect their knowledge and experience of local...
Mike Hedges: The current system means mainly relatively small wards and increased contact between electors and elected. It means that when you go out to get your newspaper, go shopping, visit a local sports club, or walk down the street, you interact with voters. STV is an electoral system promoted by many in favour of a form of proportional representation. It's used for Scottish council elections and...
Mike Hedges: I very much welcome the statement and the announcement. I start off from the belief that everyone in Wales should be paid at least the real living wage, and I think that's something that we need to be pushing in every possible way we can. The second thing I would like to say is that I welcomed the original commitment to introduce the real living wage in this Senedd term, and I'm pleased it...
Mike Hedges: I have a request for two Government statements. First, I'm asking for a Government statement on the provision of 3G and 4G sports pitches in Wales and plans to increase the number across Wales. I cannot stress too much the importance of 3G and 4G pitches, which allow you to play for long periods of time on a pitch rather than getting only two games in in a day, and also allow them to be used...
Mike Hedges: Will the First Minister provide an update on the 21st century schools and colleges programme?
Mike Hedges: I actually believe in rent control, and I don't own any houses apart from the one I live in. With a shortage of rental properties compared to demand, then without controls, rents will increase continually. With large-scale council house building pre-1979, the private rented sector declined. The private rented sector began to grow again after 1989 and is now the second-largest tenure in the UK...
Mike Hedges: Moving on, what is the position of case law from the European Court, such as the well known Bosman judgment? Will they still apply now that we've left the European Union and, if so, for how long? This is an issue of great interest and has major repercussions, not just in football.
Mike Hedges: Thank you, Sam Rowlands. The reason for that, of course, is that they've got greater capacity to get money in from their council tax. Over half the properties in Monmouthshire are above band D; in Blaenau Gwent, well over half are in band A.
Mike Hedges: This debate would be improved if we had alternative proposals, even if only at the level of ministerial budgets, from the Conservatives, who weren't willing to accept any interventions, and Plaid Cymru. It's easy to spend additional money. Perhaps you ought to say where you want to take it from. I will support the budget, but the key question is: what will be achieved for the additional...
Mike Hedges: Will the First Minister provide an update on the use of snares in Wales?
Mike Hedges: I very much welcome the statement by the Minister on the social care regional integration fund. Integrated social care and health, with patients at the heart of provision, has got to be what we're all aiming for. I remember when Jane Hutt launched the first joint social services and health scheme over 20 years ago. I've long called for focusing on preventing illness and hospitalisation....
Mike Hedges: I would like to ask for two statements from the health Minister. The first one is regarding non-resuscitation in hospitals. I've been told by the COVID bereaved relatives group that non-resuscitation has been used without any discussion with relatives. Whatever your view on voluntary euthanasia, involuntary euthanasia must be a cause for concern. Can I ask the Minister for a statement on the...
Mike Hedges: I speak as someone who has long supported free school meals in state primary schools, not just to support local farmers, but, more importantly to me, to improve the health of children and improve educational attainment. Hungry children do not perform very well. But my question is: what is the estimated capital spend necessary to increase capacity of school kitchens and dining halls? And what...
Mike Hedges: Will the Minister make a statement on the development of Welsh-medium education in Swansea?
Mike Hedges: I welcome this statement and hope we can later on this year have a Government debate on procurement. Procurement is one of the most important and powerful levers the Welsh Government can use to help achieve economic growth. Sustainable economic growth, fair work, decarbonisation and supporting the local economy can all benefit from a progressive procurement strategy. The Welsh public sector,...
Mike Hedges: Can I thank the First Minister for his answer? There is serious pollution in the River Tawe, especially as it travels through Swansea. We've previously had questions on pollution in the River Wye, but the Tawe also has discharge, as the First Minister mentioned, from Trebanos treatment works, and waste materials, such as parts of trees and plastic, are causing pollution. I'm told there is...
Mike Hedges: 6. What action is the Welsh Government taking to tackle pollution in the river Tawe? OQ57488
Mike Hedges: I very much welcome the statement. The four regions of Wales, as well as being similar to the ancient kingdoms, have the opportunity to develop regional policy in Wales. I support the framework's priorities and the city and growth deals, the three-way investment agreements, designed to deliver lasting regional economic growth, including the region I live in. I strongly support the creation of...
Mike Hedges: I would like to ask for two Government statements. The first one is for the finance Minister to give an update on the use of financial transactions capital, with the update to include how much has been received, where it has been spent, how much has been paid back to the Welsh Government, and the eligibility of co-operatives to access it. The second statement I am requesting is regarding...
Mike Hedges: Health inequality has been known for over 50 years, when Dr Julian Tudor Hart wrote an article in The Lancet on the inverse care law. The inverse care law is the principle that the availability of good medical or social care tends to vary inversely with the need of the population served. He said: 'In areas with most sickness and death, general practitioners have more work, larger lists, less...
