Jeremy Miles: As set out in the publication yesterday, we are committed to a reconstruction that works for the people of Wales, including Blaenau Gwent, by addressing the issues that matter to us most: unemployment, entrenched inequalities, affordable housing, the revitalisation of town centres, and support for the foundational economy.
Jeremy Miles: Well, there is an ongoing range of engagement with stakeholders in relation to this document. As I said yesterday in my statement, this is the beginning of a national conversation, and the conversation we've had has been rich, it has had a range of voices, sometimes complimentary, sometimes more challenging, in the way that these things are, and we welcome all of that, and we will continue on...
Jeremy Miles: Well, I certainly don't accept the premise of the Member's question. Whether it's in relation to the challenges from isolation, the support required for people who are shielding, perhaps, the support required from third sector organisations, the particular set of interventions required from public services to acknowledge the experience of older people in this pandemic, whether it's about...
Jeremy Miles: We recognise the impact on various groups in Wales has been unequal of the COVID experience. Older people are amongst those and we will frame our response in light of that to be able to make sure that older people across Wales get the support they need in our response.
Jeremy Miles: I thank Dai Lloyd for raising this very, very important question in the Chamber today. This is obviously a key priority for us as a Government. And as with previous stages of preparation, some of the solutions are UK-wide and some of them are bespoke to Wales. So, in relation to medicines first, as he raises in his question, all four Governments in the UK are engaged in continuity of supply...
Jeremy Miles: Well, the Member will be aware that we have consistently modelled the impact on the Welsh economy and Welsh businesses of the range of scenarios that we may face, and there is a significant amount of evidence-based analysis in the public domain through the hands of the Welsh Government. At this point in time, as he will have heard me say to David Rees earlier, we are anxious to make sure that...
Jeremy Miles: There are certainly examples, Llywydd, of amendments put forward by the Labour Party to defend devolution, which Plaid Cymru haven't supported in Parliament. I would urge the Member that, at this point, we should be looking for ways of working together. We have a very productive relationship with the Scottish National Party in Scotland. It is a mature and collaborative relationship that...
Jeremy Miles: Well, subject to the concerns that I have just articulated more broadly, the level of engagement in relation to haulier preparedness and business preparedness more broadly hasn't been what it needs to be. There is a very practical set of interventions that will have a very real effect on routes to our ports, if freight operators are not able to arrive there with the level of preparation...
Jeremy Miles: I thank the Member for that question. Behaviour such as withholding information from devolved administrations, in relation to the matter of preparedness on a question so significant as this, is fundamentally corrosive of the relationship of trust between Governments in the UK. What we have been able to say is that, in the area of preparation, joint working has been possible, and it has been...
Jeremy Miles: As set out in our publication yesterday, we are committed—
Jeremy Miles: Well, firstly, let me associate myself with the Member's comment in the question in relation to the contribution made by EU citizens who've chosen to make Wales their home. We want them to continue to feel the welcome that we've always extended, and to recognise the valuable contribution that they make, which is why this is such an important question. Our central, recent concern has been in...
Jeremy Miles: The impact of the end of transition will be significant and work has been under way across the Welsh Government on preparing for the range of scenarios we may face at the end of December. This includes developing our own bespoke interventions and working as well with the UK Government on preparedness projects.
Jeremy Miles: Let me say I completely share the Member's concerns as she's outlined them. And when I read about the letter, which effectively confirmed the UK Government wouldn't insist upon the rules of origin, I was bemused. The UK Government seems more than capable of insisting upon other aspects of its negotiating position, including, for example, sacrificing the possibility of a generous trade deal in...
Jeremy Miles: The Welsh Government is in regular discussion with the automotive sector regarding the potential impact of European Union exit. The UK Government's approach to the negotiations risks significant new barriers to trade being introduced. I have repeatedly made the case to the UK Government they must prioritise a deal that protects highly regulated manufacturing sectors in Wales, including the...
Jeremy Miles: COVID-19 continues to affect the ability of all Governments, businesses and wider society to prepare for the end of transition. We are working on an end-of-transition plan that will be published later in the autumn. This will complement our covid reconstruction plan, which I launched last week.
Jeremy Miles: We continue to assess the impact of the UK Internal Market Bill on Wales as a whole. The Bill's provisions have cross-cutting impact over a number of areas and we will continue to do our utmost to limit the detrimental impact of the Bill on the people of Wales.
Jeremy Miles: The UK Internal Market Bill will absolutely weaken the UK's position in the negotiations with the EU. Rather than seeking to build trust and confidence at this critical point in the negotiations, the UK Government has sought to increase the risk of talks breaking down by threatening to break international law.
Jeremy Miles: Huw Irranca-Davies's questions go to the heart of many of these issues really, so thank you about the point about engagement. The good thing about engagement is a range of voices, and you have with that sometimes things that you want to hear, sometimes things that you don't want to hear, but that's an important part of the process. And I would like to acknowledge how important the well-being...
Jeremy Miles: I thank the Member for those questions. In relation to the first point around the next phase of the economic resilience fund, the eligibility criteria for that were published on Monday of this week, and ought to be available—. I think I'm right in saying that, of the £140 million, I think the figure is £60 million that is earmarked for local lockdown support, and the eligibility for that,...
Jeremy Miles: I thank the Member for that question. I think she makes the very important point that none of these sets of interventions can be looked at in isolation and that, clearly, the combined effects of climate change, COVID and the end of the transition period need to be seen as far as possible in the round, and so interventions are designed, in a sense, to be able to take account of that whole...
