Access to Justice

Part of 2. Questions to the Counsel General and Brexit Minister (in respect of his Brexit Minister responsibilities) – in the Senedd at 2:58 pm on 22 January 2020.

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Photo of Mick Antoniw Mick Antoniw Labour 2:58, 22 January 2020

Thank you for that answer, Counsel General. It's very important that we have an understanding of some of the changes that are likely to take place now in the post-Brexit environment. It is very clear that we will not have the fundamental protections of the European Union in respect of employment rights. Already, there are very many adverse consequences to what may happen with regard to employment legislation. The UK Government has indicated that it intends to abolish the Human Rights Act 1998. It also intends to abolish or to restrict the ability of judicial review in terms of Government actions. It has also indicated that it wants to interfere with the independence of the judiciary by changing the appointment system for judges.

All these have very significant consequences in terms of undermining the rule of law, and that makes your particular point about losing, I suppose, the jurisprudential umbrella of the European Court of Justice very significant indeed. Do you agree with me that, perhaps, one of the ways forward now is not only with regard to the devolution of justice functions, but that we need to actually look at ways in which we can empower our own citizens in Wales, and we need to look at the creation of a Welsh legal aid, advice and assistance scheme that stands on its own merit within Wales to empower citizens in this new world that we are likely to face?