3. Statement by the First Minister: The Legislative Programme

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:07 pm on 16 July 2019.

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Photo of Mark Drakeford Mark Drakeford Labour 4:07, 16 July 2019

I thank Mick Antoniw for that. He's right to say that I didn't spend a great deal of time on the social partnership proposals in today's statement, Llywydd, largely because I had an opportunity on the floor of the Assembly last week to make a statement specifically on that matter and to answer questions from Members then. At the heart of our social partnership ambitions is to create what the well-being of future generations (Wales) Act commits us to, and that is the creation of a more equal Wales. It isn't just the ILO that points out that more equal societies do better economically. That is the conclusion of both the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund as well. And they both say that more equal societies with more successful economies are created when workers have a fair share of the product of that economy, and the collective bargaining through trade unions is the way that people come together to secure that fairer share. So, our social partnership Bill will be a fair work Bill as well, because that is absolutely part of our ambition for a more equal Wales.

I thank Mick Antoniw for what he said about the interest, which I know is being taken beyond Wales, in the Bill. I said here last week that on the following day, on Wednesday of last week, I would be meeting the social partners, and that we would work together in a social partnership sense to plan the progress to the introduction of the Bill on the floor of the Assembly. I'm happy to report this afternoon, Llywydd, that that meeting took place, that it was a productive meeting, that we would work together on the social partnership agenda, including preparation for the Bill, and that we remain, as a Government, committed both to its introduction and to its passage during the remainder of this Assembly term.