Carwyn Jones: Well, of course, we have the Wales Centre for Public Policy, but also we're looking to increase the number of offices in key markets abroad, working, of course, with the appropriate UK Government departments, and that is something that we are doing in the course of this year. We find that they are exceptionally important in terms of sourcing potential investment and sourcing potential markets...
Carwyn Jones: We will lose jobs and incomes will decline. I can't understand why the UK Government has been so secretive about these analyses and not shared them more widely with people. It doesn't sound to me like a great deal of transparency, certainly, is exercised by the UK Government in Whitehall. Can I say—? The one thing that we are lacking here is that there are those who say that we would be...
Carwyn Jones: I've repeatedly and consistently raised with the Prime Minister and other UK Government Ministers the potential serious economic harm to Wales arising from Brexit, and that includes highlighting the analysis that we published in our 'Securing Wales' Future' White Paper last year, and our recent trade policy document.
Carwyn Jones: Yes, absolutely, but they're not listening, are they? I went to visit people who were homeless before Christmas, and I'd advise the Conservatives to do the same; perhaps they might learn something. But the reality is that they are indifferent to the suffering of people who are homeless. They are indifferent to the problem of rough-sleeping. The leader of the opposition sits there, from his...
Carwyn Jones: That's the old Welsh Development Agency model, where you have land, you build lots of empty buildings and those buildings are not filled. We want to make sure that, as far as demand is concerned, it's closely matched to supply, and, of course, we will look at areas of Wales where there is the skills base to attract further investment. That's precisely, of course, why we have an economic...
Carwyn Jones: Now, let me just understand this point, if I can. Last week, UKIP were arguing that they didn't want to see new taxes, and now they're saying they want to see business taxes, which aren't devolved—. You want to see business taxes devolved to this Assembly—is that what you're saying? Because that's the logical consequence of what you're saying. And then we have the next question: how do...
Carwyn Jones: Yes. 'Prosperity for All' sets out how we will support people from disadvantaged households to achieve their potential and live fulfilled lives. And we are investing in the future of our children and growing our economy. The Valleys ministerial taskforce will improve outcomes as well, of course, for the valleys of South Wales West.
Carwyn Jones: Can I thank the Member, my friend and colleague, for that comment? Yes, of course, these are uncertain times for Aston Martin and, indeed, other businesses, as they seek to try to guess what kind of framework the UK Government wants to put in place following Brexit. Indeed, those negotiations will continue, and we've said to the UK Government that we wish to be part of those negotiations,...
Carwyn Jones: Our view as a party and as a Government is completely clear, and I’ve made that clear of course to our neighbours in London. On what you said about the sheep industry, it’s completely true that farming is part of life in rural Wales and farming of course can affect so many things such as the environment, and to ensure that rural Wales is kept in a way that we want. The fear that I have is...
Carwyn Jones: There is no doubt in my mind that staying in the customs union is the best way forward. I've seen no evidence of any alternative arrangement that delivers anything that is as good as the arrangements that we have now or anything that would be better in the future. If you're a business at the moment and you export to the European Union or, indeed, you supply a business that exports to the...
Carwyn Jones: Can I thank my colleague David Rees for those questions? If you look at the work that's been done by Cardiff Business School, it does look at what a 'no deal' scenario would be. It is right to say that it identifies some sectors as being more at risk, for example, from tariff barriers, and others from non-tariff barriers, and we're working with those sectors to make sure that we can...
Carwyn Jones: Wishful thinking again. Can I remind him, I have actually run a business?Successfully, thanks, so I do know how it operates. Secondly, can I remind him that the European economy is growing faster than the UK economy? So, it's hardly hidebound in some way by the euro or by anything else. Can I express surprise at his wilful dismissal of evidence—something that is, of course, highly...
Carwyn Jones: Work has been done by Cardiff Business School, looking at the impact on businesses, and we are, of course, considering evidence that has come before us from other assessments about different scenarios. We know what's going to happen with a hard Brexit. That's clear from what Cardiff Business School have said and, of course, it's not a story that provides any sort of assistance to us. One of...
Carwyn Jones: He talks about the Flemish Government. Of course the UK is an important market, but the integrity of the European single market is far more important to any country or any manufacturer than anything else. We were told that the German car manufacturers would drive—they would probably drive—to our rescue. They've said quite clearly that, 'The UK is an important market, but the integrity of...
Carwyn Jones: Time is running out, and we still have no idea what UK Government's endgame is. We don't know in what position they want to be. We have, on the one hand, the Jacob Rees-Moggs of this world saying it doesn't matter about tariffs, it doesn't matter if we lose manufacturing jobs, because they'll be made up for in some unspecified way, and then we have another branch of the Conservative Party...
Carwyn Jones: Thank you, Llywydd. We have published a new document in our series of Brexit policy position papers entitled 'Trade Policy: the issues for Wales'. This is the fifth in our series of papers, which sets out how we believe we in Wales, and the UK as a whole, should respond to the very significant challenges posed by the UK's decision to leave the European Union. The paper sets out our trade...
Carwyn Jones: Yes it would; in common with many other sectors, that would be true. Rather than have a trade deal for one sector, I'd like to see a comprehensive arrangement whereby we remain within the single market, negating the need for a trade deal with our European partners, and also of course within the customs union. All the evidence that has been published so far, even by the UK Government, suggests...
Carwyn Jones: Well, this consultation is something for Swansea council and for them to proceed with and to come to a decision on. However it’s crucially important that we ensure that nobody loses out because of any changes, ultimately, if that is the decision taken.
Carwyn Jones: The pharmaceutical industry depends on integrated international supply chains and pan-European regulation through the European Medicines Agency. There is a risk of serious damage to the UK industry if the UK Government maintains its red lines in terms of leaving the single market, the customs union and the EU regulatory systems.
Carwyn Jones: Social care is an area of national importance. Welsh Government has prioritised funding for elderly people, fully recognising locally provided social care services are a lifeline in supporting older people in Wales.
