Jeremy Miles: Well, I think it's always preferable, as David Melding's question implies, to legislate in a way which is as accessible as possible, but it's sometimes the case, when reform in a particular area is particularly intense, that can sometimes be the least convenient point at which to consolidate the law. But I do reassure him there are at least two consolidation Bills, which, whilst they haven't...
Jeremy Miles: The Senedd has seen the publication of the Law Commission's report on the form and accessibility of Welsh law, the commitment of this Government to a programme of consolidation and codification, and the delivery of the Legislation (Wales) Act 2019, which creates new duties to improve the accessibility of Welsh law. Work is now under way on the first two consolidation Bills, which would be...
Jeremy Miles: Well, I reassure the Member that, I think it was in April of last year that I and the Deputy Minister for Economy and Transport first met with the ABI—the Association of British Insurers—in relation to this specific matter, before litigation was contemplated. And it is to be welcomed that the 21 types of policy clause that have been sampled by the Supreme Court have been the subject of...
Jeremy Miles: The Welsh Government—[Inaudible.]
Jeremy Miles: Is that better, Dirprwy Lywydd?
Jeremy Miles: The Welsh Government welcomes the clarity that the judgment provides for business and individual customers. And we will continue to work with the UK Government, devolved Governments, and the industry, to monitor the impact of this court judgment on the matter of legitimate insurance claims.
Jeremy Miles: The regulations are proportionate, in contrast to the implication in the Member's question—
Jeremy Miles: The regulations are proportionate, in contrast to the implication in the Member's question, as they're targeted at specific activities that cause pollution. They will be introduced over a three-year time frame. In addition to that, whether it's the sustainable production grant or the rural development programme and grant schemes, financial support is being made available in order to support...
Jeremy Miles: Officials attend monthly meetings with UK Government counterparts on policy development in this field. No issues were identified with the operation of the law in England and Wales in relation to these regulations. They will help protect cross-border watercourses, such as the River Wye, from the consequences of agricultural pollution.
Jeremy Miles: Dirprwy Lywydd, I'll just, in brief, thank the committee for its diligent work in scrutinising the preparation of this Order and for its support in the course of action. Diolch yn fawr.
Jeremy Miles: If the Senedd approves this draft Order today, and, as the House of Commons today passed this, and the House of Lords did so last week, we expect the draft Order to be presented to Her Majesty in the meeting of the Privy Council next month. I'm pleased therefore to move the motion, and I seek Members' support.
Jeremy Miles: Both Governments agreed the resulting increase in current functions, and the consequent increase in restrictions on the Senedd's competence, was unintended and should be corrected. The removal of these restrictions has been our priority and we are confident the draft Order delivers on the UK Government's commitment, together with ours, to make the correction. Additionally, the Order makes a...
Jeremy Miles: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Today's debate marks one of the final steps towards the culmination of two years of discussion with the UK Government on preparing this draft Order. In November 2018, the then First Minister wrote to the Secretary of State raising issues of concurrent functions related to statutory instruments made under the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. The...
Jeremy Miles: I think the Member may possibly have misunderstood exactly the impact of the amendments made by the House of Lords in relation to this. I'd like to pay tribute, if I may, to Lord Hope, who led on amendments on this particular issue, but also Lords across the Chamber, including some Conservative peers, who recognise, as perhaps the Member does not, the threat that the Act represents to...
Jeremy Miles: Certainly. I have now endorsed the vast majority of common frameworks of relevance to Wales on behalf of the Welsh Government. These are provisionally operational pending development and scrutiny by the Senedd and by the other legislatures. I anticipate being able to endorse the organic production framework shortly as well. Two further frameworks—the professional qualifications and services...
Jeremy Miles: I would echo Joyce Watson's concerns in relation to this. What we will do as a Government is continue the efforts that we've been engaged in to make sure that the economic impact on the ports in the region that she represents, and, indeed, businesses right across Wales—that they are able to respond to these new barriers that the trade and co-operation agreement have introduced. There is no...
Jeremy Miles: The UK internal market Act seeks to hollow out the Senedd's legislative competence in a number of areas. That is why I have initiated legal action. It also gives the UK Government financial assistance powers, as they're called, which are already being used to circumvent devolved competence, most blatantly through the so-called shared prosperity fund.
Jeremy Miles: Well, what we are doing is very practical, really, in terms of working with the other two Governments and bringing those together. We've been absolutely at the forefront, really, of discussions, both with the UK Government and the Irish Government, as I mentioned earlier, but also with local authorities, including his own, and port stakeholders in relation to these matters, to make sure that...
Jeremy Miles: Well, that is a top priority for us as a Government. These barriers, if you like, to trade and to transit weren't just foreseeable, they were foreseen. Now, what we want to make sure is that the speed and convenience of routes through Wales will start to attract hauliers back as soon as possible, and we are certainly pressing the UK Government, in the way that he suggests, to do everything...
Jeremy Miles: Well, until December, Welsh ports were the easiest route for traffic between Ireland and mainland Europe. The new regulatory barriers resulting from the UK Government's deal with the European Union have changed that, and we are pressing the UK Government to improve transit procedures to restore the competitive advantage of Welsh ports.
