5. Statement by the Counsel General and Brexit Minister: Brexit Preparedness

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 6:00 pm on 16 July 2019.

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Photo of Jeremy Miles Jeremy Miles Labour 6:00, 16 July 2019

I thank David Rees for his questions. I will deal with them in turn. On the question of haulage and the permitting, we are in close contact, obviously, with the Road Haulage Association and the Freight Transport Association in relation to the issues that they will face, both here in Wales and also, of course, further afield. The impact of this felt across the UK could potentially impact the Welsh economy's haulage and freight routes across the border. We have been pressing the UK Government in relation to this. I know that he is aware that falling back on the international permitting system could place severe restrictions, in practical terms, on operators' capacity to move goods across the UK-EU border. He will know, I think, that the EU has agreed a temporary solution were we to leave without a deal, so that goods would continue to be capable of being moved across the border on the basis of mutual recognition, but that extends to the end of this calendar year. As I understand it today, that hasn't been extended to reflect a departure date in October, so we continue to work with key stakeholders around what response is required in relation to that.

On the question of ports, he will recall, I think, the statement that the Minister for Economy and Transport made in April in relation in particular to the arrangements that we've agreed around Holyhead to establish the additional capacity at the Road King site and, indeed, Parc Cybi. Those arrangements remain available in a later Brexit, and stand ready to be deployed, should they be needed. That isn't the current expectation, but they are there as a fallback should they be required.

On the question of warehouse capacity, in relation to food supply in particular, as he knows, I think, the UK Government is leading on the issue of food supply across the UK, though plainly we feed into that as a Government. They are looking at warehousing capacity in relation to cold storage and so forth. He will also know, I think, that the Welsh Government has made available funding for cold storage in Wales through the private sector. In addition to that, in a context other than food, we clearly now have the capacity in the warehouse that we have acquired in south Wales to enable us to store medical devices and social care devices, enabling us to stock items that we perhaps wouldn't feel the need to stock, in the context of ensuring supplies to the NHS and the care sector. But it's obviously an issue that has a different set of considerations at the point of departure in October than in the spring because of the pressure on warehousing due to pre-Christmas stock and so on.

On the question of emergency legislation, I will just reassure the Member that this is a matter that is kept continually under review by lawyers looking at the progress of legislation. But, clearly, as I know his question implies, it is not possible to be definitive on what, if anything, might be required until the basis of departure is known to us. But that is a situation that is kept under close review.

His last question, I think, related to engagement with our partners in the European Union in relation to this. He will know that the First Minister was in Brussels a few weeks ago, and there continued to be official-level contact with partners in the European Union, so that they understand the position of the Welsh Government on behalf of the people of Wales.