David Rees: Does it also say that patents and changing the rules of patents are not on the table?
David Rees: Does it also say that changes to the rules on patents will not be on the table? Because that's an important factor in deciding the funding and the prices of medicines coming from outside.
David Rees: I had thought that this debate would be on Brexit and trade, but I heard the Plaid Cymru spokesperson this afternoon in questions to the Counsel General say it's about NHS privatisation, and I've heard nothing else other than NHS privatisation this afternoon. I'll try and keep off it as much as I can and focus on the issues of trade. Just to plug an issue, the committee produced or is...
David Rees: However, the question is: how can Wales be protected from having to suffer the consequences of such trade deals? It's one that must be addressed, but I do not believe it's addressed by establishing a veto, though I'm sure Plaid Cymru would love to be able to use such a rejection as another reason for independence. Currently, there's no formal mechanism to ensure that Welsh Government or the...
David Rees: First Minister, obviously the dunes are one ecosystem, but another variety of the ecosystem is forestry, and particularly in the Afan valley, where we've seen many trees being felled by NRW because of various circumstances. But do you agree with me that, when harvesters come in, and are contracted to fell those trees, they should remove all of the trees? Because there are many tree stumps,...
David Rees: Minister, can I welcome the statement you've made today, and can I welcome the decision of the Welsh Government to actually produce an action plan, because it is critical? I do note that it refers quite a few times to Port Talbot. As you fully understand, the implications for Port Talbot are huge. We have a motorway going through that. We have the steelworks and other industries within there....
David Rees: 8. What progress has Natural Resources Wales made with regard to forestry management? OAQ54843
David Rees: Minister, will you join me in congratulating Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council and Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council on their successful project bid to the National Lottery to restore peatlands in the upper Afan Valley and over into the RCT area around Glyncorrwg? As you know, it may be part of the Glamorgan alps, as David Melding has highlighted. Will you also look, therefore,...
David Rees: Thank you for that answer, Minister. Forestry management obviously covers a wide range, but it also includes the consideration of harvesting and replanting of areas of the forestry. When we talk about harvesting, we also need to look to ensure that we don't leave rubbish on the ground, and that we use the wood effectively and efficiently, as many businesses actually depend upon some of that...
David Rees: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd, and can I thank all Members for their contributions this afternoon? Before I go on to look at the discussion and Members' contributions, can I also join in thanking the Cabinet member, the Minister for Education, because it was her who took this Bill through the last Assembly, driving it forward, and you will remember the discussions we had in committee on many...
David Rees: Helen also highlighted the retention and recruitment strategy, which is one of the big common themes, and raised the concerns about it. Particularly, I think, she mentioned one thing. We talk very often about retention and stress, but we also forget sometimes it is staff burn-out that exists amongst many of our staff, because they put in, as Angela said, the extra hours above and beyond what...
David Rees: So, I won't make up words, but I think it is important that, as we move forward in this agenda, we actually remind ourselves of the real people we are there for, and that's the patients. And if we can do everything we can to make the patient care better, we should be able to do that. And if the nursing staff level Bill, Act—I've got to remember to get it right—is to actually deliver that,...
David Rees: First Minister, we all know that the withdrawal agreement that the Bill is there to implement actually was negotiated in October by the Prime Minister with the EU. Nothing's changed since that negotiation. We had a Bill put forward by the Prime Minister in October that failed, and he no longer decided to proceed with that particular Bill. He came back with a Bill, following his victory in the...
David Rees: Trefnydd, can I ask for two statements from the Welsh Government? The first from my colleague to my right, sitting next to me, in relation to the contemporary art museum that's been talked about and the progress there is on that. Clearly, before Christmas, we celebrated one year since the Banksy appeared in Taibach and has now moved into a shopping centre in Station Road in Port Talbot,...
David Rees: Can I thank the Minister for her statement today, and in particular her appreciation of the committee's work and the recognition that she thinks we actually have provided some sensible recommendations? But I have a few questions. The thing that's been pointed out—and I think it's important for us to remember—this is not about leaving the EU, that's done and dusted, we all know that, I'm...
David Rees: Yes, I will wind up, Deputy Presiding Officer. It is important for us all to remind ourselves that what we're trying to do is to ensure that our businesses are able to operate beyond Brexit, and therefore these discussions are crucial.
David Rees: 1. Following the comments made by the chairman of the Tata Sons group, what actions are the Welsh Government taking to ensure the future of Welsh steel making at Port Talbot? 374
David Rees: Can I thank the Minister for his answer? On Sunday, in The Sunday Times, the interview published with Mr Natarajan Chandrasekaran—who is the chair of Tata Sons, which is the parent company of Tata Steel—clearly indicated that effectively they were no longer going to look at supporting losses in steel making outside of India. His comments were, 'Why should India keep funding such losses?'...
David Rees: Can I thank the Minister for her statement and also welcome the international strategy, which is now in its final version? And I hope the report of the External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee gave you some sort of extra thinking before you put that strategy together. The strategy is very much appreciative of where we want to go, but does still focus sometimes on our strengths...
David Rees: Can I thank the Minister for his statement this afternoon on the update on the regional investment plan for Wales? I think it's important to remind ourselves that it is an update—we're not there yet. Can I also express my disappointment at the contributions from the Conservative spokesperson and the Brexit Party spokesperson, who have attempted to deride the benefits we've had from European...
