David Rees: Diolch, Llywydd. Can I thank the Minister for her contribution this afternoon, because it has clearly set out some of the points that are important? It is important to stress that this is not about future trade agreements—this is about the trade agreements that are currently in place between the EU and other nations and how they're transferred over to the UK. The external affairs committee...
David Rees: First Minister, many of us witnessed the shambolic events in the House of Commons last night, where we saw, again, a Prime Minister losing a substantive part of her policy for the second time by over 100 in the situation. Clearly, they vote today on the situation regarding whether Parliament wants a 'no deal' or not a 'no deal'. I understand that that is not binding. There's also going to be...
David Rees: First Minister, last Friday, I attended a question time-type event at the Neath College campus for young students, and they expressed a very deep interest in the future curriculum. One of the questions that they raised with me—and I'm sure this will be in the curriculum—is the education of citizenship, in one sense, and political movements, because, clearly, they will be looking at votes...
David Rees: Can I thank the First Minister for his statement this afternoon? Though, by the six o'clock news tonight, some of it may be redundant, as the shambolic Government in Westminster runs around trying to change it and produce new definitions of its own existing deal to keep it on those papers. There are a couple of points I want to raise with you. We've obviously heard arguments about where we...
David Rees: And finally, yes—[Laughter.] Do you agree with me that one of the biggest mistakes last week was not supporting Hilary Benn's amendment, whereby they could actually get a consensus on a position on a possible solution in the House of Commons, which would actually let us know exactly the type of vote that could take place and the sort of agreement that could be in place if we knew what the...
David Rees: 8. What action is the Welsh Government taking to regenerate the economy of the Afan Valley? OAQ53624
David Rees: 9. Will the Counsel General make a statement on the capacity of the Welsh Government to manage a no-deal exit from the EU? OAQ53626
David Rees: Will the Counsel General provide an update on the preparedness of Wales for the scenario of leaving the EU with no deal?
David Rees: Thank you for that answer, First Minister, and you've taken part of my question already. As you might be aware, the Afan valley has some of the most deprived areas in Wales and its economy has been hit because of loss of jobs and businesses up there. Now, as you rightly point out, I'd like to congratulate the Neath Port Talbot council on its decision to approve the outline application for the...
David Rees: Thank you for that answer, Counsel General. Now, whilst we're here, it's obviously nine days away from the legal date on which we are supposed to be leaving the EU, yet we don't know whether we'll be leaving the EU with a deal, with no deal, or maybe an extension. And I'm sure that the chaos we are seeing comes from a shambolic Government in Westminster. But you, as a Welsh Government, have...
David Rees: Can I start by declaring an interest? Members of my family were born in the 1950s. I actually live with one, and she gave me permission to mention it, so I'm okay. I was going to start differently, but I've just spent six minutes listening to the Conservative spokesperson and not once in those six minutes did I get any empathy for these women. Not once in those six minutes did I get an...
David Rees: I'd be more than happy to.
David Rees: Here we go: the Tories trying to blame somebody else again, when the Tories did all the motions. It's about time they took responsibility for their actions, and they're not doing that. Let's look at this reality. As I said, there's a Rose in every community. Let's get serious about this. It's known that 33 per cent of men may end up only on the state pension, but 55 per cent of women will end...
David Rees: Will the First Minister make a statement following the conclusion of the European Council meeting held on 21 and 22 March? (EAQ0006)
David Rees: Thank you for that answer, Counsel General. And it's very interesting the last comment that you just made, but, clearly, last week we saw the Speaker of the House of Commons making it quite clear that the Prime Minister couldn't take back the motion, which hadn't been amended anyway whatsoever. She went to the European Council on 21 and 22 March, making a request for an extension, though, as...
David Rees: First Minister, can I once again put on record my appreciation, and that of the steelworkers in Port Talbot, for the Welsh Government's commitment to the steel industry over the years? This has actually stood up for steel manufacturing here in the UK. It's the only Government that has actually done so, in contrast to the UK Government, which continues to fail to support the steel industry. In...
David Rees: I concur with everything Suzy Davies just said. But the question I want to ask is: we all appreciate that the tidal lagoon actually is a beneficial project and the issues it will bring and the benefits it will bring is something we all want to see. But as well as environmental benefits there are environmental challenges and one of them is obviously the impact upon fish. Now, I know that the...
David Rees: First Minister, an integrated transport system is fantastic if you have an effective public bus transport system. In South Wales West, actually, most of the transportation is by bus, not by rail. And I've raised many times the issue of the Afan valley. I've got constituents in the Afan valley who have a bus every two hours—and that's in the daytime—and nothing in the early morning,...
David Rees: Trefnydd, can I ask for two statements from Welsh Government, the first on the report published last week by the chief inspector of probation in relation to the youth justice and early intervention services in the Western Bay area.?The report was quite damning. It actually highlighted that, out of 12 areas, nine were considered to be 'inadequate', with a tenth being 'room for improvement'....
David Rees: Can I thank the Minister for his statement? It is important that we in this Chamber have an opportunity to discuss these events because they are fast-moving, fast-changing, and they have huge implications upon the constituents we are here to represent, and, therefore, I very much appreciate the statement from the Minister regarding the current situation. I know also that there were...
