I thank the Cabinet Secretary for his statement today, although I am surprised that, in his statement, there's a failure to refer to the potential risks of international trade deals should we leave the European customs union. Surely the biggest threat facing the founding principles of the NHS as it approaches its seventieth year is that of new international trade deals led by Dr Liam Fox.

In the last few weeks we've seen the President of the United States openly state that his aim in trade talks with the UK will be to impose higher prices on drugs in order to slash prescription prices in the US and put 'American patients first'. So, future trade deals, if we're dragged out of the customs union, will have an enormous impact on Welsh patients, and if the President of the United States has his way, will put huge pressure, I believe, on the free prescriptions policy we are rightly proud of here in Wales. That's not scaremongering. I think that's a simple, logical fact.

The Cabinet Secretary will therefore understand my disbelief upon learning that his colleague the economy Secretary has said that he's content with Welsh Government being 'in the room next door' when devolved matters are being discussed in future trade talks. In a letter that I have to the Chair of the House of Commons International Trade Committee, his colleague the Cabinet Secretary says, and I quote, 

'in areas of devolved competence Welsh Government should be part of the negotiations—whether that is "in the room" or "in the room next door"'.

Isn't this a rather feeble position to hold? Surely a Labour Government would be prepared to break down doors to be in talks on the future of the national health service, particularly with the threats that we are facing from a very different agenda in Westminster. So, my question directly to the Cabinet Secretary is this: doesn't he want to be right there at the heart of future trade negotiations when the future of the Welsh NHS is at stake?