David Rees AM, Unit 6, Water Street Business Centre, Gwyn Terrace, Aberavon 01639 870779

AM seeks EU Referendum clarification on the It's been one week since we all went to vote on our future in the EU. I supported a remain vote, hoping that the benefits we had gained to future of Welsh steel date would continue, but as we know the majority of people who voted

Earlier this month, the First Minister, AM, in our town, and the UK wanted the UK to leave the EU. made a statement in the relating to Tata Steel following his visit to Mumbai at the end of May. Since This democratic decision must be respected and as your elected representative I will work to ensure that the people of Aberavon & Wales will get the best possible benefit 19th March, the future of the steel industry in Port of any negotiation as the UK undertakes the work to complete an exit from EU Talbot and South Wales has had a cloud over it, as the membership. There is no doubt in anyone's mind that there will be economic process of selling Tata Steel UK is being played out. To turbulence in the coming months, maybe years, and we need to put policies/actions date, no decision has been made on a preferred buyer into place to minimise the impact of the uncertainty that has consequently arisen. or even whether Tata has reversed its decision to sell, Economic confidence & stability must be re-established as quickly as possible. as has been strongly rumoured within the workforce. Our priority in Port Talbot must be the future of the steel works. The Brexit decision Aberavon’s AM, David Rees sought clarification from the First must not be allowed to derail the sale process currently underway by TATA and the Minister on the future support available to any new buyer or, as UK government cannot allow itself to be distracted from ensuring the deal on the rumours have indicated, Tata itself, if it decides to continue future of the Bristish Steel Pension Scheme comes to a successful conclusion. operating steel making in the UK. At a time when steel workers are A consultation by the DWP on the future of the BSPS has now come to an end and losing their jobs following January’s announcement, they we need the government to analyse the results and come to a conclusion quickly to highlighted that it is critical that the workforce, who have shown allow the process to progress I am worried that two of the major figures in the UK their dedication and commitment during this turbulent period, are government on this matter, Sajid Javid & Stephen Crabb, will focus their attention on provided with assurances and confidence that any future operator the leadership contest in the conservative party (with Stephen Crabb wanting to be of steel making in Wales has a sustainable long-term vision for the the next PM & Sajid Javid acting as his campaign manager) and not on dealing with industry. the BSPS and the future of our steel industry. This is a critical time and they can't be Following recent reports that TATA steel could delay a decision on allowed to take their eyes off the ball on this. the sale of its UK business Aberavon’s AM, David Rees, and Llanelli’s AM, , met with the CEO of TATA Steel UK, Mr We also cannot ignore the decision of the Prime Minister to resign - leaving us to ask: Belimdra Jha, to discuss the sale process and seek clarification on who now leads the campaign to Save Our Steel within the UK government? There the reports that TATA may retain control of its steelmaking wasn't much enthusiasm in Whitehall before the decision by TATA in March to sell interests in Wales. At the meeting Mr Rees and Mr Waters called TATA Steel UK and there appears to be less now. for TATA to remove the uncertainty that exists within their We need a government that is committed to a steel industry in the UK and to communities on the future of the sales process and the protecting the thousands of jobs at stake both within TATA Steel UK and within all of subsequent anxiety amongst steelworkers and their families. the contractors/Supply Chain businesses that serve it. If David Cameron wants to leave any form of positive legacy here in South Wales perhaps he could publicly lead Mr Jha reassured the AMs that the steel giant isn't playing games on this and ensure that this is successfully concluded to give our steelworkers and over the future of the company's Welsh plants and that the their families a more secure future. decision by the TATA board on 29th March to sell the UK interests was still its focus. Mr Jha accepted that some stakeholders want Beyond steel and as the UK now moves towards negotiations on our exit from the EU Tata to change its position and keep the plants on. He indicated with the disentanglement of the various strands of legal and political threads that exist that he was obliged to put to the TATA board any proposal which between us, it is important that all devolved nations are included in those can be considered as an economic benefit to the company, negotiations. The Welsh Government must be part of the decison making process on including one that may originate from TATA Steel UK itself but at the terms and timing of our departure from the EU and on the future arrangements for this time he has no viable plan which he could present to the trading both with the EU and other nations. Welsh interest must be represented by board. TATA board is not due to meet to discuss this matter in the the Welsh Government at the table. It is clear from a variety of comments by leaders near future. across Europe that this will be challenging and we need to ensure our interests are David Rees AM said: “Steelworkers and their families, including best served throughout these negotiations. those who have retired, have had the sword of Damocles hanging

published by David Rees AM, Unit 6, Water Street Business Centre, Gwyn Terrace, Aberavon, Port Talbot SA12 6LG

over them and it is now time for Tata to accept their responsibility It is also important that the funding streams that will be lost to Wales following our exit to the workforce and give assurances over the future of the British from the EU are replaced by the UK government. During the Referendum campaign Steel Pension Scheme. This is a major issue for any future buyer many promises were made by leaders of the Leave campaign that this would be the and the ability of Tata to remove it from the equation of selling will case and Wales would not lose a penny of support that would have come from the

Printed and give confidence to the markets that steel has a strong and EU. The Government, which will undoubtedly include many of those who were sustainable future in Wales. The workforce, local businesses and involved in leading that campaign, now need to honour those promises - yes they the wider community want a positive solution to this situation and were clearly promises. The years ahead will be challenging and we must all work it’s time for all governments to ensure TATA act as a responsible together to achieve a better Wales and a strong economy to secure our future and seller and a responsible employer.” that of future generations.

David Rees AM continues Every penny of EU funds to Wales to fight for school must be replaced Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government Mark transport Drakeford has said he will do all he can to ensure that there is no loss of funding to Wales following the result of last week’s EU On Monday 6th June, referendum. as children started their final ½ term attending Speaking ahead of oral questions in the Senedd, he said the UK Government Cwrt Sart Community must guarantee every penny of funding which the EU currently provides. He added that EU Structural Funds play a vital role in supporting growth and jobs Comprehensive School, across Wales and any loss of funds will have a impact on people, businesses David Rees AM, who has been a strong campaigner for an Since 2007, EU projects have created 11,900 enterprises and some 37,000 safe routes to the new school at Ysgol Bae Baglan, once (gross) jobs; helped 72,700 people into work; helped more than 229,000 people again walked one of the routes pupils will be expected to gain qualifications and 56,000 people into further learning since 2007. take to their new school at Ysgol Bae Baglan. David was Under the current £1.8bn EU-supported programmes, more than £700m of EU joined on the walk by members of Briton Ferry town council, including Structural Funds have already been committed, 40% of the total allocation for the Town Council Mayor and Briton Ferry West Councillor Hugh the 2014-20 period. As part of an EU exit, the UK Government must give James. The routes expected to be taken by pupils include walking notification under Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty which would give up to two along the busy A48 dual carriageway at Baglan and along Brunel Way years to negotiate its withdrawal. into Baglan Energy Park travelling along Central Avenue. Both are busy routes, particularly at the times when children will be walking to and from school, and these routes will only become busier as Ysgol NEW ORGAN DONATION Bae Baglan opens. SYSTEM SAVES LIVES David Rees AM said; “We left Cwrt Sart School at 7:30 am and the journey took us almost an hour, walking briskly on a sunny morning. DURING FIRST SIX MONTHS This journey will be more difficult and challenging in the winter as children face dark mornings and harsher weather conditions. We must Wales’ landmark system for organ donation remember that the children will also be expected to walk home either has saved dozens of lives during the first at the end of the school day or later if attending after-school events”. six months since implementation, Welsh He added; “I strongly believe that the children from Briton Ferry, who Labour’s Cabinet Secretary for Health, would have attended Cwrt Sart in September had it remained open, Well-being and Sport has said. should be supported in their transport to/from their new school to ensure both their safety and their best performance once there.” The system – known as soft opt out or deemed consent – allows people who want David will be walking the route once more at the end of this final term to be an organ donor to either register a decision to opt in or do nothing. For those at Cwrt Sart and hopes to be accompanied by parents of pupils that who choose to do nothing, if they are 18 or over, have lived in Wales for more than will be attending Ysgol Bae Baglan. More details of this walk will follow 12 months and also die in Wales, they will be regarded as having consented to and the information will be available on David’s Facebook, twitter and organ donation.

website, as well as through Cwrt Sart Community School. Figures show that of the 31 deceased people who donated their organs between 1st December 2015 and 31st May 2016, 10 had their consent deemed because they had not registered a decision to either opt in or opt out of becoming an organ £2.6m boost for childcare donor. In total, 60 organs were transplanted during this period, 32 of which were from people whose consent had been deemed. In comparison to the figures for scheme will help more organ donation before the change in the law, these numbers are very encouraging: 23 people donated their organs in the same period in 2014-15 and 21 in the same young parents into work period in 2013-2014. Communities and Children Secretary, has announced a £2.6m EU-backed investment in an ambitious Welsh Government childcare scheme designed to help young parents into work.

Parents, Childcare and Employment (PaCE) is a £13.5m programme, backed with £8.5m EU funds, that helps unemployed or economically inactive parents @DavidReesAM into work.

This announcement secures the final funding package, including £1.7m EU funds, helping a further 1,400 young parents improve their employability. It http://www.david-rees.com follows last October’s £10.9m announcement of the PaCE initiative - bringing support to a total of 7,800 people across Wales. PaCE aims to help improve employment prospects by providing access to training or job opportunities that might not otherwise have been possible due to childcare commitments. PaCE covers the cost of childcare while parents undertake training to gain the skills https://www.facebook.com/DavidReesAMAberavon they need to get a job.

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Watch and listen UN COMMITTEE HIGHLIGHTS WELSH PROGRESS ON CHILDREN’S RIGHTS

The Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) has praised progress made by Wales and the UK since their last review in 2008 in implementing children’s rights.

In response to a report by the UK on the steps taken since the last review, the Committee praised Wales specifically for introducing a new domestic abuse offence, measures taken to Watch the National Assembly for Wales on the web. address child sexual exploitation and abuse, the introduction of statutory defence for all You can watch committee meetings and Plenary live potential victims of child trafficking and legislating for play. in Senedd TV at http://www.senedd.tv, or watch explainer videos and more on our Youtube channel ’s Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children, Carl Sargeant, welcomed at https://www.youtube.com/user/Assembly the Committee’s observations and said he is committed to improving outcomes for children and young people across Wales and doing more to give them the best possible start in life by tackling issues such as poverty, homelessness and mental health. He added that the Welsh Petitions Labour Government wants young people to be involved in the democratic process and supports giving the vote to 16 and 17-year-olds. This supports the recommendation made by the UN Committee to conduct consultations with children on the voting age.

CABINET SECRETARY

SETS OUT HER VISION

FOR PLANNING IN WALES

A petition is a way of asking the National Assembly Welsh Labour’s Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs, to consider any issue, problem or proposal that the has set out her vision for planning in Wales. Assembly has the power to do something about.

The Assembly’s rules mean that any petition that the

Presiding Officer decides is admissible must be considered by the Assembly. The Assembly has set up a

Petitions Committee to consider admissible petitions and to decide what action should be taken. In her first major speech since being appointed, the Cabinet Secretary explained how planners must play a crucial role in helping the Welsh Government achieve its key targets, If you need any assistance with the e-petitions system including building 20,000 affordable homes, reducing carbon emissions and improving the or require any further information about the petitions prosperity of Wales. process, please feel free to email us: [email protected] or contact Lisa (01639 During her speech the Cabinet Secretary emphasised the importance of Local and 870779) Strategic Development Plans and urged local planning authorities to work together to set out a shared vision across a region to inform and guide important high-profile regeneration Consultations initiatives such as City Deal and the Metro.

The Cabinet Secretary described to planners how, by working together with the Welsh Government, she envisages a system that is visionary, evidence based, connected, efficient, and is valued by communities, businesses, politicians and planners.

Addressing the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Wales Conference in Cardiff, the Cabinet Secretary responded to ten “asks” the RTPI recently posed the Welsh Government by setting out five “asks” of her own. Lesley Griffiths assured the audience that the Welsh To view a list of the issues that the Assembly Government fully values the important role they play in helping make Wales a more committees are currently consulting on please go to: sustainable and prosperous country. www.assembly.wales/en/bushome/Pages/consultation

INWARD INVESTMENT

CONTINUES AT RECORD LEVELS New figures show that 2015/16 was the second best on record for inward investment, with Wales having attracted 96 new projects, Welsh Labour’s Economy Secretary has announced.

The latest provisional inward investment results for Wales also show that more than 6,000 jobs were created or safeguarded. The inward investment projects were from companies based in 23 countries around the world. The provisional inward investment figures follow the Cabinet Secretary’s announcement last week that more than 40,000 jobs were supported by the Welsh Government in 2015/16 - 5.3% more jobs than in 2014-15. Recording breaking tourism figures also showed Wales attracted 10.45 million overnight visits from GB residents in 2015. This was 4.5% up on 2014 figures when the number of visitors exceeded 10 million for the first time. Employment is now at a record high and has risen faster in Wales than any other part of the UK, while unemployment has fallen faster in Wales than anywhere else and is substantially below that in Scotland and the UK as whole.

New inward investment from high quality companies including Aston Martin and re-investment from global businesses like General Dynamics and Raytheon are creating a substantial number of new, highly skilled, well paid jobs and career opportunities in Wales. The value to the Welsh economy from these investments is at least £660m creating wider economic benefits, jobs and new business opportunities for Welsh companies through supply chains.

WELSH GOVERNMENT INVESTS IN DRAMATIC REDUCTION IN DEVELOPMENT OF HIGH-END TV

SMOKING RATES REVEALED The Welsh Labour Government, advised by Pinewood Pictures, IN NEW SURVEY has invested in the development of a High-End television series,

The percentage of adults smoking Minotaur, from the ambitious, North Wales based production in Wales is at a record low, a new company, Mad as Birds. comprehensive survey of the It is the second television project supported by the Welsh Government’s Media nation’s health published today reveals. Investment Budget. The series will be written by Celyn Jones, actor/writer behind Set Fire to the Stars, and tells a darkly original, unique tale of human redemption The Welsh Health Survey 2015 shows 19% of adults reported they and fear. It will be set between France and North Wales and has already currently smoke, down from 26% in 2003/4. This significant reduction attracted the attention of major global talent who wish to be involved. means the Welsh Government has already exceeded its aim of reducing smoking rates to 20% by 2016 and is well on track to achieve The project is aiming for pre-production in early 2017. its ambitious target to reduce levels to 16% by 2020.

However, the results show many of us continue to eat and drink too PUBLIC INQUIRY much, and are not getting enough exercise. ON M4 PROJECT A total of 13,700 adults and 2,600 children took part in the Welsh Health Survey 2015. Other key results show: A solution to congestion on the M4 •40% of adults reported drinking above the recommended guidelines moved a step closer today, with Economy and on at least one day in the past week, down from 45% in 2008, Infrastructure Secretary, Ken Skates announcing an independent including 24% who reported binge drinking Public Local Inquiry into the M4 Corridor around Newport project. •Around 31% of adults reported being physically active on five or more days in the previous week The inquiry is set to commence in Newport this autumn, with a pre-inquiry •17% of adults reported that they had talked to a GP about their own meeting taking place on 18 July. It is expected to take around five months. An health in the past two weeks, while 70% of adults reported attending a independent Inspector will review the need for the scheme and consider all dentist in the past 12 months environmental, social and economic factors. The Inquiry will hear evidence from •94% of children reported having very good or good general health. technical experts as well as supporters and objectors.

Economy and Infrastructure Secretary Ken Skates said: This independent inquiry will set out the proposals for the M4 Corridor around Newport project in a public forum. It will allow open and transparent scrutiny and provide vital feedback to inform a final decision on whether to proceed to construction. EMPLOYMENT RATE IN WALES “Alongside infrastructure improvements to the North, Mid and West Wales, the CONTINUES TO OUTPERFORM M4 project and the Metro are hugely important to our vision for an efficient, integrated transport system for Wales and I’m very pleased to have been able to ALL OTHER PARTS OF THE UK move forward so quickly with this.”

Welsh Labour’s First Minister Carwyn Jones has said that The Inquiry will be held at the Lysaght Institute, Newport and will be open to the the improving employment rate in Wales continues to general public. An independent Inspector will comprehensively review the outperform all other parts of the UK. proposals for the favoured Black Route, in addition to considering suggested alternatives.Should the Inspector recommend the scheme proceed to The latest Labour Market Statistics show that Wales is now ahead of construction, the new section of M4 could be open by Autumn 2021. Scotland, England and Northern Ireland with the fastest growing rate of employment and the sharpest declining rate of unemployment over the last 12 months. At 4.8 per cent, the unemployment rate in Wales is lower than the UK average for the third consecutive month, while £45m EU-backed employment is close to its record highest rate. Inward investment also continues at historic high levels, with companies such as Aston Martin, investment to raise MotoNovo, TVR, Essentra, EE and BT locating or expanding their businesses in Wales. This has created employment and training skills across South Wales opportunities for thousands of workers in Wales. A £45m EU-backed investment to raise skills and improve career prospects across South Wales has been announced by Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government .

CANCER SURVIVAL RATES EU funds of £29m have given the green light for a range of initiatives to get CONTINUE TO RISE IN WALES underway, including support for young people at risk of dropping out of education or training, workplace learning for employees of companies and A rise in the number of people surviving cancer in Wales is leadership training for business owners and managers. something we should all be proud of, but improvement is still needed Welsh Labour’s Cabinet Secretary for Health, Today’s announcement follows over £145m of EU funds already invested in Vaughan Gething has said. boosting the skills of people in Wales since 2015, including funds for apprenticeships, work-based training and leaderships skills in the Valleys, Cancer survival rates in Wales continue to increase year-on-year. More West and North Wales, and higher level skills for advanced engineering and than half of people will now survive five years after their diagnosis and manufacturing. Cabinet Secretary Mark Drakeford said: “People are our premature mortality for cancer has fallen around 14 per cent in the past greatest asset and investing vital EU funds so that people across Wales are ten years. The 2013 cancer patient experience survey also showed 96 equipped with the skills to fulfil their potential is a key ambition of the Welsh per cent of patients surveyed had a favourable view of their care. Government. As a pro-European Government this is another positive example

Health boards are working hard to meet the challenging cancer waiting of the benefits of UK membership of the EU.” times set by the Welsh Government. As a result, 28 per cent more people were seen, diagnosed and began treatment within the waiting “Between 2014-2020 Wales will benefit from some £800m EU funds to help people gain skills and employment opportunities, while £1bn is supporting time of the urgent suspected cancer pathway than five years ago. businesses to grow, pioneering new research and innovation, and driving key infrastructure developments.

“Overall, including our rural programmes and direct payments to farm