Thank you very much, Dirprwy Llywydd, for calling me to speak. I speak in full support of the Finance Committee inquiry report; I took part in it as a member. I want to focus specifically in support of recommendations 2 to 7: the importance of the shared prosperity fund; the impact on equalities of the loss of European funding; and the future fiscal framework for Wales in relation to Brexit.

In the Equality and Human Rights Commission Brexit and equalities debates last week, I spoke of the importance of the socioeconomic duty in Wales. Although this isn't featured in the Finance Committee's report, I do believe that this is a vital duty for the Welsh Government to enact. It will play a part in giving us powers to counteract the adverse impacts of Brexit on equality and human rights. It's also important in the funding context in terms of powers and priorities that this Welsh Government needs. We drew attention to the threats to EU funding in last week's debates, the uncertain prospects for the UK's shared prosperity fund. We made it clear that the UK shared prosperity fund proposed by the UK Government should be administered by the Welsh Government to ensure that it's sensitive to local needs and inequalities in Wales. We made it clear, as all speakers, indeed, have done today, that the fund should be targeted at tackling inequality and socioeconomic disadvantage.

Our committees have identified the EU funds that relate directly to equality and human rights, with around 60 per cent of European social fund-funded projects targeting people with one or more protected characteristics. I welcome the actions the Welsh Government has taken to influence this agenda. It's unclear how the UK Government has responded to the positive policy papers that have come from the Welsh Government, starting with the 'Regional Investment in Wales after Brexit' paper, which was published last December. A commitment in that paper to using funding received from Europe to support regional development and reduce inequality, and a commitment to a multi-annual approach towards investing replacement funding to maintain a long-term focus on the structural challenges in our economy and the labour market—how has the UK Government responded to this?

The Cabinet Secretary might like to update us on his last oral statement on the regional investment steering group that's been set up with businesses, local government, universities and the third sector, and £350,000 from the European transition fund to establish a partnership with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development to help inform our approach. Welsh Government has been proactive in preparing for future funding arrangements post Brexit, and we've repeatedly told the UK Government that its proposed consultation about the shared prosperity fund must now take place, engaging with the Welsh Government and the National Assembly for Wales, with our committees asking for it, with interest arising across the Chamber, as well as from the Finance Committee.

Llywydd, at the Women in Wales For Europe meeting, last week, which I chaired, the Equality and Human Rights Commission alerted us to their forthcoming report. It will be called 'If not the EU, then who? The potential impact of the loss of EU funding on equality and human rights in Britain'. That report's going to be published imminently. It will provide an evidence base for the commission, the Welsh Government and ourselves in this Assembly, to respond to the UK Government shared prosperity fund consultation, and I understand that that EHRC research explores how the new UK shared prosperity fund can be an opportunity to keep equality and human rights as a cross-cutting theme in the way that Julie Morgan has described as being so influential in the use of our structural funds. So, I hope that the EHRC report will be influential with the UK Government as well.

Can I finish by welcoming the Cabinet Secretary's response to recommendation 2, acknowledging the Welsh Government paper, 'Reforming UK funding and fiscal arrangements after Brexit', fully backing the call for the Barnett formula to be replaced with a new, rules-based system that would ensure the allocation of resources within the UK is based on relative need. Alongside the socioeconomic duty, it is vital that we strengthen our powers and resource base for public finance in Wales. The fiscal framework and inter-governmental machinery reform is crucial to that, if Wales is to have a strong voice in not only Brexit, but the discussions of the future of the management of our public finances in Wales. So, I do hope that the Finance Committee's report will be useful to the Cabinet Secretary in his ongoing negotiations on behalf of Wales.