, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
3. How is the Welsh Government supporting the rural economy in Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire? OQ60730
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Chair.
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Okay. Thank you. I'm conscious of time, but I've got one small question, as you mentioned Northern Ireland there in that answer, and in a previous answer as well. What assessment have the Welsh Government made of the £3 billion financial package being offered…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Can I ask, then, as well, sort of more broad brush—? This is all—constitutional, inter-governmental relations, all of this—is not at the forefront of the majority of the public's minds, at all points, so what benefit is there to the people of Wales and the…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Okay, thank you.
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Okay. I'm just wondering as well if you could set out your views on the implications to Wales of legislation to implement the command paper.
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Okay, thank you. That's quite helpful, because it builds on the former point on inter-governmental relations as well, so thank you for that further clarity. Just moving on to the new structures and how they're potentially likely to interact with existing…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
So, you think it's a political decision, in that sense, then?
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
No. Okay. That's interesting. The UK civil service is one civil service, isn't it? Why is there not a discussion given that it is one civil service pool? Is it ministerial level saying, 'Do not discuss this with devolved Governments?', or is it a case of…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
So, just to build on your point there, Tom, if I may, in terms of the Welsh Government's role, then, in new governance structures such as the east-west council and Intertrade UK, it's not being clearly defined at the moment what the Welsh Government's role…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Okay, that's a helpful, as I said, pretext and context to the set of questions. So, moving on, I'm just wondering if you could outline the engagement that has taken place with the UK Government since the publication of the 'Safeguarding the Union' command…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
No. It's believing in the union of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Do you believe in that union?
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Yes. Okay. I only ask that as a pretext to the 'safeguarding the union' set of questions.
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Yes. Thank you very much, Chair. Would you class yourself as a unionist, Counsel General?
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Diolch, Cadeirydd.
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
I'm just wondering if the Welsh Government has now assigned staff to join the IGR secretariat.
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Thank you. This last question should need a pretty easy 'yes' or 'no' answer—
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Moving on to Sewel, I was just wondering why you think that there appears to be a difference in view between the UK Governments on whether the dispute resolution process has been used, and at what point you would consider using that dispute resolution process…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Okay. Thank you, Counsel General. Moving on to the fact that the Northern Ireland Executive has been restored, I was just wondering if that would make a meeting between the Prime Minister and the heads of the devolved Governments now more likely, given that…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
So, a codification, in that it's structured as 'must be followed', rather than just a convention, per se.
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Generally? Or is it portfolio specific?
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Can I ask on that then: on the reforms, specifically, has there been an improvement? Is there a better rhythm to inter-governmental relations following these reforms and Lord Dunlop's positive response to that?
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Diolch, Cadeirydd. Can I apologise for my tardiness, to you and colleagues, and to the Counsel General and witnesses as well? Apologies for that. But moving on to inter-governmental relations, if I may. Lord Dunlop labelled the reforms as 'very, very good'…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Development Bank of Wales inquiry: Panel 2 - Welsh Business Perspective
Okay, that's really helpful. Thank you, Ben. Thank you, Chair.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Development Bank of Wales inquiry: Panel 2 - Welsh Business Perspective
So, just for clarification: an independent panel isn't something that you would advocate for specifically at this point, in improving the effectiveness of raising concerns and complaints, but it's definitely something that should require more scope and…
