10. What discussions has the Minister had with the UK Government on ways to strengthen the union of Great Britain and Northern Ireland post-Brexit? OAQ54945

I recently met with senior UK Ministers and had constructive discussions on our shared commitment to the union. But March will be two years since the inter-governmental relations review began, and June will be three years since our 'Brexit and Devolution' paper. We need to make urgent progress on reform.

Great. Earlier this term, you spoke of the need for a more shared vision of the governance of the United Kingdom and a new culture of mutual respect and parity of esteem in the kind of inter-governmental relations. A similar message is conveyed in the document 'Reforming our Union: Shared Governance in the UK'. For example, proposition 1 speaks of a voluntary association of nations, and proposition 8 of the need for the four Governments to work on the basis of a partnership of equals. I welcome the fact that the focus is not only on our relationship with Her Majesty's Parliament, but indeed on all four legislatures. One consequence of Brexit is that we have seen the Welsh Government work in union with the Scottish Government. Now that the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive have been restored, does the Welsh Government have any intention to strengthen its own inter-government relation with Stormont? And if so, how?

Can I first take the opportunity that the Member's question presents to say that I welcome very much the restoration of power sharing in Northern Ireland and look forward very much to working with the Northern Ireland Executive? I will, if I may, take this opportunity to pay tribute to the work of the Northern Ireland civil service who, in difficult circumstances, have represented Northern Ireland in many inter-governmental fora, if I may say, extremely effectively.

She is right to say, and I think it's implicit in her question, that the Welsh Government will always seek every opportunity where it has shared interests with any other Government in the UK, a devolved Government or the UK Government, to represent the best interests of Wales. We have been, I think, creative and imaginative in the proposals that we have advanced for strengthening inter-governmental relations and putting them on a basis of mutual respect and parity of esteem and participation, as the question sets out.

There are many manifestations to that, which the document, 'Reforming our Union', sets out more fully. It's an important moment, I think, for the UK Government to recognise that we are in a different world as we leave the European Union, and that the constitution of the UK requires a fresh look on their part. We have engaged constructively with positive proposals. We think they are reasonable, we think they are rational, we think they're necessary for the future success of the union, and I hope that the UK Government will take them in that way.  

Thank you, Minister.