, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Culture and the new relationship with the European Union: Evidence session with the Welsh Government (8)
My reflection, having been there when it was put in place, and having picked up responsibility for it again, is that, in a sense, both those propositions can be true, can't they? So, the former First Minister saying, ‘This is the world that we are in today…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Culture and the new relationship with the European Union: Evidence session with the Welsh Government (8)
On the TCA generally?
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Culture and the new relationship with the European Union: Evidence session with the Welsh Government (8)
I'm afraid I don't, but we can—
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Culture and the new relationship with the European Union: Evidence session with the Welsh Government (8)
Right. Understood. One of the issues, I think, going back to the point we were making earlier, is that closer alignment between the two Governments on some of these developments would be helpful, from our point of view.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Culture and the new relationship with the European Union: Evidence session with the Welsh Government (8)
Yes. And in a world where resources weren't an issue, obviously we'd be doing as much of that as possible, but there are choice that, frankly, have to be made. Just on the substantive point that you're making, because I think it is a really important point…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Culture and the new relationship with the European Union: Evidence session with the Welsh Government (8)
I was a frequent visitor during my time as education Minister, not least because of the calling card that we had with Taith, which I think was incredibly well received and was a good signal, I think, of the Government's seriousness of intent. Given that it…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Culture and the new relationship with the European Union: Evidence session with the Welsh Government (8)
Yes, I think, on the—. The case we made when we were facing departure from the European Union was evidence-led and it was very rigorously tested and we worked with stakeholders in a range of sectors to understand the impact that they faced. The point I made…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Culture and the new relationship with the European Union: Evidence session with the Welsh Government (8)
So, you won't be surprised to hear that I would make the case for a broader review of it, because I think that is an opportunity for us to address some of the things that we are discussing today. But, ultimately, clearly, that will be a decision that the UK…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Culture and the new relationship with the European Union: Evidence session with the Welsh Government (8)
I think I've made my position, probably, clear on my approach to the relationship between the UK and the European Union on previous occasions.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Culture and the new relationship with the European Union: Evidence session with the Welsh Government (8)
Yes.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Culture and the new relationship with the European Union: Evidence session with the Welsh Government (8)
Yes. That work is under way at the moment, around what that might look like, but, in terms of the imminence of that bearing fruit, clearly there isn't an opportunity at this point.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Culture and the new relationship with the European Union: Evidence session with the Welsh Government (8)
Well, the policy thinking is happening in individual portfolios, but there will be, when we have an opportunity to engage on the TCA itself—. Currently, that isn't an imminent—. You know, there will need to be a review mechanism for that and there isn't…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Culture and the new relationship with the European Union: Evidence session with the Welsh Government (8)
I'm sorry?
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Culture and the new relationship with the European Union: Evidence session with the Welsh Government (8)
Well, it's across a range of portfolio areas, isn't it, so, in terms of—
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Culture and the new relationship with the European Union: Evidence session with the Welsh Government (8)
I think there are two aspects, really. One is to do with structures and one is to do with policy priority, if you like. So, we've set out those areas where, with an opportunity to revisit the TCA, which I absolutely agree with you is on the horizon…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Culture and the new relationship with the European Union: Evidence session with the Welsh Government (8)
I don't think it's fair to say that. I have personal experience of having discussions with David Frost on this, and, to be entirely clear, these are the kind of arguments that I was making at that time, and there was no agreement at all in terms of these…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Culture and the new relationship with the European Union: Evidence session with the Welsh Government (8)
I agree with the question that you ask. I don't think that membership of the European Union was a limitation on anything that we were doing, so I've never seen that argument. Just to add something in terms of my role in terms of the Welsh language, I think…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Culture and the new relationship with the European Union: Evidence session with the Welsh Government (8)
I don't think that there's a great deal of evidence that's come to hand that there's been a change of climate, if you will. There will be a review soon of how the TCA is being implemented, so there will be a formal opportunity in that context. But one of the…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Culture and the new relationship with the European Union: Evidence session with the Welsh Government (8)
Yes, meetings were held last September, in March and in the last few weeks, and these issues have been raised in those meetings in terms of visas, in terms of Creative Europe in particular. I think it's true to say that, before the agreement came in terms of…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Culture and the new relationship with the European Union: Evidence session with the Welsh Government (8)
Fine. We don't have that information today. Also, I've just come into this post, but I'm happy to write to the committee with that information.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Culture and the new relationship with the European Union: Evidence session with the Welsh Government (8)
Well, we do have a list of priorities with regard to the TCA in general. We do have to ensure that we use every opportunity that we have to push that agenda. We are doing that.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Culture and the new relationship with the European Union: Evidence session with the Welsh Government (8)
Is that a question for me?
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Culture and the new relationship with the European Union: Evidence session with the Welsh Government (8)
Well, just to say, if I may, there's a good example here of how complex the responsibilities are. Even though I lead on issues regarding the TCA, Hannah Blythyn leads on the creative sector. So, there is complexity in that regard. But, you're also right to…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Culture and the new relationship with the European Union: Evidence session with the Welsh Government (8)
Well, this is a lesson, isn't it, that your quotes from the past come back in future. At the time, we were entirely clear that the UK Government strategy in terms of the TCA was never going to lead to something that was sufficient on any level, truth be told…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Culture and the new relationship with the European Union: Evidence session with the Welsh Government (8)
Jeremy Miles. Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language.
