Jeremy Miles: There's already a network of presence in key territories around the world. That has been in place for some time. That's obviously been strengthened latterly. We think, very clearly, that the best future trading relationships for Wales are those that are derived from full participation in, alignment with and membership of a customs union with the European Union. But we are very keen to ensure...
Jeremy Miles: We obviously always welcome additional export markets for Welsh produce and so that is to be welcomed. I note that the export sums that have been described in the announcement are significant, but I'm also bound to say that consumers in Japan are going to have to eat an awful lot of lamb and beef to make up for the restrictions to the market that we would suffer as a consequence of Brexit.
Jeremy Miles: I had the opportunity to meet, whilst I was a member of the Economy, Skills and Infrastructure Committee, with the Canadian delegation to the European Union and heard from them at first hand the experience that they had in negotiating the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement deal with the European Union, which has been described by many as essentially a walk in the park, but they will...
Jeremy Miles: I'm not entirely sure I understand what the Member's position was. I had thought that he had spent the referendum campaign arguing for maximum flexibility and not having to be subject to regulatory alignment with the European Union. He now seems to be advocating that as a positive benefit.
Jeremy Miles: Well, I'm just bound to say that businesses up and down Wales concerned about their exports after Brexit would just simply not share the Member's view. Looking at even the UK Government's own figures, as I mentioned earlier, they show that any conceivable additional value to the economy from increased flexibility, as they would describe it, is completely dwarfed by the hit to the economy from...
Jeremy Miles: All the sensible evidence shows that the potential economic benefits of any new trade deals are dwarfed by the negative impact of significant increases in barriers to trade with the EU. We continue to call for the closest possible economic relationship with the EU, as set out in 'Securing Wales’ Future'.
Jeremy Miles: Well, of course, one of the issues is how rules are interpreted, and they often have more latitude than appears to be the case at first blush. So, the challenge is to ensure that as we—. Our view is that the best position for the Welsh economy is broad regulatory alignment with the European Union, but there is scope within that to seek the most flexible interpretation of rules that is...
Jeremy Miles: Can I just endorse the premise of the Member's question, really, which is the value that Wales derives not simply from the relationship with the European Union per se, but also from regions and nations across the European Union, and the various institutions across Europe in which we're represented? And I know of his own work, for example, on the Committee of the Regions for many years. It's...
Jeremy Miles: I've had a preliminary discussion about these issues with the Deputy Minister and Chief Whip, and will be meeting her again next week to consider them in more detail. We are already delivering our tackling hate crime programme and expanding our community cohesion work to seek to mitigate any rise in hate crime.
Jeremy Miles: I thank the Member for that question, and I recognise the point that she made in relation to the spike in hate crime, which we've discussed in this Chamber before, and it's absolutely shocking that that should arise in the context of the debates that we are having now. I absolutely will give the assurance that she asks for that we'll send a very clear signal that there is no place for hate...
Jeremy Miles: We always need to be mindful of the best way of achieving these objectives. One of the issues that seems to me to be important is that we retain the level of flexibility to be able to respond to emerging dimensions in hate crime. It is unfortunately one of those areas that seems to find new outlets in different contexts, as Leanne Wood's question indicated. Social media has provided a whole...
Jeremy Miles: Well, I thank the Member for that question. She and I have discussed the nature of some of the posters and communications that other parties were advocating during the referendum itself as being a reason why this culture shift has developed. Certainly, the European transition fund is being deployed to make the sorts of funding investment decisions that she is referring to in her question, and...
Jeremy Miles: Officials are in regular contact with UK Government counterparts on the mutual recognition of professional qualifications, including in relation to the health professions. I and Cabinet colleagues will continue to engage with UK Government Ministers to ensure that Welsh interests are protected and that EU-qualified health professionals in Wales are unaffected.
Jeremy Miles: I thank the Member for her question. This is a very, very important area for the health profession and other profession as well—veterinary surgeons, social workers and teachers all have concerns in relation to this area. The approach that is being discussed with the UK Government is in relation to laying legislation in Parliament, which will ensure that, in the event of a 'no deal' Brexit...
Jeremy Miles: Well, absolutely. The Member describes the situation, a very traumatic situation for the individuals concerned, with passion, and I would endorse his remarks. I'm aware that a response has been received in relation to the question of settled status and the family challenge, which the Welsh Government made to the UK Government in relation to this, and unfortunately that has not taken us...
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, and we continue to engage closely with businesses across Wales.
Jeremy Miles: I thank the Member for that further question. The Minister for the economy launched the portal back in September, I believe it was, and the point of the portal is to provide a diagnostic toolkit for businesses to cover the whole range of potential challenges that might arise in the context of Brexit and to support them in readiness for a post-Brexit world, and, as her question refers to, one...
Jeremy Miles: Absolutely. One of the strands for the preparedness work has been to identify areas where the characteristics of Wales—in this context, the economic characteristics—might be slightly different from other parts of the UK, and therefore need a particular approach, and, obviously, having a business sector that is so well represented by the SME sector is one of those aspects. In addition to...
Jeremy Miles: Absolutely. Absolutely. Well, that's absolutely the case and that is part and parcel of the advice that is provided through the portal. The reality of the situation is that many businesses aren't actively planning yet for the consequences of Brexit. The First Minister, the Minister for the economy, have recently called on businesses to ensure they are doing all they can to actively engage and...
Jeremy Miles: Llywydd, considering the disorder in the Parliament in London and as we await the result of the motion of no confidence this evening, now is the time to ensure that we work towards one unified aim here at the National Assembly for Wales, to ensure that the key interests of Wales are noted clearly and safeguarded. That’s what our main objective has been since the 2016 referendum. I’m...
