3. 2. Business Statement and Announcement

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:33 pm on 4 July 2017.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Jane Hutt Jane Hutt Labour 2:33, 4 July 2017

Thank you, Simon Thomas, for those two questions. Indeed, I recall that you raised the issue of the proposed closures of the DWP offices, and of course those concerns are not only shared by the Welsh Government, but by other Assembly Members and their constituents. And, again, it is important and timely that you raise this, for us to re-examine where we are on this in terms of our representations, and also with an impending announcement.

On your second point, in terms of Michael Gove, one can question, with the way things are going at the moment, under whose authority, and what authority, he made that statement in terms of the fisheries convention. But, I think, my understanding—. It’s only in the last week, I think, that you might have asked the question to the Cabinet Secretary about Michael Gove appearing to ignore the devolved administrations. In any case, I understand that a meeting might be in the offing with the Cabinet Secretary, but quadrilateral meetings with the Scottish Minister and Welsh Cabinet Secretary have been postponed. And, clearly, as far as I understand, the Cabinet Secretary, the Welsh Government, certainly was not consulted before this was announced at the weekend. And it is very important that you, again, draw this to the wider public attention, in terms of the way that we are being treated and disregarded.