David Rees: Can I thank the Counsel General for that answer? It's very important that we address the issue of trade. As David Melding highlighted, the evidence from some indicated that there should not be a veto, but in listening to the news that's coming out from the US today—that in fact the US steel producers are encouraging Donald Trump to put a ban on UK steel in any trade deal we do with them,...
David Rees: 4. What discussions has the Welsh Government had with stakeholders with regard to reducing pollution in Port Talbot? OAQ53462
David Rees: Thank you for that answer, Minister, and, obviously, there are two main areas of the pollution that we've been concerned about. One is vehicle emissions, which I will raise with the Minister for Economy and Transport, because it's under his remit at this moment in time. The other one is, obviously, industrial emissions. As you've highlighted there, you have discussions with Tata, and I want...
David Rees: Can I welcome the report from our representatives in the Committee of the Regions and the introduction by Mick Antoniw in relation to the importance of the Committee of the Regions and what we need to do about it? I want to refer back to the External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee's report of last February or March, 'Wales’ future relationship with Europe—Part one: a view...
David Rees: Yes, it is important, the UK Government support, because, clearly, the UK Government at the moment is still a member state and will be seen as the main body in one sense. But what they did identify was that—. There are two points to that: is Wales able to have an influence within the UK argument, in the sense of what we've always talked about—a Council of Ministers or replacing the JMC...
David Rees: What action has the Welsh Government taken to support tourism in Aberavon?
David Rees: I thank the Member for taking an intervention. You've just mentioned the Norway plus model might actually keep us in the European Court of Justice, but it would actually keep us in the Court of Justice of the European Free Trade Association States, rather than the ECJ, and, as such, it will be a different organisation, a different court and different judgments.
David Rees: How can I follow that?
David Rees: We can negotiate that. [Laughter.] Llywydd, what we've heard today is clearly what we've heard before, and Carwyn Jones, the Member for Bridgend, is quite right: this discussion is about a 'no deal' Brexit, and we forget that sometimes. And it's been quoted today by several people who always vote for Brexit that the Labour Party manifesto in 2017 was about actually honouring that referendum...
David Rees: No problem. Thank you.
David Rees: I'll respond to that. Irish beef you mentioned: you didn't mention Argentinean beef; you didn't mention Brazilian beef; you didn't mention US beef. It is damaging to the Welsh economy and those markets will not be open to us under WTO rules. So, it's quite clear no one has yet given indication that WTO rules would be better for the Welsh sectors. Now, that is crucial when we talk about 'no...
David Rees: Yes.
David Rees: I thank the Member for the intervention. The Member for Bridgend highlighted some of the issues with the US that he's already talked about, chlorinated chicken, hormone beef, there's already one there. We know—and let's be honest ourselves—Donald Trump has said, 'America first'. Any trade deal will be 'America first', and it's quite right, as a single nation, we will have less bargaining...
David Rees: Minister, I think it's important that we do look beyond the EU as to where our next markets are, and your strategy will hopefully prioritise those countries very much so. Last night, at the meeting of the cross-party group on STEM, we had Newport Wafer, who were in talking about their expertise, their skills and how many overseas countries and staff wanted to work with them here in the UK and...
David Rees: Minister, I thank you for the answer you've just given. Clearly, the message we're now getting is that the merger is off, but we often talk about the two rugby teams, the Ospreys and the Scarlets, and we just think of those two teams, but there's a lot more behind the scenes than just those two teams on the pitches. The Ospreys have embraced the regional concept very much and they work with...
David Rees: I wasn't going to speak in this debate because I clearly understand it's about principles, but I think it's important to understand that this is not a constitutional issue, it's actually an issue for the whole Assembly and various committees, and I think that's very important to recognise. I'm disappointed that perhaps we haven't got so many colleagues in the Chamber to actually understand...
David Rees: 5. What progress is being made by the Welsh Government on the review of the national procurement service? OAQ53584
David Rees: I thank you for that answer, First Minister. I know that, last week, Nick Ramsay raised the same question with the finance Minister in her questions, and many of the answers came back that reducing the number to be more regional but also community benefits would help. For example, there's a £100 million project in my constituency in which the community benefit was the employment of local...
David Rees: Trefnydd, can I ask for four statements? I don't often get up, so I'm going for four this time. [Laughter.] The first one is obviously on the Banksy work in Port Talbot. Clearly, we're still not clear where we are moving forward with the protection of that work and the location of where that work will be placed for the public to access. I've spoken to the local authority and, clearly, there...
David Rees: I'd like to thank the Minister for her statement because it's very important, particularly highlighting the point that NRW took with the phytophthora ramorum disease, and particularly the devastation we saw in the Afan valley as a consequence of that. We're still seeing a large proportion of that valled felled and not replaced. And I welcome a comment in your statement, talking about a...
