David Rees: Minister, many questions have already been asked, and I support fully Julie Morgan’s points on public toilets. I think we need to ensure that the strategy is actually implemented, and that people have access to all facilities. And if there aren’t any there, that they can’t simply say, ‘We can’t afford it’, but that they do something about it because it’s critical that those...
David Rees: Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Minister, can I echo the comments from Bethan Jenkins in that 15 years ago today the horrific accident at No. 5 blast furnace occurred in which we saw the loss of the lives of three workers, two from my constituency and one from Maesteg, and many injured? Yesterday’s comments from the Prime Minister, or the reflection on the Prime Minister that actually she didn’t...
David Rees: First Minister, it’s interesting and pleasing to hear that the guidance will be issued very shortly because, in my own authority, there are a known 114 children who are being home educated, but there’s only one part-time officer working with those. Can you also ensure that the guidance is going to enforce and put more pressure on local authorities to have a relationship between the number...
David Rees: Thank you. Just to clarify a point, broadband is problematic in some areas of my constituency as well.
David Rees: Will you take another intervention?
David Rees: Again, thank you for taking the intervention. Do you therefore welcome Donaldson’s review, which puts digital competency and digital framework at the heart of some its work, and therefore the curriculum will actually involve what you’re actually saying?
David Rees: I thank the Member for taking an intervention and give my full welcome to the decision by Google Digital Garage to actually come to Wales for a period of three months to set up training schemes here in Wales—in fact, the first two days were in my own constituency in Port Talbot. The Welsh Government has been very much involved with them to actually bring them into Wales, so we can get that...
David Rees: Will the Minister join me in congratulating the area of Neath Port Talbot, where we are seeing a growth in children wanting to go to Welsh-medium education schools? Will he also welcome the fact that Neath Port Talbot council is recognising this and building a new secondary Welsh-medium school on the old Sandfields Comprehensive School site? Will he also work with his Cabinet colleagues to...
David Rees: Will the Minister make a statement on actions taken by the Welsh Government to support home education?
David Rees: Will the Minister make a statement on actions taken by the Welsh Government to support home education?
David Rees: I appreciate the constraints of time so I’ll be quick and brief. First Minister, thank you for your statement. I very much appreciate the update we’ve received and I look forward to scrutinising you next week when you come to the External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee on this particular issue. I think it’s important today to highlight that manufacturing is not the price...
David Rees: First Minister, the steel industry is still in crisis. It hasn’t disappeared. We still have many issues and challenges facing us, even though the workforces across Wales have actually shown commitment to improving profitability. What is your Government looking to do on business rates? This was an issue, very much so, early in the year and plant and machinery exemptions were considered. Will...
David Rees: Minister, can I ask for two statements from the Welsh Government? Can I have the first statement from the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs? Prior to the Assembly elections in 2016, we had a commitment from the Welsh Government on a moratorium on fracking. It would be interesting to see that commitment reaffirmed by the Cabinet Secretary to ensure that fracking here in Wales...
David Rees: First Minister, on 28 June, the country had only just decided to leave the EU. As a consequence of that, there could well be possible legislative implications here in Wales. What analysis is the Welsh Government doing to actually look at the implications upon the legislative programme that you are putting forward, based upon the fact that we could see a lot more legislation coming from...
David Rees: I thank you for taking an intervention. Is it fair to say, and I recognise your comments, that since the social services and well-being Act actually came into force in April, we haven’t had an opportunity to assess the evidence, which was commented on before, as to whether that is actually achieving the goal we wanted to achieve in the circumstances?
David Rees: Two sentences, and I’ve finished. They should have the reassurance that their child will receive the services needed without any fight with any authority, whether that be council or health. They want for their children what we want for ours; let’s help them achieve this.
David Rees: I fully accept that autism is not something that will change; it will be there for their life, but what I’ve just indicated is that there is a possibility of looking at whether that Bill can actually help or not. That’s what I was referring to—[Interruption.] That’s what I was referring to. Minister, like my colleague from Caerphilly, I hope that you will work with stakeholders,...
David Rees: Yes.
David Rees: As has already been stated by Mark Isherwood, autism is a lifelong disability that affects how people perceive the world and interact with others. Like my colleague from Caerphilly, I came across many individuals during my educational time. Like most Members across the Chamber we’ve heard this afternoon, I’ve received many representations from families who have children or siblings living...
David Rees: Thank you for that answer, Cabinet Secretary. Again, the voluntary sector and the volunteers are crucial. In my constituency, volunteers work in community libraries, community centres and support services across the town and constituency to ensure that some of those services remain within those communities. Those individual volunteers are crucial to the work of that sector, and some of the...
