I know that the result of the 2016 referendum on the United Kingdom's membership of the European Union has created considerable uncertainty for EU citizens living in Wales. I would like to be clear that we want EU nationals who have made Wales their home to stay here. They will always be welcome here. Our message to them as a Government is, 'We value your contribution to Welsh life, our economy, our public services, our communities, and you will always be welcome here.' We the Welsh Government are doing all that we can to influence the UK Government to protect the interests of EU nationals in Wales, in the UK, and to ensure that they retain the same rights as they have today.

In September 2017, we published 'Brexit and Fair Movement of People'. This explored the role of migration in Wales, focusing on migration from the European Economic Area, and analysed the potential models that the UK Government might adopt for a future migration system, and the impact that these could have in Wales. Based on that evidence, the Welsh Government has been proactive in seeking to contribute and to shape the development of migration policy in the UK, emphasising the importance and benefits of migration to Wales. I would like to have been able to say that the UK Government listened to the proposals that we put forward, and have been able to take on board the evidence that was presented, not just from Wales but across the UK. But sadly we know this is not the case.