Hefin David: I'm being told by the Dirprwy Lywydd that I can't. But the last thing I'd say is that this is just part of a bigger picture, and I think we also need—I say to the First Minister, when representing us to Westminster—we need a federalised UK as well. I think we need a federalised system across the UK with regional Parliaments in England that recognise devolved power, but we need a system of...
Hefin David: More, absolutely more. And I can see the First Minister nodding away vigorously there. [Laughter.] I've had conversations with Members, as recommended by the Llywydd in the previous debate. I've had conversations with Members across the Chamber. I've spoken to the leader of Plaid Cymru and to Siân Gwenllian today, I've spoken to Jayne Bryant, and one of the things that Jayne Bryant said to...
Hefin David: I'd like to take the Chamber back to 5 May 2016, and particularly a living room in Hengoed, where I was pacing the floor with—it was the evening of the count; the polls had closed and I was very tired, and I'd had a shower, and you know what it's like—pacing the floor with BBC Wales on the telly and academics from Cardiff University looking far too happy that the BBC had announced...
Hefin David: I dare him to make that speech in front of the Youth Parliament.
Hefin David: I'd like to know the Brexit Party's position—. We know the Brexit Party's position on Europe but not much else. Is it the Brexit Party's position now to rule out ever taking up the UKIP policy of abolishing the Assembly? So, you're absolutely not in favour of ever abolishing the Assembly.
Hefin David: Is the Minister concerned that whatever you do with Help to Buy, you're still putting public money in the parasitic claws of big housing developers, who could simply sell their overpriced new builds for less?
Hefin David: I've previously raised the visit of Circus Mondao to my constituency, which happened just a couple of months ago. I would say to Siân Gwenllian that I first got to know Linda Joyce-Jones when, as a county councillor, a wild animal exhibit visited my council ward. At that point, I wrote to Rebecca Evans, who was then the Minister responsible, and we had some dialogue about this. So, it's...
Hefin David: On Wednesday last week, Lloyds Banking Group announced that they were closing their branch in Bargoed in my constituency. Previously, HSBC have pulled out, NatWest have closed their branch in Ystrad Mynach, and Barclays have closed their branch in Nelson. We are seeing a desertion of the northern Valleys by the commercial banks. Only a few weeks ago, we held, with the Welsh Government, in...
Hefin David: 8. Will the First Minister make a statement on how a community bank for Wales would benefit communities in Caerphilly? OAQ54232
Hefin David: Can I raise a point of order?
Hefin David: Standing Order 13.10.
Hefin David: Under Standing Order 13.10, 'A Member must comply with any directions given by the Presiding Officer', and you required Michelle Brown to withdraw a statement she made, and she didn't do that.
Hefin David: But on a wider issue, the concerns on this side of the Chamber were to do with the fact that the things that she was saying didn't reflect what was in the report, and when Lynne Neagle, as Chair of the committee, was making the statement, Michelle Brown wasn't listening to what Lynne Neagle was saying. So, with the greatest respect, there's no wonder that erroneous statements are going to be...
Hefin David: I've already made it clear in this debate that I don't share the wholly negative view that's been expressed by some in the Chamber, but, nonetheless, it was the case that universities did seem reluctant to give evidence to committee and express those opinions. Why would that be the case? If the picture is so good, why have they been so reluctant to speak to us?
Hefin David: Will you take an intervention?
Hefin David: I'm not looking to attack anybody at all. I just feel that the tenor of the debate is becoming wholly negative about the Welsh bac, when, in fact, the evidence we took was more nuanced than that. I think what Michelle said was wholly on the side of negativity, whereas, in fact, we saw a lot more positive views as well.
Hefin David: I think the Chair of the committee, Lynne Neagle, encapsulated perfectly the views of the committee on some of the key issues that we raised, and there was a very strong degree of specificity on the issues that we felt were pertinent to this. Therefore, I won't go back over those things but will just pick up some recommendations. But I would say, as a child of the 1980s, 'Bacc to the Future'...
Hefin David: Am I right in thinking that the evidence we received said that a national JTA and regional JTAs would be a step too far, and would be duplicating themselves?
Hefin David: Yes.
Hefin David: Yes, and the local authority turns it down on those very grounds, it goes to appeal and the Planning Inspectorate overturn it on appeal, and then the Minister approves the appeal because the Minister is concerned that, if she doesn't approve it on appeal, it will be subject to judicial review and the planning inspector's view will hold sway in those circumstances. That's the difficulty...
