David Lloyd: I'm pleased to be taking part in this debate, albeit not for very long—obviously the time does not allow me to wax lyrical about my own somewhat less-than-dazzling rugby-playing career back in the day on the wing—left wing, obviously. [Laughter.] But, obviously, prior to devolution, the Wales rugby team, the Wales football team, and the National Museum Wales—it was sport and culture...
David Lloyd: Absolutely. And there are some exciting things going on. You know, it's exciting times to be both a specialised medic, and a nurse as well, these days. It is an absolutely exciting field, in the diagnosis, the management and in the treatment of cancer. But, obviously, there are lots of challenges, and that's why we need a new cancer strategy going ahead, because one of the big issues as...
David Lloyd: I'm very pleased to take part in this debate. Can I commend David Rees, leading off in this debate—a very important issue, and I agree with all parts of the motion—and just make three basic points in terms of, obviously, as David outlined, we need a new cancer strategy this year now to take over from the current cancer plan that's coming to an end? That's a given, I would have thought,...
David Lloyd: As shadow Minister for international affairs for Plaid Cymru, I've been told the story of a young footballer here in Wales. Can I ask whether the Government will make a statement on the situation of Rolando Bertrand, the 21-year-old and footballer with Bellevue Football Club in Wrexham, who moved to Wales a year ago with his family, but is now at risk of being deported to Nicaragua? He and...
David Lloyd: I'm very pleased to take part in this debate. May I congratulate the Chair in the first instance on his opening remarks, conveying what needs to be said with regard to this report and the Government's response? Naturally, we do recognise that good work is being done, and we also understand that there isn't a shed load of money available to the Minister. But in the short time available to me,...
David Lloyd: Following on very much in the same vein, can I say, some of us in this Chamber are not unionists? That might come as a surprise to some. Sometimes, you have to question the value of being a unionist in this situation, because in your statement last week about Brexit-related legislation, you'll recall quite an expansive, philosophical exposition of the Sewel convention that you purported to...
David Lloyd: Will the Minister make a statement on how the Welsh Government is working with local authorities in tackling empty properties in South Wales West?
David Lloyd: I will take you back to 2011, as Mark Reckless, of course, wasn’t here at that particular time, and in the 2011 referendum, the people of Wales stated clearly—64 per cent of them, in fact, said ‘yes’. They stated clearly that this Senedd needed more powers to work properly, and we are still waiting for that aspiration to be truly delivered by more powers here so that we can work...
David Lloyd: I don't recall I was in Government, thank you, Hefin.
David Lloyd: Now, to respond to the motion, fundamentally, it’s the Government here that is underperforming and failing, not the institution. By the way, we agree with Neil McEvoy’s amendment, but we’re unable to support it, because that would delete our own amendment. However, having said all of that, there are some successes that we could quote from this Senedd over the years. We have seen the...
David Lloyd: Thank you, Llywydd. I move amendment 3 in the name of Siân Gwenllian, and just to quote, We regret ‘the dismal record of the Labour Welsh Government that has been in power continuously since the inception of devolution.’ We further believe ‘that successive Westminster UK Governments – under both Labour and the Conservatives – have presided over intergenerational poverty and...
David Lloyd: Thank you for that. Going on to another field, anyone who has attended the annual National Social Care Awards here in Cardiff will know that social care is a skilled profession. In fact, the examples on show every year in that awards ceremony show a very high level of skills. But obviously, social care is plagued by low pay and has fallen foul of the UK Government's points-based immigration...
David Lloyd: Can I thank you for that answer? Moving on to another aligned issue, a substantial proportion of UK employment law, as we've already heard, originates from the EU, including the European working time directive. That is what stopped doctors from working 120 hours every week down to around 58 hours over the years. So, can I ask: what discussions are you having about protecting employment rights...
David Lloyd: Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. Minister, plainly, continued international co-operation is needed for the frictionless trade of health products across UK-EU borders in the future, post Brexit. Now, around 45 million patient packs of medicines are supplied from the UK to the EU and European economic area countries every month, and, in return, over 37 million patient packs of medicines come from the...
David Lloyd: Further to Suzy Davies's question about the national steel innovation centre and the Swansea bay technology centre at the Baglan energy park, can I just push you further on that point about funding and can you outline exactly when the Welsh Government is likely to make a decision on this important funding bid? Furthermore, do you also recognise that current broadband provision at the Baglan...
David Lloyd: May I thank the Counsel General and Brexit Minister for his statement on legislation related to leaving the EU? May I thank him specifically for his detailed analysis of the complex and difficult legislative position that we find ourselves in in exiting the European Union? Now, you mentioned common frameworks, and common frameworks, as you've mentioned on a number of occasions in this...
David Lloyd: Thank you for that answer. So, are you fully confident that you have all the moneys that you're able to put forward towards the development of the Swansea bay metro, and will you ensure, on top of that, that the Valleys communities in the west are not neglected as part of this development?
David Lloyd: Unfortunately, in some areas, the flooding has either been caused or has been exacerbated by blocked or broken culverts. In Ystalyfera, in the Swansea valley, I understand a capital bid has already been put to Welsh Government by Neath Port Talbot Council, so that remedial works can be undertaken to a broken culvert on land being purchased by the local authority for this purpose. Can you give...
David Lloyd: 3. Will the First Minister make a statement on the development of a Swansea bay and western Valleys metro? OAQ55138
David Lloyd: Thank you for that answer, Minister. Clearly, school attendance is vital if pupils are to achieve their potential, but in looking at the local data in Swansea in more detail, what is absolutely apparent is that despite efforts by both Welsh Government and the local authority, there remains a stark contrast in school attendance rates between relatively affluent areas such as Bishopston and...
