Can I applaud the Brexit Party for bringing forward this important debate today in the face of continued denial that we are leaving the beloved EU that people on the Government benches and in Plaid Cymru feel so passionately about? Labour, Plaid Cymru and others in this country have done everything they can to prevent us from delivering on the democratic mandate of the people of Wales. Firstly, they tried to stop us leaving the European Union. Then they tried to delay us leaving the European Union by extending the transition period, and now you're trying to scupper plans that will ensure that Welsh businesses have unfettered access to our biggest market—the rest of the United Kingdom. Seventy-five per cent of Welsh trade is with the rest of the UK. The UK Internal Market Bill will ensure that, when the transition period ends, on 31 December 2020, businesses in Wales will continue to be able to benefit from seamless trade with other parts of the UK. And as we begin the slow economic recovery from the coronavirus, protecting jobs and avoiding additional cost on businesses or consumers are vitally important, and that's why we support this Bill.

The Bill reaffirms that the United Kingdom is made up of four partners, and under these plans, companies will have equal opportunity to trade, regardless of where in the United Kingdom they are based. The Bill also, of course, maintains the high standards that we enjoy right across the UK in areas such as food hygiene, animal welfare standards and other regulations, ensuring co-operation with devolved Governments. And I'm pleased that yesterday the Counsel General and Minister for the Brexit transition acknowledged that there's been some good work on a cross-UK basis on common frameworks.

The Bill also, of course, delivers on Boris Johnson's pledge to the people of Northern Ireland that we will leave the EU as one United Kingdom and that there will be no customs border in the Irish sea, something that the European Union subscribed to in article 4 of the Northern Ireland protocol. The Bill also guarantees the devolution of further powers to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland once the transition period ends later in the year. At least 65 new policy powers that previously resided at an EU level will be passed directly to this Welsh Parliament. And crucially, none of this Welsh Parliament's current powers will be removed—not one of them. It makes last week's rhetoric from the Labour Party and from Plaid Cymru all the more extraordinary, with all of this talk of an assault on devolution and stealing powers and a power grab, because it's crystal clear: not one single power of this Senedd will be taken away as a result of this Bill.

The Counsel General has said that the Bill is not necessary, and we accept on these benches that it's something of a backstop, but it gives business in Wales what they need above all else, and that is certainty—certainty that will enable them to continue to trade in the future and keep those jobs in the economy that we need them to protect, particularly at this difficult time. And it guarantees access to that entire UK market, avoiding the risk that politicians could fail to secure the framework agreements and with an increasingly agitated separatist Government in Scotland, and I think it's just too great a risk for Welsh jobs. Currently, many UK investment decisions are taken by unelected EU bodies and, quite rightly, this Bill will end that when we leave the transition period. It will then be, of course, for politicians elected in the UK by the people of the UK to use spending powers to support our communities and businesses, including any direct replacements for EU schemes, including exchange opportunities. 

Now, in economic development and infrastructure, this Bill will enable greater partnership working between the UK and Welsh Governments, because the powers that the UK Government will inherit from the EU will be shared with the Welsh Government. Many countries with devolved governments have shared powers, including in Germany and in the United States, and this, of course, is a double opportunity to get much more investment into Wales, and both Governments, of course, have a responsibility to act to secure economic growth, especially at such a volatile time. That's why I find it absolutely astonishing, frankly, that we have a Welsh Government that's complaining that the UK Government wants powers to be able to invest in Wales. Why on earth would you complain about that? You've had assurances that these additional investments will be in excess of the Barnett block grant that we receive at the moment, so I've no idea why you would want to object to investment in our infrastructure in this country.

The UK Government has been absolutely clear that the level of funding for Wales, as a result of the EU schemes that will end, will be matched and replicated and that Wales will not lose a single penny. And that's what the people of Wales voted for. That's why your party lost so many seats in those elections last year, including here in Wales. So, for a strong internal market and to protect the interests of businesses the length and breadth of this country and the length and breadth of Wales, I urge people to support the motion.