Darren Millar: Thank you to the Minister for an advance copy of the statement that has been made. I have to say, we haven't learned anything new from the Government in terms of the statement. I'm not quite sure why you feel it absolutely necessary to keep bringing statements forward to the National Assembly on such a frequent basis when you have nothing new to say, but given that you have managed to speak...
Darren Millar: Will the First Minister make a statement on how the Welsh Government ensures that the views of the public and other stakeholders are taken into account when making decisions?
Darren Millar: You made reference in your remarks there to the CBI. Of course, they're supporting the Prime Minister's withdrawal deal. Will you also accept their advice in respect of their support for the Prime Minister's withdrawal deal?
Darren Millar: I utterly condemn those sorts of appalling behaviours, much of which we see on social media before our very eyes, but do you accept that much of that is also being targeted at those who wish to leave the EU and are supporters of Brexit in precisely the same way? That is also not acceptable and I'm sure you'd want to join me in condemning that also.
Darren Millar: I took a very long intervention there, Deputy Presiding Officer. But I will say this: at least Conservatives have the decency, when they disagree with their Government, to resign from the Government, unlike Members of the Welsh Government. You either accept the decision of the people or you don't, and, if you don't, you should have the courage to say so, but, of course, the First Minister's...
Darren Millar: I'll happily take the intervention, yes.
Darren Millar: I appreciate that it's an inconvenient truth that your constituency voted to leave the EU but that is the case. We will also be opposing the flip-flop amendment from the Welsh Government. Jeremy Corbyn, of course, was lukewarm about staying in the EU and has since taken the bizarre position of pledging to deliver Brexit but consistently voting against the only deal that has been on the floor...
Darren Millar: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I want to thank the UKIP group, or what's left of it, for bringing this timely debate forward today, and of course it is timely because we would have been leaving the European Union on Friday. That's what MPs have previously voted for in agreeing to trigger article 50. That's what the public voted for in the 2017 general election, with 36 of Wales's 40 MPs...
Darren Millar: I must apologise.
Darren Millar: You did indeed catch me out.
Darren Millar: I appreciate that, but there's—
Darren Millar: I appreciate that. Can I just ask you about parental attitudes and the attitudes of society at large as well? The memorandum refers to some of the survey work that the Welsh Government has done, but it doesn't refer to other pieces of work that have been undertaken with the public at large. So, there's a ComRes survey, for example, back in 2017, where it made it absolutely clear that over...
Darren Millar: Can I thank the Minister for her statement? I know that she's very sincere in her beliefs about the need for this particular ban, and she will understand that I have been opposing the smacking ban that the Government is proposing. I'm very concerned, obviously, about the potential criminalisation of many tens of thousands of decent, loving parents across Wales who use the occasional smack to...
Darren Millar: While you and others in this Chamber and elsewhere are hellbent on doing absolutely everything you can to frustrate Brexit and prevent it from happening, the Prime Minister is working hard to honour the outcome of the European Union referendum in June 2016 and to deliver an orderly Brexit that protects jobs, protects the environment and keeps people safe. Now, I, for one, applaud the Prime...
Darren Millar: I have to say, Brexit Minister, I'm very disappointed that you've been criticising the Prime Minister. While you and others in this Chamber, and elsewhere—[Interruption.]
Darren Millar: Will you take an intervention?
Darren Millar: I've got family members affected by this, as I'm sure other people have here. And I can assure you I have every sympathy for some of the individuals who have been affected. But will you accept that there was a Labour Government that could have changed these arrangements and did absolutely nothing to change them? Do you accept that that is the case?
Darren Millar: Will you take an intervention?
Darren Millar: I've supported the human rights of prisoners.
Darren Millar: Because I had a lot to get through.
