2. Will the Counsel General provide an update on the Welsh Government's preparations for a no-deal Brexit? OAQ53629

A 'no deal' Brexit would be catastrophic for Wales, but we are working at full capacity on preparedness, building on the arrangements reported to the Assembly on 22 January. This includes support to organisations from the European transition fund, with an additional £1.7 million for business resilience announced last week.

Thank you, Counsel General. And, yes, a 'no deal' Brexit would be catastrophic for Wales, which is one of the reasons why I'll be proud to march on Saturday for a people's vote, to try and prevent further catastrophe. [Interruption.] No, no; a people's vote on the Brexit deal, with an option to remain. 

As you know, one of my major concerns in relation to Brexit is the impact on our many hundreds of automotive jobs in Torfaen, and I've got absolutely no doubt that the very best option to protect those automotive jobs is for us to remain in the European Union. However, I understand of course that it is prudent to prepare for a 'no deal'. So, with that in mind, can I ask what specific steps you've been taking as a Government not just to work with the likes of Ford and Nissan, but to work with the companies, such as the ones in my constituency, which are working very hard making parts for our automotive companies throughout the European Union?

I thank the Member for that supplementary. She has raised this with me a number of times in the Chamber. I know how vital the automotive sector is in her constituency and in other parts of Wales. There is a very, very constant stream of communication—two-way communication—between Welsh Government, the Minister for Economy and Transport and officials with companies who are car producers, but also in the supply chains across Wales. She will know that there has been funding made available for skills training for some of those larger employers in the automotive sector. I took the opportunity of a recent meeting with the UK Government on UK-wide preparedness to make the point that even though we see companies, car producers, in England—for example, Honda in Swindon—making decisions to disinvest, the impact of that sort of decision is felt across the UK, including in Wales, in a number of the supply chains feeding into that company. And there are several companies who are significantly dependent on that sort of supply chain for their business and profitability.

She will have noticed that the UK Government's tariffs announcement in the last week or 10 days in the event of a 'no deal' Brexit, which was described by the Confederation of British Industry and many unions as very, very disappointing, obviously had something specific to say about car component parts. Actually, the focus there needs to be on the non-tariff barriers as well, so that companies in Wales and across the UK can continue to export car components in what are increasingly complex production and supply chains.