1. What discussions has the Counsel General had with the UK Government regarding the UK's trade policy as it relates to Wales? OQ55823

I've already had an introductory meeting with the UK Minister of State for trade, Greg Hands. I plan to continue to build on the pattern of engagement that my predecessor established and will be holding regular bilateral discussions with the UK Government, including sitting on the ministerial forum for trade.

I thank you for that answer, but there are specific concerns. Last month, the UK Government rejected the amendments to the Agriculture Bill that the House of Lords had laid requiring trade deals to at least meet UK food safety standards and animal welfare standards. I've had significant representation by farmers and their groups, and also from industries like the hospitality sector, who are really, really, genuinely concerned about what that might mean for UK food standards, and also unfair competition. The concerns are that if trade deals are reached with countries that have much lower food-producing standards than we currently have—what that might mean for them. So, I'm pleased that you said that you are having meetings, but what assessment have you made about the potential of that substandard food flooding the UK, but particularly Wales, and affecting our market and the production of our food, and the impact, the knock on, for those food producers here, particularly in my constituency?

I thank the Member for that supplementary and for her continued advocacy on behalf of food producers in her region. We have made the case consistently to the UK Government in the context of the international trade negotiations about how important it is to maintain food standards in defence of our food producers here in Wales. It is, in fact, an important part, not least of the reassurance that we give to consumers in Wales and other parts of the UK, but also of the Welsh brand internationally, as we seek to take advantage of further export opportunities into the future. So, we are very concerned at any possibility of a reduction in standards and the undercutting that that would potentially entail. We must not put our producers in a position where they face unfair competition. So, I will reassure the Member that we continue to make that case to UK Government Ministers. She will also know, of course, that the threat of lower standards, possibly indirectly as a consequence of imports from other parts of the world, is one of the reasons we have been so concerned about the UK Government's proposals in the internal market Bill, which, as she will know, is pretty much designed to ensure that the lowest standards across any part of UK prevail. I know that she will share our serious concerns about the impact of that Bill and our resistance to its provisions.

Counsel General, you seem to have indicated in your answer to Joyce Watson that it is the UK Government that should be leading on trade negotiations with whatever party is engaged. In the past, you've bemoaned the fact that Wales may not be able to impose its own divergence in rules and regulations from those of the UK in general. Do you not agree that it's imperative that the UK shows a united front in these negotiations, in particular with the rules and regulations with regard to the import and export of goods and, indeed, services? And we must not forget that there have been many instances of very poor food products coming from the EU over the years.

Well, I'm sure the Member found that last comment quite hard to resist making. But I just want to be clear with the Member that our engagement with the UK Government in relation to the UK Government's negotiating position with regard to third countries, i.e. beyond the EU, has been positive. And as I mentioned in my answer to Joyce Watson, there is a pattern of engagement that we have been taking advantage of. And the reason that is so important is because it enables us as a Government, on behalf of Welsh food producers and consumers, to make the case to the UK Government for the sorts of standards that I've just been talking about in my previous answers.

The point that he makes about a united UK position—I quite agree with him that, when it comes to negotiations internationally, that is preferable, if it can be achieved. I regret, however, that the way that the negotiations with the EU have been conducted has not sought to achieve that UK-wide position. And I think, ultimately, that will have been a missed opportunity for the UK Government.