Mick Antoniw: Oh, certainly.
Mick Antoniw: It is certainly something that is of considerable constitutional concern, and it exposes also the dysfunction in the constitutional arrangements we have. I think there is probably common agreement on the need—that somewhere along the way, the constitution has to begin to become justiciable. Of course, we've discussed the inter-governmental review and new arrangements, which may be a step...
Mick Antoniw: Diolch, Llywydd, and thank you for this extraordinary opportunity to say a few words. The first words are really to recognise those brave Russian students and young people who have been demonstrating all across the Russian Federation, because they are the real future of the Russian Federation, rather than those around Putin. Can I personally thank all of the people of Wales for their messages...
Mick Antoniw: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. What's happened in Ukraine over the last week has caused huge concern. It's emphasised how important it is to be able to celebrate your nationhood, and what better opportunity for us to celebrate here than on St David's Day? This is how we celebrate that we are a nation that supports other nations too. We demonstrate that we stand shoulder to shoulder with...
Mick Antoniw: There is widespread public support, as indeed there is across the parties in this Chamber, for making St David's Day a holiday here in Wales. However, the creation of bank holidays in England and Wales is not a devolved matter. In order to create St David's Day as a bank holiday, 1 March would need to be added to the list of existing bank holidays included in the Banking and Financial...
Mick Antoniw: Please.
Mick Antoniw: I certainly would support that proposal and, of course, we do recall that it was one of the things that we requested in the 2017 Wales Act that was declined. I will come to that perhaps in a moment, but I thank you for the point that you've made, and I'm sure it represents the cross-party feeling in this Chamber, and I believe, actually, across Wales. Whilst Scotland and Northern Ireland, of...
Mick Antoniw: Thank you for the question. The Welsh Government issued a response to the UK Government's Human Rights Act reform consultation on 8 March, setting out our significant concerns and opposition to the proposal to replace the Human Rights Act 1998 with a bill of rights.
Mick Antoniw: Well, thank you for the points you make. This is, indeed, a serious constitutional point because, as you've mentioned, human rights are embedded in our constitutional status. You'll know, of course, that we have serious concerns with the nature of the consultation. Although it mentions devolution, it doesn't actually deal with the devolution issues that are there, and it raises a number of...
Mick Antoniw: Thank you for the question. I welcome the investigation by the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court and I'm heartened that 40 states have now referred the matter to the court for consideration. The Welsh Government stands in solidarity with Ukraine and its people, and will continue to support and assist in any way that it can.
Mick Antoniw: Thank you for those comments. Of course, the issue of human rights, of acts of aggression, of war crimes and of, in fact, genocide are matters that actually transcend party political differences, particularly when we see them occurring on 24-hour news, live, in front of our own eyes, in a way that probably has never happened before. What I can say to Members is this: on 1 March 2022, a number...
Mick Antoniw: Yes, I can. Discussions have been ongoing. They have been very positive and constructive. They haven't yet been concluded. There are two outstanding issues of competence that are still under discussion and the issue of those and whether a legislative consent memorandum is required is under consideration at the moment.
Mick Antoniw: Well, of course, that is an issue that has already occurred, as we had the Senedd elections at the same time as the police and crime commissioner elections, and of course there were in fact different franchises for each of those elections. I think it's very clear that there is a level of divergence. That divergence, I think, is going to increase, and I think what is necessary is that there is...
Mick Antoniw: Well, I think the efficient management of elections is something that is always under consideration, and of course has been in the various inter-ministerial discussions. For example, the proposals that are being made by the UK Government, even in respect of just Westminster elections, will have some financial costs, and we've made the case to the UK Government that those costs, obviously,...
Mick Antoniw: Well, of course, I don't see them as being a contradiction or a conflict in that sense, because each particular Bill has to be assessed in terms of the particular circumstances that are applicable to that. And, of course, LCMs are a constitutional requirement that we have to deal with as a result of UK Government legislation, where it changes or impacts in respect of devolution. You are...
Mick Antoniw: Well, firstly, the simple answer to that is 'yes'.
Mick Antoniw: But I think what I should say is that, certainly with my portfolio as Counsel General and Minister of the Constitution, and with the Minister for Social Justice, what we have recognised is, of course, the Thomas Commission recommended there should be a justice Minister; well, in actual fact, we've effectively created that by the close co-operation in many ways we get, which is more...
Mick Antoniw: Thank you for the question. Matters relating to access to justice for Welsh citizens are always an important part of my agenda in the regular, frequent meetings that I have with UK Government Ministers.
Mick Antoniw: Well, can I thank you for that very important supplementary question? Because what you've highlighted, as you did with the Hillsborough issue, is what is one of the great injustices of the twenty-first century: the injustice of thousands of people being affected by what turned out to be a computer inadequacy with the Horizon computing system, which has resulted in large numbers of people...
Mick Antoniw: Thank you for your question. We are discussing the future of the solicitors indemnity fund with the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Law Society. I met with the SRA board chair and chief executive in November. We are meeting again later this month, I believe on 26 April, to discuss their proposed next steps following their recent consultation.
