8. Plaid Cymru Debate: People's Vote

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:52 pm on 3 October 2018.

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Photo of Paul Davies Paul Davies Conservative 4:52, 3 October 2018

Diolch, Llywydd. I welcome the opportunity to take part in this debate and I move the amendment tabled in the name of Darren Millar. The next six months will shape the way Wales and the United Kingdom engage with the rest of the world for generations to come, as we leave the European Union. For trade, investment, security, immigration, it is vital that we secure the best possible deal for Wales. 

Today's debate should be about exploring how we can secure the best possible deal for the people of Wales. Instead, today's motion has focused on shifting the debate from this discussion on to overturning the outcome of the referendum and the clear statement sent by the people of Wales.

As representatives of the Welsh electorate, we have a duty to deliver on the result given to us by the people of Wales in June 2016. The UK Government is working to deliver the best possible deal for Britain and Wales post Brexit, and I hope that the Welsh Government is constructively working with its Westminster counterparts to get that best possible deal. Let me remind Members that almost every local authority voted to leave the European Union. That is something that we cannot ignore.

There are, of course, significant opportunities for Wales post Brexit, and the Welsh Government should now get on with promoting Wales as a place to do business. As I understand it, Welsh exports are worth £14.6 billion each year, with 61 per cent of Welsh exports and just under half of our imports going to and from the EU. And so it's absolutely essential that the Welsh Government works with businesses and public services to plan and prepare for Brexit.

Now, I appreciate that progress has been made in some areas. For example, I'm pleased that the Welsh Government has launched the Business Wales Brexit portal—a website specifically designed to help businesses as they prepare for the changes and challenges arising from the decision to leave the European Union. It's that sort of activity that is crucial as we move ever closer to leaving the EU. Similarly, for Welsh farmers, leaving the EU also presents opportunities to put in place bespoke Welsh policies that can better reflect the changing nature of the industry and help support Welsh farmers for the future. However—