Lee Waters: You said Turkey was coming into the EU.
Lee Waters: Yes, thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer. Hefin David's opening reminded me of the remarks said of A. J. Cook, the trade unionist—that he didn't know what he was going to say until he started to say it; he didn't know what he was saying while he was saying it, and he couldn't remember what he said after he finished saying it. I'll go in the spirit that he has implored me to, and...
Lee Waters: I'm happy to take an intervention.
Lee Waters: I agree with that and, of course, there was a methodology behind the selection.
Lee Waters: So, this was not a back-of-a-fag-packet exercise; there was a lot of work that went into coming up with them. I think Alun Davies has hit upon the nub of the problem with the strategic hubs as I've seen them, which also applies to the anchor towns. It's not the concept that's wrong; community parochialism is the challenge, because how many do you decide upon? When I took over this brief I...
Lee Waters: Absolutely. And, as I said, we are keeping strategic hubs as a spatial planning tool. With the example of Caerphilly, a lot of work has gone on and investment in the Caerphilly master plan that simply would not have existed had the strategic hubs concept not been there. [Interruption.] I'm happy to give way.
Lee Waters: Yes, and there we come again to the problem. So, what do we do about this? I'll just touch on this as a final main point: the public services boards and the role that they have, and how the foundational economy concept fit in. I should properly acknowledge that the foundational economy was a movement of supporters that Hefin David, Vikki Howells, Jeremy Miles and Jenny Rathbone on our...
Lee Waters: I don't take the proposals Cardiff have brought forward as the final word on the matter. I think they're the beginning of a conversation.
Lee Waters: I haven't finished the point, but if I have time, I'm happy to. They have said—. Sorry, Deputy Presiding Officer, are you trying to give me some guidance?
Lee Waters: Excellent.
Lee Waters: And we're all going home. Excellent. Let me just briefly respond to Hefin's point before asking Alun to come in. We're at the beginning of a conversation. They are not going to come in for four years. There are pragmatic reasons for doing this in the way they've done, because the entry points into the city are fewer, and you can put the infrastructure to capture the number plates, whereas if...
Lee Waters: In terms of the point on division with the Valleys, I think Ken Skates, the Minister for economy, has made the point in his letter to Cardiff council, which has been released, that this has to be done on a regional basis. As I've just said, I think for a number of reasons that that will be the case. On the point about bus services, I am a big supporter of sustainable transport. We have a...
Lee Waters: Thank you very much, Dirprwy Lywydd, and can I echo Mark Reckless's birthday wishes for Alun Davies? It's also my birthday today and it's also Jenny Rathbone's birthday today. It's quite the troika of Assembly Members. I was trying to think what was the common denominator between the three of us, having our birthdays as Aquarians on 12 February, and the only thing I could think of, because we...
Lee Waters: But the bit I've been thinking about since taking over the portfolio is, as well as attracting businesses into Blaenau Gwent, what can we do to support the businesses already in Blaenau Gwent? Because this is one of the most challenged communities we have in our country, and we owe it a moral debt, in my view, to address those challenges and to support those communities, not just attracting...
Lee Waters: Diolch yn fawr. I'd like to thank Jenny Rathbone for keeping the spotlight on this important issue, from the work that she is doing on the cross-party group on food and the cross-party group on active travel as well as the work in her own constituency. She is continually highlighting the causes and consequences of obesity and is an important voice in our Senedd on these matters. As she...
Lee Waters: I shall.
Lee Waters: Absolutely. Many people have told the Welsh Government about the daily stigma they have faced, which can be a prohibitive factor for them to make positive change, or patients being fearful of discussing their weight with a healthcare professional, as Jenny Rathbone has said. We will ensure that there is increased compassionate care within the NHS and that services are supportive and enabling....
Lee Waters: Formally.
Lee Waters: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I'd like to begin by adding my thanks to the transport workers, from airport workers allowing vital PPE to be delivered to Cardiff Airport, bus and train staff, who've helped key workers to deliver services, bike shop staff who've helped to encourage an uptake in cycling, to highway workers who've helped carry out vital repairs. Their hard work throughout the crisis...
Lee Waters: Llywydd, the stay local law is now lifted, and we are working very closely with the management of Cardiff Airport to secure its future. So, we'll oppose the motion, Llywydd. We're grateful to Plaid Cymru for their amendment, which we will support. And I say to the Conservative Party in Wales, 'Get serious'. Diolch, Llywydd.
