We move on to item 3 on the agenda, which is the business statement and announcement. I call on Jane Hutt.

Diolch, Lywydd. I’ve made several changes to this week’s business in response to last week’s events. Members will be aware that the statement on phase 1 implementation of the Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016 was issued as a written statement yesterday. Similarly, the oral statements on school governing bodies, flood and coastal erosion risk management, and the road and street works strategy will be issued as written statements, and the debate on renaming the Assembly has been postponed until next week. The First Minister will, however, set out the Government’s legislative programme in an oral statement this afternoon. Finally, the Business Committee has scheduled a number of procedural motions relating to Assembly committees. Business for the next three weeks is as shown on the business statement and announcement found among the meeting papers available to Members electronically.

We’ve just had the beginning of a very important discourse on the momentous and terrifying decision taken last Thursday. I wondered if it’s possible to fit in, before the summer recess, three further debates on specific areas that are posed by the Brexit decision. One is on the future of our fisheries, and how we might protect them in light of the fact that we only have one boat at the moment to protect the whole of our coastline.

Secondly, the implications for all our universities through the potential loss of Horizon 2020 funding—we think about the important research going on at Cardiff University to investigate the causes of dementia, bipolar disease and other important diseases linked to the workings of the brain, and the fact that these are obviously universal diseases, and the results need to be shared across all nations. So, the importance of, hopefully, being able to maintain that leadership across Europe—that leadership and collaboration—and how we might be able to do that as we take forward these negotiations.

The third is on the future of our farming, in the light of the fact that we still import 40 per cent of our food, which of course is going to go up as a result of the massive reduction in the value of the pound against other currencies, and what opportunities may be available to farmers from this threat to increase both food and agriculture growing so that we do not have to have such expensive imported food.

Thank you, Jenny Rathbone. Of course, we have just had a debate—a very full debate—in response to the referendum, and the First Minister made two statements on Friday and, indeed, again yesterday, following our Welsh Government Cabinet meeting, laying out the steps that the Welsh Government is taking. As you are clearly aware, and as has been discussed this afternoon, it will take time to work through the implications of last week’s referendum result. Of course, we have to recognise—this is particularly important to your questions—no immediate changes are likely to take place in terms of regulatory requirements or EU investments and funding. For example, there are issues like the basic payments scheme, investment, Glastir scheme contracts—they’ll be honoured—and RDP grant rounds, which are already open and will continue. So, of course, information will be made available and opportunities, I know, for further clarification via statement and debate, I’m sure, will be possible.

May I thank the business manager for her statement and thank you for changing Government business to allow us to discuss the referendum results of last week? I’m sure that all Members will respect that and be grateful for it. As a result of that, you have deferred the debate on the renaming of this Siambr—not the Siambr, but the renaming of the institution the ‘Welsh Parliament’. Can you confirm that, when you bring that motion back, you will have discussed and taken into account some of the amendments that were already being discussed as the motion was being tabled for this week and that that, perhaps, will have progressed a little before we discuss that motion tabled by Government?

Secondly, I would just like to raise two or three things that do emerge from the debate that we’ve had this afternoon on the vote to leave the European Union. Could we please, therefore, have a statement relatively swiftly—certainly before summer—on the way the Government sees their relationship with the single market and the free market, the two possible relationships for Wales? I have already asked the First Minister in terms of how I see things in terms of membership of the European economic area, but it would be good to have a formal statement from Government as to its stance as we enter this process of negotiating our exit from the European Union, because none of these questions have been answered during the last hour and a half, certainly not by those people who wanted to leave the European Union.

The second part of that is whether we could have a statement, perhaps from you as the business manager, on the way in which the whole Assembly could participate in that debate. Now, again, the First Minister, in answering questions, said that he wants to see all parties participating in that process. But although we do have a mechanism to establish committees later today, perhaps we should ask whether we need a more party political forum to bring people together in order to be part of this process. Have you come to any view on that? Could we have a statement setting out how you could see that emerging and working?

The final point that I would like to raise with you is one that emerges directly from the experience I’m sure each and every one of us is having. I attended a meeting yesterday of the canals forum in Newtown where there is a plan to restore the old canal through Newtown and, time and time again, during these discussions, people were saying that they were applying for European funding for this. You just have to take a step back and say, ‘There’ll be no European funding available in two years’ time or in two and a half years’ time’—whatever the timescale is. But that hasn’t been permeated people’s thinking yet. I’m sure that every one of us will have had such conversations with groups that have relied—perhaps been over-reliant—on European funding in the past, and now they want to proceed with plans that are still important to their communities and that are still important to tourism and developing the economy. So, can we have a statement again before summer from the Cabinet Secretary for the economy—a comprehensive statement setting out all of the plans that are currently funded in Wales under European funding, their term, when they are likely to come to an end and when, if a scheme were to continue, the second stream planning is expected to start?

We need to look at this, I think. It can then be referred to a committee, of course, and be discussed in detail. But we truly need to look at this and scope the impact of the fact that the structural funds and the ESF funding will come to an end. We need to scope that very carefully, and a comprehensive statement just setting out, for our information, would be a way for people to actually understand what’s going on, and secondly, as we start to look at how we negotiate that, and how we then put pressure on those people who led us in to this situation to ensure that every penny is resorted to Wales.

Diolch yn fawr, Simon Thomas. I think the six priorities that the First Minister set out in his statement on Friday—those six priorities, again, of protecting jobs, playing a full part in discussions regarding UK withdrawal from the EU—very importantly, as you made the point—ensuring that the UK retains access to the single market, negotiating continued participation in EU programmes until the end of 2020, and, of course, now having to undertake that work, in response to your last question, to assess what that means in terms of projects that are considering a way forward, not just—. I mentioned in response to Jenny Rathbone the rural development programme, and the fact that the bidding round, of course, has been opened, and I’m sure your constituents are asking the same question. The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government, who is clearly responsible in terms of European structural funds, is closely assessing these impacts. So, clearly, the responsibilities that are now shared by Cabinet Secretaries and led by the First Minister are being clearly laid out in terms of the way forward, but we have to, as you say, make sure that we enable the Assembly—the full Assembly, and recognising those important points about cross-party engagement now—. We shortly, hopefully, will be setting up our policy and legislation committees and a committee, which I will now call the seventh policy and legislation committee—which we had always anticipated, whatever the result of the referendum, would need to take on post-EU-referendum consideration and consultation on impacts—now is going to be able to not only elect a Chair and provide cross-party members, but it will obviously need to start and meet before the end of this session with a programme into the autumn.

So, we have to ensure that we also look at other ways in which we can engage, and the committee may wish to engage not just in terms of the Assembly and cross-party concerns engagement but outside the Assembly as well and of course with stakeholders in the communities that we engage with, but also looking at the important role of Wales House. Of course, we have already, as the First Minister has said—. He is ensuring that there is that negotiating team in Brussels and there will need to be, of course, strong engagement to ensure that the Assembly as a whole understands and is fully briefed on each step, but also contributing as well.

Can I ask for a statement, please, on business rates? Certainly, I’ve visited a number of small businesses in the past week and there is a great deal of uncertainty. In the last financial year, businesses received a £1,500 rate relief, and then the previous year it was £1,000. Clearly, businesses do need to know whether they're going to receive that rate this financial year. I'm also aware that the UK Government has presented its plans for business rates, so I'd be very keen if we could have a statement outlining what the Welsh Government’s position is for the fifth Assembly, but particularly for how it will affect businesses in this coming financial year.

Well, of course, Russell George, there are huge uncertainties as a result of the referendum and the ‘leave’ vote last week. There are huge uncertainties that, of course, the chancellor expressed today, which will undoubtedly have an impact on the Welsh Government and the Welsh Government budget. So, of course, these are issues where we have made clear commitments and delivered on those clear commitments as Welsh Government, and the Cabinet Secretary, of course, will be looking very carefully at that. But it is the uncertainties that have been created since last Thursday and the result on Friday morning that are now steering our consideration. But businesses need to be very clear that this Welsh Government is supporting them and particularly making sure that we can protect them. Perhaps some of those points that were made earlier on about mitigation in terms of the negative impacts of the referendum results we need to address.

I thank the business Minister for her statement. I’m just kind of repeating some of the stuff that we've already talked about in the debate, but I do think this is particularly important because, whilst many of us, I think, probably could have predicted a number of the consequences of the ‘leave’ vote in the EU referendum, which included the alarming and disgusting wave of racist attacks that we've seen across the UK since that vote—. I think reports of incidents have increased by about 57 per cent since Thursday across the UK and even here in Wales. It is welcomed that the police and crime commissioners have issued statements condemning these attacks and urging everyone to immediately report any incidents of racial abuse to which they are subject or have witnessed. Whilst, clearly, policing is not yet a devolved issue, tackling racism in our communities is a priority for all of our public services and society. So, can I ask for a statement from the business Minister on any measures being considered to raise awareness of this issue and counter any culture of hatred and intolerance?

Well, I’m glad also that we’ve had another opportunity, in response to your question on the business statement this afternoon, to again make it very clear that tackling hate crime is a significant priority for Welsh Government. Racism will not be tolerated here in Wales. A very strong statement was made by the First Minister yesterday and repeated again this afternoon. Ministers have made it clear that racism is completely unacceptable and recognise, as we all do, the ugly atmosphere that’s been created following the EU referendum. So, we have to, again, ensure that we get the message out that all victims of hate crimes or incidents must report. The First Minister has written to our police and crime commissioners to highlight the issues raised in the community. But also, of course, the Minister for communities and children is taking a clear lead on this and issued a very important statement as well yesterday on Refugee Week. And I think also, in recognising that we’re funding the National Hate Crime Report and Support Centre through Victim Support Cymru and recognising that that national community cohesion programme, which we’re still supporting, has co-ordinators across Wales, monitoring tensions and working locally with partners to tackle hate crime—there are meetings this week.

But I also notice something that was very good to recognise, which is that, in Llanelli, the Welsh Polish Mutual Association have actually had a great deal of support and I think a recognition there that there was very strong support—‘Thanks for being here then…still glad you’re here now #PolesinUk’.

I was wondering whether we could have a statement on safety levels at Tata Steel. I say this because I have had a trickle of concerns, initially from constituents, with regard to safety aspects with the job cuts there, but it’s actually turned into quite a torrent from constituents who work at Tata Steel. I wonder if we could have a statement to understand if the Government has been talking to trade unions about the situation. I have a list of complaints, if the Minister or one of her colleagues wishes to see, which exemplifies the reason why I’m raising this here today in the manner in which I am.

The second issue I have is with regard to the question I asked last week. I don’t think I had a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’ from you with regard to whether we could have a statement on autism and the post-educational needs of those who’ve left school. It’s an urgent situation. Leighton Andrews, in his capacity as education Minister, did have a taskforce looking into provision for those who’ve left school, and I think there are many, many families in my area, as I’m sure there are across Wales, who are facing uncertain futures when their children leave school—a lack of services, a lack of direction and lack of a clear pathway. So, I would urge, once again, if we could have a statement or a debate on that particular issue before our term ends and before the school term ends.

Thank you, Bethan Jenkins. I think it’s very important to recognise that Tata Steel has stated that its top priority is the safety and health of all those who work in and with the group. It’s a COMAH—control of major accident hazards regulations—1 site; it’s heavily regulated, of course, as you will acknowledge, in terms of health and safety. But my understanding is that the unions have been discussing this issue with Tata Steel—it’s got a statutory obligation to conform to those regulations and standards set by the Health and Safety Executive and they are engaging the unions in discussing these issues.

On your second point, of course I heard your question last week. I followed it up to see the most appropriate way that we can respond and also recognise that, of course, a particular issue is one aspect of the all-important responses across Government, not just in terms of education, but health and well-being as well, where we look at our response to autism.

I think Bethan raised a key point about autism transition and it’s a long-standing problem—something I’ve had a lot of casework on, but also it’s been raised successively with cross-party autism groups over a number of Assemblies. On that theme, I call for a statement on the Welsh Government’s refreshed autism spectrum disorder strategic action plan and the proposals for a national autism service for Wales. These were launched on a Friday only a couple of weeks before the last Assembly went into dissolution, and this Assembly hasn’t yet had an opportunity to discuss or scrutinise the draft or the consultation that it launched.

Whilst integration of health, employment, education and social services is welcome, there remains concern in the autism community that the lack of statutory backing means that it may not ensure the change that we all want to see for children, adults and their families on the autism spectrum; concern over the £6 million over three years—that’s £2 million annually; is that new money or is it simply redirected existing money: we don’t know; concern that without adequate funding the timing will slip, and it won’t deliver, without statutory backing, the promises it makes; and also concern that people, for instance in north Wales, would not be able to benefit from the services it proposes until the end of 2018. It’s also noted that the report that the Welsh Local Government Association is taking forward with Public Health Wales on the new national service is full of ‘should’s rather than ‘must’s and that this could still be interpreted differently between different health boards and lack of detail on how health boards would work with local authorities. This Assembly does need to have an opportunity to scrutinise and discuss this key proposal.

Secondly, and finally, could I call for a statement on British Sign Language? The Minister might be aware that Scotland has brought forward legislation on this and that Northern Ireland is actually looking very closely also at that Scottish legislation. The Welsh Government’s own legislation, the well-being of future generations and the social services and well-being Acts will enforce equality in service provision across public services. Therefore, British Sign Language will be in greater demand for providers to correspond and communicate with British Sign Language users across all services: health, education, social services and otherwise, and also for all venues providing those public services to have communication tools suitable for deaf people. So, in that context—in the context of your own Government’s legislation and in the context of developments in Scotland and Northern Ireland on the BSL issue—I would call for a statement.

Thank you for your questions. I think, just in terms of the first point, of course, as you say, there was consultation on the refreshed all-Wales autistic spectrum disorder action plan that led up to the Assembly elections. The results of that consultation, of course, will be published, and the refreshed plan will be published also later this year. This is £6 million that was announced by the Minister to fund this refreshed all-Wales autistic spectrum disorder action plan, and it’s critical that we move forward on that to respond to the consultation that took place.

On your second point, of course Wales has led the way in terms of access to British Sign Language and much of that, also, has been through the contribution as a result of cross-party group working as well as Welsh Government response. Of course, we do have opportunities now to take this forward as a result of our legislation for the well-being of future generations, and I’m sure that the Minister will want to make a statement to update on that.

Leader of the house, might we have a statement from the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure on the future of Nant Helen opencast mine near Ystradgynlais? Following the announcement that Aberthaw power station is to downgrade its operation from next April, Celtic Energy last week announced that Nant Helen could be mothballed, resulting in 90 redundancies. In October, the company took the decision to mothball the nearby Selar site, which resulted in 70 people losing their jobs. As you can appreciate, this is both an uncertain and unsettling time for workers and that community, who will want clarity and reassurance at this time.

I’m glad that this has been brought to our attention this afternoon, because this is something where, you know, that uncertainty needs to be addressed. The company has begun consultations with trade unions and other stakeholders, which Joyce Watson will be aware of. That consultation could see a reduction in the workforce, but my understanding is that restoration finance has been accruing on the Nant Helen site, and the local planning authority and the company will be able to confirm the latest position, but I understand the restoration of the site should be capable of being managed.

Leader of the house, I wonder if we could have an update or statement on progress being made with the implementation of the city deal. We know there has been a great deal of concern following the outcome of the recent referendum result regarding the funding, particularly the European strands of funding, that will be going to the city deal. This does involve a large number of local authorities, both in my area and the south-east of Wales. There is concern out there and I know that it’s going to be a while before we have clarity on where we are in terms of our relationship with the European Union, but I think it’s important that those local authorities and the city deal structure does have some guidance from the Welsh Government as to aspects of the city deal that can be implemented in the medium term.

Well, I think, Nick Ramsay, we share concerns about the prospects and future of this all-important city deal, which I know your local authority is strongly supportive of and was engaged in ensuring that we secured and we got that bid of the 10 local authorities. This, of course, is something as well where we look to the response from the Chancellor as well as the impact post-Brexit, but I think the clear commitment in your contribution today is very important in terms of recognising how the city deal for this region, the region that you’re part of, is crucially important to our economy and to the well-being of that region.

Thank you, Minister.