3. Statement by the First Minister: The final report of the Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:33 pm on 30 January 2024.

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Photo of Darren Millar Darren Millar Conservative 3:33, 30 January 2024

Diolch, Llywydd dros dro. First Minister, I was very taken with the report, which, obviously, I read in detail, and I think there's a lot of useful information to glean from it. Obviously, like you, I'm a committed unionist. I want to see Wales playing a full part in the UK, and the fact that Wales has two Governments batting for it—one at one end of the M4, and one at this end of the M4—I think is a good thing. 

Now, obviously, there were some things that were concerning in the report, which the commission has highlighted, and I want to thank them for their work, by the way. One of those things was the lack of awareness amongst citizens in Wales of the powers and responsibilities and where they lie, whether at the Senedd or at UK Parliament level. And I wonder to what extent you are prepared to look at what might be done not just in terms of our education system, with citizenship education—which, of course, is very important—but for the wider population, many of whom will not be going through the education system at the moment, but still need educating about where responsibilities lie. 

Of course, the report focused also on the poor relationships there have been in recent years between the Governments of the United Kingdom. We know that there are often stresses and strains when there are different political make-ups in different places, and no doubt that that has added to it, as has, of course, the whole Brexit situation. But, clearly, there is a desire amongst the public for those things to improve, regardless of the colours of the political parties in each place. And again, I wonder to what extent you might reflect on the fact that things have improved significantly since there's been a change of premiership in Westminster, over the past 12 months, at least.

And thirdly, just to pick up on the issue in relation to inter-parliamentary relationships—and I think this is a really important one, actually—as you'll know, I'm a member of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly, and like to play a full part in the work of that Assembly. And that of course looks at the relationship across the islands, including with the Republic of Ireland. But I think that we do desperately need a forum for relationships within the United Kingdom, without the Republic of Ireland being part of that, because there are some things that are of interest to all of the Parliaments of the United Kingdom that are not, frankly, being discussed in an open way, with proper engagement. And therefore, I wonder what work the Welsh Government will do to develop an inter-parliamentary assembly of sorts, working with the Senedd, of course, as its representative—

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