Mark Reckless: The First Minister went to the United States promoting a free trade deal between the UK and the United States. He came back saying we have to leave it to the EU. Isn't the truth that his policy of a new customs union with the EU is the worst of all worlds, in that we would have no independent trade policy yet we would have no say and no vote over the EU's trade policy? As with Turkey, the EU...
Mark Reckless: 3. Will the First Minister make a statement on progress made in promoting Welsh trade with the United States of America? OAQ51877
Mark Reckless: Will the Member give way?
Mark Reckless: Is he aware that, on average, every time a woman buys a bra, she has to pay a tax of £1 to the European Union, even though we don't produce any bras in this country?
Mark Reckless: Does the Member accept that being a member of the EU customs union also requires being a member of the EU and of its legal structures, and ignoring the referendum result and how Wales voted?
Mark Reckless: Will the Member give way?
Mark Reckless: Leader of the house, I've been informed that Caerphilly County Borough Council is holding up the installation of ultrafast broadband by charging extortionate planning fees and ground rental for the ultrafast boxes. This endangers ultrafast provision, not just in Caerphilly, including Islwyn, but in surrounding areas as well. Would you ensure that Caerphilly stops endangering provision of...
Mark Reckless: Diolch. Cabinet Secretary, I'm especially interested in the Seren network to support able and talented learners into university, as you may be aware from my volume of written questions on the—[Interruption.] Thank you. First, I'd like to ask if you've made any assessment of the summer camps run by some leading universities, including their cost-effectiveness. For example, I note the Yale...
Mark Reckless: The First Minister told us in 2015 that the project would cost, and I quote, 'nowhere near £1 billion.' I suppose, in one sense, that's correct because the cost is now put at around £1.4 billion. If the Assembly does support the black route in the vote that we're now going to have, how can we trust the Welsh Government to deliver it at acceptable cost when you've shown no ability so far...
Mark Reckless: 1. Will the First Minister confirm at what cost the Welsh Government will look at alternatives to the current proposed plans for the M4 relief road? OAQ51826
Mark Reckless: Llywydd, may I apologise for the discourtesy of having missed a question in the previous session? I'm not sure whether the Cabinet Secretary has been with David Melding and Jane Hutt to read these reports, but he may also be able to tell us whether the report about leaks or otherwise on the reshuffle will be published, given his new commitment to openness and transparency in public life. Can...
Mark Reckless: Diolch, Llywydd. I agree with the finance Secretary that we certainly need to drill down in greater detail on this vacant land tax. He says a vacant land tax would apply to land that has previously been identified as suitable for development. Is the implication of that that it's land that's identified in the LDP, in which case is the 15, 20-year outlook of that really appropriate to have a...
Mark Reckless: First Minister, when I took an Assembly committee to Dublin and met the Taoiseach, I learnt how Ireland benefits by £2 billion because of privileged access to our beef and dairy markets in the customs union, with a quarter of our beef coming from Ireland. Isn't it the case that outside a customs union it would be our choice either to trade freely and buy beef more cheaply elsewhere, or,...
Mark Reckless: Will the Member give way?
Mark Reckless: May I ask, given the terms of the motion, as well as a debate, is he seeking a vote on this matter?
Mark Reckless: Does the Counsel General welcome the proposed changes, not least the scope they may give for expanding the socioeconomic intake into the profession? One of the drawbacks of the current system is people start their conversion course and find out that many of the largest and top firms have already closed their recruitment in July for two years ahead. Would this new proposal not allow broader...
Mark Reckless: If I could also pass on the best wishes from the Conservative group to Newport County as they play at Wembley this evening. Perhaps they can take some inspiration from Swansea's performance last night. With the Welsh Rugby Union having taken over ownership of Rodney Parade late last year, will Welsh Government support the continuation of ground sharing between Newport County and Dragons once...
Mark Reckless: I would agree with you on that, and I think the circumstances of birth and the way the health system supports it do allow that. Our baby's now eight months old, but when my wife gave birth in May last year, we were very struck by the quality of the provision and just how much we had in the way of midwife visits and how many interactions we had prior to being discharged from that service....
Mark Reckless: I agree with Michelle Brown that one of the perplexing elements—at least as I found it—about the inquiry was trying to understand why the mother and baby unit that had been operational at the Heath hospital in Cardiff until 2013 closed. I don't feel we quite got to the bottom, at least to my satisfaction, of what the thinking was and what the justification was for why that happened at the...
Mark Reckless: First Minister, last week, I was privileged to attend the Severn growth summit, organised by the Secretary of State for Wales, really looking to maximise the benefit we can receive from when the Severn tolls are abolished at the end of this year. First Minister, what are you and what are Welsh Government doing to ensure that we in Wales reap the maximum possible benefits from the end of those...
