<p>The Great Repeal Bill</p>

Part of 2. 2. Questions to the Counsel General – in the Senedd at 2:33 pm on 12 July 2017.

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Photo of Mick Antoniw Mick Antoniw Labour 2:33, 12 July 2017

Well, it’s not appropriate for me to comment on whether I have or have not given legal advice on any specific issue. But the Member makes a very important point about the fundamental principles of what that Bill will be. The Member will have heard, as has previously been commented on, that a number of commitments have been given in the House of Commons that it will require the consent of the devolved Governments. That was made by David Davis himself, and I think was also made yesterday in response to the question from Jonathan Edwards. That is, as we would expect, that any matter that impacts on the powers and responsibilities of this place will require legislative consent, and that is a matter that Welsh Government is determined to hold the Government committed to.

The First Minister, and others, have previously outlined what are the fundamental principles in respect of what we expect to see in any repeal Bill, and that is that the UK Government must recognise that any powers in the devolved field, currently held at EU level, must be exercised at a devolved level, unless there is a clear and agreed reason for them to be held by the UK Government. And, in that event, then there must be a mechanism for co-decision making in these areas, and that is the point that you’ve obviously raised there, with how those matters are actually determined. These are fundamental principles as far as Welsh Government and this Assembly is concerned, and those are ones that we would expect to be honoured and respected in whatever legislation is proposed tomorrow.