Mark Reckless: Llywydd, previously groups of four or more Members have been allowed the same number of questions as have larger groups. When the education Minister led a group of five that was embedded in the Cardiff Bay consensus, there was no question of cutting back their number of questions. Now it's the Brexit Party you want to cut us back to only a quarter of the number of questions of other groups....
Mark Reckless: Of course, it was the EU who put the NHS on the table in its TTIP negotiations. But if I may try and find a little common ground with the Minister, in terms of the 'no deal' preparations, which I did see, in terms of the Minister's knowledge of and exposition of, through my membership of the External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee, I think it is good that Ministers have sought...
Mark Reckless: We greatly regret this decision. In the First Minister's selective boasts about the Welsh economy just now, he didn't refer to Wales having the lowest wages of all the nations and regions of the UK. He had the opportunity today to do something to relieve the pinch-point that is strangling two thirds of the Welsh economy that relies, to some degree or other, on the M4 to get its products to...
Mark Reckless: First Minister, that doesn't explain why you said one thing before the European election and another one afterwards. You make out now that there's such a greater chance of no deal that you've had to change your policy and say you back a referendum whatever, but that's not what you said before the election, is it? You tell us there's so much more chance of no deal—you came to the Brexit...
Mark Reckless: First Minister, you used to say that you would respect the result of the referendum, but you don't now, do you? Having led the Labour Party in Wales to its worst defeat for over 100 years, you tell the voters that they've got it wrong. You lead a remain establishment that tells the people of Wales, in the words of one AM, that they're ignorant and that they have to vote again. First Minister,...
Mark Reckless: Does the Deputy Minister—? Does he believe it has been of benefit that west Wales has become more cost-competitive compared to overseas destinations, with a lower exchange rate since the EU referendum, and what proposals does he have to further capitalise on this at least potential advantage?
Mark Reckless: HMRC has a clear set of rules to ensure that holiday homes only benefit from its more generous tax treatment when they are genuinely used as businesses, and their rules, which are tried and tested, say that the home has to be available 210 days a year to let and actually let for at least 105 days. Would there be any merit in officials at least considering whether that definition could be...
Mark Reckless: I add to the cross-party support and, indeed, enthusiasm and excitement for this project. Could I ask the Minister to be a little clearer about who's driving this forward? We have this joint venture with Welsh Government and the two local councils, which is very positive. You mentioned just now presenting the planning application—can I infer from that that it will be the joint venture that...
Mark Reckless: Counsel General, do you know of any other law officer who has backed changing rules enforced under legislation retrospectively to ban a political group he dislikes?
Mark Reckless: It's a follow-up to question 3, is it?
Mark Reckless: It's question 3 I want to—.
Mark Reckless: The First Minister thinks that he knows better than the people of Wales. First Minister, I have consistently backed Brexit. Unfortunately, every party said that they were going to respect the result of the referendum. Unfortunately, you are doing anything but. You claim that you have always respected the result, but you haven't. You came out with a White Paper that you agreed with Plaid...
Mark Reckless: First Minister, do you respect the result of the referendum? You promised that you would, but it's not clear that you do. Will your party let us leave, or do you want to make us remain? Do you agree with your Brexit Minister when he said that your Government had to balance the decision the people of Wales made in the referendum with his superior understanding of what he says is in their...
Mark Reckless: Diolch, Llywydd. First Minister, do you respect the result of the referendum? [Interruption.] You promised that you would. [Interruption.]
Mark Reckless: He did indeed, but 'Securing Wales' Future' doesn't say anything about having a second referendum. Indeed, it says that you respect the result of the referendum. It's only since then that you have changed your policy. I just wonder whether the Minister and his party may have overreached themselves. We are seeing election materials going around from Labour describing the party as the biggest...
Mark Reckless: Has the Minister seen the need to make any improvements at the Valleys taskforce since he took over as the Minister?
Mark Reckless: 4. What is the Welsh Government’s policy on implementing the decision made in the EU referendum? OAQ53800
Mark Reckless: The people of Wales voted to leave the European Union. Now, the First Minister doesn't agree with that decision, but doesn't he need to respect it? Did he see the results in the local elections in England last week and, in particular, that by far the worst results for Labour were across ex-coalfield communities? Does he agree with the Members who represent Blaenau Gwent, which voted to leave...
Mark Reckless: 4. What is the Welsh Government’s policy on implementing the decision made in the EU referendum? OAQ53801
Mark Reckless: I thank the Chair for his leadership of our work in this area and the clerks for their support. I look forward to hearing from the Minister. Some people, I think, have questioned our participative approach of asking for ideas, but I think it is a good one and I would like to commend it. Although on the first day in office you haven't come to us with a list of what you'll be doing, you're...
