7. 6. Statement: Codes of Welsh Law

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:42 pm on 13 December 2016.

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Photo of Mick Antoniw Mick Antoniw Labour 5:42, 13 December 2016

I thank the Member for those very positive and encouraging comments, and wishing me well. I felt for a moment as though I’m heading towards the executioner’s block with the amount of bonhomie that was being directed towards me.

These proposals are a test of the maturity of this institution as a Parliament and he correctly makes the point that this will be the first Government within the United Kingdom to actually go down this road in, I think, a disciplined, organised way. It’s important that we understand what the underlying principles are. They are, as a legislature, that the legislation we produce is of quality, excellence and relevance, but fundamentally is accessible, and accessible to the citizens of Wales, but also as an example to those who would invest and do business in Wales that we have the clarity, availability and accessibility of law that makes it so much easier. I think this is something not just in terms of our role within the UK but within Europe, and internationally as well. So, yes, it is a challenge. It is going to be a challenge for the whole of the Assembly because we’re going to have to have the discipline to actually see this through collectively. And, yes, he says that I maybe wouldn’t want to start from here. I would say there’s never a good time to start but start we must.