Jeremy Miles: Well, there are very well established discussions with the port operators and with HMRC, the UK Government and local government, in particular. The Welsh Government recognises the risks around delays to the port in Holyhead. Regardless of the decisions that the UK Government is taking, the Irish Government, as part of the EU, will be imposing the full suite of EU law on traffic through the...
Jeremy Miles: Yes, certainly. Of course, there have been discussions with the health boards. The health Minister is in continuous discussions, really, with NHS bodies to ensure that they have preparedness plans in place and to test some of those assumptions. The question that the Member asks relates to the provision of medical devices in particular. As she may know, there's been a specific piece of work...
Jeremy Miles: Quite a bit of work has been taking place as regards the risk to ports in Wales generally and in the Member's constituency, as well as in Holyhead and in the north. We’ve been working with the United Kingdom Government and local government and the port operators to ensure that we model the risks to ports generally. And, generally, the ports in Fishguard and Pembroke Dock are likely to have...
Jeremy Miles: The Welsh Government has been considering the implications of Brexit across Wales, and acting to plan and prepare for all eventualities.
Jeremy Miles: We set out in 'Brexit and Fair Movement of People' an evidence-based approach to migration, which reflects the needs of our economy and the importance of achieving full and unfettered access to the EU single market, while addressing the concerns of many voters by linking migration more closely to employment.
Jeremy Miles: I am in frequent contact with the UK Government on a range of 'no deal' issues. This includes frequent senior engagement with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on business and sector specific issues. We continue to press the UK Government to rule out a 'no deal' outcome whilst providing advice on mitigating actions.
Jeremy Miles: In our White Paper, 'Securing Wales’ Future', we set out the position very clearly for continued full and unfettered access to the single market. Dynamic alignment on EU state-aid rules will be one of the requirements of this approach.
Jeremy Miles: I continue to press the UK Government to ensure that Wales does not lose out on funding as a result of Brexit, including for the further education sector. I have written and spoken to the Secretary of State for Wales and the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster about this.
Jeremy Miles: The Minister for International Relations and the Welsh Language leads on trade policy for the Welsh Government and she will ensure Wales makes the most of any future post-Brexit trade agreements.
Jeremy Miles: Welsh Ministers continue to have frequent discussions with UK Ministers to secure the least damaging form of Brexit and one that protects the rights of citizens in Wales. As set out in 'Brexit and Fair Movement of People', this should include youth mobility as part of a wider approach to fair movement.
Jeremy Miles: Local government provides essential public services, including to our most vulnerable citizens, and the impacts of Brexit on local government will be wide-ranging and serious, particularly in a 'no deal' situation. Welsh Government has strong engagement with local government to develop preparedness, including readiness for 'no deal'.
Jeremy Miles: Well, I was puzzled by that bit of it, and she made lots of great sounds about free trade agreements in defence of an amendment that advocated for 'no deal'. But, as I said in my opening remarks, the Prime Minister needs to find lasting support for her approach to Brexit. I listened to Darren Millar's contribution and I have to say I think his ad hominem attacks on Jeremy Corbyn just failed...
Jeremy Miles: I said at the start—. Yes.
Jeremy Miles: Diolch, Llywydd. May I start by thanking the Member for Bridgend for reminding us of the powerful impact in the daily lives of people of judgments that are made in relation to Brexit, and how getting those judgments wrong can have catastrophic consequences in real lives? There were a range of contributions from Assembly Members in this debate. The vast majority I welcomed. Some, I'm afraid, I...
Jeremy Miles: Llywydd, despite those encouraging words following her defeat two weeks ago, it's now quite clear that the Prime Minister is going round in circles in her cul-de-sac, reiterating red-line positions, failing to see the urgent need to extend article 50 and failing to rule out 'no deal'—in short, a continuation on the road to nowhere. Can anything be more ludicrous than the Prime Minister...
Jeremy Miles: We are deeply concerned at how little time remains, with the deadline of 29 March looming very large on the horizon. There is an assumption with Westminster that we can get very close to the wire and then demand an extension to article 50. This is a dangerous assumption. The longer we wait to ask for an extension, the weaker the negotiating position of the Government. The closer we get to 29...
Jeremy Miles: Thank you, Llywydd. The events last night in the House of Commons, rather than clarifying the issue, have confused things further. Of course, we welcome the fact that the House of Commons has stated clearly that a 'no deal' Brexit is an unacceptable outcome to the Brexit negotiations, a view expressed by this Assembly a fortnight ago, which demonstrates the force of decisions taken within the...
Jeremy Miles: I'm pleased, therefore, to be able to report that we are taking substantive action in this area, and that we are reasonably confident that disruption at our ports will not lead to severe problems on our road network. This does not, however, reduce the risk of border disruption adversely affecting our businesses and our citizens, with potential chaos at Dover a much more serious threat from...
Jeremy Miles: Thank you, Llywydd. Before I start, I'd like to thank members of the External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee for the three reports looking at the Welsh Government's preparedness for exiting the European Union. I'd also like to thank you for the opportunity to reply to this debate. I'm pleased to say that the Welsh Government, in our formal response, have accepted all of the...
Jeremy Miles: May I thank the Member for those observations? He hits the nail on the head, doesn't he, when he says that, too often, the proponents of Brexit are people for whom there is no jeopardy in either outcome, where their resources and their affluence and their self-protection put them in a position where, whatever outcome, is a question of financial modelling and a question of moving your assets...
