North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has called on the First Minister to start engaging so that the Welsh Government will be ready to bring forward appropriate legislative programmes post-Brexit.
Mr Isherwood made the call during an Urgent Question in the Assembly to Carwyn Jones on the Prime Minister’s proposed EU Law Repeal Bill.
He said:
“As you yourself have said, you want to be involved and engaged alongside the other devolved Assemblies and Parliaments, and the UK Government, whilst not having, as you also acknowledged in September, an ultimate veto.
“But, given that the Great Reform or Great Repeal Bill, as announced and as we understand it, will convert the body of existing EU law into UK law and that UK parliaments will then be free to amend, repeal and improve any law they choose, how will you during the term of this Assembly - bearing in mind that exit is likely to happen during the term of this Assembly - engage with bodies such as the Bevan Foundation, which says that a post-Brexit Wales needs a rethink of economic policies, or the Farmers Union of Wales, which says that we must recognise the opportunity to shape a future that suits Welsh agriculture, and all the other bodies expressing similar views, so that you’re ready in, potentially, 2019 to start bringing forward appropriate legislative programmes that meet the aspirations and needs identified by these organisations?”
In his reply, the First Minister stated: “It is not a matter for the UK Parliament in its entirety in terms of what happens with EU law. Much law is devolved, and it will be wholly unacceptable for the UK Parliament to have a role in terms of dealing with devolved administration in any of the devolved nations. That is a matter entirely for this institution, and those who are elected to serve in it” and “For me, the issue of tariffs looms very, very large”.
Mr Isherwood added: “More typical Carwyn Jones, twisting issues rather than answering questions. He knew full well that I referred to ‘parliaments’ in the plural to include the Assembly, and that my question was about legislation meaning EU law will no longer apply in the UK from the date we formally leave the European Union, not scaremongering about tariffs.”
ENDS