David Melding: Minister, the infection rate known as 'R' is below 1 because of the lockdown and vigorous social distancing. It seems to me that the only way it remains below 1—and in Germany we're already seeing that is a formidable challenge—is if we can test and trace extensively. But we're still quite vague on what that system is going to look like. I know in England they're aiming to recruit 18,000...
David Melding: I have to say that I think this is quite an ambitious Bill, and there are aspects of it that I do very much favour. I would have enjoyed the prospect of trying to work genuinely in the fullness of legislative time with proper consultation—we heard John Griffiths say that many stakeholders just couldn't engage in the timescale that was given. But, I think there's a really good, important...
David Melding: Llywydd, thank you very much for calling me. Am I being heard?
David Melding: Thank you, sorry. I had 'unmuted' flash up on my screen. This is a very important constitutional Bill. We've heard that it's been six years in the making. It's a long time for the Government to get its priorities together and now we are going to see, it seems, a very truncated legislative process, despite the fact that the three committees that looked at this Bill made extensive...
David Melding: Minister, that's an encouraging answer. And, at the moment, when we're dealing with the coronavirus, I think it's important to realise that there are historical events that can be instructive, like the Spanish flu epidemic, called 'Spanish' because Spain wasn't under reporting restrictions, as it didn't participate in the first world war. And I heard Professor Sir Deian Hopkin say on Sunday...
David Melding: 2. Will the Minister make a statement on the materials and resources available to teach Welsh history in schools? OAQ55267
David Melding: Can I welcome your statement, particularly the promise to bring forward more details on how rough-sleepers are going to be helped? They must be the most vulnerable group in society and this adds great fear and misery, potentially, to their situation and it's right that we ensure the highest resource we can make available is made available for that group of people. I only have one...
David Melding: I think this is an important debate, and we in the Welsh Conservative group will be enthusiastically supporting the motion. Can I start by paying tribute to Peter Jackson, the highly respected journalist who first wrote about this story, in The Rugby Paper—it's not a very original title, but it was a very important story. [Interruption.] And it's a good paper, indeed. I think the key point...
David Melding: Minister, like Llyr, I was looking at the data for 2018-19, and it is quite disappointing. It's a challenging area—empty homes in the private sector and asking local authorities to use their various financial mechanisms to get some of these homes back in use—but there's a variation in performance. The Isle of Anglesey brought 12 per cent of their private properties that were not in use...
David Melding: There is a case to be made, and you make it strongly, but commissioners and organisations like the new citizen voice body are there on scrutiny and accountability—naturally, the legislative side, because that's our role as well as legislating, to hold the executive to account. What you are doing by having, nominally, these appointments, is putting them firmly on the executive side, at least...
David Melding: Will the First Minister make a statement as to what measures are in place to encourage small and medium-sized house builders back into the Welsh market?
David Melding: I'm grateful to the Member for giving way to this Burkean—of course, the great enemy of Dr Price. [Laughter.] I remember Brian Groom writing a piece on the top-10 Welshmen in the Financial Times, and I wrote to the FT, saying, 'Where's Dr Richard Price, the inventor of the actuarial scheme, the adviser to Alexander Hamilton on how to run a national debt? Not in the list.' And, in fairness...
David Melding: It's a pleasure to take part in this debate. I think it's an important subject and I do commend the Government for at least developing an international strategy. It's taken a while, but I do think it should be a very core part of the Welsh Government's activities and we should spend time reflecting on it and suggesting areas where it can be improved. I just want to talk about a couple of...
David Melding: If I may change to another subject—a very important concern—and that's whether you intend to meet with the residents at Celestia, the housing development on our own doorstep. I met with a group on Friday, and I know they'd be pleased to welcome you. The complexities of this case I do think make it something of a test case. The whole credibility of this style of development will be...
David Melding: Of course, Minister, if we increase supply in the market sector, particularly by bringing more competition and small and medium-sized enterprises in, then we would hope to see the price of houses steady, and make them, in that way, according to classic economics, more affordable. But, I think you're right in terms of, there's a lot of confusion about affordable housing—the...
David Melding: Deputy Presiding Officer, I rise with some trepidation, given the slightly dramatic exchanges earlier, but if I can pursue my duties here of scrutiny. Does the Minister still believe that the target of building 20,000 affordable homes over the Assembly term will be met? By my calculation, you've got 6,500 to go in 13 months or so. And where is the current shortfall? Is it more with social...
David Melding: Minister, I do believe we have to be led by the science, and that science accords with the accepted international standards. And we have no way of measuring if we move away from that, and just allow a decision on other factors. I think we need to strip out any sort of national battles here. The Severn estuary is managed as an estuary. There are dumping grounds on each side, in terms of the...
David Melding: Can I thank the Minister for that answer? You may have heard earlier that I asked the First Minister a question about the Cardiff young person's supported accommodation partnership, which is being led by the Salvation Army, but has Taff Housing Association in it, and the Church Army also. And that was encouraged, that partnership approach, by Cardiff Council. And it seems to me that's a...
David Melding: I thank the First Minister for that answer. I wonder if you would join with me in congratulating the Salvation Army, as the lead agency joining with Taff Housing Association and the Church Army, to create the Cardiff young persons' supported accommodation partnership, which was launched in the Pierhead last week. This partnership has been commissioned by Cardiff Council, I think as an...
David Melding: 5. Will the First Minister make a statement on Welsh Government policies to tackle youth homelessness? OAQ55173
