David Rees: Just like Swansea last night.
David Rees: I thank the Counsel General for that answer. I'm conscious that it is the last resort for the Welsh Government, but we are at the doorway of the last-gasp saloon, effectively, where, time-wise, we need to do something very quickly. I appreciate the fact that you need to talk to the Scottish Government, because they also have a continuity Bill. I can understand the differences...
David Rees: Can I thank the Cabinet Secretary for his statement today, and can I join others in thanking the dedication and commitment of all our NHS and care staff across Wales? I'm sure I speak for every Member in this Chamber when I give those thanks, because they have given the service above and beyond what they normally would do anyway, and always do that, and they don't just do it in the winter...
David Rees: Diolch, Llywydd. I am pleased to contribute to today's debate on the general principles of the Regulation of Registered Social Landlords (Wales) Bill on behalf of the External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee. Before turning to the substantive issue at hand, I want to place on record my thanks to the sub-committee that was established for its work in gathering evidence as part of...
David Rees: Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the future of the Swansea Bay city deal?
David Rees: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Can I thank the Cabinet Secretary for his statement this afternoon? I'll try and be as brief as possible because I actually have the opportunity to question the Cabinet Secretary next Monday in the committee meeting, and we'll go a bit deeper then. I'll try and focus purely on the JMC today, and not the continuity Bill, although I agree with Simon Thomas and Steffan...
David Rees: How will the Welsh Government support communities in the valleys that have not been identified as hubs by the valleys taskforce delivery plan?
David Rees: Cabinet Secretary, Jane Hutt has just highlighted the issue of the support of volunteers, but there are many organisations, big and small, and charities, that help to support veterans. An example of where they sometimes fall down and somebody goes through the net is where we had a veteran in Maesteg who was living in a car for seven months. He fell on bad luck after he left the forces; he...
David Rees: I thank the Member for taking an intervention. I listened to his opening comments about the customs union, and I also listened to the comments he just made about what the declaration of this motion is—about supporting the agreement. Can you tell me what agreement has been reached yet on a relationship and exactly what this 'special relationship' actually means?
David Rees: I follow, once again, the spin of the Brexiteers, as we heard during the debate on the referendum, but there we go. Can I thank Plaid Cymru, actually, for bringing this debate forward this afternoon? Because it is providing us an opportunity to highlight the risks that face us as we leave the EU without any form of agreement on how we trade with our existing partners in the future. Now, I...
David Rees: I'm more than happy to.
David Rees: I thank the Member for that, but when I met with individuals who represent businesses in Europe, they were not looking for the softer solutions, because they didn't know which direction they were going in. Therefore I do believe that technology will eventually get there—not tomorrow, not next year, but probably in about five years' time, and that's a long while to wait to try and do some...
David Rees: Yes, Adam.
David Rees: I don't agree with that, because a customs union—if you're going to define it—will be a union on customs arrangements between organisations, and therefore you can have different versions of a customs union. So, I—[Interruption.] No, you've had your chance. You've had your chance. So, no. I disagree with you, okay?
David Rees: That's what you want to call it. It's up to you, but I disagree with you. Can I go on? Because it's important. We also must remember that UK businesses and firms are far more integrated into European supply chains than Norway's, so again there's more of a problem there. Now, it was mentioned by the Member for North Wales for the Conservatives that there's been a lot of scaremongering about...
David Rees: 9. What discussions has the First Minister had with the UK Government on the devolution of the criminal justice system to Wales? OAQ51873
David Rees: First Minister, the leader of the UKIP group has already raised the issue that President Trump tweeted about the trade tariffs on steel. Unlike him, I and my constituents—many are steelworkers—have deep concerns about the content of that tweet and the implications it has for the steel industry. Will you raise as a Government with the UK Government as much as possible the actions to be...
David Rees: Thank you for that answer. As you say, the criminal justice system is more than just one piece; it's made up of various elements, and one of those elements actually is the prison service and that's something that I believe should be devolved to Wales. The conclusion from the research into the size of prisons is that smaller prisons have better outcomes than larger ones, both for prisoners and...
David Rees: Thank you, Cabinet Secretary, for your statement today, and I think it's important that we remind ourselves of the importance of the workforce in the NHS. Can I join you and others across the Chamber—and I'm sure I'm speaking for everybody who might not even speak today about the support we give to the NHS staff, the appreciation we have for their commitment, particularly during recent days...
David Rees: I thank the Member for giving way. Do you agree with me, therefore, that, earlier this year, there was unanimous support for a continuity Bill for the Welsh Assembly? Can you just give me an indication as to what's changed from just over a month ago to now, when there is still a continuity Bill?
