4. 4. Statement: ‘Securing Wales' Future’: Transition from the European Union to a New Relationship with Europe

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:15 pm on 24 January 2017.

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Photo of Lynne Neagle Lynne Neagle Labour 4:15, 24 January 2017

Can I thank the First Minister for his statement? I warmly welcome this White Paper and I’m also very pleased that the Welsh Government has worked with Plaid Cymru to develop this. I think that the threat of Brexit is so immense that it is going to be essential for all of us who want to put the interests of Wales and our communities first to work together. I’ve got two particular questions. As the first Minister knows, my constituency is very dependent on manufacturing, in particular on automotive. I welcome the commitment in this document to maintain the widest possible access to the single market, but can I ask what other steps the First Minister intends to take to ensure that the automotive sector is protected, including how he intends to raise the needs of the automotive sector in his discussions with the UK Government?

Last week, I attended a conference at Swansea University to look at the implications of Brexit on children and young people in Wales. Concerns were expressed at that conference that so far there seems to have been fairly little consideration at Government level of the implications for children and young people, and I’m sure that you’re also aware that many young people feel very angry that a decision so crucial to their futures was taken for them by others voting in the referendum. I welcome the commitment in this document to ensuring the views of children and young people are listened to, but can I just ask for some more detail, please, on how the Welsh Government intends to make this a reality going forward?