Responding in the Chamber to the Finance Secretary’s Statement on the 22nd February ‘Joint Ministerial Committee EU Negotiations Meeting’, I noted that David Lidington MP’s speech at Airbus Broughton said that we must protect the UK internal market whilst respecting devolution, and that eight out of 10 goods lorries leaving Wales go to the rest of the UK, highlighting the importance of the UK common market.
Speaking in the Plaid Cymru Debate on Continued Membership of the EU Customs Union, I proposed instead that the Assembly supports ‘a new customs arrangement between the UK and the EU, with customs requirements that are as frictionless as possible; building a new economic and security relationship with the EU whilst enabling the UK to enter new trade agreements internationally’. I also noted that Jeremy Corbyn’s Statement supporting ‘a’ Customs Union, but not “the” EU Customs Union, was ambiguous enough to mean anything.
Speaking at the Health and Social Care Funding Conference in the Assembly Pierhead Building, I stated “In the past, people were expected to fit in with the routines and practices that health and social services felt were most appropriate”, but “services now need to change to be more flexible, working with people and their families to find the best way to provide their care”.
Questioning the Leader of the House, who was standing in for the First Minister, I asked for a response to the invitation in the Growth Deal Bid for North Wales calling on the Welsh Government to support the formation of a Regional Transport Body, with the additional powers sought by our region.
I also asked her for an update on the implementation of the Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Act 2015, and challenged her over the removal of the Welsh Government target to deliver superfast broadband to ‘every property’ in Wales.
Questioning the Public Services Secretary, I highlighted the additional support needs of the armed forces community in Wales.
Assembly engagements included hosting a charity book reading on behalf of the Charity Dreams and Wishes, which cares for seriously ill children and their families, St David’s Day Reception and Parliamentary Breakfast, Cross Party Group for North Wales and a meeting with the UK Israeli Ambassador.
North Wales engagements included a meeting regarding concerns that a ‘postcode lottery’ is denying men in North Wales access to a new scanner for Prostate cancer that is available free in South Wales and England.
If you need my help, please email mark.isherwood@assembly.wales or ring 0300 200 7217.