Mick Antoniw: Well, once we have left the EU, we are in a position where there will be no state aid issues, particularly as regards the internal market within the whole of the United Kingdom. So, the question that will arise—. Well, two things will happen, I think. First of all is what might there be in respect of transitional arrangements in terms of leaving the European Union, and state aid, I would...
Mick Antoniw: You make a number of very valid points. First of all, taking the concept of a shared prosperity fund, it’s unclear, when the Government talks about a shared prosperity fund, what prosperity it’s talking about, whose prosperity it is and how exactly it is going to be shared and who’s going to control that sharing. Of course, there’ve been a number of statements, and the problem with...
Mick Antoniw: Well, officials are considering the matter and the External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee have been preparing a report on this topic. We intend to update Members on this work over the coming months.
Mick Antoniw: First of all, dealing with the point you make abut TTIP, well, of course, there are versions of TTIP that are already in existence, such as with Canada and other countries, all of which deal with those particular issues. Of course, they apply to the UK as long as we are a member of the European Union. Of course, the TTIP discussions with the United States of America did not progress, and now...
Mick Antoniw: Well, obviously tariffs are of massive significance because they directly affect cost—goods crossing borders having tariffs imposed upon them. The other issue, of course, with regard to tariffs is what the level of those tariffs is, and also, particularly under World Trade Organization rules, whether there are quotas that might apply as well. But the point you make is an absolutely proper...
Mick Antoniw: Thank you for the question. Officials in a newly established trade policy team are in the process of assessing the policy and legal consequences of the UK trading under World Trade Organization rules. We intend to update Members on this work over the coming months.
Mick Antoniw: Thank you. Again, you raise a number of important cases. At the moment, the prosecution decisions are taken by me, so the evidence will be before me. Where there are specialist areas, there will be analysis by agents and lawyers who are specialists in those areas, and then the decision ultimately is for me as to whether the prosecution takes place or not. You raise an important point in terms...
Mick Antoniw: Firstly, I thank the Member for, I think, the very important points and very thoughtful points that he has made. Of course, he’s absolutely correct about the points that are raised, actually, in the draft principles with regard to human rights. This code—although it has considerable similarities to the Crown Prosecution Service code, we did decide that because of the growth of...
Mick Antoniw: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. The Welsh Government takes the enforcement of animal welfare, food production and fisheries rules and laws very seriously. Over the past nine years, marine enforcement officers, acting on behalf of the Welsh Ministers, have investigated infringements of fisheries laws in our waters, leading to 38 successful prosecutions, including 11 last year. We have...
Mick Antoniw: I had the honour to know Rhodri over many decades. That wasn’t very exceptional. I think everyone involved in the Labour Party in Wales knew Rhodri at some time or other. In fact, everyone in Wales seemed to know Rhodri at some time or other. I do remember his personal kindness to me and to my late wife Elaine. But I would like to make a specific tribute on behalf of those thousands of...
Mick Antoniw: Well, as the Member will be aware, the process of codification, if I might deal with the last point, is not, of course, about reforming the law, it’s about codifying the existing law, and the issue that any reforms or changes need to be made are a totally separate matter and, of course, would require a totally different level of consideration, consultation and scrutiny. In terms of the...
Mick Antoniw: Well, any constitutional steps with regard to the devolution of policing actually require a change in the law, and it isn’t really appropriate for me to step on the toes of the First Minister in his description and his proposals in respect of any policy changes he feels are appropriate. But, of course, he did make very clear yesterday in this Chamber what the Welsh Government’s position...
Mick Antoniw: Members will again know that my advice is legally privileged and subject to the law officers’ convention, but I do fully support the Welsh Government commitment to improving air quality across Wales and its various initiatives to tackle air pollution.
Mick Antoniw: The Member will know that this answer is subject to the established law officers’ convention and that I do not publicly discuss such meetings.
Mick Antoniw: Well, you raise a very important issue. And in answering that question as fully as I can, I think I need to be very prudent about the legal sensitivities and about the duties of confidentiality owed to the court and to other third parties, which the Member will appreciate, and which I must respect. So, I suppose, in answering your question, I’m not going to make any specific reference to...
Mick Antoniw: Well, every year, the national health services across the UK lose out on millions of pounds due to some pharmaceutical companies breaching European and domestic competition law. We work very closely and effectively with the Department of Health, and the other devolved administrations, who share our interest in these issues, to recover our losses, and where there are grounds for legal action.
Mick Antoniw: There’s no inconsistency. Any set of circumstances where there is a piece of legislation or an amendment that is proposed has to be considered in the light of the legislative competence that we actually have. That’s the point I made, I think, in my first answer, and that is that we have regard to the particular factual circumstances and context. And in the light of that, the issue of...
Mick Antoniw: Well, the code of practice on ethical employment in supply chains is there. It’s there for public bodies to take into account when it comes to consideration of future contracts. Obviously, the expectation is that all public bodies will have regard to that particular code. Any further steps that can be taken by Welsh Government will have to ensure that they are actually compliant with the...
Mick Antoniw: Well, I don’t believe it’s my purpose to comment on proposals that are made by particular individuals or by political parties. What I would say is this: Welsh Government has been very alert to the whole issue of conditions within employment and has raised on a number of occasions the issues of the way in which procurement can be used. We’ve already seen work that has been done by Welsh...
Mick Antoniw: Members will know that my advice is legally privileged. Proposals to legislate for zero-hours contracts would require detailed analysis of legislative competence, having regard to the particular factual circumstances and context.
