8. Plaid Cymru Debate:– The European Union (Withdrawal) Bill and devolution

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:36 pm on 2 May 2018.

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Photo of Carwyn Jones Carwyn Jones Labour 4:36, 2 May 2018

The fifth point is that the agreement guarantees that Sewel will apply to any parliamentary legislation that is used to put in place UK-wide frameworks. That ensures, of course, that there's no prospect of anyone suggesting that, as matters are temporarily beyond our competence, Sewel doesn't apply—in other words, 'While powers are in the freezer, don't worry about Sewel, because these powers are not yet powers that are wholly within the role of the devolved administrations'. And it means then that the Assembly will have to give consent to any such Bills.

I see, Dirprwy Lywydd, that I'm way out of time. And so, I hope I've given Members the answers, whether they accept them or not. What I can say is that we have come a long way through a process of negotiation and we have made sure that Wales's interests are protected as we are buffeted by the waves of Brexit.