, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Welsh Government international relations: Scrutiny session with the First Minister of Wales
Okay. So, on the broader point of what happens if we have equipment that is surplus, then, yes, we do think about it; we've done that on a number of occasions, actually. So, I signed off on fire trucks going to Ukraine and there are a range of other things…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Welsh Government international relations: Scrutiny session with the First Minister of Wales
Okay.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Welsh Government international relations: Scrutiny session with the First Minister of Wales
I think part of the challenge is—. Look, this is a relationship that is led by the UK Government, in terms of foreign affairs and consular support of the type—. So, in the situation we're talking about, it would be consular support that would be provided for…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Welsh Government international relations: Scrutiny session with the First Minister of Wales
It's not just international strategy. If you remember the questions we've had in the Chamber about some named families that I know that Alun Davies and Peredur have referenced, for example, in the Chamber, it is about how we act together, because the primary…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Welsh Government international relations: Scrutiny session with the First Minister of Wales
I'm answering the question. And it also would affect our ability to provide money to this or any other DEC appeal. What I can't tell you is is there a pounds, shillings and pence answer that says, 'It will this mean this and not that,' because we've got to…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Welsh Government international relations: Scrutiny session with the First Minister of Wales
Well, any reductions mean that we have less money to do any of our work, whether it's the strategy we've committed to—
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Welsh Government international relations: Scrutiny session with the First Minister of Wales
I think needing to have an international coalition of goodwill is really important for the future, and it's also about how those relationships take place in a way that is respectful, rather than countries not from the region trying to take a leadership role…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Welsh Government international relations: Scrutiny session with the First Minister of Wales
No, I personally haven't had a detailed conversation of the type that you're referring to. The lead on these when it is of course a UK Government issue—. We want to be positive and constructive in what we can do, and that's the way in which I approach these…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Welsh Government international relations: Scrutiny session with the First Minister of Wales
Well, I think you're right on both points, Jenny, that is that if the Disasters Emergency Committee launch an appeal, then we would expect to contribute. I'd have to be clear about needing to understand our budget position at the time in terms of what we…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Welsh Government international relations: Scrutiny session with the First Minister of Wales
That might be helpful around the October forum—it will have more practical things to tell you rather than a fairly dry update. I think there'll be something of real meat when it comes to the forum, assuming that we can agree dates. And it would be in Ireland…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Welsh Government international relations: Scrutiny session with the First Minister of Wales
Yes, I'll ask Andrew to come in on some of the detail, but we have thought about what the committee have said and it goes into the work that we're doing. On the challenges, we still need to talk through that with the Tánaiste about how that then goes into the…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Welsh Government international relations: Scrutiny session with the First Minister of Wales
So, we were due to have the forum in June. Then the general election happened and that's not been possible to do. So, we're looking and hoping to rearrange the ministerial forum for the autumn, and that meeting will be where we—in the run-up and through…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Welsh Government international relations: Scrutiny session with the First Minister of Wales
Okay.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Welsh Government international relations: Scrutiny session with the First Minister of Wales
So, on the EU strategy, I share the view of the former First Minister; we don't need a specific EU strategy. It's really clearly set out in our international strategy. We're a European country, we need to have a continued relationship with the European Union…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Welsh Government international relations: Scrutiny session with the First Minister of Wales
I think COVID really did raise Wales's profile. It was an extraordinary time for all of us, not just seeing the UK media paying more attention to devolved relationships, but there was a fairly surprising amount of international media interested in talking to…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Welsh Government international relations: Scrutiny session with the First Minister of Wales
Yes, yes, we can stay for three extra minutes. I'm sure I can manage that. I'll just walk faster. [Laughter.]
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Welsh Government international relations: Scrutiny session with the First Minister of Wales
Thank you for what you said about the office in the United States. I'm very pleased that's on the record and we'll make sure we point that out to the team. Thank you for saying that. It does matter, I think, that people say, 'Thank you' when they're being…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Welsh Government international relations: Scrutiny session with the First Minister of Wales
But New Tredegar in America, and understanding the links with historic Tredegar, rather, as well. So, in every area, you can see a link. There are lots of Welsh place names around the world, there's history, but the point I make is, actually, it's not just…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Welsh Government international relations: Scrutiny session with the First Minister of Wales
Some of it comes back to the strategy and the work I know the committee's done on what a refresh might look like as well, because that, again, does rehighlight the fact that there's a wider whole to this. Because you picked culture, but you could pick pretty…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Welsh Government international relations: Scrutiny session with the First Minister of Wales
It still goes back to a number of the things that we've talked about. And I think, when you look at the UK as a whole, the fact that we're a state with nations within it is unusual for other parts of the world, but, actually, there are many parts of the world…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Welsh Government international relations: Scrutiny session with the First Minister of Wales
Our international priorities remain as set out in the international strategy. We have a range of opportunities to raise our profile, to help grow our economy through international relations, but also to continue to behave as a globally responsible nation. And…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Welsh Government international relations: Scrutiny session with the First Minister of Wales
I can understand what you're saying without it, but I'd like to understand it a little bit better.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Welsh Government international relations: Scrutiny session with the First Minister of Wales
No.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Welsh Government international relations: Scrutiny session with the First Minister of Wales
Sorry, my translation has stopped working. Maybe it's my device.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Welsh Government international relations: Scrutiny session with the First Minister of Wales
Bore da. I'm Vaughan Gething, First Minister, and to my left is Andrew Gwatkin, director of international relations.
