David Rees: Thank you for that answer, Cabinet Secretary. Aberavon has been a beneficiary of the EU regeneration funds and has seen many projects develop across the communities, including the Afan valley. The decision by the British people to leave the EU obviously will put an end to the stream of funding. But that does not stop the impact of the austerity that emanates from Westminster, particularly on...
David Rees: Thank you for that answer, Cabinet Secretary. As you will be aware, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation last week published its report, ‘We Can Solve Poverty in the UK’, which highlighted five points. One of those was strengthening families and communities, which comes under your remit. They also include four recommendations. In my constituency of Aberavon, many families are struggling and...
David Rees: Minister, I can join with the Member for South Wales West, because I also was going to ask the question about ensuring that the Viable and Vibrant Places project, which we're seeing actually achieving excellent results in Port Talbot, in the Green Park industrial estate being transformed into a lovely green area and social housing, into the regeneration of the old fire brigade station, and...
David Rees: 5. Will the Minister outline the Welsh Government’s priorities in tackling child poverty in South Wales West? OAQ(5)0021(CC)
David Rees: 8. What discussions has the Minister had with Westminster counterparts regarding regeneration funding following the decision to leave the EU? OAQ(5)0027(CC)
David Rees: I’d like to start by declaring that my wife is an employee of Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Local Health Board. Cabinet Secretary, you’ve highlighted some of the good aspects that occur, as well as highlighting the targeted intervention for ABMU in unscheduled care and cancer services. What monitoring will you be undertaking to ensure that, as we see, hopefully, progress in those...
David Rees: First Minister, thank you for that answer, and we are seeing Welsh Government support for the steel industry, through these projects, which I very much welcome, in Port Talbot. But also, we’ve seen over the summer, since we last met, financial improvements in the steel industry in Port Talbot as well, where we saw losses of £1 million a day beforehand, and we’re now turning it into...
David Rees: Will the First Minister outline the discussions he held in America in relation to promoting and supporting Welsh steel making?
David Rees: I’ve got several questions.
David Rees: I appreciate it, Llywydd, but I’m sure you’ll appreciate that the constituency is dominated—
David Rees: Final question, then. The trade unions have actually expressed to me their views. They phoned me today. They don’t want the sale process stopped. Will you negotiate with Tata and the UK Government to get the sale process back on line, if nothing else, in parallel with the other considerations they’re having?
David Rees: Can I thank the Cabinet Secretary for that answer and for his assurances that the Welsh Government is actually continuing its pursuance of the various aspects? However, as we all know, the steel industry has been in a challenging situation for many years. In fact, this year, in January, Tata steel announced 1,000 job losses; in March, it announced the possible sales of its UK operations. My...
David Rees: Will the Minister provide details of discussions the Welsh Government has had with Tata Steel and the UK Government following the announcement of Tata's intentions to suspend the sales process of its UK steel making operations? EAQ(5)0036(EI)
David Rees: Will the Member give way?
David Rees: Are your proposals then—? Are you therefore prepared to scrap all industry in Wales so you can have a clean environment, because that’s what you’ve just said?
David Rees: Will you take an intervention?
David Rees: I won’t take a second one, no. I actually welcome the amendment by the Welsh Conservatives, which encourages UK and Welsh Governments to actually work together to devise a strategy to maximise the long-term viability and potential of steel production in Wales. This is something I’ve been calling for for a long time. I actually marched alongside Port Talbot steelworkers in May as they...
David Rees: Yes.
David Rees: Yes, I accept that point that the pound is down, therefore the exports are cheaper and possibly more enticing to buyers, but, of course, we are buying raw materials in dollars, and the pound has dropped like a rock to a 31-year low against the dollar, so the consequences are that we’ve probably got, perhaps, a worse situation, not necessarily a better situation.
David Rees: Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. As Members are fully aware, steel is the beating heart of my home town and I welcome another opportunity to debate the future of that industry here today. However, today, we should be debating how we secure a sustainable future through working together to build a stable economic environment and tackle the challenges facing steelworkers; not using the steel industry as...
