8. What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the impact of Brexit on children's rights? OAQ54948

Welsh Government legislation that requires Ministers to give due regard to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child when developing or reviewing policies or legislation will apply after Brexit, and the Welsh Government will continue to promote children's rights in our discussions with the UK Government on the future relationship with the European Union.

Thank you for your answer, Minister. I know that the decision of the UK Tory Government to drop proposals to protect child refugees from the EU withdrawal Bill was discussed during First Minister's questions last week, and I'm sure, like me, you've been watching the progress with regard to the Dubs amendment too. Many refugees are children, so this is a particularly cruel action, especially when we recall that only 5 per cent of child asylum applications in Europe are actually made in the UK; that's less than 5,000 vulnerable children, to take the first half of 2019. The First Minister gave us a passionate denunciation of the policy, but can I ask: will you, as Brexit Minister, commit to raise this decision in all appropriate discussions with UK Ministers, and make sure that children don't suffer from Brexit disproportionately?

This is a very important matter that the Member has raised today in the Chamber. I obviously echo the point that the First Minister made last week in relation to this important issue. What is extraordinary to me is that the previous legislation itself did actually contain a duty on the part of the UK Government to negotiate the continuation of the Dublin III arrangements—the refugee family reunion arrangements—and so the weakening of that, I think, is an extraordinary act. She will be aware that the Deputy Minister and Chief Whip and indeed the Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services have written to the Home Secretary making clear the Welsh Government's position in relation to this matter. I think that it goes to the heart of the kind of country that we want the UK to be as we leave the European Union, and I think that weakening the legislation is a moment of danger in that regard. I hope that the UK Government will continue to advance its previous stated position, even if that's not on the face of the legislation. I know that she and many other Members in this Chamber would feel very strongly that they should do that, as do I.

David Rowlands is not in the Chamber to ask question 9. Therefore, question 10, Janet Finch-Saunders.

Question 9 [OAQ54950] not asked.