The High Court’s decision regarding the inquiry into the dismissal of Carl Sargeant

Part of 5. Topical Questions – in the Senedd at 3:25 pm on 27 March 2019.

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Photo of Rebecca Evans Rebecca Evans Labour 3:25, 27 March 2019

Well, Presiding Officer, there are many aspects of the questions that the leader of Plaid Cymru has raised with me this afternoon that I'm simply not in a position to answer because this is the first involvement that I've had with this particular issue, given the fact that I now have the Trefnydd role—I had no involvement in it previously. So, many of the aspects that you have described, I'm just simply not in a position to answer today. Obviously, Welsh Government will want to keep Members up to date on developments in the most appropriate way, and we will update Members as and when appropriate in terms of the next steps.

Clearly, we've only had the judgment today, so we'll need to take some time in terms of digesting that judgment and determining the way forward on that, but we will obviously do so in an open and transparent way.

In terms of costs, the court has awarded standard costs against the Welsh Government in relation to this particular legal proceeding, and we're not in a position to give a figure on what those might be at this very early stage, given that the judgment was handed down this morning. But you do have my commitment to ensure that Assembly Members are updated as and when appropriate, giving them as much information as we possibly can, but we have only had the judgment today.