David Rees: Can I make an intervention? You’ve just highlighted the possibility of putting tariffs upon imported steel into the UK. That clearly will put tariffs on exporting steel from the UK as a consequence. Since over 50 per cent of the steel in Port Talbot actually goes to the EU, are you therefore closing down Port Talbot by the introduction of such tariffs?
David Rees: Second.
David Rees: Thank you for taking the intervention. It’s actually 9.5 on, I think, a scale of 10. There’s a scale that is allocated, and 9.5 is in that scale. So, it’s the highest value.
David Rees: Diolch, Lywydd—Dirprwy Lywydd, sorry. I welcome the opportunity to speak in today’s debate. Air pollution can have extremely detrimental effects on our health, as has already been mentioned by several speakers. It’s associated with a wide variety of respiratory and inflammatory conditions, as particulates, including sulphates, nitrates and black carbon, penetrate the cardiovascular...
David Rees: Will you take an intervention on that point?
David Rees: I will defend the bad air in the sense that, clearly, there are very few occasions when the wind is blowing in the direction of Swansea; it mostly actually comes off the coast into Port Talbot.
David Rees: Thank you for taking the intervention and before you go on to the Cardiff development plan again, you mentioned that there were warm words from me, as an example. Do you not agree that the Labour authority in Neath Port Talbot and the Labour Government have taken action to monitor the quality of air in Port Talbot to ensure there’s a plan in place so that we can ensure that that comes down,...
David Rees: Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. I’ll be very, very quick. [Laughter.] Can I thank the Member first of all for bringing this important issue to the Chamber, because what we are doing is providing opportunities for our young children in new, modern facilities to ensure that they’re able to develop into the twenty-first century? Cabinet Secretary, I just want to ask one thing. I’ll be quick. The...
David Rees: Thank you for giving way. I agree with you totally and I have no arguments, but do you also think there’s a need to train the doctors that are already in place because some of them have a lack of understanding sometimes on some of the issues people come to them with? So, it’s the training of those already in place, as well as more.
David Rees: Minister, I’m very pleased to hear the answer you’ve just given to Bethan Jenkins in relation to the strategy that’s been in place. However, a strategy is a strategy and there are no legal obligations upon authorities and public bodies and that’s one of the consequences of the autism Act. I’ve met with many parents who have actually struggled to get services for their children,...
David Rees: Will you take an intervention?
David Rees: Thank you for taking the intervention. Do you therefore regret the role UKIP MEPs took in 2014 when they didn’t support the modernisation and movement of trade tariff and trade defence mechanisms? The words were, by a UKIP representative: ‘UKIP does not vote for the EU doing things on our behalf.’ They did not care for the steel industry.
David Rees: I thank the Member for taking the intervention. Do you therefore agree that it’s important that we reuse that waste gas, and that it’s important therefore that we keep the heavy end in the steelworks to actually produce that waste gas, so that the integrated works stays as an integrated works?
David Rees: Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. As Members are fully aware, steel is the beating heart of my home town and I welcome another opportunity to debate the future of that industry here today. However, today, we should be debating how we secure a sustainable future through working together to build a stable economic environment and tackle the challenges facing steelworkers; not using the steel industry as...
David Rees: Yes.
David Rees: Yes, I accept that point that the pound is down, therefore the exports are cheaper and possibly more enticing to buyers, but, of course, we are buying raw materials in dollars, and the pound has dropped like a rock to a 31-year low against the dollar, so the consequences are that we’ve probably got, perhaps, a worse situation, not necessarily a better situation.
David Rees: I won’t take a second one, no. I actually welcome the amendment by the Welsh Conservatives, which encourages UK and Welsh Governments to actually work together to devise a strategy to maximise the long-term viability and potential of steel production in Wales. This is something I’ve been calling for for a long time. I actually marched alongside Port Talbot steelworkers in May as they...
David Rees: Will you take an intervention?
David Rees: Will the Member give way?
David Rees: Are your proposals then—? Are you therefore prepared to scrap all industry in Wales so you can have a clean environment, because that’s what you’ve just said?
