Hefin David: I'm really pleased that the task and finish group has been set up. This is the document. Constituency AMs, and I'm sure regional AMs, get many people who are concerned about the transition from childhood to adulthood for those children needing continuing healthcare. This document is responsible for guidance for children. This document, a separate document, is responsible for guidance for...
Hefin David: 4. Will the First Minister make a statement on plans for the replacement of the Welsh Government's Children and Young People's Continuing Care Guidance 2012? OAQ51636
Hefin David: With the parliamentary review of health and social care in mind, I've been approached by constituents who've raised concerns about continuity of care for children moving into adulthood. Aneurin Bevan Local Health Board tell me they're working with their five local authority partners in their area to try and move towards a pooled integrated service provision, but this has proven a challenge,...
Hefin David: 3. Will the First Minister make a statement on the ways in which health boards and local authorities can collaborate to ensure effective and joined-up working? OAQ51576
Hefin David: Those of us who were brought up in a typical Valleys community will know that there is no such thing as a typical Valleys community. I'm from Caerphilly. My constituency is split south and north, and what you would see in the south of Caerphilly is a different kind of community to that which you would see in the north of Caerphilly. But also, those of us who've got friends and relatives who...
Hefin David: Yes, and I'm well aware that individual constituency AMs on these benches have raised these issues with Government. I think this is a discussion that needs to go on, and I would expect Government to be responding to those issues already. I know that that dialogue is going on, so you raise a very pertinent point. David Rowlands talked about the overdependence on the motor car as well, so...
Hefin David: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. You can say what you want about Lee Waters, and, let's face it, many people do, but he has used this debate that he's led to stand up for his constituents and, at the same time, advocate policy change and cultural shift. I don't know how successful he's been, and perhaps we'll come back to that at the end of my summing up.
Hefin David: It's not going to change how I'm going to vote. But certainly it's led to some consideration in this Chamber and a serious consideration in this Chamber, which is an important thing. We're talking about the topography—Adam Price mentioned it—of the south Wales Valleys. Adam Price connected it with nation building, as you'd expect and as he does so often, so effectively. But, I think that...
Hefin David: Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on ensuring that GP care is fit for the 21st century?
Hefin David: I welcome the economic plan, and Adam Price has already made reference in the Chamber to my Cardiff University briefing back in September. I had no sight of the action plan before the embargo, but I would say that it does reflect some of the things that we've been talking about as backbenchers on this side of the Chamber, certainly the introduction, and particularly the foundational economy....
Hefin David: With that in mind, I particularly welcome the aspect that supports local small and medium-sized enterprises to bid for public sector procurement contracts. Caerphilly County Borough Council piloted a project for local SMEs to bid for contracts as part of the Welsh housing quality standard programme, and it brought together four SMEs who worked together to deliver an external refurbishment...
Hefin David: 5. Will the First Minister make a statement on the delivery plan for 'Our Valleys, Our Future'? OAQ51491
Hefin David: Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the Cardiff capital region city deal?
Hefin David: Will you take an intervention?
Hefin David: Well, that's not a responsible representation of what I said, and what I said is: we are operating within a UK Government budget context in which it has cut back mercilessly, and those merciless cuts have fed back to the Welsh Government. I think that Nick Ramsay knows very well that's exactly what I just said. I will be supporting this budget this afternoon, because I have every confidence...
Hefin David: Yes, of course.
Hefin David: There's no point getting angry about it. I heard what he said, and I think some of what he said should be directed towards the UK Government, actually. I think that some of the things that Nick Ramsay said reflected that, too. We can only do what we can do, and what we want to do, if we have the resources given to us by the UK Government. I'd say to Mark Isherwood: come and take a walk around...
Hefin David: I listened earlier to Nick Ramsay's question, which was: what is this budget setting out to achieve? And I think that's been answered, certainly from these benches, and the benches on this side of the Chamber, in delivering the Welsh Government's programme. But also, I would say what it is setting out to achieve as well is limiting the damaging effects of his Government in Westminster. That...
Hefin David: It is with some regret, Llywydd, that I raise this point of order. During a debate earlier, the leader of the opposition, from a sedentary position, said to another Member, 'You have taken the shilling.' Would you rule that that is not in order, in particular with reference to Standing Orders 13.9(iv) and 13.9(v)? And, if so, would you give the Member the opportunity to both withdraw and...
Hefin David: Diolch. I've never fully understood this concept of entrepreneurship, despite having tried to teach it for some period of time in my professional life. The concern I have is where entrepreneurship is wrapped up with the concept of small and medium-sized enterprises, and, of course, when you talk about innovation-driven entrepreneurship, which is what the Cabinet Secretary has raised today,...
