Oral Answers to Questions

Alan Brown Excerpts

Wednesday 25th January 2017 Commons Chamber

[Alan Brown (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP)]

6. What assessment he has made of the potential effect on jobs in Wales of the UK leaving the EU single market.

[Kirsten Oswald (East Renfrewshire) (SNP)]

7. What assessment he has made of the potential effect on jobs in Wales of the UK leaving the EU single market.

[The Secretary of State for Wales (Alun Cairns)]

Since the vote to leave the EU, we have seen employment hit record highs, and there are now 4,000 fewer people unemployed than six months ago. Trade with the EU is important to Wales, but it is clear that we need to increase our trade with the fastest-growing markets across the world. It is time for Wales, like Britain, to rediscover its role as a great global trading nation.

[Alan Brown]

I hope the whole Chamber will celebrate Robert Burns today.

This week, Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Government published a White Paper outlining their concerns about Wales and our leaving the EU. What actions will the UK Government take to address the concerns raised by the two largest parties in the Welsh Parliament?

[Alun Cairns]

My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister was awaiting the document from the Welsh Government. It was received on Monday, and of course we will work through the details. It will be subject to discussion at the Joint Ministerial Committee on EU Negotiations—the right place for it to be considered and discussed—but much of the language around accessing the single market is not incompatible with what my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has said.