Press release: First Secretary encouraged by constructive Cardiff talks

First Secretary of State Damian Green MP said he was encouraged by the constructive nature of the latest
round of Brexit talks with the Welsh First Minister in Cardiff today.

He was speaking after the latest bilateral talks in Cardiff with Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns MP and the Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones AM and Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford AM.

Mr Green said the meeting with Carwyn Jones had enabled the two governments to make progress in ensuring that all parts of the UK are ready for our withdrawal from the EU.

The discussions are to ensure that the necessary arrangements are in place under the EU (Withdrawal) Bill for distributing powers returned from the European Union and identifying where common frameworks will be required.

First Secretary of State, Damian Green said:

We are now making real progress in ensuring that all parts of the UK are ready for the extra powers that are coming back from the EU to the UK. The talks today with the First Minister were very constructive and I thank him for that.

Everyone accepts that UK frameworks will be required in certain areas to protect the vital advantages of the UK domestic market. Both sides are now getting into the deep detail of how we put in place the best arrangements for the day we leave the EU.

I am confident we can keep up this momentum and have a successful Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC) with all the devolved administrations in London next month.

Secretary of State for Wales Alun Cairns said:

I am encouraged by our discussions today. We are making good progress in identifying where common approaches will be needed after the UK leaves the EU, in line with the principles for frameworks already agreed.

I am confident this process will deliver agreed UK frameworks in the areas where we need them and a significant increase in powers for the National Assembly for Wales and the Welsh Government.

Our discussions today lay the ground for intensive talks between the two governments up to Christmas and into the New Year.

The UK and Welsh Government ministers met in Cardiff in September, then again in London on 11 October, where they discussed a set of principles to guide the discussions.

These principles were agreed at a meeting of JMC (EN) on 16 October, and the Prime Minister and First Minister held a constructive meeting on 30 October.

ENDS