David Rees: Minister, you started in Swansea, you went to Neath—come to Aberavon and see some of the fantastic sites for tourism in Margam Park and the Afan valley. Many mining communities up in the Afan valleys and other valleys have moved to tourism as an opportunity to actually look at growing the economy. We have projects in the Afan valley. I know the Rhondda tunnel is going between Rhondda and...
David Rees: I think Bethan is quite right: we are different, we can do things differently and we are leading the way in many things—domestic violence, modern slavery, recycling; we're doing lots of things. We are a thriving nation with capacity to empower people and serve our people, but we are failing one area here. We are failing the citizens who have to go through that system and their outcomes. The...
David Rees: I think it's the way that prisons are being operated in the private prisons. I'm not a supporter of a private prison service. I think the problem they have is the funding to ensure the outcomes can be delivered. If there are budgetary constraints and we have the austerity measures now—[Interruption.] Well, they're getting wages and they're providing a profit for the private owners, aren't...
David Rees: I thank the Member for taking an intervention, and I bow to his experience as a magistrate. But the question is the sentencing guidelines and the alternative mechanisms that we could be looking at, in which we can work with individuals who are found guilty of an offence. Do you agree, therefore, that we need to refresh those sentencing guidelines, because there are people who are being...
David Rees: Can I first of all thank the Chair of the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee for a very detailed presentation of the report and the arguments as to why we need to support that. We are talking about the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill, clearly—something that may not happen, depending on what happens in the weeks ahead of us. But it is important that we get this right, because...
David Rees: 1. What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the take-up of STEM subjects in Wales? OAQ51913
David Rees: Thank you for that answer, First Minister. This week is actually British Science Week, which reminds us of the importance of science, engineering and technology to the Welsh economy. You were with me last week at the Tata works, where again they highlighted the roles they had for apprentices and that they want to take more engineering apprentices on. But there's a take-up reduction in girls...
David Rees: First Minister, as you've just said in reply, local government reform is under consultation at this point—or will be under consultation. But the boundary changes for ABMU were premised upon one local authority saying that they wanted a change to suit their services better. Do you think it's now wise to actually go ahead with any changes with that boundary change whilst we await the...
David Rees: Diolch, Llywydd. Since the publication of the White Paper on the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill by the UK Government in July of last year, the External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee has undertaken some detailed scrutiny of the withdrawal Bill and its implications for Wales. In our report on the White Paper, we concluded that the Welsh Government should prepare a continuity...
David Rees: Will the Member take an intervention?
David Rees: I'm sure you can give way to my colleague immediately after myself, but you identify—. And thanks for the intervention. You identify the fact that you said that you don't see the need for this Bill, that it's constitutionally not appropriate, you talk about Scotland and you appeal for Scotland, but isn't it the reality—? If an LCM is defeated in this house, then what is the alternative...
David Rees: 6. What assessment has the Counsel General made of the impact of the European Commission’s draft EU withdrawal agreement on Wales? OAQ51908
David Rees: Thank you for that answer, Counsel General. The publication of the draft codification of the withdrawal agreement arose following the December meeting of the Council of Ministers to ensure that they ratified the agreement that they came to. It covers six parts, two protocols, 165 articles, clearly focusing on the phase 1 agreement, but also on the transition period, and covers areas...
David Rees: Diolch, Llywydd. This week we celebrate National Science Week and what science offers society. However, as we use this week to promote science, today we have seen the loss of one of the UK's great scientists in Professor Stephen Hawking. I'm sure Members across the Chamber will join me in sending condolences to his family and his friends on their loss. Many wonderful comments have been made...
David Rees: Will the Member take an intervention?
David Rees: Okay, I'll be quick. I appreciate the issues you're raising on properties and houses, but it's also an issue for flats and blocks of flats, and those tenants are tied even worse into leasehold and to some of these companies.
David Rees: Will you take an intervention?
David Rees: I thank the Member for taking the intervention. Are you therefore ashamed that the strategy doesn't actually highlight steel and the importance of steel, particularly in the Welsh economy, which does provide opportunities for our young people, because Tata have taken on 85 apprentices this year for that purpose? The fact that they're not supporting steel shows that they actually aren't...
David Rees: 8. What discussions has the Cabinet Secretary had with UK Ministers regarding the provision of support services to Welsh prisoners upon their release? OAQ51930
David Rees: Cabinet Secretary, the pre-planning application process allows many developers the opportunity to actually meet the local authority officers to ensure that they develop the application and to meet the needs of both the local authority and themselves. Now, I appreciate that the local authorities are very limited in their resources, and we often see it as a small number of staff. However, this...
