Hefin David: Contrary to some of the opening remarks of Sioned Williams, I don't think there was anything near unanimity in the sector among stakeholders on the need for this Bill, and I encountered, through discussion, many stakeholders who said to me that a Bill really isn't necessary to achieve what you want to achieve. But then, you either commission a report by Ellen Hazelkorn and listen to it, or...
Hefin David: Thank you. Let me close, then, by saying that what I really want to see is housing growing in the north of my constituency, north of Ystrad Mynach. I'm currently looking at somewhere to live in Nelson, which looks a really good place to live. I'd like to live in Bargoed, but there is a shortage there. I'd like to see housing being built there. The answer to that is to connect into planning,...
Hefin David: I fear you've just made a speech. I think if you want to make a point to the Government, then I think you should address it to the Government. I'm a backbencher expressing my views. My feeling is that there has been a failure across the UK to address this, and I also feel that the motion that's been put forward by your party does not address the problem because it highlights the private...
Hefin David: My first speech I made in this Chamber in 2016 was on housing, and I fear I'm going to make exactly the same speech again. But I'm not, actually—that's not quite true. I've checked the Record, and it is going to be different, although I often check the Record to find out what I've just said when I speak in the Chamber anyway. One of the things that a veteran Member came up to me and said...
Hefin David: The shortfalls you've identified mirrors the same problem that's happening in England. So, she's blamed devolution here; what does she blame the problem in England on?
Hefin David: Will the First Minister provide an update on Welsh Government support for public transport in Caerphilly?
Hefin David: What steps does the Welsh Government take to ensure the effective enforcement of nitrate vulnerable zones?
Hefin David: Will the First Minister provide an update on plans to develop a clean air act for Wales?
Hefin David: Yes, absolutely, I agree. And I think I'm more offended by the fact that you're younger than me than anything else. Yes, I do think it was a missed opportunity—absolutely, it was. I think that Government between 1997 and 2007 did some fantastic things, but they also didn't do things they could have done, and I think this is one of the things they could have done and they didn't do and...
Hefin David: I don't think the purpose of an individual's Member's debate should always be to demonstrate unanimity amongst backbenchers across the Chamber, because there are always going to be differences between individuals. I make no apologies to James Evans for supporting the amendment from Alun Davies and, indeed, co-signing it, because it demonstrates a fundamental issue. All of the examples that...
Hefin David: That funding is very welcome. I've seen throughout the constituency, and, indeed, the borough, the impact that that has made, most recently in Cwm Calon, where the cycle path has been opened for the first time and is very welcomed by residents. However, I'd like to focus on a specific part of the constituency. The Tynygraig footbridge over the Rhymney valley rail line in Llanbradach has been...
Hefin David: 7. Will the Minister provide an update on Welsh Government support for active travel routes in Caerphilly? OQ57528
Hefin David: Will the First Minister make a statement on the impact of COVID-19 alert level two in Caerphilly?
Hefin David: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. It's worth noting that the fixed-penalty notices were first voted on in early 2020 in the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 2) (Wales) Regulations 2020, section 21, and there's no party in this Chamber that didn't support them at the time, so it is a significant issue there. However, at the time, they applied to everyone, because everyone was at a...
Hefin David: Thank you.
Hefin David: So, with regard to my supplementary that I'm about to raise, the Minister has been very helpful in dealing with this issue in the past, and, unfortunately, we're now in a position where it's got worse recently. There's an ongoing issue at Gelliargwellt Uchaf Farm in my constituency, where a large dairy farm has diversified into both food recycling, for which it's got a contract with several...
Hefin David: 4. Will the Minister make a statement on Welsh Government support for farm diversification? OQ57387
Hefin David: That said, the First Minister did respond yesterday—I was listening to First Minister's questions—about mental health services, and he said care navigation is really important in reducing the pressure on mental health services. The problem with care navigation is that it creates a bottleneck, and the bottleneck happens at the point you approach primary care. And when you approach primary...
Hefin David: I wanted to speak in this debate as a Member from south Wales who doesn't have a detailed knowledge of the workings of the Betsi Cadwaladr health board, but has had constituents contacting me with mental health problems in my constituency who are looking for support from the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board and associated health boards in my community. So, I take at face value some of...
Hefin David: —to pay for it. So, I'd really welcome a meeting with you, Minister, to discuss this issue, particularly that of long-term erosion and consequences for properties. It's an issue we didn't have some time ago.
