Mike Hedges: Yes.
Mike Hedges: Very interesting, Darren, but they don't.
Mike Hedges: They don't.
Mike Hedges: Next time I have a parcel you can come with me to collect it; I showed my credit card and they gave it to me. But, since the 1992 election, when 77.7 per cent of the population voted, voter turnout has decreased and remained low. What we need is to get more people voting, rather than trying to make it more difficult for those who marginally want to vote to vote. On changing the electoral...
Mike Hedges: The one action that has improved election turnout is postal votes being provided on request. Unfortunately for democracy, the American Republicans and the British Conservatives want to remove voters from demographics unfavourable to them and to make voting more difficult for those people. Everyone believes that elections in Wales should be free and fair. If we want that, the best way forward...
Mike Hedges: I can't speak on behalf of Clwyd West, but in Swansea East, when you go into the polling station, you often don't have to give your name and they greet you by, 'Hello, Mike,' 'Hello, Huw.' The people in there live in the community; they tend to know the people there. Trying to carry out electoral fraud in Swansea East would be incredibly difficult.
Mike Hedges: And lives.
Mike Hedges: Like most if not all Members of the Senedd, I will be attending remembrance services on Thursday and Sunday. I congratulate and thank the Royal British Legion and others such as the Morriston salvation band and Llansamlet historical society who will be putting on events within my own constituency. A request for the Welsh Government: could you provide a list of events on your website, so that...
Mike Hedges: I also thank the Minister for her statement. First, can I request that the science is explained? It is net zero rather than zero because we exhale carbon dioxide. Carbon is oxidised to form carbon dioxide. We know that carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas because, despite being substantially further away from the sun than Mercury, Venus is hotter. The difference is that Venus has an atmosphere...
Mike Hedges: I'm asking for one statement and one Government debate. I'm requesting a statement on procurement to increase the amount bought from locally based companies. The Welsh Government, and the Welsh Government funded public sector are major purchasers of goods and services. If you add universities, the third sector and social landlords, it becomes a very large purchaser. I'm asking for a statement...
Mike Hedges: Can I thank Sioned Williams for the question and Elin Jones as Presiding Officer for her answer, part of which was going to be my question: do you agree with the following? What I will say, though, are two things: will the Commission, if they have any requests for informal discussions, refer them to either Nick Ramsay or me, who are the representatives of Members in here, so that we can have...
Mike Hedges: Thank you. I welcome this statement and look forward to further economic statements and debate. I very much welcome pursuing a progressive economic policy that focuses on better jobs, narrowing the skills divide and tackling poverty. The greatest economic development tool is education. We need a policy that produces more Admiral Insurances and less LG inward investments. I welcome the backing...
Mike Hedges: I would like to ask for two statements. The first is on the use of medicinal cannabis. In the last Senedd, we debated the provision of medicinal cannabis, and it had a large amount of cross-party support. There is evidence that certain medicinal cannabis products may be useful in treating epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, symptoms associated with cancer and cancer treatments, as well as pain. I'm...
Mike Hedges: First of all, can I thank the First Minister for that response? Thousands of wild and domestic animals are killed or severely injured in Wales every year due to the use of snares. The RSPCA report that the use of snares is still widespread, as many as 51,000 fox snares can be active in Wales at any one time, and there's a lack of compliance with the code. Can I urge the First Minister to...
Mike Hedges: 5. Will the First Minister make a statement on the use of snares? OQ57033
Mike Hedges: Sorry, I just wanted to say: can you add to that the Swansea tidal lagoon?
Mike Hedges: Can I thank the Minister for that response? Whilst last week the major public debate was about safety from COVID, my e-mail account had more contact regarding pollution of the River Wye than it did about anything else. I'm also aware of the pollution of other rivers from agricultural run-off. People are also concerned about run-off from chicken farms and nitrogen and other chemicals going...
Mike Hedges: 5. What measures will the Welsh Government introduce to tackle river pollution from agriculture? OQ56990
Mike Hedges: I would like to thank the Minister for this statement, which I also agree is very timely. I agree with the Minister that we need to develop a more sustainable relationship with the natural world and that the relationship begins in our local communities. We all need to be a part of a collective action to respond to the climate change and nature emergency. We cannot leave it to someone else;...
Mike Hedges: Diolch, Llywydd. The Morriston Orpheus choir's musical director, Joy Amman Davies, has retired this year after 30 years of service with the choir. The quality of singing of the Morriston Orpheus choir is well known throughout the world. Joy was born in Glanamman and won a scholarship to have piano tuition at the Welsh College of Music and Drama before entering Bangor University. Joy joined...
