7. 7. Statement: The Legislative Programme

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:23 pm on 28 June 2016.

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Photo of Carwyn Jones Carwyn Jones Labour 4:23, 28 June 2016

(Translated)

Could I thank the Member for those comments? To start with autism, this is something, of course, that is being considered at present by the liaison committee, in terms of seeing in what way we can develop legislation on autism, and particularly whether we can ensure that the action plan can be strengthened through being placed on a statutory basis ultimately. That is being dealt with in that process.

In terms of physical chastisement, that is being developed at present. There was, of course, a commitment in the Labour Party manifesto to move this forward, and it will happen, but not in the first year. However, there is work happening on policy and on ensuring what kind of legislation is needed. In terms of Diamond, that’s something relatively new. I don’t think that there will be legislation this year, but there might be changes in the wake of what Diamond has said, and we’ll have to consider that over the next few months.

Regarding the environment, one of the things that we don’t know at present is what will happen to EU law once we leave the EU. We know, of course, in terms of the Republic of Ireland or Irish Free State model, as in the 1920s, what they said then was that the law would stay as it was until it changed. What we need to consider in this process is whether we will need to re-legislate on everything, or will everything stay in place, which gives us more of an opportunity, then, to consider having some kind of comprehensive legislation in order to ensure that we have law that draws everything under one Act. That’s a big piece of work, of course—something perhaps for the Law Commission to consider, ultimately—but what’s not clear at present is what will happen to EU law once we leave. Will it continue, or will it fall by the wayside? We have to be ready for that.

In terms of the CAP, there is an opportunity for us to discuss with the farming unions what kind of Welsh agricultural policy we should have, ultimately, and what the payments would look like. Policy is one thing, but money’s another, of course, and we have to ensure that every penny that’s given to Welsh farmers at the moment is still available, ultimately, from the British pot, if I can call it that.

So, it’s not obvious as to whether we will need primary legislation on CAP—we are considering that—but the process of discussing this with the unions is starting next week. I know that there is a meeting on Monday to kick this process off in terms of developing a Welsh agricultural policy.