Legislating for UK Withdrawal from the EU

Debate between David Davis and Jonathan Edwards

Thursday 30th March 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Davis]

As the White Paper says, we made a very explicit decision that we would aim to make this a Supreme Court-level precedent—to reduce the number of courts that can deal with this to just the Supreme Court itself. The Supreme Court is fairly careful about changing its own precedent; indeed, it does so relatively rarely. We expect that to continue to be the case, but anything it does this House can change.

[Jonathan Edwards (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr) (PC)]

Plaid Cymru is demanding a continuity Bill in the National Assembly for Wales to enshrine appropriate European law in Welsh law. Will the Secretary of State confirm today that Westminster will not block or undermine our Parliament’s full right to legislate for Wales? My message to the British Government today from the people of Wales is this: hands off our Parliament.

[Mr Davis]

I reiterate: no powers that are currently exercised by the devolved Administrations will be taken from them.

Article 50

Debate between David Davis and Jonathan Edwards

Monday 7th November 2016 Commons Chamber

[Mr Davis]

My hon. Friend is exactly right. Tying the hands of the negotiator is exactly what the Opposition are trying to do.

[Jonathan Edwards (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr) (PC)]

Following the UK Government’s decision to challenge the High Court judgment, the Welsh Government have announced that they will seek legal representation in the Supreme Court hearing, because of the impact of the use of prerogative powers on the legislative competence of the National Assembly for Wales. Surely the UK Government should now take a step back, take a deep breath and, instead of trying to steamroller through Brexit, fully engage with this Parliament and the national Parliaments of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

[Mr Davis]

Again, the hon. Gentleman has not listened to what I said to the Scottish nationalists. That is precisely what we have been doing.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between David Davis and Jonathan Edwards

Thursday 20th October 2016 Commons Chamber

[Mr Davis]

Actually, it is a good example of the reason why we are taking our time to come to a conclusion on this. [Laughter.] No, these matters have serious implications, whichever way we go with them. Being inside the customs union gives some advantages but cuts off, to some extent, free trade areas around the rest of the world. Being outside the customs union creates some handicaps but opens up those other benefits. That decision is not part of what the Prime Minister has said to the European Union.

[Jonathan Edwards (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr) (PC)]

2. What assessment he has made of the potential effect on the economy in Wales of the UK leaving the EU.

[The Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union (Mr David Davis)]

The Government continue to undertake a wide range of analysis covering all parts of the UK to inform the UK’s position for the upcoming negotiation with the European partners. A key part of that understanding is the differences across the UK. The Welsh economy has particular strengths in aerospace, automotive, higher education, electronics, steel and agriculture, for example. It is important that we understand the impacts and the opportunities for all parts of the Welsh economy.

I visited Cardiff on Tuesday this week, when I met the First Minister and the Finance Minister, and I am grateful to them for giving me time on their Budget day. I also met university vice-chancellors in a separate meeting. Wales has a particular reliance on a range of EU funding—more so than much of the rest of the UK—on which the Chancellor has already offered a number of guarantees.

[Jonathan Edwards]

As the Secretary of State will be aware, the Welsh economy produces a substantial trade surplus of more than £5 billion per annum as a result of our membership of the single market, the customs union and the associated 53 international global trade deals. The UK as a whole, on the other hand, has a massive deficit of nearly £120 billion. Does the Secretary of State acknowledge, therefore, that the Government’s favoured policy of leaving the single market, the customs union and the associated 53 international global trade deals—a hard Brexit—will have a significant effect on Wales?

[Mr Davis]

No, because the Government’s aim is to maintain the freest and most barrier-free access to the single market that we can obtain. That is the aim, and parts of the kingdom such as Wales are very much at the forefront of our thoughts in that strategy.

Next Steps in Leaving the European Union

Debate between David Davis and Jonathan Edwards

Monday 10th October 2016 Commons Chamber

[Mr Davis]

The simple answer is that we will seek to get the most open, barrier-free market that we can. That will be as good as a single market.

[Jonathan Edwards (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr) (PC)]

As the Secretary of State knows, large swathes of EU law are intertwined with devolved legislation in Wales, and indeed in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Will he confirm that in the proposed great repeal Bill, and in their actions thereafter, the UK Government will not interfere with Welsh legislation without the formal—I emphasise formal—consent of the National Assembly?

[Mr Davis]

I cannot see the great repeal Bill interfering with Welsh legislation, but as I have said, we will talk at length to each of the devolved Administrations about issues that will affect them as a result of the Bill. We will do that before we draft it, let alone before we publish it.