Part of 4. Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for European Transition (in respect of his European Transition Minister responsibilities) – in the Senedd at 12:28 pm on 15 July 2020.
Dai Lloyd refers to the proposed Green Paper from the United Kingdom Government as regards the internal market across the UK. In principle, we see the sense in having an internal market to help business in Wales succeed in selling across the whole of the UK. But it's not acceptable that the proposal made is one that's created by one part of the United Kingdom and that that should be imposed upon the other Governments.
In other words, there is a better and alternative way of doing that, on the basis of the principles that I alluded to earlier, namely that Governments have parity of discussion as to what should be done in this situation and build on the common frameworks that have been discussed and developed to date. That is a better alternative way of dealing with the situation, and also takes out of the situation the threat to the devolution settlement that is tied into that we have to accept the goods in the market in Wales, even if they don't come up to the standards that Welsh Government, on behalf of the people of Wales, has set.
We would hope, if necessary, to receive support from the Senedd in our opposition to that, if primary legislation on this emanates from the UK Government.