Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: As this is a reserved matter the Welsh Government has not made a representation to the European Court of Human Rights. However, we are aware of the great concern in Wales around this issue and that is why I made the Turkish ambassador aware of this when I met him recently.
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: International trade is vital to Wales’s future prosperity. This has been recognised within the economic action plan and will also be reflected in the forthcoming international strategy.
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: One hundred and seven bodies comply with Welsh language standards and therefore come under duties not to treat the Welsh language less favourably than English. Eighteen health sector bodies will join them on 30 May. The commissioner and Welsh Government also work with businesses to encourage them to treat Welsh and English equally.
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: We actively promote Wales in Europe through the Welsh Government’s network of offices in Brussels, Paris, Dublin, Berlin and Dusseldorf. We recently hosted St David’s Day receptions in Paris, Brussels and Dublin aimed at building relationships and promoting Wales culturally, economically and politically.
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: The Welsh Government has long had a suite of support services designed to help Welsh companies to export their goods and services to all markets both inside and outside the EU. These will continue to be available after we leave the European Union.
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: We are working with a wide range of local and national partners to increase the number of Welsh speakers across the South Wales West region, in line with the vision set out in 'Cymraeg 2050'.
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: All of the recommendations in the report were accepted and will be delivered during the remainder of this Assembly term.
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Thank you very much. I move the motion. Thank you for the opportunity to explain further the background to this motion on legislative consent on the UK Trade Bill. The objective of the Trade Bill is to ensure that our trading relations can continue and that procurement markets remain available to us. It’s worth noting that the Bill will achieve four things. First, it will provide...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: I think it's fair to say that when this Trade Bill was first introduced, we had a significant number of concerns. Some were within the scope of our legislative consent, and some were not. And as a result, we made clear in our first LCM that we would not at that time recommend legislative consent. Now, these concerns were echoed by the External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee and...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Diolch yn fawr. I'd like to thank you for the opportunity to discuss what is actually quite a complex Bill. It's quite difficult, I think—you're absolutely right—for the general public to be able to access this kind of debate. But you're absolutely right: these are important debates, and it is important that we get this right, because there are potential implications for us in the future....
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Thank you very much. May I start by saying, as Minister for international affairs, that we as a Government take a great interest in safeguarding human rights across the globe, and that is why many of us became active in politics in the first place? We in Wales have a long tradition of standing shoulder to shoulder with political, progressive organisations throughout the world.
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: May I make it clear to begin with that the Welsh Government condemns persecution and violence in all their forms, anywhere in the world, and we support efforts to promote reconciliation where there is discord? Now, turning to the motion before us today, I think it's important to recognise and celebrate the political, economic and cultural contribution made by people of Kurdish heritage to...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: I'm happy to do that.
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: I think, when it comes to reserved matters, we have to honour the agreement that we have, and this is an area that is specifically reserved. Foreign affairs is specifically reserved. That’s why, as the Welsh Government, we are treating this motion as we would a backbench Members' debate, and we are granting a free vote to Labour Members. Now, I’d like to encourage Members in future to...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Formally.
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Llywydd, thank you to UKIP for the opportunity to respond to this debate. What's interesting about the motion before us today is that, rather than discussing the disorder surrounding Brexit at the moment, the motion focuses on history and basic principles of the European Union, and that gives me an opportunity to contradict the inconsistencies, the untruths and the misleading by UKIP about...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: It will give me great pleasure in this debate to highlight the contradictions, the half-truths, the misrepresentations that UKIP has constantly told about the EU and that are contained in this resolution. Let me start by looking at the fear that UKIP expressed about an ever-closer union in their resolution. Now, I think it's worth reminding ourselves that the European Union was forged...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Yes.
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: What he did in that speech was to make it clear that he was willing to work with the members of the Commonwealth, and I'm more than happy to make it clear that he said that they can't commit this country to entering the European Union without the agreement of other members of the British Commonwealth. And he said, 'no time must be lost in discussing the question with the Dominions and seeking...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Now, in turning to the other amendments, it’s worth saying about the Conservatives that they are just like the party in Westminster, because they have nothing new to add. Of course, in terms of Plaid Cymru, whilst the path that they propose is one that we as a Government can support—and I hope that they’ve noted that Labour has confirmed today that they will support a public vote as one...
