In accordance with Standing Order 12.69, I have accepted a request from Simon Thomas to move a motion for an urgent debate. I call, therefore, on Simon Thomas to move the motion.

Motion

That the Assembly considers the impact of triggering Article 50 on Wales.

Motion moved.

Thank you, Llywydd, and thank you for accepting the request. I’m grateful to the First Minister for the statement that he brought before the Assembly today, but, of course, there is more to a parliament than just listening to the view of Government and asking questions of Government. A parliament is supposed to be a national, democratic forum where we discuss urgent issues and issues of interest to our constituents, and there is nothing more pertinent to our constituents than today’s decision to issue this letter on behalf of the UK to the European Union giving notice of intent to formally leave the union. As we have just heard from the First Minister, the Welsh Government hasn’t been party to drafting the letter, or had any influence on the content of the letter. It’s even more important under those circumstances that we as a parliament can speak with one voice and discuss now the content of this letter and similar decisions taken by the Government in Westminster, and how we can influence those decisions. There is no political decision that will have greater impact on Wales, and there hasn’t been since the second world war. And, certainly, there are huge impacts on the Welsh economy, culture and the people of Wales.

Pe baem yn cynnal dadl frys yn awr, byddai’n ein galluogi i archwilio a thrafod yn fanylach rai o’r cwestiynau sydd eisoes wedi cael eu gofyn i’r Prif Weinidog, ond gan wneud hynny mewn ffordd ddemocrataidd, seneddol, fel y gall pob Aelod roi eu barn. Byddwn yn arbennig o awyddus i archwilio pam nad yw’r llythyr a anfonwyd gan y Prif Weinidog ar ran gwladwriaeth y DU yn cyfeirio at yr amgylchedd, neu amaethyddiaeth, neu newid yn yr hinsawdd, neu’n wir, at ymchwil ymhlith ein sefydliadau addysg uwch—sydd oll yn elfennau allweddol o economi Cymru a dyfodol Cymru. Byddai gennyf ddiddordeb mewn gwybod sut y gallwn gael gwell bargen i ddinasyddion yr UE sy’n byw yng Nghymru yn awr, a diogelu eu hawliau a sicrhau y gallant aros yn rhan o’n cymuned. Hwy yw’r pleidleiswyr a bleidleisiodd i lawer ohonom fod yma, ac mae eu lleisiau yn haeddu bod yma heddiw hefyd.

Byddai’n ein galluogi i archwilio’r berthynas rhwng Cymru a’r farchnad sengl yn well ar gyfer y dyfodol. Yn amlwg, mae Plaid Cymru eisiau aros yn aelod o’r farchnad sengl a’r undeb tollau, ond mae angen inni ddeall, os nad yw hynny’n digwydd, beth fyddai’r trefniadau trosiannol a sut y gallwn sicrhau bod rhannau hanfodol o’n heconomi, fel ffermio a gweithgynhyrchu, yn cael eu diogelu yn y ffordd honno. Byddem am gofnodi ein bod eisiau cadw pob ceiniog o arian Ewropeaidd yma yng Nghymru, fel yr addawyd gan yr ymgyrchwyr dros ‘adael’ flwyddyn yn ôl, ac rydym yn awyddus i gofnodi hynny fel senedd. Byddem yn awyddus i gofnodi hefyd nad ydym yn derbyn unrhyw ymgais i gipio pwerau yn ôl o ddwylo Cymru. Mae’n rhyfedd iawn, o ran y ffordd y cafodd y llythyr ei fframio heddiw, a’r datganiad a wnaeth Theresa May yn Nhŷ’r Cyffredin heddiw, ei bod hi’n gallu dweud y gallai rhagor o bwerau ddod i’r sefydliad hwn, ond ni ddywedodd y byddai’r holl bwerau yn y meysydd datganoledig a gedwir ar hyn o bryd ar lefel Ewropeaidd yn dod i’r sefydliad hwn. Bydd cipio tir yn Stryd Downing cyn i ni gael y pwerau ychwanegol hynny.

Yn olaf, gallwn gofnodi ein cred fod rhaid cael cymeradwyaeth seneddol i’r fargen derfynol a bod rhaid i lais Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru ffurfio rhan o’r gymeradwyaeth honno yn ogystal.

I call on the First Minister to reply—Carwyn Jones.

Can I say this afternoon that we won’t be supporting the request for a debate this afternoon, not because we have any problem with a debate, but our belief is that the debate should take place next week? There are good reasons for this. First of all, we will have the White Paper—or Members will have the White Paper—tomorrow. That will provide more information, although some of the questions raised by Simon Thomas I can’t answer today; only the Prime Minister can answer. The White Paper may give us more information tomorrow. We’ll have initial information about the likely shape of the EU negotiating mandate and also the publication of the European Parliament’s draft resolution on the article 50 negotiations. On that basis, then, there is the opportunity for Members to debate article 50, which is important, but also the White Paper and the other issues that I’ve referred to, in a debate, with plenty of time, clearly, to form a view in that debate next week.

So, a full debate next week is what we would propose as a Government. We can take all those important developments into account, and that is something that I know he and I have discussed in days gone by—that a debate is something that should be looked at, particularly—. Well, we agree to a debate, because we want to see a debate take place, pending, of course, the publication of the White Paper tomorrow. So, we don’t believe that today is the day for that debate, but more information will be available to Members over the next few days and, of course, there will need to be a debate where Members can express their full views next week.

The proposal is to agree the motion for an urgent debate. Does any Member object? [Objection.] Unless three Members wish for the bell to be rung, I will proceed directly to a vote on the motion. I call for a vote, therefore, on the motion for an urgent debate. Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 20, no abstentions, 34 against. And, therefore, the motion is not agreed, and, as the motion is not agreed, there will be no urgent debate.

Motion not agreed: For 20, Against 34, Abstain 0.

Result of the vote on the motion.