FMQs : Refugees, Vetoes & Bloody Brexit

The weekly theatre of Carwyn Jones' questioning by AMs rolls into town yet again.

Brexit still dominates – I'll have more to say on that at the end of the week (not that it can be avoided) - but there was another big story today with FMQs happening the same day the First Minister outlined Labour's programme of government for the next five years.

FMQs, 20^th September 2016

Party Leaders

Leader of the Opposition, Leanne Wood (Plaid, Rhondda), highlighted that Scotland's Brexit minister held discussions with UK counterparts last week, while in Chicago the First Minister said Wales couldn't be a passive observer. She asked if he now regretted not creating a dedicated Brexit cabinet post?

Leanne also criticised the lack of meetings or communication with the Welsh Government's Brexit advisory group or the Plaid-Labour liaison committee, accusing Carwyn of having "no plan, no vision and no clue" of how Wales would look outside the EU. Statements to date have been "full of contradictions", with the recent backtracking by Carwyn on a Welsh "veto".

The First Minister believes it's the personal responsibility of himself to take forward Brexit and he doesn't want to abdicate that responsibility to anyone else. He denied failing to set up a Lab-Plaid meeting, saying he sent a reply to a request. He defended his actions, pointing towards his British-Irish Council summit in Cardiff and saying there had been "constant contact" with other ministers around the UK.

On the Brexit veto, he believes his statements have been misinterpreted; the Assembly should ratify any deal, not the Welsh Government (which was implied by others).

Conservative leader, Andrew Davies AM (Con, South Wales Central), believes the First Minister was "making up policy on the hoof in front of the cameras". The Welsh Government seems to have adopted a new position on free movement, accepting a moratorium, when in June they said free movement of goods, services and people were interlinked and couldn't be divorced from each other. He asked whether free movement was still a "red line" and whether the Lib Dem member of cabinet agrees with the new policy position of a moratorium (under collective responsibility)?

The First Minister confirmed that access to the single market for goods and services was a red line, and a moratorium on free movement will need to be examined and discussed as part of Brexit negotiations. In an animated fashion, Carwyn went on the attack, angrily asking the chamber, "Does anyone know what Conservative policy is on Brexit or Europe? Will he (Andrew) support access to the single market?"

UKIP leader, Neil Hamilton AM (UKIP, Mid & West Wales) "welcomed" the First Minister signing up to UKIP immigration policy, but switched to the Labour leadership election, asking if he agreed with the "good news" from Neil Kinnock that the expected re-election of Jeremy Corbyn would mean Labour remaining out of power in London? He then moved to immigration, not really asking a question as such but saying that although refugees need protection they automatically become economic migrants when they reach Turkey due to the EU's porous borders.

The First Minister dodged answering the first question and rounded on comments made earlier in the session by Gareth Bennett AM (UKIP, South Wales Central) – I return to this matter shortly – which equated refugees with economic migrants. He refused to take lectures from a "Thatcherite trumpet blower", but agreed there needed to be pan-European solution to the crisis - though the UK will no longer have a voice in it.

Backbenchers

Suzy Davies AM (Con, South Wales West) asked for an update on the Welsh Government's response to the refugee crisis. She joined a rally in Swansea in support of refugees last weekend, and said the Senedd has been clear they want to welcome refugees. Last month, Wales only welcomed only 120 refugees; what proactive steps have been taken to house refugees here more quickly?

The First Minister said the Welsh Government continued to provide leadership and collaboration via a task force, with a specialist children's sub-group also established. The UK Government is ultimately responsible for resettlement, and he wants Wales to play its part in resettling children (without outlining any measures in particular). Work is being undertaken with the WLGA to identify refugee skill levels, but he countered criticism of the Welsh Government by saying they were "way ahead of the game" when compared to other governments.

Nick Ramsay AM (Con, Monmouth) asked for an update on tax devolution proposals. He was pleased to attend meeting discussing the appointment process of a chair to the Welsh Revenue Authority (WRA), but it will only succeed if public have confidence. How can we be sure we have right calibre of candidates?

The Welsh Government were on target to deliver devolved taxes from 2018, depending on the agreement of a fiscal framework for Wales, but the First Minister also supports independent arbitration of any future disputes with the Treasury over tax. He rejected the idea of a referendum on tax powers as the people had their say when they voted in the Assembly election.

There'll be a public information campaign on WRA and its context. WRA will be "hugely important" for tax collection, applying "robust" anti-avoidance measures; but the First Minister believes there was no difficulty in finding candidates of a sufficient calibre to run it.

Best of the rest:

• On Welsh Government support for library services, they're committed to supporting them and recognise their contribution to well being, having invested £14million in modernisation or co-location of libraries. The feasibility of introducing an all-Wales library card (which will presumably allow you to use all libraries in Wales with one card) is being investigated. As for community groups running libraries, they should learn from others who've done it successfully – to Hefin David AM (Lab, Caerphilly).
• Regarding bus services between Aberystwyth and Cardiff, since the recent collapse of Lewis Coaches the Welsh Government have been working with local authorities to ensure services are "reinstated as quickly as possible", probably "within weeks". The Assembly will get powers over buses in 2018, and the resulting restructure makes bus company collapses – which have happened throughout Carwyn's time in the Assembly - less likely. As for alternatives, there'll need to be an assessment on the "substantial cost" of reinstating the Carmarthen-Aberystwyth railway, but it can be done in principle – to Simon Thomas AM (Plaid, Mid & West Wales).
• "Real progress" has been made on bovine TB levels, with a downward trend in incidents. Testing is also up, though the First Minister rejected any idea the Welsh Government's approach to treating bovine TB had caused concern internationally – to Janet Finch-Saunders AM (Con, Aberconwy)

Written Question of the Week ABANDONED DUE TO LACK OF ANSWERS

One thing I've seen AMs (particularly Tory AMs) complain about before is that written questions aren't replied to promptly or in any great detail. Cabinet ministers aren't obligated to reply within 7/8 days and that's somewhat fortunate for them. At time of posting, no answers to written questions submitted after August 31^st have been published or, presumably, received.

I've had to abandon WQotW this week and will take the opportunity to politely remind cabinet members, AMs and their support staff to do their homework. You've persistently moaned that nobody is giving the Senedd enough attention or respect and when somebody does, you can't be bothered to fulfil your end of the bargain. I'm struggling to think of any reason to keep doing this.

Statement of Opinion of the Week

A statement from Nick Ramsay AM marking Eye Health Week (19^th-25^th September) proved popular, with 22 AMs signing it at time of posting. It called for all AMs to remind constituents to take regular eye tests, as 50% of sight loss in avoidable and opticians can detect the early stages of a disease that could lead to sight loss.

It reminded people that eye tests are free for the over-60s and that people should book an eye test every two years (or annually if there's a family history of glaucoma).