Mark Reckless: Is the Minister suggesting the devolution of APD as an alternative to the M4 relief road? I'm not sure it would be on the same scale in terms of impact on congestion. I wonder, though, could he clarify, because he's used this word 'varying APD', and I think Andrew R.T. Davies has, entirely understandably, considered that might reflect a change of policy from the previous First Minister saying...
Mark Reckless: Thank you. I did, previously, promote at least wanting to see further consideration of the blue route. Having read the report, having gone along that route with Professor Stuart Cole, having spoken to more people in Newport and elsewhere about it, I am persuaded by many of the points that the inspector says, and I would like to put that on the record.
Mark Reckless: This weekend, the South Wales Argus ran the headline: 'TRAFFIC is queuing and there are heavy delays on…the M4 around Newport.' As they tweeted it, I suggested they might want to make it their pinned tweet in future. On this occasion, the AA reported that there were severe delays, with an average speed of 15 mph. The AA then said: 'there has not been an accident…the queues are the result...
Mark Reckless: That's not what you promised in your manifesto, is it? The Minister behind you, Lee Waters, says that it's a bit of a cliché to suggest that Wales is closed for business—[Interruption.] It is not what you put in your manifesto. It said—Labour manifesto— 'We will deliver a relief road for the M4'.
Mark Reckless: You haven't done it—you've broken your promise.
Mark Reckless: So, what Lee Waters says was a cliché were not my words—it was the Confederation of British Industry Wales director Ian Price who said this cancellation 'sends the message that Wales is not open for business.' 'Economic growth will be stifled, confidence in the region will weaken and the cost of an eventual relief road will rise'. Now, I don't often quote Welsh Secretary Alan Cairns, but I...
Mark Reckless: One leader who's worked tirelessly to promote community safety in south-east Wales is Julian Williams. He's retiring this month as chief constable of Gwent Police. I'd like to associate myself with the remarks of police and crime commissioner, Jeff Cuthbert. He said he's 'been a very effective leader of Gwent Police and has displayed professionalism, tempered with compassion, at all...
Mark Reckless: Minister, could you clarify about the 50 mph limits? Five of them, you're saying, are now being made permanent. What evidence have we got as to how they've worked in terms of reducing or otherwise the pollutants we're concerned about? I get representations particularly around the 50 mph limit approaching the Brynglas tunnels, and I know there can be other reasons for that, but the emphasis...
Mark Reckless: I congratulate the 6,000-odd petitioners for raising this with us today. I think a similar number signed a petition when I was initially elected to chair the climate change committee. There were similar misplaced security concerns at the time, and I was called in for a special discussion about how we were going to deal with a concern that the committee was going to be overrun by protesters,...
Mark Reckless: One reason in terms of electric buses is that they cost approximately twice as much as conventional buses. Perhaps that cost will come down, but in the meantime how would the Member like to pay for that additional cost?
Mark Reckless: I wonder if I might just ask for a point of clarification. With that net-zero ambition, is that net zero for Wales or is that allowing for international offsetting and paying other countries who could reduce carbon dioxide emissions more cheaply than us?
Mark Reckless: Thank you, chair, for identifying me, and I'm grateful to have this time to raise the Brexit Party's first debate in the Welsh Assembly, in which we note that Wales voted to leave the European Union. Now, ideally, that shouldn't be necessary, but we voted to leave the European Union, not if the EU agrees or subject to getting a great deal. These are attempted conditions put in in arrears by...
Mark Reckless: I give way to the Chair of the committee.
Mark Reckless: Yes, I can give the number precisely to the gentleman. It is nil. After the two-year notice period expires, our obligations under the treaty expire. Just as when we joined the European Union, they didn't compensate us for a notional amount for the pension contributions for people who had been working for them but not for us before we joined. When someone leaves a company, you have a...
Mark Reckless: I give way once more.
Mark Reckless: Well, it depends on what the tariff is, but the Member's position seems to be that any trade agreement is great as long as the European Union negotiates it and that we are part of it as the EU, but that any other arrangement is automatically bad, without looking at the merits of the size and the balance of the tariffs. [Interruption.] The Member says from a sedentary position that he didn't...
Mark Reckless: Will the Member give way? I'd like to say that Rory Stewart's been knocked out, so he can safely support Boris.
Mark Reckless: Will the Member give way?
Mark Reckless: Could he clarify: is the Conservative Party position still to back the withdrawal agreement, or is it that of its putative leader, Boris Johnson, that it constitutes vassalage and a suicide vest around the country?
Mark Reckless: I assume the Member—[Interruption.] I assume the Member is wanting me to intervene. I denounce political violence and intimidation in all its forms. I've fought a by-election where I had a significant degree of intimidation and I think we need to call it out whenever we see it. I totally agree with this. I believe in democracy. I think we need to implement democratic results. That is the...
