[Brexit and devolved powers]: First Secretary of State confident of progress on Cardiff talks

Author (Corporate)
Series Title
Series Details 04.09.17
Publication Date 04/09/2017
Content Type

Background
Following a meeting in Edinburgh on the 22 August 2017 First Minister of Wales Carwyn Jones and First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon agreed to work together on amendments to the UK Government’s EU Withdrawal Bill.

The changes would be designed to protect devolved powers and responsibilities and provide effective powers to ensure devolved law works on withdrawal from the EU.

The First Ministers also committed to coordinate advice to the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly to ensure that both were fully informed of the risks posed by the UK Government Bill and the proposed changes.

Both governments had previously made clear that they could not recommend legislative consent was given to the UK Government’s proposals as they imposed unacceptable constraints on current devolved powers, and were impractical and unworkable in practice.Damian Green, First Secretary of State and Minister for the Cabinet Office in the United Government and the Secretary of State for Wales Alun Cairns had meetings on the 4 September 2017 in Cardiff with the First Minister of Wales Carwyn Jones on arrangements under the EU (Withdrawal) Bill for distributing powers returned from the European Union.

Damian Green expressed confidence that progress could be made in talks with the Welsh Government on delivering a successful exit from the EU.

He said that there was a need to identify policy areas where common UK frameworks would be required as well as those areas that could be devolved to the Welsh Assembly. The EU (Withdrawal) Bill was scheduled to begin its 2nd Reading in the House of Commons on the 7 September 2017.

The Secretaries of State also hosted the first meeting of the Expert EU Exit Implementation Panel for Wales. The Secretary of State for Wales Alun Cairns had established the group to work with him to deliver a smooth and orderly exit from the EU in Wales. It included representatives from the business, agriculture and third sectors in Wales.

Following the meeting First Minister Carwyn Jones tweeted 'Useful first meeting with @DamianGreen but some way to go before we can support Brexit Bill'.

Source Link https://www.gov.uk/government/news/first-secretary-of-state-confident-of-progress-on-cardiff-talks
Related Links
UK: GOV.UK: Office of the Secretary of State for Wales: Press Release, 04.09.17: UK Government statement following Welsh Government EU Exit meeting https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-government-statement-following-welsh-government-eu-exit-meeting
Wales Online, 05.09.17: Carwyn Jones made a major threat to the Government's Brexit plans http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/carwyn-jones-made-major-threat-13572822
BBC News, 04.09.17: Carwyn Jones on Brexit: Some way to go before we can back repeal bill http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-41141873
UK: GOV.UK: Office of the Secretary of State for Wales: News, 04.09.17: The UK Government wants every part of the UK to prosper from leaving the European Union https://www.gov.uk/government/news/the-uk-government-wants-every-part-of-the-uk-to-prosper-from-leaving-the-european-union
ESO: Background information: Scottish, Welsh government heads aim to stop ‘blatant power grab’ after Brexit, August 2017 http://www.europeansources.info/record/scottish-welsh-government-heads-aim-to-stop-blatant-power-grab-after-brexit/
ESO: In Focus: Brexit - The United Kingdom and the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/brexit-the-united-kingdom-and-the-european-union/
ESO: Find more information on Wales and the EU Referendum, 23 June 2016 http://www.europeansources.info/advSearchLink?keyword=brexit%20wales%20&searchOption=all
Wales: Government, 19.09.17: First Ministers call on the Prime Minister to work with, not against, the devolved nations http://gov.wales/newsroom/firstminister/2017/170919-fms-call-on-pm-to-work-with-devolved-nations/?lang=en
Wales: Government, 12.09.17: First Minister takes step to protect Wales post-Brexit http://gov.wales/newsroom/firstminister/2017/170912-fm-takes-step-to-protect-wales-post-brexit/?lang=en
United Kingdom: GOV.UK: Cabinet Office / Office of the Secretary of State for Wales: Press Release, 11.10.17: Welsh Secretary confident ahead of talks with First Minister https://www.gov.uk/government/news/welsh-secretary-confident-ahead-of-talks-with-first-minister

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