David Melding: Can I commend Llyr for bringing forward this very important short debate? Like him, I think 'The Knowledge Gap' is a really important report, and I want to put on record my thanks to the Children's Society and the Church in Wales. I was delighted to be able to host and chair the launch of the report, actually, in the Senedd. Can I say to Dawn that she makes really important points about the...
David Melding: Can I say that I thought it was very important the cross-party group commended the partnerships formed with the voluntary sector, because these can lead to some of the most innovative and relevant services that are available to our veterans? I want to mention one particular example in particular, and that's Woody's Lodge, which is based at HMS Cambria in Sully. I think quite a few people in...
David Melding: Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. Today, the world heard the long-awaited verdict in the trial of General Ratko Mladić. The judgment and sentencing before the Yugoslav war crimes court in the Hague marks the culmination of a case spanning 22 years. Mladić was convicted of 10 counts, including genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, all of them committed during the conflict that claimed...
David Melding: Cabinet Secretary, last month the Welsh Government announced plans for a regeneration-led targeted investment programme worth some £100 million. I wonder what economic impact you expect this targeted programme to have in the former industrial areas of Wales, like the Glamorgan valleys.
David Melding: Can I start by welcoming the Minister to his new post? I confidently predict great political success ahead for you. But you will need all your skills, because you are now perhaps having to reflect on a decision that, in April, you perhaps had indicated wouldn't be the eventual direction the Government is taking, in that you seemed very sympathetic to Cadw being placed outside Government. I do...
David Melding: First Minister, I was very pleased to hear that the health Cabinet Secretary and the education Secretary announced additional investment for child and adolescent mental health services in schools. I do hope that we'll be seeing some of this benefit in places like Aberdare.
David Melding: First Minister, it's Road Safety Week this week, and I think we would commend all measures to road safety. We also, in South Wales Central, unfortunately, have to reflect on two fatal accidents in October, and we send our condolences to the families of the victims. I just wonder if it is now time for a much more integrated and ambitious approach to these matters, along the lines we see in the...
David Melding: 4. Will the First Minister make a statement on cyclist safety in Wales? OAQ51337
David Melding: [Continues.]—full rigour to those claims. I’ll give way.
David Melding: I think we should advance in a way that is fair to all technologies, basically. So, I think that’s what we need to remember when we’re looking at developing energy sources, that we use the same criteria. I think one of the big issues that fracking would have to face is whether it can be reconciled at all with our wider strategic objectives, especially in the well-being of future...
David Melding: Thank you, Presiding Officer. Can I say we’re happy to note the proposal without necessarily endorsing it? I do have a qualified position on this. Also, the current position, which is essentially a moratorium on applications until this area is devolved, is something we think is appropriate so that, in effect, the Welsh Government and this Assembly are allowed to develop an evidence-based...
David Melding: I must say I find more than a hint of encouragement in this statement, and that’s not always been the case on housing issues with the Welsh Government, and we’ve had our differences. But I particularly welcome aspects of this statement. For instance, on house building, he says, and I quote, it ‘creates enormous job and training opportunities’, I completely agree with that, and also...
David Melding: First Minister, I agree with what you said about energy efficiency, but it’s also quite a startling fact that, according to Citizens Advice Cymru, only 12 per cent of those on lowest incomes are on the lowest available tariffs, and I do think there’s a job to be done here to inform people of the tariffs that are available and the lowest ones. Welsh Government, local authorities and...
David Melding: Will the First Minister make a statement on the increase in rough sleepers in South Wales Central?
David Melding: It’s a pleasure to support this motion and I’m glad that the individual Members debates continue to bring really interesting ideas to the Assembly, and ideas that generally have cross-party support. I think we’re all very much aware of the close links between high levels of congestion and air pollution, and I think that electric vehicles will offer a way to alleviate this issue. But,...
David Melding: Cabinet Secretary, I agree with the Member who has just raised this question that tenant protection does need to be looked at carefully. In England, as a result of the Deregulation Act 2015, section 21 notices cannot be served by landlords to residents if the housing is of a poor standard and doesn’t meet legislative standards. This does seem to be perhaps an appropriate way to now regulate...
David Melding: Cabinet Secretary, I recently visited the Solcer house in Bridgend as part of the Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee’s work, and was very enthusiastic to see the prospect of building homes now that actually produce more energy than they consume. Now, that house costs roughly twice as much as a normal build house but is not yet done to scale, and I understand that social...
David Melding: Cabinet Secretary, I’m sure you’ll welcome the energy price cap announced last week, and also the continuing roll-out of smart meters. I think smart meters have a huge role to play in giving home owners more control over how much energy they use, and encouraging them also to switch between providers. However, there has been some reluctance amongst some home owners to have smart meters...
David Melding: I am reassured that you will have a full assessment, because in the past you’ve said that a deposit-return scheme needs to assess the implications that that would have on everyday household bills, and can you assure us that, in any new tax that you might be considering, again, the effect that that would have on household bills would be fully considered?
David Melding: I echo that, and it’s very, very important, but as is how any tax would be applied. As I’ve already stated, polystyrene food containers are technically reusable. I think we need to be very precise in the actions that we are trying to take to achieve the outcome in reducing pollution from plastics. I just wonder whether you might be open to a more radical proposal, and one that these Tory...
