Jeremy Miles: Mark Drakeford.
Jeremy Miles: Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd. As we sit here, our colleagues in the UK Parliament are reaching the end of their elongated debate on the Government’s proposed EU withdrawal deal. They will vote later and it’s likely the Prime Minister’s deal will be defeated, probably quite heavily. We are scheduled to leave the European Union in 73 days, and there is no kind of deal in place. We have...
Jeremy Miles: The result is a deal which represents an obvious retreat from the Prime Minister's arrogant red lines and her pretence that we can have the same access to the single market without subscribing to its rule, but which fails in the cobbled-together political declaration to secure firm guarantees over this country's economic future. The deal does not remove the threat of a perilous cliff edge; it...
Jeremy Miles: The Member talks about the inconvenient truth. I'm afraid the inconvenient truth is this: that people in Wales were promised there would be no damage to their job prospects as a consequence of leaving the European Union; they were promised there would be not a penny less coming into Wales from European funding sources; they were promised sunny, sunlit uplands by those campaigning to leave the...
Jeremy Miles: I thank the Member for his question. On the point of extending article 50, we have been calling for this because it is evident that we need more space in order to arrive at the right point with regard to a deal that works for Wales and for the United Kingdom. Having an opportunity to have those discussions would be a prize worth winning for all, and that we have a plan that gives the...
Jeremy Miles: I thank the Member for that question. Firstly, with regard to the extension of article 50, I think he's right to say that. I think that finding a resolution to this is going to need an extension to article 50. That's certainly what we've been calling on the Government in Westminster to seek from the other European Union members. In relation to the work of preparation, he's absolutely right to...
Jeremy Miles: Clearly, unless there's an extension to article 50, 29 March has always been the date at which we leave the European Union. The question is on what basis does that happen? I'm afraid that the notion that leaving without a deal is just one scenario that we could just plan for is for the birds. The truth of it is that leaving without a deal is very bad news for Wales and very bad news for the...
Jeremy Miles: I thank Rhianon for her question. The notion that a Government that is unable to take through the House of Commons its policy on the defining issue of the day should not seek a dissolution of Parliament would be very novel in our constitution. It would be exactly what follows, as night follows day, in any circumstance. So, it is right that the Government will face a motion of no confidence....
Jeremy Miles: On that last point, I am reflecting on the legal context of that discussion. Can I firstly say, in relation to the reports that the committee that he chairs has produced on a range of preparedness issues, in particular towards the latter part of last year, that I've found them very beneficial? And I know that colleagues in Government are considering them with a view to issuing, obviously,...
Jeremy Miles: Our position is set out in our paper 'Regional Investment in Wales after Brexit'. We are actively planning successor arrangements and pressing the UK Government to honour promises made that funding for Wales would be fully replaced in the event of leaving the EU and that devolution will be strengthened.
Jeremy Miles: Brexit preparations are a high priority for the whole of the Welsh Government. We discussed ‘no deal’ preparedness work related to Welsh ports, in particular Holyhead, at our Cabinet meeting on Monday.
Jeremy Miles: We are clear that leaving the EU should not result in a deterioration in the rights of people. We continue to press the UK Government to commit to dynamic alignment for areas within their competence, including workers' rights, and we are considering how we can safeguard and enhance protections in areas within our competence.
Jeremy Miles: The UK Government proposals in the immigration White Paper means nurses, junior doctors, and a range of workers that we need for our public services and industry may no longer be allowed to come to Wales. Our future immigration system should help our economy and people and not stifle it.
Jeremy Miles: The UK Government’s own analysis in addition to that from independent bodies and the Welsh Government demonstrates that Brexit will damage the economy. The Prime Minister must commit to negotiate an EU exit as outlined in 'Securing Wales’ Future', which remains the least damaging form of Brexit.
Jeremy Miles: The whole Cabinet is committed to supporting Welsh businesses through Brexit. I attended the Cabinet sub-committee on EU transition in December, where the Minister for Economy and Transport presented a detailed paper on preparing business for Brexit. We continue to engage closely with businesses across Wales.
Jeremy Miles: Since the Prime Minister committed to the UK’s ‘remaining in step’ with the EU on state aid in her March 2018 Mansion House speech, we have engaged with the UK Government to ensure regulatory continuity for Welsh businesses and press for Welsh input into any future changes.
Jeremy Miles: The recently introduced Legislation (Wales) Bill commits future Governments to keep the accessibility of the law under review and to take action to make it more accessible to all. We intend to develop consolidated codes of Welsh law as well as improving the way legislation is published.
Jeremy Miles: We have consistently argued with the UK Government that EU citizens who have contributed to our public services and economy should not have to pay settled status fees to remain in the UK. As the UK Government insists, then it should at least waive the cost of children’s fees.
Jeremy Miles: Leaving the EU will damage the economy. The failure of the UK Government to secure parliamentary agreement for their deal risks a 'no deal' outcome. The Prime Minister must commit to negotiate an EU exit as outlined in 'Securing Wales’ Future', which remains the least damaging form of Brexit.
Jeremy Miles: There is work going on in relation to that. I should just say that the Minister for Economy and Transport has held round-tables with large employers in north-east Wales over the course of the last year, including Airbus. We all know, as the Member indicated in his question, that Airbus was one of the companies that were very clear about their position if we were to leave the European Union...
