Hefin David: 2. Will the Minister make a statement on the green economy in Wales? OAQ(5)0070(EI)
Hefin David: 3. Will the Minister make a statement on services provided at Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr? OAQ(5)0069(HWS)
Hefin David: Will the Minister make a statement on access for patients to the planned special and critical care centre?
Hefin David: I’ve considered carefully some of the comments that have been made today, and, listening to Jeremy Miles, it’s not just the western Valleys, but the northern Valleys that are important too. Communities like Deri, Brithdir, Tir-phil, Pontlottyn and Rhymney actually exist in my friend’s Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney constituency—Dawn Bowden’s constituency—but people in Bargoed will be...
Hefin David: Can I intervene there, please?
Hefin David: I think Gareth Bennett should be very careful about what he’s talking about there, as the majority of councillors knew nothing about the situation with the pay in Caerphilly. It was a number of cabinet members and the deputy leader of Plaid Cymru who were part of the committee, and when the majority Members found out, the Labour leadership apologised and reversed the majority of that...
Hefin David: Will the Minister provide an update on reform to non-domestic rates in Wales?
Hefin David: Just a point—you know, you’re saying that things haven’t changed since 1999, but would you acknowledge that the social services Act, which was Wales-designed, Welsh-born and Wales-introduced, could have that effect? Would you accept that?
Hefin David: Yes, I absolutely agree with that, and the Member for Cardiff North seems to have had very similar representations to those that I’ve had. Therefore, if we are to vote with the Government today, I’d suggest that we ask the Minister to provide some assurances in her response that these issues are going to be addressed and closely monitored, and that the need for future legislation...
Hefin David: I take the point, and I think that the draft autism Bill is worth looking at. The point I’m making, really, is that the need for legislation shouldn’t be ruled out, and that further investigation of that Act is necessary. I’ve held discussions with residents affected by autism in my community, and affecting their families, and I’ve taken up those concerns with my local council as a...
Hefin David: My working experience has been touched by autism. As a university lecturer, I was teaching a student who spent an entire class looking at a computer screen and not paying attention to me, and I remember getting annoyed by this. At the end of the session, before I could actually speak to the student, he came up to me and he said, ‘I really appreciate your teaching today, but I need you to...
Hefin David: Will the First Minister make a statement on the importance of trade unions in Welsh civil society?
Hefin David: Our nation as a tourist destination is vital in promoting Wales to the world, and our heritage is our living history, something tangible from our past that our children can interact with. There are great historical assets in Caerphilly. We’ve got the largest concentric castle in Europe, a grade II listed ancient monument in Ruperra castle, which needs work, and Llancaiach Fawr, a Tudor...
Hefin David: 9. Will the Minister make a statement on efforts to support the heritage sector in Wales? OAQ(5)0048(EI)
Hefin David: Diolch, Lywydd. I’d like to declare an interest as a visiting lecturer at Cardiff Metropolitan University. Indeed, on Saturday, 10 September, I was there teaching executive MBA students—a very, very small group of part-time students, who were largely funded by their organisations. When I was full time—when I was back as a senior lecturer—often I’d be teaching groups of 100 students,...
Hefin David: Thank you for allowing me to contribute to this debate today. The issue of the Welsh language is an important one. I wonder whether it might have been better to spend a little more time on this issue than the half hour allocated. We’re doing Brexit again—it’s like groundhog day. I agree with the principles supporting this motion, but I feel that it may well fall short of what it seeks...
Hefin David: Welsh Government support for libraries is welcomed, particularly in Caerphilly. We’ve seen the development of libraries in Caerphilly and Bargoed, and Ystrad Mynach is currently undergoing a lot of work. I was interested, also, in the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure’s evidence to the communication committee last week, in which he said libraries are more than just about...
Hefin David: 4. Will the First Minister make a statement on Welsh Government support for library services in Wales? OAQ(5)0141(FM)
Hefin David: Llywydd, I should apologise to the Chamber, because, when I put this question in, I didn’t realise that we would be having not one but two Brexit debates on opposition day. Cabinet Secretary, you’ll recall that, in July 2015, the UK Government announced that it wanted to see the number of British foods protected under European law increase from 63 to 200. Of the applications put forward...
Hefin David: 9. Will the Minister provide an update on the potential implications of the EU referendum vote on support for the food and drink industry in Wales? OAQ(5)0031(ERA)
