Mike Hedges: Will the Minister make a statement on developing the well-paid economic sectors in Swansea?
Mike Hedges: If you have a disability, you are more likely to be unemployed, and if you're in employment, you're more likely to be on the minimum wage. That's the reality for people with disabilities in Wales today. Whilst there are organisations like Barod—a community interest company based in Swansea, specialising in innovative training and information, where the owners and the workforce are an equal...
Mike Hedges: The European Union would demand it, because that would stop goods entering into the European Union across that border. The European Union works on having control of goods outside the European Union coming in.
Mike Hedges: I'm not sure that I agree with your statement that we're locked in poverty because of the UK system. I would argue that we're locked in poverty due to the capitalist system, but that is something that perhaps you wouldn't agree with. But I think that we have a problem with poverty and we need to address it. Finally, the other Plaid Cymru policy of independence and staying in the EU, if the UK...
Mike Hedges: It's always nice to find out you were right. I have said continually since 2011 that austerity is a political not an economic policy. I'm sure the Conservatives would like to apologise to public sector workers and users of public services for the austerity measures that have slowed down the economic growth and led to a mass use of foodbanks and the increase in homelessness. Just to help the...
Mike Hedges: No, a reduction in income tax collected because something happened that was the decision made by the Westminster Government, over which the Welsh Government had no control.
Mike Hedges: Can I thank Nick Ramsay for taking this intervention? Can I also thank him for being the first person to use the name Senedd for this institution? Nick, the question I really want to ask you—I hope you can answer it—is: in the command paper it says 'no detriment'. Does that mean that if actions take place at Westminster that cause a reduction in the amount of money coming into Wales that...
Mike Hedges: I would like to ask for two Government statements—firstly, on the use of supply agencies to provide supply teachers to schools. This, to me, is a very serious social justice issue. I believe supply teachers are being exploited. I believe that we need to have a public sector solution rather than supply teachers being at the mercy of private supply agencies. The second statement I'm...
Mike Hedges: I thank the Minister for that response. The mutual investment model costs more than borrowing by the Government. If that were not true, it would be the preferred method of borrowing. It is effectively private finance initiative without facilities management. On a low-risk project, with an estimated additional cost of 3 per cent for borrowing, 5 per cent for profit, and 2 per cent for the...
Mike Hedges: I think there are serious problems with flooding. Minister, would you agree that you're not going to solve the problem by just spending money and putting up higher and higher walls; the solution has got to be to find places for the water to go. And I talk often about the one on the River Tawe, where the water floods into a flood area, which is just land. Surely, if you're going to spend...
Mike Hedges: 8. Will the Minister provide an update on the mutual investment model? OAQ54690
Mike Hedges: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Can I start off by saying I welcome the statement? Can I also say that what local government most needs is a financial settlement that allows you to fulfil the needs of the communities served? And whatever the Bill has—and there are lots of very good things in the Bill—it's the financial settlement that is the real driver for local government. Three...
Mike Hedges: I think the percentage might be off, but the absolute number voting will increase.
Mike Hedges: Just three very quick points. Isn't it best to give it a name it's going to be called? The word 'Senedd' is the word that's going to be used. Does any person in here believe that Senedd.tv is going to be called 'Senedd Cymru Welsh Parliament tv', or do you think it's going to stay as Senedd.tv? In terms of bilingualism in Wales, I've never seen the word 'eisteddfod' ever translated. People...
Mike Hedges: This year is the two hundredth anniversary of John Humphrey's birth. He was known as 'God's architect' for the chapels he designed, including Tabernacle in Morriston. The number of chapels he designed or remodelled has been estimated at between 30 and 44, and they were built across mid and south Wales, between Llanidloes, Pentre Rhondda and Carmarthenshire, whilst most were built in Swansea....
Mike Hedges: I very much welcome the statement by the Minister, and the plan. We have to look at it all against a background of global warming and rising sea levels, and, unless we act quickly, further global warming and further rising sea levels. It's important that Welsh seas are clean, healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse. I welcome that the Welsh Government recognises the economic...
Mike Hedges: Can I thank the Minister for that response? Perhaps I should declare I am a White Ribbon ambassador, thanks to my friend Jack Sargeant, who sent me all the information to become one. But when I speak on issues like these, it is much more as the father of a 21-year-old woman than as a politician. Violence against women is always unacceptable. We all need to stand up and speak out when we see...
Mike Hedges: Thank you for that answer, First Minister. Every summer, children go hungry. many parents lose 10 free meals per child per week when schools are closed. I would commend the work of my colleague Carolyn Harris, who fed well over 5,000 children during the summer in Swansea East, but that certainly was not getting to all those who were losing out on the free food. Will the First Minister cost a...
Mike Hedges: 6. Will the First Minister make a statement on efforts to reduce child poverty? OAQ54648
Mike Hedges: 2. Will the Deputy Minister make a statement on Welsh Government support for white ribbon day? OAQ54653
