Oral Answers to Questions

George Kerevan Excerpts

Wednesday 26th April 2017 Commons Chamber

[Guto Bebb]

The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right in what he says, and I am pleased that the Secretary of State visited the port of Holyhead with him. He is also right to highlight the fact that Wales is in a fortunate position: we have two Governments that can work for the benefit of our economy. Co-operation between the UK Government and the Welsh Government for the development of ports such as Holyhead is crucial to the way forward after Brexit.

[George Kerevan (East Lothian) (SNP)]

3. What assessment he has made of the potential effect of provisions of the great repeal Bill on Wales’s devolved competences.

[Kirsten Oswald (East Renfrewshire) (SNP)]

4. What assessment he has made of the potential effect of provisions of the great repeal Bill on Wales’s devolved competences.

--- Later in debate ---

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

To provide the greatest level of legal and administrative certainty upon leaving the European Union, the Government will replicate the current frameworks. In parallel, we will begin intensive discussions with the devolved Administrations to identify where common frameworks should be retained. We expect the outcome of that process to be a significant increase in the decision-making power of the devolved Administrations.

[George Kerevan]

Accepting the Minister’s request to be positive, may I ask him whether he agrees that the best way forward for Welsh and Scottish farmers is for the responsibility for financial subsidy arrangements to be transferred to the Welsh and Scottish Assemblies post-Brexit?

[Alun Cairns]

Naturally, the UK Government will continue to engage positively with the Scottish Government, as well as with the Welsh Government. However, I am sure the hon. Gentleman will agree that protecting the integrity of the UK market must be fundamental to that discussion, because clearly the Scottish farmers will sell more to the UK than they will elsewhere.