Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 6:47 pm on 31 January 2023.
The Welsh Conservative group will be supporting the LCM today. I know that the Senedd has discussed the merits of the Australia and New Zealand free trade agreement on a number of occasions. And, as the Minister stated, the LCM relates to a Bill that ensures that relevant measures are introduced so that the trade agreement can be implemented. As I understand, Welsh Government officials have had discussions with UK Government officials around the changes required to the procurement chapters, which is to be welcomed, although I do note that they were not involved in the development of the Bill itself. As such, Deputy Presiding Officer, I would be interested to ask the Minister more broadly about what changes were required to Welsh procurement rules. And, how does the Minister envisage using the powers provided for within the Bill to the Welsh Government in future years?
Deputy Presiding Officer, we know that the Minister is currently opposing consent due to the inclusion of concurrent powers in clause 1, as he's already explained. The Minister's letter to the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee, though, dated 14 December, states that he and his officials recently held a constructive meeting with Nigel Huddleston, the Minister for International Trade, and that it had been agreed that more meetings would be held about the Bill. Therefore, can I ask the Minister whether the issues around the use of concurrent powers were raised in that meeting, whether the Minister for International Trade provided any additional justification for its inclusion, and was the Minister more receptive to finding a solution that was acceptable to both Governments?