Delyth Jewell: I'm actually from the region that I represent and I also worked for Citizens Advice when the referendum was held, so I can understand quite a lot why people did actually vote to take back control.
Delyth Jewell: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Today's debate promises to be a lively one. It's an issue on which nearly everyone has a strong feeling that they are right, and the stakes could not be higher. The motion before us calls on this place to declare its unequivocal support for a confirmatory referendum. Yes, we have called for unambiguous, uncouched in potential circumstance, clarity, because, goodness...
Delyth Jewell: 'We have a shared view on how state aid should work.'
Delyth Jewell: —so, a shared view with the Westminster Government. Plaid Cymru agrees that state aid is a devolved issue, as it isn’t listed in the Wales Act as a reserved power, but can you explain how your Government, under a socialist leader, can share a vision with the Tory Government in Westminster on how state aid should work? Why don’t you believe that the Welsh Government should have the...
Delyth Jewell: I’m pleased to welcome the fact that the Welsh Government has changed its policy. It’s not a reaffirmation, as the First Minister said, it is a change of policy on the need for a referendum in order to put the final say on our relationship with the European Union in the hands of the people. I’m not sure how many times we’ve discussed this issue in this Chamber with the Government...
Delyth Jewell: I'd like to turn now to trade links, which are, of course, crucial in order to secure Wales's economic health, especially in terms of exports. I noted with interest your recent trip to the United States, where you made the case for inward investment by selling Wales as an attractive place to do business. That was a welcome move. But I wonder whether your strategy of building trade links is...
Delyth Jewell: Thank you for your answer, Minister. Engaging the Welsh diaspora is also crucial in order to boost Wales's profile on the international stage, as you've alluded to. There is a meme currently doing the rounds online where a couple of Americans—I'm not going to try and do their accent, but they ask their friend whether he comes from England or Wales, and when he replies, 'Neither; I'm Welsh',...
Delyth Jewell: Diolch, Llywydd. Minister, there is a general consensus that Wales isn't doing enough to engage with its diaspora. There are likely tens of millions of people with Welsh ancestry living across the world, including over 10 million people in the US alone, according to a 2006 study. Better engaging our diaspora has the potential to increase Wales's profile, provide expertise, bring investment...
Delyth Jewell: Thank you for that answer, Minister. If, as expected, the First Minister decides not to move ahead with the black route following your Government's declaration of a climate emergency, can you confirm that the money currently earmarked for the project—and I'm referring specifically to the money available through borrowing powers—will be available for use for alternative infrastructure...
Delyth Jewell: 8. Will the Minister provide an update on the allocation of funding in the budget for the proposed M4 black route? OAQ53922
Delyth Jewell: Will the First Minister provide an update on Welsh Government involvement in the process of resolving the dispute relating to the suspension of senior executives at Caerphilly Council?
Delyth Jewell: I thank the Minister for his answer. Since the 2016 referendum, the automotive sector in the UK has announced a number of closures. The debate about to what extent Brexit is to blame rages on, but, in the meantime, people have genuine concerns about their jobs. The closure of the Honda plant in Swindon worries me greatly, since one of its component suppliers is the Kasai plant in Merthyr...
Delyth Jewell: Minister, the sort of deal that Labour is advocating would mean leaving the European single market and customs union, and this would cause untold damage to the UK economy, leading to further reductions in the Welsh Government's budgets, and it would damage the Welsh economy directly, leading to the closure of businesses and the loss of jobs. And it's not just Plaid Cymru saying this; Welsh...
Delyth Jewell: The Minister has stated his view about the damage caused to society by spending cuts, and I agree with the substance of his answer, so let's consider the issue of public spending in the context of Brexit. The UK Government impact analysis released last year projected that UK growth would suffer a hit of between 2 and 8 per cent were Brexit to go ahead, depending on the kind of economic deal...
Delyth Jewell: Diolch, Llywydd. Does the Minister agree that the funding cuts imposed by Westminster since 2010 have caused untold misery to individuals and communities across Wales?
Delyth Jewell: 6. Will the Counsel General make a statement on whether the Welsh Government has undertaken an analysis of the possible effects of Brexit on supply chains in Wales? OAQ53805
Delyth Jewell: I wanted to thank the Welsh Government, and the Minister for International Affairs and Welsh Language in particular, for writing a letter at my request last week to Jeremy Hunt, asking him to intervene in the case of my constituent, Imam Sis. This was a truly welcome intervention and I am sincerely grateful for it. Members might be aware that Imam Sis is now critically ill. He's been on...
Delyth Jewell: It isn't often that we feel the weight of history on our shoulders, or rather the weight of the future. I welcome the Welsh Government's declaration of a climate emergency, but as the point has been made by Members across the Chamber, it must be backed up with action. The Oxford English Dictionary defines an emergency as 'a serious situation requiring immediate action'. It is defined by the...
Delyth Jewell: To return to the point that I was making in terms of what this Government is doing: in order to actually declare a climate emergency, it has to be backed up with action. We are living in times of dark days. This is true close to home where over half of Welsh wildlife is in decline and one in 14 species are under threat of extinction. We see the impact of climate change in coastal erosion in...
Delyth Jewell: I welcome the recommendations of this report in its entirety. I hadn’t yet joined the committee when the inquiry was being conducted, but I would like to praise this piece of work and the skilful leadership provided by the Chair, David Rees. In the report, we see comprehensive and detailed recommendations as to which steps could be taken to increase the role of Wales at an international...
