Relations with Stateless Nations

Part of 2. Questions to the Minister for International Relations and Welsh Language – in the Senedd at 3:05 pm on 30 January 2019.

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Photo of Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan Labour 3:05, 30 January 2019

(Translated)

Thank you very much. I think there are about 20 offices across the world belonging to Welsh Government. What I want to do at the moment is to review their influence and their efficiency and what impact they have. One of our committees has asked us to ensure that we get value for money out of them, so before expanding the network I wish to ensure that what we already have is right and proper. But I do think it's right that we need to develop the natural relationship that we have with regions such as Catalonia and the Basque Country.

I don't think that we have necessarily always got to open offices. If we're going to focus on economic development, for example, it might be better to send people from here who have expertise in a particular specific field, rather than having generalists present there, and this is what I want to consider when I look at the future strategy. But we're not just going to focus on economic issues. There are, of course, cultural issues. And, where we already have a relationship, it makes sense for us not to break that relationship. But I understand with foreign affairs what makes things happen better than anything else is personal relationships, and we must make sure that we build on those. I think that we are all duty bound to do what we can to raise the Welsh flag while we travel abroad, too.