David Rees: Cabinet Secretary, as part of that deal, obviously Neath Port Talbot has responsibility for a couple of those projects, one of which is the steel innovation centre. Now, I understand that there are issues regarding where that will be located and there are concerns that Welsh Government is pushing them towards Felindre, which is actually further away from the university campus and Tata, which...
David Rees: Thank you for that answer, Counsel General. It doesn't seem like much, but there we are. Counsel General, you may be aware of the case of Bright Sparks nursery in Taibach in my constituency, which has been closed since last year following allegations of force-feeding of children and restraint of young children. These are issues which must be investigated, because they must be taken...
David Rees: I thank you for that answer, Counsel General. Obviously, since I submitted the question, things have moved on a little bit, and as a consequence you've indicated the action that has been taken. However, there was a precedent perhaps set here; the intent was clearly to take this Bill to the Supreme Court if those amendments had not been agreed. As a consequence, we may end up, and have ended...
David Rees: I want to start my contribution this afternoon, actually, by giving recognition to the work undertaken by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance. Everybody in this Chamber should recognise the commitment that Mark Drakeford has given in that work. But not just to Mark Drakeford, but also to his officials because many people will not appreciate, perhaps, that it's the intensive discussions that...
David Rees: Will the First Minister outline the Welsh Government's priorities for strengthening the economy of Aberavon?
David Rees: 3. How does the Cabinet Secretary intend to assess whether a meaningful discussion on justice policy has been held with the UK Government, following the written statement on 6 April 2018? OAQ52140
David Rees: Minister, in response to that, I very much appreciate that you corrected the WHO's recommendation and the fact they got it wrong. But it still indicates that Port Talbot is still one of the worst in the UK. We still have problems with air pollution and air quality; we've had it for many years and it's going to be ongoing. And Caroline Jones is quite right to point out that heavy industry has...
David Rees: I think I can thank the Cabinet Secretary for his answer. [Laughter.] Cabinet Secretary, the residents of Aberavon welcomed the statement from the Welsh Government on 6 April, which stated the clear position that any new prison development, including that at Baglan Moors, was effectively put on hold until meaningful discussions take place. I also welcome the intent to seek a criminal justice...
David Rees: Diolch, Llywydd. The External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee has been considering the legislative steps needed for Brexit since the autumn of 2016 and has considered the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill in detail. Yesterday, we published our third report in relation to the Bill, in preparation for the debate today. I hope Members have had a chance to look at it. In an earlier...
David Rees: Cabinet Secretary, part of your budget statement obviously included investment of over £30 million in the Tata steelworks in Port Talbot. Could you tell us what progress has been made on that investment and will we have it actually done in this financial year?
David Rees: Cabinet Secretary, the Welsh Government has put a tremendous amount of capital into the twenty-first century schools programme. You have seen in my constituency Awel y Môr and Ysgol Bae Baglan, which are two brand-new schools operating and three new schools due to be operating in September, Ysgol Cwm Brombil, Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Dur and the new Briton Ferry primary. However, there is an...
David Rees: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. It's with great pleasure that I move today's motion in my name and open today's debate on the External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee's report on Wales's future relationship with Europe. As you highlighted, it is part one, and there's more work to be done. Before I begin discussing the content of the report I would like to place on record our thanks to...
David Rees: Dirprwy Lywydd, Wales has always been an outward-looking, internationally engaged nation. It is fair to say that some had feared that the decision to leave the European Union was a rejection of this proud tradition. However, as this report highlights, these fears were unfounded. We are clear that whilst Wales is leaving the EU, it is not leaving Europe. Dirprwy Lywydd, whatever the eventual...
David Rees: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I thank Members who took part in today's debate for their contributions, and particularly the Cabinet Secretary in his response. Perhaps I'll deal with his responses first. I'm very pleased that he has basically supported all that we're saying in the report and recognises what we are saying as important issues that we need to address as a nation, both here in Wales but...
David Rees: I'm going to wind up. So, Dirprwy Lywydd, we will continue to scrutinise the actions of the Welsh and UK Governments in the months ahead. As the Cabinet Secretary said, this is something that is flowing; it is continually moving. We've enjoyed today's debate. We are able to make significant contributions to the national conversation on this and we will continue to do that.
David Rees: 8. What action is the Welsh Government taking to protect and support the steel industry in Wales? OAQ52284
David Rees: Thank you, First Minister, for that answer and pre-empting my question, to an extent. But the sanction that has been imposed by the US on UK steel is going to have a major impact upon Port Talbot steel and steel products from elsewhere in Wales. Steel companies will look elsewhere, to other markets, which you've you already highlighted, to sell their steel and, therefore, the price of steel...
David Rees: Cabinet Secretary, as the economy grows, obviously one aspect within that is transport. I know that there's a south Wales metro being proposed by Mark Barry, which highlights the future role of the transportation system within the south Wales area and the Swansea bay city region in particular, but part of that proposal is possibly the removal off the main line of Neath station,...
David Rees: Counsel General, in your answer to Bethan Sayed, you made it quite clear that the Crown couldn't make compulsory purchase orders for land, but if they got a reversal that treats the Crown as the same as an individual, are you in a position to say that, actually, that could change that, or are we still in a position where the Crown cannot purchase that land?
David Rees: 4. What analysis has the Welsh Government made of data within the Wales Governance Centre report, 'Imprisonment in Wales: A Factfile'? OAQ52326
