Carwyn Jones: More than 40 per cent of our trade goes to the EU; it is our biggest market. As I say, we play fast and loose with that at our peril. It may be that some SMEs don’t trade directly with the EU, but they trade with bigger companies that do trade with the EU, and any effect on those bigger companies, like Tata, for example, like Ford, has an effect on the entire supply chain. If you look at...
Carwyn Jones: And I fear what’s being said in the US. I don’t believe for one moment that the US will strike a deal with the UK that is anything other than advantageous to the US. The US President was elected on a platform of protectionism. He is not going to give the UK any favours. It is naïve to think that that is what the US will do. I also think we need to approach these negotiations in a spirit...
Carwyn Jones: I wouldn’t normally intervene, but—I’m grateful to the Member for letting me intervene—firstly, it is right to say the position changes, because it’s such a fluid situation we find ourselves in. There are always new complications that arise and, as Keynes said, ‘When the facts change, I change my mind’, and that’s one of the things I think you have to be open to. One point I...
Carwyn Jones: Our framework for action on independent living sets out our plans to assist disabled people in Wales. We will work together with disabled people and public sector bodies across Wales to refresh the framework this year.
Carwyn Jones: Well, the decision was taken to enable payments to be made uninterrupted to former recipients in Wales. It was an interim decision, designed to last until 31 March this year, while we considered which arrangements were appropriate to provide support in the longer term. And, following advice from the stakeholders advisory group, which does include organisations that represent disabled people...
Carwyn Jones: Well, it’s a matter, ultimately, for Qualifications Wales. They are responsible for the development and approval of qualifications in Wales. That said, I think it is important—and I take very much on board what the Member has said—to promote British Sign Language and also to promote the availability of qualifications in British Sign Language. It is a matter I will take up on his behalf...
Carwyn Jones: There is an unfortunate history in this place, where benefits have been devolved but without all the funding to follow. That happened with the council tax benefit. So, we’re not in favour of receiving any powers without the agreement of this Assembly, and we’re not in favour of receiving powers without the full funding to follow. So, if that was offered to us, we would consider it, but we...
Carwyn Jones: Well, we can see the results for ourselves, and I can say that we are working with our learning disability advisory group to develop a learning disability strategic action plan. That will go out to wide consultation later this year in order to build on the good work that’s already been put in place.
Carwyn Jones: The Welsh Government is working to support the farming industry in Pembrokeshire, as in all parts of Wales.
Carwyn Jones: Well, the responses to the consultation will be considered in detail over the ensuing weeks, and, of course, there will be a discussion with the agriculture industry over those weeks, as part of the review that has taken place.
Carwyn Jones: There are two reasons: first of all, we want to protect workers’ rights. His party—his party—want to remove competence from this Assembly over employment rights and regulations. It’s his party’s fault. We wouldn’t have to bring this forward at the speed that we’re having to take it if it wasn’t for the Wales Bill. So, he can’t sit there and try to claim it’s nothing to do...
Carwyn Jones: It is odious that the leader of the Welsh Conservatives tries to use people who are dealing with young people with autism, using that as a way to attack workers—[Interruption.]—attack workers in Wales and the rest of Britain. The reality is that unemployment is lower in Wales than it is in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland because of the actions of the Welsh Government. He talks...
Carwyn Jones: It is odious—I use that word again—to suggest that those people who are dealing with autism and who are dealing with and caring for those people with autism should be set against people who want to have their rights as workers. Isn’t it typical that the Tories’ attitude, as it always has been, is, ‘Set people against each other. Divide and rule.’ We will do all that we can to help...
Carwyn Jones: From our perspective, we will stand up for the rights of workers, even if he is indifferent to them.
Carwyn Jones: It’s a position we’ve held for many, many months. The phrase we’ve used is ‘full and unfettered access’. Single market participation amounts to much the same thing. What we have to avoid in the next few months and years is anything that impairs the ability of businesses to export from Wales and therefore makes it more difficult for them to employ people. It’s right to say that GDP...
Carwyn Jones: I will, as I’ve done consistently since June. Of course, there’ll be nothing to stop this Assembly from implementing EU directives if it wishes to. If that’s something that the Assembly wants to do, there shall be no ban on doing that. It’s a matter of the democratic process. One of the contradictions that were expressed by the Prime Minister was that she said that the British...
Carwyn Jones: We do work with the Scottish Government. We don't, clearly, have the same view on the final destination, as it were, but we do work with them and talk to them with a view to forming common ground where we can, and that is sensible diplomacy. Northern Ireland is more difficult, because, in Northern Ireland, the First Minister and the deputy First Minister had very radically different views on...
Carwyn Jones: How can you have full control over immigration when you have a large, open border with the EU?
Carwyn Jones: How can you have full control over immigration if you have a large, open border with the EU?
Carwyn Jones: I've explain the policy, and that is freedom of movement to work; something close to what the Norwegians have. It takes away the fears of some people that people move to a particular country in order to claim benefits. Whether that's true or not, we know the perception was there. And it is, I think, a reasonable position to take that most people in the UK would accept. Now, I mean, he is...
