Hefin David: I last saw Councillor Keith Reynolds, leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council, working at his desk some weeks before he died. Would the First Minister recognise that Welsh Labour’s victory in Caerphilly county borough is a testament to Keith’s leadership, his sound financial management, and a lifetime in public service?
Hefin David: Just to ask the question, I think you should provide more detail than ‘ban zero-hours contracts’. What exactly do you mean and how would you legally defend that?
Hefin David: Can I make an intervention?
Hefin David: I wasn’t—as I commonly don’t—expressing Labour Party policy; I was expressing my personal view. And I wasn’t making a judgment about anybody else.
Hefin David: I declare an interest as a member of Caerphilly County Borough Council, although until tomorrow—I’ll be standing down. My dad is standing again, Councillor Wynne David in St Cattwg ward in Caerphilly. Indeed, he bumped into Steffan Lewis on the campaign trail—how dare Steffan Lewis campaign in Gelligaer—and my father said, ‘What a nice guy that Steffan Lewis is’, and I said,...
Hefin David: I apologise.
Hefin David: I withdraw that, Deputy Presiding Officer. But I acknowledge David Melding’s contribution. The fact that Jeremy Miles made the point that we may be changing our working week—well, David Melding recognised it too. When Jeremy Miles made the point, I thought that it was quite a nice left-wing, social democratic idea, and then David Melding made a similar point, too, and I don’t think...
Hefin David: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I’ve listened to the huge range of challenges that Members have presented in the debate today, but I’m pleased to say they’ve been presented with a feeling of optimism, and none so encapsulated by the response of Dai Lloyd, who recognised that these challenges can not only be overcome, but can actually benefit our Welsh polity. Indeed, if we can’t deliver an...
Hefin David: The Cabinet Secretary will have received a letter from Caerphilly county borough councillor Ken James, the cabinet member for regeneration. I’d like to just draw his attention to this statement from Councillor James that says that Caerphilly council, as the lead body, are having trouble delivering their detailed plan because we’ve entered the pre-election period, which means they cannot...
Hefin David: 9. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on transitional arrangements for Communities First? OAQ(5)0134(CC)
Hefin David: Given the Minister’s answers so far, I’m not sure whether I should broaden out my question or narrow it down to a laser focus, so I’m going to try a bit of both.
Hefin David: I’ll be really fast. Given the Minister recognises the changing nature of funding and resources available to youth support, how will the new landscape be considered in the review? The Senghenydd Youth Drop In Centre, known as SYDIC, for example, currently lives hand-to-mouth, reliant on various sources of funding, and Caerphilly County Borough Council have allocated substantial funding for...
Hefin David: NatWest has announced their closure across south Wales. We’ve heard of closures in the constituencies of Alun Davies, Lynne Neagle, Vikki Howells, and in my constituency, where Ystrad Mynach branch is closing—that comes on top of Barclays closing in Nelson—and NatWest did it without any consultation at all, as far as I’m aware, and I condemn that and I think that there should have...
Hefin David: 7. What action is the Welsh Government taking to support access to high street banking services in town centres? OAQ(5)0549(FM)
Hefin David: Will the First Minister make a statement on the delivery of the National Arthritis Strategy?
Hefin David: Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the sharing of learning between pioneer and non-pioneer schools in relation to the roll-out of the new curriculum?
Hefin David: Diolch. I think Darren Millar asked so many questions he was bound to hit one of mine, and his last question did. It wasn’t exactly the question I was going to ask, but it kind of nicely follows on. One of the things that the Minister said was that funding levels will vary, but projects typically span two or more years, with initial funding of up to £100,000 leading on to further...
Hefin David: It’s worth remembering that it was in October 2015 that the Wales Trades Union Congress launched its excellent campaign for better jobs, closer to home, to benefit Valleys communities such as the one I represent in Caerphilly, and, indeed, I received a very friendly note from them last week emphasising that, and I was pleased to see the same principles contained in the programme for...
Hefin David: 3. Will the First Minister provide an update on Welsh Government plans to create better jobs closer to home? OAQ(5)0521(FM)
Hefin David: Will the First Minister provide an update on Welsh Government plans to create better jobs closer to home?
