Llywydd, if the Barnett formula were to be applied to the DUP deal, Wales would receive £1.5 billion over the next two years and £1.67 billion in total over five years. However, what the UK Government is saying is that Wales will receive zero. Of course, it’s not just Wales losing out; England and Scotland will receive nothing either. And the question I ask is: how can this be a basis for stability? How can it be a basis for any kind of respect from the people of Wales and elsewhere towards the UK Government? At the very least, voters are entitled to expect that the Government of the day will do its utmost to advance the interests of all parts of the UK fairly and equitably. If the DUP has extracted additional spending on infrastructure, for schools, for the health service and for deprived communities from the UK Government in return for its support, then that should be extended across the UK, not just Northern Ireland. Immediate pressures on health and education services are not the exclusive experience of Northern Ireland. Additional provision for mental health services should not be allocated only to Belfast. Ignoring the needs of Wales, Scotland and England in this way can only sow the seeds of further anger and resentment. Sacrificing the integrity of the UK for the sake of a deal to cling on to power will live long in the memory.

Llywydd, I must also express concern about what the DUP has agreed to do in return for propping up this administration. They have, seemingly, offered the UK Government carte-blanche support for EU exit legislation without having had sight of any proposals in detailed form. This drives a coach and horses through established consultative arrangements for developing an approach to Brexit involving both the UK Government and devolved administrations through the JMC.

A series of questions now need answers. Firstly, what are the implications of this agreement for future funding arrangements for other nations in the UK and, indeed, the regions of England? Has the UK Government now, in fact, abandoned the current rules for short-term gain? The Chamber will be particularly interested to hear from the leader of the Welsh Conservative group. Was he consulted on the agreement? Does he share my annoyance and that of others in this Chamber about this flagrant abuse of fair funding arrangements? Does he agree with me that the benefits of additional spending should be enjoyed across the UK, not just in Northern Ireland? Silent so far, his opportunity lies this afternoon.

What are the implications of this agreement for the UK-wide consultative process on EU exit? Specifically, if the Northern Ireland Executive comes back into being, as I hope it will, how is the UK Government-DUP agreement compatible with arrangements for the Joint Ministerial Committee? We believe that this agreement contravenes established constitutional practice, and the Cabinet Secretary for finance, I can inform the Assembly, has taken the first steps to initiate a formal dispute under the terms of the JMC dispute resolution machinery.

I’ve already made my views known, in the clearest terms, to the Secretary of State for Wales, with whom I spoke yesterday. He could not answer the questions that I put at the time, but, Llywydd, I have no doubt that many Members will feel as strongly about these issues as I or anyone in the Welsh Government, and that’s why we were keen to provide time today for this urgent debate, so Members have an opportunity to set out their thoughts.